the NEPA process

The National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") is a Federal law that serves as the Nation's basic charter for making major Federal decisions and how those decisions affect the human environment. It requires that all Federal agencies consider the potential environmental impacts of their proposed actions. NEPA promotes better agency decision-making by ensuring that high quality environmental information is available to agency officials and the public before the agency decides whether and how to undertake a major Federal action.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for ensuring NEPA compliance during the HCP process. Under NEPA, the Service involves the public in the decision making process by holding public meetings and open comment periods during the process. Through the NEPA process, you have an opportunity to learn about the Service's proposed actions and to provide timely information and comments to the Service.

environmental impact statements

An Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") is a formal analytical and legal document which, with the associated procedural requirements, is intended to enhance the quality of major decisions made by Federal agencies. The core content of an EIS includes a robust description and evaluation of the implementation effects of a proposed action and a range of reasonable alternatives. With respect to an HCP, the scope of the EIS analysis covers the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the proposed incidental take and the proposed mitigation and minimization measures.

The NEPA scoping meetings are intended to give the public input on the range of issues and alternatives to consider in the EIS.
 

NEPA Scoping

public meeting dates
  • Monday June 6, 2011 - Bandera, TX
  • Tuesday June 7, 2011 - Boerne, TX
  • Thursday June 9, 2011 - Blanco, TX
  • Monday June 13, 2011 - Kerrville, TX
  • Tuesday June 14, 2011 - Helotes, TX

All meetings are from 5:30 pm to 8:00pm. See the Published Meeting Notice for more information.

notices and handouts

submit comments to USFWS Send scoping comments to USFWS via:

FAX: 512-490-0974
E-mail: [email protected]
US Mail:
USFWS Field Supervisor
Austin Ecological Services Field Office
10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78758-4460

The NEPA scoping public comment period is open through July 26, 2011.