National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Screen Report
NEPA Screen Reports are performed to identify conditions which would indicate the need to perform a NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA) Screening under 47 CFR 1.1307. A site inspection and environmental database review are conducted as part of the investigation. A completed NEPA Checklist and Report address the following nine areas:
- Is the facility located in an officially designated wilderness area?
- Is the facility located in an officially designated wildlife preserve?
- Might the facility affect listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitats? Might the facility jeopardize the continued existence of any proposed endangered or threatened species or is the facility likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitats?
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Threatened and endangered species list are obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS), when available. Via a site inspection, M&A then compares the site setting to the profile or characteristic habitat for threatened and endangered species known to exist in the county or parish. Based on the comparison of the site setting and the characteristic habitat, M&A will make a determination as to whether the site setting is likely to serve as habitat for the species and whether the proposed action would affect the species. After making a determination, M&A initiates correspondence with the US FWS and appropriate State Wildlife Offices to obtain their agreement on our assessment.
- Might the facility affect districts, sites, buildings, structures or object significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering or culture that are listed or are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places?
- Might the facility affect Indian Religious sites?
- Will the facility be located in a floodplain (per Executive Order 11988)?
- Will the facility construction involve significant changes in surface features (e.g. wetlands and deforestation)?
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A site inspection plus National Wetland Inventory (NWI) Maps are reviewed in order to determine if the subject property is located within a wetland area.
- Will the facility be equipped with high intensity white lights if it is to be located in a residential neighborhood as defined by the applicable zoning laws?
- Will the facility pose potential human exposure to radiofrequency radiation?
The client will be furnished a NEPA Report containing a site description, explanation of research methods and results, and available supporting documentation. Supporting documentation may include, but is not limited to:
- Maps (e.g. topographic, NWI, FEMA FIRM, etc.)
- Response letters (e.g. SHPO, federally recognized tribes, US FWS, State Wildlife Offices, etc.)
- Printouts of database search results (e.g. NAGPRA, TCNS, National Register of Historic Places and State equivalent, US FWS species list, etc.)
- Environmental database searches
NEPA Environmental Assessment
A NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA) may be required as specified in 47 CFR 1.1307 if the construction of the tower creates a significant effect on the environment. An EA covers the same areas as the NEPA Screen Report and Checklist (see above) and explains the consequences of the proposed action. An EA is submitted to the FCC Enforcement Division which determines if the proposed project will have a significant impact on the NEPA criteria.
If the FCC Enforcement Division determines that the proposed project will not have a significant impact upon the environment, the agency will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
If the FCC Enforcement Division determines that the proposed project will have significant impact upon the environment, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) may be required as specified in 47 CFR 1.1314, 1.1315, and 1.1317. |
