Appendix D

As a preliminary step in the development of an environmental impact statement (EIS), regulations established by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR 1501.7) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) require “an early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action. ” The purpose of this scoping process is: (1) to inform the public about a proposed action and the alternatives being considered, and (2) to identify and/or clarify issues that are relevant to the EIS by soliciting public comments