Reviewing NEPA Documents

Description

Participants in this course learn how to systematically review the full range of NEPA documents: EISs, RODs, EAs, and FONSIs. They also learn to present clear review findings for NEPA documents, which analyze a range of alternatives and disclose all potential impacts.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to do the following:

  • Check for appropriate environmental analysis

  • Set clear review priorities

  • Use the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) format to guide document reviews

  • Check document consistency

  • Check for document quality and readability

  • Apply strategies for providing effective feedback

Content

We tailor each workshop to meet the needs of the participants. The basic format of the interactive workshop includes the following components:

  • Setting Review Priorities
    Learn to set priorities for the review of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document, including the following:

    • Content, format, and organization

    • Paragraph and sentence structure

    • Grammar, spelling, and punctuation

  • Reviewing for NEPA Compliance
    Learn to identify and correct NEPA and CEQ compliance issues within the document. Understand the regulations outlined in Sections 101 and 102 of NEPA.

  • Reviewing for Document Quality and Readability
    Learn to evaluate how a document is formatted, organized, and written. Gauge the ease with which readers can find and use information in a document.

  • Preparing Review Comments
    Review comments can be conveyed either orally or in writing. Learn the best techniques for presenting your findings in both media.

Audience

Participants for this training generally include individuals who review and respond to NEPA documents and those who ask others to review NEPA documents.

Process

Reviewing NEPA Documents is an interactive workshop designed to build effective and collaborative reviewing skills. This workshop consists of a carefully designed combination of the following:

  • 25% Lecture

  • 20% Discussion

  • 55% Exercises

Materials

Participants receive the following:

  • Workshop Resources workbook

  • Documentation Strategies for Environmental Writers

  • How to Write Quality EISs and EAs