[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR6.703]

[Page 126]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
               CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
 
PART 6_PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COUNCIL ON 
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ON THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT--
 
  Subpart G_Environmental Review Procedures for Office of Research and 
                          Development Projects
 
Sec. 6.703  General.

    (a) Environmental information. (1) For intramural research projects, 
information necessary to perform the environmental review shall be 
obtained by the appropriate program official.
    (2) For extramural research projects, environmental information 
documents shall be submitted to EPA by applicants to facilitate the 
Agency's environmental review process. Guidance on environmental 
information documents shall be included in all assistance application 
kits and in contract proposal instructions. If there is a question 
concerning the preparation of an environmental information document, the 
applicant should consult with the project officer or contract officer 
for guidance.
    (b) Environmental review. The diagram in figure 1 represents the 
various stages of the environmental review process to be undertaken for 
ORD projects.
    (1) For intramural research projects, an environmental review will 
be performed for each laboratory's projects at the start of the planning 
year. The review will be conducted before projects are incorporated into 
the ORD program planning system. Projects added at a later date and, 
therefore, not identified at the start of the planning year, or any 
redirection of a project that could have significant environmental 
effects, also will be subjected to an environmental review. This review 
will be performed in accordance with the process set forth in this 
subpart and depicted in figure 1.
    (2) For extramural research projects, the environmental review shall 
be conducted before an initial or continuing award is made. The 
appropriate program official will perform the environmental review in 
accordance with the process set forth in this subpart and depicted in 
figure 1. EPA form 5300-23 will be used to document categorical 
exclusion determinations or, with appropriate supporting analysis, as 
the environmental assessment (EA). The completed form 5300-23 and any 
finding of no significant impact (FNSI) or environmental impact 
statement (EIS) will be submitted with the proposal package to the 
appropriate EPA assistance or contract office.
    (c) Agency coordination. In order to avoid duplication of effort and 
ensure consistency throughout the Agency, environmental reviews of ORD 
projects will be coordinated, as appropriate and feasible, with reviews 
performed by other program offices. Technical support documents prepared 
for reviews in other EPA programs may be adopted for use in ORD's 
environmental reviews and supplemented, as appropriate.