NAC445A.755. Environmental impact statement: Procedure for preparing.

     1. If the Division determines that an environmental impact statement will be required, the Division shall prepare and distribute a notice of intent.

     2. As soon as possible after the distribution of the notice of intent, the Division shall convene a meeting of affected federal, state and local agencies, affected Indian tribes, the recipient and other interested parties to determine the scope of the environmental impact statement. As part of this meeting, the Division shall:

     (a) Determine the significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the environmental impact statement;

     (b) Identify the preliminary range of alternatives to be considered;

     (c) Identify potential cooperating agencies and determine the information or analyses that may be needed from those agencies or other parties;

     (d) Discuss the method for preparing the environmental impact statement and the strategy for securing public participation; and

     (e) Determine the relationship between the environmental impact statement and the completion of the facility plan and any necessary coordination between the preparers of both documents.

     3. Immediately following the meeting required by subsection 2, the Division shall commence the identification and evaluation of all potentially viable alternatives to address adequately the range of issues identified at the meeting. Additional issues may be addressed or others eliminated during this process and the reasons for doing so may be documented as part of the environmental impact statement.

     4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, after the Division determines the need for an environmental impact statement, the Division shall:

     (a) Cause the statement to be prepared by members of its staff; or

     (b) Contract for the preparation of the statement with a qualified consulting firm.

Ê The applicant will be charged a fee to cover the costs incurred in preparing the environmental impact statement.

     5. If a federal agency is required to prepare an environmental impact statement, the Division and the applicant need not participate in the cost of the environmental impact statement, but shall cooperate in the preparation of the statement.

     (Added to NAC by Environmental Comm’n, eff. 9-19-90)—(Substituted in revision for NAC 445.42123)