Environmental Impact Assessment Flashcards

Which document type under NEPA is used for agency actions that routinely have no significant environmental effect and requires neither an EA nor an EIS?

Answer: Categorical Exclusion (CX)

Categorical Exclusions (CXs) are established categories of actions that an agency has determined do not individually or cumulatively cause significant environmental effects.

For a fisheries EIA, which baseline data collection period is generally considered the minimum to capture seasonal variability in fish communities?

Answer: One full year (four seasons)

At minimum, one full year of baseline data covering all four seasons is needed to characterize seasonal fish community composition and habitat variability.

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, federal agencies must consult with NMFS when a proposed action may adversely affect which type of habitat?

Answer: Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)

Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 305(b) requires federal agencies to consult with NMFS on actions that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat designated for managed species.

Which statistical approach is used in EIA to detect whether observed post-project changes in fish density exceed natural background variability?

Answer: Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) design

BACI design compares treatment and control sites before and after a project, allowing detection of project-caused changes against natural background variation.

A FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact) can be issued with mitigation measures attached. What is this document called?

Answer: Mitigated FONSI

A Mitigated FONSI is issued when mitigation measures reduce project impacts to below a level of significance, allowing the agency to avoid preparing a full EIS.

Which type of EIA is appropriate when a federal agency proposes a policy or program affecting fisheries resources across multiple future projects?

Answer: Programmatic EIS

A Programmatic EIS evaluates the broad environmental effects of policies, plans, or programs, tiering site-specific NEPA reviews from it for individual future projects.

In fisheries EIA, which spawning habitat characteristic is MOST sensitive to sedimentation caused by upland construction activities?

Answer: Intergravel dissolved oxygen and substrate permeability

Fine sediment infiltration reduces intergravel dissolved oxygen and substrate permeability in redds, directly increasing salmonid egg and alevin mortality.