WHO PREPARES THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) AND WHO OVERSEES THE EIS PROCESS?
What is known as the draft environmental impact statement is usually prepared by the project sponsor. So, for example, if the action is a subdivision development, the developer would prepare the statement. A government entity with approval powers over the project usually serves as what is known as the “lead agency.” The lead agency is responsible for the content of the EIS and the process of circulating the EIS to other “involved agencies” (those having approval authority, but not the lead agency), holding hearings, answering the public’s comments, and producing what is known as “the final environmental impact statement” which is merely the draft, combined with the public comments on the draft, and responses to the draft. WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS MUST BE CONSIDERED BY AN EIS? The statute and regulations broadly define the term “environment” to include impacts to air, land, and water, animals, plants, noise, objects of historic or aesthetic significance, neighborhood character, and po
