7 CFR 650.8 : Agriculture (§ 1.1 To Parts 4291-4299) — (Subparts A-F To Parts 662-699) — Regulations Of The Department Of Agriculture (Continued) (Subparts A-F To Parts 662-699) — Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department Of Agriculture (§ 600.1 To Parts 662-699) — Support Activities (§ 650.1 To § 658.7) — Compliance With Nepa (§ 650.1 To § 650.25) — Procedures For Nrcs-Assisted Programs (§ 650.1 To § 650.13) — When to prepare an environmental assessment (EA).

An environmental assessment (EA) is to be prepared for:

(a) Land and water resource projects that are not included in § 650.7(a) (1) through (4) for which State and local units of government receive Federal technical and financial assistance from NRCS (7 CFR parts 620 through 623; and 640 through 643); and

(b) Other actions that the EE reveals may be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

(c) Criteria for determining the need for a program EA:

(1) A program EA is to be prepared when NRCS has determined, based on the environmental evaluation, that a program EIS is not required and the program and actions to implement the program are not categorically excluded; and

(2) A program EA may also be prepared to aid in NRCS decision-making and to aid in compliance with NEPA.

(d) The RFO, through the process of tiering, is to determine if a site-specific EA or EIS is required for an action that is included in a program EA or EIS.