Assignment No. 2: Environmental Setting
Prepare a memorandum describing the environmental setting (affected environment)
for the project that will be studied in your EIS/EIR document. The
two major purposes of this document are:
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to establish a point of reference and comparison for the impacts of various
alternatives developed later (a "baseline"), and
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to identify particular characteristics of the setting that will require
special attention when evaluating alternatives, such as endangered or threatened
species, fragile ecosystems, wetlands, or parameters that are already near
or above known threshold points (e.g., high levels of particulate matter
in ambient air, etc.)
Keep in mind that the Environmental Setting section of an EIS or
EIR is crucial; the inadequacy of this section invalidates the entire document.
Your memorandum must allow a reader to understand the environment that
can potentially be affected or created by the proposed action/project,
including various alternatives. This memorandum constitutes a first
draft of what will become a chapter of your semester project, the skeleton
EIS/EIR.
Contents
In your document, include the following elements, to the best of your knowledge:
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brief project description
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location maps
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approximate location and boundaries of the project
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components of the affected environment and their description, clearly identifying
sensitive resources
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appropriate tables, graphs, figures, maps, and other visual support
This is not an exhaustive list but a minimum. Give sufficient
detail and information to provide a meaningful context for the discussion
of environmental impacts, alternatives and mitigation measures that will
take place later.
Format and Style
Your document should be approximately 5 to 8 pages long, excluding tables,
figures, and appendices (1.5 line spacing in a reasonable 10 pts to 12
pts font), and presented in memorandum format. Be clear, concise,
and specific. Style, grammar and spelling will be important.
If you divide the assignment between team members on the basis of setting
components (e.g., noise, groundwater, climate, etc.), make sure that the
overall format and style of your memorandum is consistent.
Include at least:
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memorandum heading, including date, preparers, subject, and routing information
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introduction, including project description
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elements of the environmental setting
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brief conclusion summing up the major characteristics of the setting
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identifying headers and footers, including page numbers
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list of references
This is a team assignment. Turn in one copy for the
entire team, making sure to list all team members.
Due date: Monday, March 1,1999 (by 5:00 PM).
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