Tip 7: Unleash the Power of Scoping
Key Points
Prepare: Scoping reports can be prepared before a specific action is proposed to help focus on likely issues.
Examine: The ultimate task in scoping is to focus the analysis in the EIS on significant issues and eliminate from detailed consideration those issues that are insignificant or irrelevant.
Focus: Scoping begins with many topics of concern. Not all topics are issues, and not all issues are significant issues. Effective scoping ends with focus and emphasis on significant issues.
Proceed: Significant issues are related to:
- a reasoned choice between alternatives
- significant or potentially significant effects
- effects involving a high level of environmental controversy or dispute
Four Steps to Rigorously Scope an EIS
- Collect the universe of issues raised during scoping, whether internal or external.
- Sort the issues into similar themes or “categories of actions.” Use the scoping checklist to identify non-significant themes.
- Provide a brief explanation in the EIS or decision record indicating the reasons why issues eliminated from further analysis (scoped out) were determined to be not significant.
- If significant or potentially significant, confirm the issue has not been adequately addressed by prior environmental review. If already addressed, provide a brief explanation in the EIS or decision record.
Sample Scoping Checklist
