Environmental impact statement

An environmental impact statement (EIS) is a public report of a government-funded project, usually industrial, and its potential impact on the environment. An EIS summarizes the project’s long-term and short-term effect on noise, water, and air pollution as well as the impact on EMPLOYMENT and living, social, and local service standards. An EIS explains the proposed project and describes any alternatives to it. An EIS is written by any federal agency either on its own behalf or on the behalf of a state agency and, given the complexity of the report, is usually authored by numerous professionals including scientists, social scientists, and engineers. The drafting of an EIS is required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The NEPA created a Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), a three-member board that advises the President with respect to environmental matters. The CEQ directed the creation of guidelines used in writing environmental impact statements. An EIS is required if a project involves federal licensing or federal funding or is undertaken by the federal government. An EIS is required to address all the possible questions a “reasonable person” might ask. Most environmental impact statements are lengthy documents containing a wealth of information from experts, community groups, and individuals affected by the proposed action. As a brief example, there is the St. Augustine (Florida) Bridge of Lions (details available at www.fdotbridgeoflions.com). The EIS begins by outlining the bridge’s importance, the history of the city, and the importance of the bridge for tourism, together with a description of the action that must be taken to rehabilitate, replace, or continue to maintain the existing bridge. The EIS explains three alternatives and their effect on the environment, the public, and businesses and individuals who would have to be relocated. The report states the cost of land acquisition, the method of appraising land values, and additional costs to be paid to individuals affected by the project. The potential economic impact of the bridge project is also evaluated. Initially the requirement for federal projects and agencies to conduct environmental impact studies was seen as a way to minimize community and activist opposition to federal activities. Businesses benefitting from federal contracts are often closely involved in EIS development. A whole industry has now developed to provide consulting services to federal agencies required to produce environmental impact statements. Opponents of particular federal projects have learned to use the EIS requirement to stall projects they oppose and bring public attention to questionable practices.