The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires all Federal agencies to prepare either an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is utilized by the agencies to determine the environmental effects of any proposed Federal agency action. The preparation of a NEPA EA or EIS not only assesses the environmental effects of the proposed action but also additionally assesses the effects of any reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. Depending upon the magnitude of the proposed action or project, a NEPA EA may first be developed as a concise public document from which a determination can be made whether to prepare a NEPA EIS or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

When a proposed project does not substantially affect the environment, Headwaters staff will provide the necessary knowledge and experience needed to establish and apply categorical exclusions, which are a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. Our qualified team has completed numerous NEPA EA documents for various types of projects and for all of the major Federal agencies in compliance with the most current regulations and under the different policy requirements for each of the individual agencies.

Headwaters has completed the NEPA EA process for under the regulations and requirements for the following Federal Agencies:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development
• United States National Park Service (NPS)
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• United States Forest Service (USFS)
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
• Federal Highway Administrative (FHWA)
• United States Department of Energy (DOE)
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The completion of the NEPA EIS process is typically required when proposed projects and/or actions have the potential for significant environmental effects. The Headwaters team has significant experience in the completion of the NEPA EIS process for several large flood control and other type large projects in the southeastern United States. Headwaters has the right group of multi-disciplinary resource professionals who can complete the NEPA EIS process for your large projects in a timely and efficient manner and in compliance with the applicable regulations for any and all the Federal agencies that might be involved in the project.