CH Environmental Impact Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NEPA, which document is required when a federal action may significantly affect the quality of the human environment?
- Environmental Assessment (EA)
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (Correct answer)
- Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
- Record of Decision (ROD)
Correct answer: Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
An EIS is required under NEPA when a proposed federal action may significantly affect the human environment.
Question 2: Which hydrographic survey activity most commonly requires an EIA due to potential seabed disturbance?
- Single-beam echo sounding
- Side-scan sonar towing
- Anchor placement for survey vessels (Correct answer)
- GPS positioning
Correct answer: Anchor placement for survey vessels
Anchor placement physically disturbs the seabed and benthic habitats, commonly triggering EIA requirements.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a 'scoping' process in an EIA?
- To determine project costs
- To identify significant issues and alternatives early in the process (Correct answer)
- To obtain public approval for the project
- To finalize monitoring requirements
Correct answer: To identify significant issues and alternatives early in the process
Scoping identifies the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be analyzed in the EIS before detailed study begins.
Question 4: When conducting hydrographic surveys in a designated Critical Habitat under the Endangered Species Act, which agency must be consulted?
- Army Corps of Engineers
- NOAA Fisheries or USFWS (Correct answer)
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Coast Guard
Correct answer: NOAA Fisheries or USFWS
Section 7 of the ESA requires consultation with NOAA Fisheries (marine species) or USFWS (terrestrial/freshwater species) for actions in Critical Habitat.
Question 5: Which parameter is most critical to assess when evaluating acoustic impacts of multibeam sonar on marine mammals?
- Survey vessel speed
- Source level and frequency range of the sonar (Correct answer)
- Chart datum used
- Tidal stage during survey
Correct answer: Source level and frequency range of the sonar
Source level and frequency determine whether acoustic energy overlaps with marine mammal hearing ranges and exceeds injury thresholds.
Question 6: A 'no-action alternative' in an EIS represents:
- Cancellation of all environmental monitoring
- The baseline against which proposed action impacts are compared (Correct answer)
- The least expensive project option
- Federal rejection of the project
Correct answer: The baseline against which proposed action impacts are compared
The no-action alternative describes what would happen if the project is not implemented, serving as the environmental baseline.
Question 7: Which type of impact is characterized by effects that occur away from the project site due to project activities?
- Direct impact
- Indirect impact (Correct answer)
- Cumulative impact
- Residual impact
Correct answer: Indirect impact
Indirect impacts are caused by the action but occur later in time or farther in distance from the project site.
CH Environmental Impact Assessment 2
Under NEPA, which document is required when a federal action may significantly affect the quality of the human environment?