INTERIM GUIDELINES ON ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENTS, RCS OSD- (OT) -1570

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00244R000100190011-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2000
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: September 11, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2001/08/09 : CIA-RDP86-00244R000100190011-4
TAB
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 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
pproved For-Re .O &W 24 00.010
S-30 September 1970
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IN REPLY REFER TO
AGDA (M) (10 Sep 70) LOG-C-PDBB-8316 :B
11 September 1970
SUBJECT: Interim Guidelines on Environmental Statements,
RCS OSD-(OT)-1570
SEE DISTRIBUTIQN
a. AR 11-21, Army Programs, Environmental Pollution Abatement,
dated 3 November 1967 with 2 changes thereto.
b. PL 91-190, 91st Congress, 1 January 1970, entitled "The National
Environmental Policy Act."
c. PL 91-224, 91st Congress, 3 April 1970, entitled "The Environment-
al Quality Improvement Act of 1970."
d. Council on Environmental'Quality (CEQ) Interim Guidelines.
2. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) established the
Federal policy on environmental quality. Section 102 of the NEPA directs
that the policies, regulations and public laws.of the United States will
be interpreted and administered to the fullest extent possible in accord-
ance with the NEPA. Section 102(2)(C) of the NEPA requires, among other
things, that there be included with-every recommendation or report on
proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions significantly
affecting the quality of the natural environment a detailed five-point
statement of the environmental impact of the intended action.
The NEPA further directs that prior to submitting the final environment-
al statement, the responsible Federal official shall consult with and
obtain the comments of any Federal agency which has jurisdiction by law
or special expertise. Copies of such statements and the comments and
views of the appropriate Federal, State and local agencies which are
authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards will be made
available to the President, the CEQ and the public, and will accompany
the proposal through the existing agency review processes. The Council
on Environmental Quality has provided Interim Guidelines to assist the
Federal departments, agencies and establishments to implement the National
 SUBJECT: Interim C' delines on Environmental Stateme-
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Environmental Policy Act. A copy of the Interim Guidelines is attached
as inclosure 1.
3. The purpose of this letter is to provide Interim Guidance to concerned
commands and agencies pending pul7licat?on of DOD directives and revisions
to AR 11-21 relating to requirements for impact statements.
4. At the inception of a major action; including the preparation of
recommendations on reports or proposals for legislation of primary concern
to the Department of the Army, The Army proponent agency shall make an
assessment of the probable ecological and environmental impacts of that
action. In'the continuation of an existing program which was initiated
prior to the passage of the NEPA, the proponent will similarly assess-the
environmental impact of the proposed continuing action.
5. If the appraisals indicate that (a) a significant adverse environ-
mental effect will result from a proposed action or a proposed legis-
lation or (b) a proposed action is likely to be controversial with respect
to environmental effects, a five-point draft environmental statement will
be prepared in accordance with this letter.
6. The necessity for submitting an environmental impact statement should
be evaluated in accordance with the attached CEQ guidelines. If in the
best judgment of.the proponent agency, the proposed action will cause
important adverse changes in natural surroundings, including effects on
man, wild life, plants, fish and marine life, or will result in sub-
stantial controversy, submission of an environmental statement is required.
To assure that the requirements of the NEPA are met, proponent agencies
will interpret broadly the scope of the term "significant adverse
environmental effect." -
7. Activities or actions of the following types, in particular, should
be assessed carefully for the necessity of preparing an environmental
statement:
.a. Real estate acquisitions, outleases of land, and developments of
new installations;
b. Construction at installations or major mission changes which will
result in a significant impact on the surrounding communities or natural
resources;
c. Initiation of the development of new weapon systems whose non-
combat.use may adversely affect the environment;
d. Programs for weapons testing;
e. Large scale training operations;
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f. Programs for utilization of pesticides and herbicides;'
g. Proposed legislation which, if enacted, would initiate commitments
of natural resources, result in.possi-le degradations'of the environment,
forecast changes in the use of land, or alter population concentrations.
8. Examples of some activities or actions which normally would not require
submission of an environmental statement include the following:
a.
Improvement projects for the abatement of air and water pollution;
c.
Routine training operations;
Combat operations;
d.
Transportation of munitions;
(except lethal chemical).
e.
Activities or actions in foreign countries.
9. Separate guidance will be issued regarding environmental protection
requirements of contractors in their performance of contracts with the
Army.
10. Consistent with the above guidelines, an environmental statement
shall be filed.on actions significantly adversely affecting the quality of
the environment even though the actions arise from projects or programs
initiated prior to enactment of the NEPA on 1 January 1970. Where it is
not practicable to reassess the basic course of action, further incremental
major actions should take into account environmental consequences not
fully evaluated at the outset. of the project or program.
11. In cases where the proponent agency has any doubt about the necessity
of preparing an environmental statement for a particular proposed action,
`.Headquarters, Department of the Army (DCSLOG) should be consulted.
12' An environmental statement shall be prepared by the agency which is
proposing the intended activity, is proposing the legislation, or is the
principal agency concerned with the proposed legislation. The statement
must include the following information:
a. Predictions of the probable total impact of the proposed action
on the environment. This shall include commentary on the direct impact
on some part of the environment such as the clearing of forests or the
pollution of air or water resources, as well as the more threatening
dangers associated with changes in existing ecosystems. Likewise, any
benefits to the environment resulting from the proposed action shall be
mentioned.
