In accordance with the Director’s Order 12 handbook, Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision Making (page 48), special resource studies generally require preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) when the following conditions are met: (1)  the resource being studied meets the criteria for inclusion in the National Park System (i.e., it is nationally significant and is deemed feasible and suitable for inclusion in the system) or (2) one of the alternatives being considered is designation as a National Park System unit, even if that is ultimately not the recommendation of the Secretary.  However, a waiver for preparation of an environmental assessment instead of an EIS may be requested from and granted by the WASO-Environmental Quality Division.  If an environmental assessment (EA) is being prepared in lieu of an EIS, publication of a notice of intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal Register is not required.

At this stage of the special resource study process it is often too early to determine if preparation of either an EIS or EA is appropriate.  Therefore, it is recommended that the Federal Register notice prepared be a notice of scoping rather than a notice of intent to prepare an EIS.  The notice of scoping would include the following text:   “At this time, it has not been determined whether an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement will be prepared, however, this scoping process will aid in the preparation of either document, and public comments will aid in making this determination.”  

2.1 Publish Notice of Scoping in the Federal Register

The Denver Service Center and/or regional office prepare and publish in the Federal Register a notice of scoping for the special resource study.  The notice of scoping includes the text “At this time, it has not been determined whether an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement will be prepared, however, this scoping process will aid in the preparation of either document, and public comments will aid in making this determination.”