Alternatives Overview

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) consider a range of alternatives that meet the purpose and need of the proposed action.  All EISs must include analysis of the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative.  The No Action Alternative is an analysis of what would happen if the proposed action did not occur.  This can be the same as "baseline" but often times can be very different.  Baseline is a description of the setting at a specific point in time.  Because the human, physical, and natural environments are always changing, with or without the proposed project, the "no action" alternative does not necessarily mean that things will stay status quo.  In areas experiencing a high level of change, analyzing the no action alternative can be complex.  For more information on actions that are expected to occur in Lincoln County associated with the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 (LCCRDA), please click here.  For more information on actions that are expected to occur in association with the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

Beyond the proposed action and no action alternative, the EIS also considers a range of other alternatives.  This often starts by looking at a broad range of alternatives that meet the purpose and need of the proposed action.  The agency then determines which of those alternatives are reasonable.  Reasonable alternatives must be consistent with management guidance and BLM policy, meet the purpose and need, be feasible from technical and economic standpoints, be environmentally responsible, and capable of implementation in a timely manner.  Alternatives that are not reasonable are listed in the EIS as "alternatives considered but eliminated from detailed analysis". 

Alternatives are currently being formulated based on the scoping process and cooperating agency input.  Alternative categories we have identified are:

• Proposed Action
• Reduced Pumping
• Alternative Alignments/Facility Locations
• Water Conservation/Demand Management in Las Vegas
• Diversion of Conserved Water from Nevada Irrigated Farmlands
• Colorado River System Water Supplies and Water Management
• Water Purchase from Large Regional Water Supply (non-Colorado River)
• No Action