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 SUBJECT: Interim Guidelines on Environmental Statements
proAv~pe tt~~Ye11g?ein'~i4~QaLQ1nnot be C-My
avoided should the proposal be implemented. This would inclqde an evalu-
ation of the extent to which aesthetically or culturally valuable surround-
ings, human health, high standards of living, and. other of life's amenities
would be sacrificed.
those not affecting succeeding generations.
tivity. For this exposition, assessment of the action's cumulative and
long-term effects is required. Short-term uses are to be construed as
-d. Exposition of the relationship between"local short-term uses of
the environment and'the maintenance and enhancement of long-term produc-
impact
considerations, as well as their environmental
.- -avoid some or all of the adverse environmental effects.
c?IncTude with these"alte nattves-economic--- -technical and operational
c. A list of carefully developed alternatives to the proposed action
e. An inventory of all irreversible and irretrievable commitments
of natural resources which would be involved if the proposed. action should
be implemented. This section should identify the extent to which the
action curtails beneficial uses of the environment.
13. The cognizant Army component shall prepare a draft environmental
statement in accordance with paragraph 12 above and submit 7 copies td
the DA. This'submission will be=accomplished prior to any formal review
outside the Army. The draft statement shall be submitted through normal
command channels for the type of action which requires the statement.
The statement will be reviewed by DA and if no modifications are consider-
ed necessary it will be submitted to OSD.
14. Subsequent to review and approval of the statement, Headquarters,
DA will request publication of a summary notice in the Federal Register.
This notice willspecify that comments of the relevant State and local
Agencies must be submitted within 60 days of publication of the notice.
15. It is requested addressees comply with the provisions of this letter,
identify new and continuing actions, and advise Headquarters, DA (DCSLOG)
no later than 30 September 1970 of all environmental statements pending
preparation or submission.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY:
Incl
Interim Guidelines
See page 5 for Distribution
KENNETH G. WICKHAM
Major General, USA
The Adjutant General
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AGDA (M) (10 Sep 70) LOG-C-PDBB83l6-8T,';:
SUBJECT: Interim C delines,an Environmental Stateme
DISTRIBUTION:
Chief of Legislative Liaison
Deputy Chiefs of Staff
Comptroller of the Army
Chief of Research-and Development
Chief, Office of Reserve Components.
Assistant Chiefs of Staff
-The Adjutant General
Chief of Engineers
The Surgeon General
Chief of Chaplains
The Judge Advocate General
The Inspector General
Chief, National Guard Bureau
Chief of Information
Chief, Army Reserve
The Provost Marshal General
Chief of Personnel Operations
Chief of Support Services
Chief, US_Army Audit Agency
Commanding Generals
US Continental. Army Command
US Army Materiel Command
US Army Combat Developments Command
US Army Strategic Communications Command
US Army Security Agency
US Army Intelligence Command
US Army Air Defense Command
US Army, Alaska
US Army SAFEGUARD System Command
Commanders
US Army Forces Southern Command
Superintendent
US Military Academy
Military Traffic Management and Terminal Service
Copies furnished:
Office, Secretary of the Army
Assistant Secretary of the Army (FM)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (I&L)
Office, Chief of Staff, US Army _
Commanders in Chief
US Army, Europe
US Army, Pacific"
Commandants
US Army Command and General Staff College
US Army War College
11 September 1970
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 9. State and Local Re-rie. Whore no public hearing has bey held on the
propdsed artio~q o e ~ ele~gEC QQb/flB/~9t~t l ~$$a90 90~~Q1b99 1-4
invited, and where review of the proposed action by State and local
agencies authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards is
relevant, such State and local review shall be provided for as follo:?s:
(a) For direct Federal development projects?and projects assisted
> .under programs listed in Attachment D of the Br:'-eau of the Budget
Circular ado. A-95j review by State and local governments will be through
d
proce
ures set forth under Part 1 of Circular No. A-95.
(b} State and local review of agency procedures, regulations
and
,
policies for the administration of Federal programs of assistance to State
and local governments will be conducted pursuant to procedures established
...(c) Where these procedures are not appropriate and where the
ro
osed
p
p
-'action affects matters within their jurisdiction, review of the proposed
action by State and local agencies authorized to develop and enforce
environmental standards and their comments on the draft environmental
statement may be obtained directly or by publication of a summary notice
in the Federal Register (with a copy of the environmental statement and
comments of Federal agencies thereon to be supplied on renuest). The
notice in the Federal Register may specify that comments of the relevant
State and local agencies must be submitted within 60 days of publication
of the notice.
10. Use of Statements in Agency Review Processes; Distribution to Council
on Environmental Quality.
(a) Agencies will need to identify at what stage or stages of a series
of actions relating to a particular matter the environmental statement
procedures of this directive will be applied. It will often be necessary
to use the procedures both in the development of a national program and in
-the review of proposed' projects within the national program. However, where
.a grant-in-aid program does not entail prior approval by Federal agencies
of specific projects, the view of Federal, State and local agencies in the
legislative. and possibly appropriation, process may have to suffice. The
principle to be applied is to obtain views of other agencies at the earliest
feasible time in the development of program and project proposals. Care
should be exercised so as not to duplicate the clearance process, but when
.,''actions being considered differ signif icantl?r from those that have already
i-,
been reviewed an environi::erill al stater::cnt should be provided.
(b) Seven (7) copies of draft environmental statements (when -repared),
seven (7) copies of all cdrm ents received thereon (when received), and
.seven (7) copies of the final text of envirer:- 'craal statements should be
supplied to the Council on Enviror.,r.~ental Quality in the Executive Office
of the President (this will serve as making environmental statements available
Incl
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 to the President). It is important that draft environmental statements
be prepared id circulated for comment and fu--ished to the Council early
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