Impacts Analysis

Preparing the impacts analysis is a large part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  This process begins after the scoping period has identified significant issues to be evaluated in the analysis, and the analysis becomes refined as the Proposed Action is defined in more detail and the alternatives are chosen. 

Typically, an entire Chapter of the Draft EIS is dedicated to defining the affected environment for each resource.  The affected environment is important because it defines the geographic area that will be analyzed for impacts, establishes the baseline, and draws attention to current issues and concerns for that particular resource in that location.  In essence, the affected environment section identifies the conditions of the project area and what types of activities they are sensitive to.  This gives direction to the impact analysis section.

The Affected Environment Chapter is typically followed by the Environmental Consequences chapter.  This chapter recognizes the concerns and issues relating to the resources described in the previous chapter and determines the impacts that may result from the proposed action and alternatives, including the no action alternative.  The analysis focuses on impacts caused by the Proposed Action and occur at the same time and place, impacts caused by the Proposed Action and are later in time or occur farther away in distance, and impacts of the Proposed Action combined with other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions within the area.

Each section identifies mitigation for the expected impacts.  The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the federal agency writing the EIS to identify all reasonable mitigation, even if the action falls outside the jurisdiction of the agency.  When the agency prepares to sign the Record of Decision (ROD), only mitigation measures that fall within the jurisdiction of the agency can be adopted into the decision; the agency cannot require the project proponent to carry out actions for which it has no authority.  NEPA does not give the agency guidance on which mitigation measures, if any, should be adopted into the ROD.  This is left to the discretion of the manager signing the ROD.  Mitigation measures should be feasible and should consider economic, social, environmental, and technological factors.  Some mitigation measures allow for complete avoidance of an impact.  When this is not feasible, mitigation measures should allow for minimizing, rectifying, reducing, or compensating for the impact.

Resources Analyzed in the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project EIS

The following resources will be analyzed in the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project EIS.  Chapter 3 of the EIS will define the affected environment for each of these resources and provide background discussion about the condition of the resources.  Chapter 4 of the EIS will disclose impacts that may occur as a result of the proposed project.   

• Geology
• Soil
• Water
• Vegetation
• Wildlife
• Land Use
• Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Wilderness, and Other Special Use Areas
• Recreation
• Air Quality
• Noise
• Visual Resources
• Socioeconomics
• Environmental Justice
• Hazardous and Solid Waste
• Paleontology
• Archaeology and Historic Properties
• Wild and Scenic Rivers
• Wild Horse and Burros
• Prime and Unique Farmlands
• Indian Trust Assets