Federal Emergency Management Agency

 Washington, D.C. 20472 

OP 
MAY 24, 1994 
MEMORANDUM FOR: Associate Directors 
Administrators 
Regional Directors 
FROM: Richard S. Shivar (signed) 
Acting Environmental Officer 
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY MEMO # 2 
Other Federal Agency Clearance for Environmental Assessments 

Questions have arisen concerning the level of input and clearance required from other Federal agencies 
for environmental assessments (EA) generated by FEMA. This memo is intended to clarify those 
questions. 

When an environmental assessment is done our regulations (44 CFR 10.9(c) and the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts. 1500-1508) ask that we involve affected Federal, 
State, and local agencies and concerned groups to the extent practicable. In addition, however, there are 
numerous other requirements that must be considered in evaluating each project. Three that are of 
particular importance address:

 1) 
The identification of historic, archeological or cultural resources which could require a section 106 
consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (36 CFR 800).

 2) 
The occurrence of threatened or endangered species which could require a section 7 consultation 
with the Fish and Wildlife Service (50 CFR Part 402).

 3) 
The undertaking of any work, structure, or activity occurring in, or affecting any body of water in 
the United States, including wetlands and coastal waters which could require review by the U. S. 
Corps of Engineers to determine whether some level of a section 404 (40 CFR Part 6) permit is 
required. 

Each of these resources should be discussed in the "existing conditions" portion of the EA indicating a 
determination of whether they are or are not found in or near the project area. If it is shown that the 
project results in adverse impacts to any of these resources, then specifically defined procedures and 
consultations may be required and compliance with these procedures must be documented in the EA . 

If you have questions in any of these areas please feel free to call (646-3610) or E-mail me. I would like 
to move the EAs through the review process as quickly as possible and having these three areas fully 
addressed will help immensely. 

Attachment # 2 to Environmental Policy Memoranda 
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