TCS 12.04(3)(a)(a) Content. The board shall develop a notice for EA as prepared under this section. The notice shall state that the EA has been prepared and is available for review and shall include the following information:

TCS 12.04(3)(b)(b) Distribution. The board shall send copies of the notice to all individuals, agencies, and organizations that have requested notification of the EA or of all EA’s and, in the case of a project in a particular area of the state, to the news media in the vicinity of the project.

TCS 12.04(4)(4) Public comment and input. Following the deadline for receipt of public comment on the EA, appropriate board staff shall review the EA, consider all public comments, make modifications as judged necessary, and approve the EA which shall include a finding either of no significant impact or of the need for an EIS.

TCS 12.04(5)(a)(a) If a finding is made in the EA of no significant impact, no EIS shall be required, the environmental review is complete and the original EA shall then be filed in the office of the WEPA coordinator as a finding of no significant impact.

TCS 12.04(5)(b)(b) If a finding is made in the EA that an EIS is required for a proposed Type II action, the board shall proceed with the preparation of an EIS under ss. TCS 12.05 to 12.11.

TCS 12.04(5)(c)(c) The board’s finding on the need for an EIS becomes final upon signing by the state director or designee.

TCS 12.04(6)(6) Delegation. Except for the EIS evaluation section as described in sub. (1) (g), any part of an EA may be prepared by a district proposing an action.

TCS 12.04 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1987, No. 376, eff. 5-1-87; correction in (5) (b) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 1994, No. 462.

TCS 12.05(1)(1) As soon as possible after the decision to prepare an EIS, the district, in actions where the district is the proponent of an action, or the board, in all other actions, shall notify and inform the public and affected agencies that an EIS will be prepared and that scoping is beginning.

TCS 12.05(2)(2) The scoping process shall include, to the extent possible, affected federal, state and local agencies, the board, the proponent of the action, and other interested persons. The process may consist of meetings, hearings, workshops, surveys, questionnaires, or other appropriate methods or activities, and may be integrated with other public participation requirements.

TCS 12.05(3)(a)(a) Determine the scope and the significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS.

TCS 12.05(3)(b)(b) Identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental review. This will narrow the discussion of these issues in the EIS to a brief presentation of why they will not have a significant effect on the human environment or a reference to their coverage elsewhere.

TCS 12.05(3)(c)(c) Set a time for document preparation and opportunities for public involvement.

TCS 12.06(1)(1) When an EIS is required, a DEIS and an FEIS shall be prepared by the board, by the district or by a consultant under contract with the board or a district. The board shall supervise and exercise final review of any EIS prepared by a district or a consultant. The DEIS shall emphasize significant environmental issues identified during the scoping process. The FEIS shall be based in part upon comments received on the DEIS and on information received from other sources. An EIS shall provide analysis of the environmental and economic implications of a proposed action contemplated by a district that need board approval. An EIS shall include the following:

TCS 12.06(1)(a)(a) A summary of the scoping process used and the major issues identified for detailed analysis in the EIS.

TCS 12.06(1)(b)(b) A description of the proposed action and of the affected environment including the history and background of the proposed action, location, type of facility, major dimensions, engineering design criteria, general types of materials be used, time schedules, maps and diagrams deemed relevant, sources of funding, permits and approvals required, and other pertinent information which will adequately allow an assessment of the potential environmental impact by persons who want to make comments.

TCS 12.06(1)(c)(c) An evaluation shall be made of the probable environmental consequences, both positive and negative, of the proposed action as it relates to the physical and chemical, biological, social and cultural, and economic environments. Secondary as well as primary consequences to the environment shall be included whenever possible. The discussion shall include adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented. The EIS shall include impacts which have catastrophic consequences, even if their probability of occurrence is low, provided that the analysis of the impacts is supported by credible scientific evidence, is not based on pure conjecture, and is within the rule of reason.

TCS 12.06(1)(c)1.1. The evaluation of the physical and chemical environment shall include consideration of the action’s effects upon air quality and climate, surface and ground water quality and quantity, noise, geological structure, topography, minerals and soils, thermal effects, unique land forms and water bodies, and flood and erosion hazards.