Environmental statements explained
By CAROLINE BEAVER
of the Emerald
Members of the Oregon Stu
dent Public Interest Research
Group (OSPIRG) and University
Survival Center instructed par
ticipants Saturday in the reading
and action of environmental im
pact statements (EIS) required by
federal law.
Since 1970, federal agencies
have been publically accountable
under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), for any
"major" action with "significant”
impact on the human environ
ment. NEPA requires federal
agencies to compile an EIS when
those conditions exist.
The workshop noted what in
formation an EIS must contain,
what action can be taken if the
statement fails to meet the infor
mation requirements and what
steps to take to have an EIS writ
ten.
pWorld at a glance-N
From Associated Press reports
Sadat proposes Mideast peace
JERUSALEM — In an act unthinkable less than two weeks
ago, Egyptian Pres. Anwar Sadat stood in the parliament of Israel
Sunday and declared: "We expect to live with you in a lasting and
just peace."
The declaration broadcast around the globe was the closest
any Arab leader has come to recognizing Israel as an indepen
dent nation in 30 years of intermittent wars.
Sadat's mission captured the imagination of millions, but
infuriated Palestinian and other Arab militants to the point of
calling for his assassination as a traitor.
Conservatives lead elections
ATHENS, Greece - Premier Constantine Caramanlis' con
servative New Democracy Party led in early returns Sunday and
was expected to remain in power with an overall majority in
general elections for the 300-member unicameral parliament.
Caramanlis called the elections one year early, saying a new
government was needed to make decsions on crucial issues
facing Greece next year
Jetliner overshoots runway
FUNCHAL, Madeira — At least 130 persons were killed or
listed as missing after a Portuguese jetliner overshot the runway,
crashed and exploded while landing on this Atlantic holiday is
land, officials said Sunday.
The Boeing 727 of Portugal's national airline TAP skidded off
the end of the Santa Cruz Airport runway and burst into flames
dunng blustery weather Saturday night. It carried 156 passengers
and eight crew members, TAP spokesmen said.
Bob Taylor, University Land, Air
and Water Committee member
said NEPA is a ‘sleeper” docu
ment. It has had much more im
pact than was expected. The
courts often use it to enforce en
vironmental decisions, he said.
‘‘Debate on NEPA was slim
when it was before Congress. A
lot of congressmen who voted for
NEPA in 1969 wouldn’t admit it
today,” Taylor said.
NEPA created the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) to
develop EIS guidelines. The CEQ
and the courts have determined
that a draft EIS must be made pub
lic at least 90 days and a final EIS
must be made public for 30 days
before agency action can be
taken.
Taylor noted five specific items
an EIS must contain for validity:
the environmental effects if the ac
tion is implemented, alternatives
to the proposed action, the rela
tionships between the short term
uses of the environment and the
maintenance and enhancement
of long term productivity and fi
nally, the irreversible commitment
of resources.
Once an EIS has been asses
sed for these things, it must be
determined if the agency has
done an adequate job. Taytor said
key sore spots are the alternatives
sections, which are usually
"stumbling blocks for the agen
ties” and often are just "window
dressing for decisions the agency
has already decided to carry out.”
Impacts of both proposed
agency action and alternatives
must be given to Randv O’Toole of
the Survival Center. This can usu
ally be done, he said, in quantita
tive terms, so the public can easily
compare them.
Jan Sokol, staff resource per
son for the University local board
of OSPIRG, discussed steps to be
taken if an EIS is inadequate. The
first move, he said, is “making a
good record. Show where it (EIS)
is lacking in the draft process.
Then they (the agency) have an
opportunity to rectify the mistake.”
Collecting data for an appeal
against an EIS is necessary and
can “sometimes prod an agency
into action,” if the agency knows
someone is collecting information
about it, Sokol said.
Sokol mentioned several
groups offering free or low cost
legal and technical assistance. In
Eugene, the Oregon Wilderness
Coalition provides service to sci
entists and resource people. The
Northwest Environmental De
fense Center in Portland offers
free legal and technical aid. Other
good starting places are university
law schools and environmental
groups.
If you feel a federal agency is
taking action that requires an EIS
and one has not been written,
Taylor said the best way to deter
mine its feasibility is by looking
into previous court cases using
West’s General Digest, found at
the University Law School.
Shang’s Trivia: It is illegal in Memphis,
Tenn. for a woman to drive a car unless there’s
a man walking in front of her, waving a red
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