Environmental Assessment (EA) (EA)

A public document that analyzes a proposed federal action for the possibility of significant environmental impacts. The analysis is required by the National Environmental Policy Act. If the environmental impacts will be significant, the federal agency must then prepare an environmental impact statement.

A concise public document that a federal agency prepares under the National Environmental Policy Act to provide sufficient evidence and analysis to determine whether a proposed action requires preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or whether a Finding of No Significant Impact can be issued. An EA must include brief discussions on the need for the proposal, the alternatives, the environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, and a list of agencies and persons consulted.

A concise public document whose primary purpose is to provide sufficient analysis of environmental effects of an action to determine whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact.