A Procedure for evaluating environmental impact

Abstract

In a recent article in "Science" discussing the En- vironmental Policy Act of 1969, Gillette (1971) states "The law's instructions for preparing an impact re- port apparently are not specific enough to insure that an agency will fully, or even usefully, examine the environmental effects of the projects it plans." This report contains a procedure that may assist in develop- ing uniform environmental impact statements. The Department of the Interior and the Council on Environ- mental Quality will appreciate comments on the pro- cedure here proposed. The heart of the system is a matrix which is gen- eral enough to be used as a reference checklist or a reminder of the full range of actions and impacts on the environment that may relate to proposed actions. The marked matrix also serves as an abstract of the text of the environmental assessment to enable the many reviewers of impact reports to determine quickly what are considered to be the significant impacts and their relative importance as evaluated by the origina- tor of the impact report.