How the LTEMP EIS Was Prepared

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and National Park Service (NPS) are joint-leads of the LTEMP EIS. The LTEMP EIS was prepared according to regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act.

Reclamation and NPS are joint-leads on the LTEMP EIS, because each agency has different roles in managing resources associated with the proposed action. Reclamation manages Colorado River water resources and the operations of Glen Canyon Dam, while NPS manages Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area, through which the Colorado River flows.

The President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has issued regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. These regulations identify the steps that must be taken in the preparation of an EIS. These steps are:

1. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the EIS is published in the Federal Register.


2. The NOI announces a scoping period during which written and other comments on the content of the EIS are gathered.


3. A Draft EIS (DEIS) is prepared, which, at a minimum, includes the following elements:
1. Summary
2. Purpose of and need for action
3. Alternatives, including proposed action
4. Affected environment
5. Environmental consequences


4. A Notice of Availability (NOA) is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Federal Register announcing the distribution of the DEIS and a public comment period. Additional information describing how the public can comment, including the location and schedule of public meetings on the DEIS, is published in an agency-published NOA.


5. A Final EIS (FEIS) is prepared that includes descriptions of public comments on the DEIS and discussions on how they were addressed in the FEIS.


6. An NOA is published by EPA in the Federal Register notifying the public that the FEIS has been issued.


7. A Record of Decision (ROD) is published in the Federal Register no sooner than 30 days after publication of the FEIS. The ROD describes the agency's decision regarding the proposed action.

The NOI, DEIS, FEIS, and ROD are available for downloading and browsing on the Documents page.