Photo montage showing uses of electricity

NEPA Process

This image shows the National Environmental Policy Act process. The process begins with the Notice of Intent which initiates public scoping meetings and a 60-day comment period. A draft environmental impact statement will be published and is followed by public meetings and a minimum 45-day comment period. A final environmental impact statement will be published following the draft environmental impact statement, and the process will conclude with a record of decision by the federal agencies.
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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental effects of a proposed project prior to deciding whether or not to allow a proposed project to be built on federally-managed land. NEPA is an open process designed to encourage citizen involvement to help agencies make better informed decisions.

There are several key steps in the NEPA process, as outlined in the diagram on the right.

NEPA and Cascade Crossing

For the Cascade Crossing Transmission Project (Cascade Crossing), the federal agencies, led by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), will evaluate the environmental effects of granting a Special Use Permit and a Right of Way Grant for each of the lands they manage, respectively.

The federal agencies will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and document the physical, biological, social, cultural and economic effects of the proposed project and its alternatives. The federal agencies will use public comments, resource surveys and other data to analyze the project and help in its decision-making.

The USFS hosted a public scoping period in coordination with ODOE-EFSC. The public comment period closed on August 2, 2010. Comments help the federal agencies identify project issue areas and alternatives.

There will be additional opportunities to comment following other key milestones, including the draft EIS and final EIS. Future comment periods will be announced. Informal comments and questions are always accepted.

Throughout the project, the federal agencies will request the public review and comment on project documents and analyses.