Defining the Full Scope of the Federal "Action"

This page provides information for defining the Full Scope of Federal Actions.

Segmentation

• The scope of the federal action, consisting of directly related federal and non-federal actions, must be clearly defined PRIOR to determining the level of documentation to ensure that all connected actions have been considered.
• NEPA requires that the sum of related components making up a "larger" action be evaluated in one document.
• It is unacceptable to divide a large action into a series of smaller actions or to not consider the proposed action in context with other actions taking place. These are often called connected actions.

Actions Are Connected When

• One action justifies the other
• One action "federalizes" the other
• It is unreasonable or unwise to take one action without the other
• One action triggers the other
• One action is a commitment to the other
• One action precludes alternatives to the other

Actions Are Not Connected When

• One action is remote and speculative
• The "federal connection" is minor
• The actions are tiered - the second action is later in time or may not occur and can be changed in the interim