41 C.F.R. PART 51–7—PROCEDURES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Title 41 - Public Contracts and Property Management
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
Source: 56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, unless otherwise noted.
(a) Purpose. This part implements the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and provides for the implementation of those provisions identified in 40 CFR 1507.3(b) of the regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR parts 1500–1508) published pursuant to NEPA. (b) Scope. This part applies to all actions of the Committee for Purchase from Persons who are Blind or Severely Disabled which may affect environmental quality in the United States. [56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994] (a) 40 CFR 1501.2(d) requires agencies to provide for early involvement in actions which, while planned by private applicants or other non-Federal entities, require some sort of Federal approval. Pursuant to the JWOD Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c), the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled makes the determination as to which qualified nonprofit agency serving persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities will furnish designated products and services to the Government. (b) To implement the requirements of 40 CFR 1501.2(d) with respect to these actions, the Committee staff shall consult as required with other appropriate parties to initiate and coordinate the necessary environmental analysis. The Executive Director shall determine on the basis of information submitted by private agencies and other non-Federal entities or generated by the Committee whether the proposed action is one that normally does not require an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement (EIS) as set forth in §51–7.4, or is one that requires an environmental assessment as set forth in 40 CFR 1501.4. (c) To facilitate compliance with these requirements, private agencies and other non-Federal entities are expected to: (1) Contact the Committee staff as early as possible in the planning process for guidance on the scope and level of environmental information required to be submitted in support of their request; (2) Conduct any studies which are deemed necessary and appropriate by the Committee to determine the impact of the proposed action on the human environment; (3) Consult with appropriate Federal, regional, State and local agencies and other potentially interested parties during preliminary planning stages to ensure that all environmental factors are identified; (4) Submit applications for all Federal, regional, State and local approvals as early as possible in the planning process; (5) Notify the Committee as early as possible of all other Federal, regional, State, local and Indian tribe actions required for project completion so that the Committee may coordinate all Federal environmental reviews; and (6) Notify the Committee of all known parties potentially affected by or interested in the proposed action. [56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994] (a) 40 CFR 1505.1 of the NEPA regulations contains requirements to ensure adequate consideration of environmental documents in agency decision-making. To implement these requirements, the Committee staff shall: (1) Consider all relevant environmental documents in evaluating proposals for agency action; (2) Ensure that all relevant environmental documents, comments and responses accompany the proposal through the agency review processes; (3) Consider only those alternatives discussed in the relevant environmental documents when evaluating proposals for agency action; and (4) Where an EIS has been prepared, consider the specific alternative analysis in the EIS when evaluating the proposal which is the subject of the EIS. (b) For each of the Committee's actions authorized by the JWOD Act, the following list identifies the point at which the NEPA process begins, the point at which it ends, and the key agency official or office required to consider the relevant environmental documents as a part of their decision-making: (1) Action: Request. (2) Start of NEPA process: Upon receipt of request. (3) Completion of NEPA process: When the deciding official reviews the proposal and makes a determination. (4) Key official or office required to consider environmental document: When a positive determination is made under §51–7.2(b), the applicant in conjunction with the Committee staff will prepare the necessary papers. (a) 40 CFR 1507.3(b)(2) in conjunction with 40 CFR 1508.4 requires agencies to establish three typical classes of action for similar treatment under NEPA. These typical classes of action are set forth below: (1) Actions normally requiring EIS: None. (2) Actions normally requiring assessments but not necessarily EISs: Requests for actions for which determinations under §51–7.2(b) are found to be affirmative. (3) Actions normally not requiring assessments or EISs: Request for actions by nonprofit agencies through the central nonprofit agencies to add a commodity or service to the Committee's Procurement List. (b) The Committee shall independently determine, by referring to 40 CFR 1508.27, whether an EIS or an environmental assessment is required where: (1) A proposal for agency action is not covered by one of the typical classes of action above; or (2) For actions which are covered, but where the presence of extraordinary circumstances indicates that some other level of environmental review may be appropriate. Interested parties may contact the Executive Director at (703) 603–7740 for information regarding the Committee's compliance with NEPA. [56 FR 48986, Sept. 26, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 16777, Apr. 8, 1994]
Title 41: Public Contracts and Property Management
PART 51–7—PROCEDURES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Section Contents
§ 51-7.1 Purpose and scope.
§ 51-7.2 Early involvement in private, State, and local activities requiring Federal approval.
§ 51-7.3 Ensuring environmental documents are actually considered in agency determinations.
§ 51-7.4 Typical classes of action.
§ 51-7.5 Environmental information.
§ 51-7.1 Purpose and scope.
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§ 51-7.2 Early involvement in private, State, and local activities requiring Federal approval.
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§ 51-7.3 Ensuring environmental documents are actually considered in agency determinations.
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§ 51-7.4 Typical classes of action.
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§ 51-7.5 Environmental information.
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