ABSTRACT
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process was established as a requirement for all major federal projects significantly affecting the human environment by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The diversity of approaches to preparing and processing EIS and the numerous emerging methodologies and techniques of assessment can be viewed as the raw material for a "Model EIS Process." Developing adequate scientific and technical information for the EIS process has been further hindered by several "procedural" stumbling blocks. The EIS process has generated an extensive quantity of scientific and technical information that has oftentimes led to information overload rather than to problem clarification. The similarities in the groups' discussions and recommendations appear to reflect some universal needs experienced by most individuals participating in the EIS process. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
