The Regulatory Backdrop
Identifying EISs
Searches for Federal Register EIS Information
Locating EISs at the UIUC Library
Statistical Sources
State Environmental Resources
Ask a Librarian

The Regulatory Backdrop

There is a vast gulf between the passage of a piece of legislation and its implementation, and the first step toward bridging that gap is the creation of regulations--the detailed instructions needed in order to implement the requirements of law.  

Regulations are written by the federal departments and agencies responsible for their implementation.  They are first published as proposed rules in the Federal Register.  Following a period during which  interested parties may recommend changes in the draft rules, they are revised, published as final rules in the Federal Register, and then incorporated in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).  

The CFR is the body of all federal regulations currently in force.  It consists of fifty titles, each of which is written by a particular executive department or agency.  Title 40, "Protection of Environment," is written by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Its print version consists of twenty-four volumes, each of which is updated annually.  The online version is also updated annually.  Some of the most important information about EISs can be found at 40 CFR 1502 (i.e., title 40, part 1502) and following.

For more information on federal regulations, consult U.S. Legislation, Laws and Regulations, a guide to the chief regulatory and legislative online resources available to UIUC users.

Identifying EISs

Announcements regarding all draft and final EISs produced by federal agencies appear in the EPA section of each Friday's Federal Register under the heading, Notices of Availability.  The EPA provides links to these notices on its web site (see Current Environmental Impact Statements).  Each entry includes an EIS number, a sentence describing the project requiring the EIS, contact information, a cutoff date for public comments, instructions for accessing the document, and other information. 

Often the federal agency that authors a particular EIS issues a notice of availability on its own web site.  Many of these can be located through the Agency NEPA Web Sites list.  These web sites sometimes include full-text EISs and may, therefore, be the most convenient source of recent EIS publications.

Searches for Federal Register EIS Information

One may use any of three search engines or databases to search for EIS information appearing in the Federal Register.

The Federal Register Environmental Documents page includes a search engine providing keyword access to all EIS-related material printed in the Federal Register from 1994 to the present.  One may also browse by date.  This resource is updated daily.

The National Archives and Records Administration maintains a Federal Register web site that includes an online Federal Register search form enabling users to carry out very specific searches.  To limit a search to notices, check "Notices" under "Federal Register Sections."  For guidance, see Federal Register Helpful Hints.

A second Federal Register database -- available only to UIUC students, faculty, and staff -- is LexisNexis Congressional.  To search the Federal Register, follow the "Regulations" link on the LexisNexis Congressional homepage.  In this database, the Federal Register can be searched by keyword and Federal Register citation.

Locating EISs at the UIUC Library

The UIUC Library owns thousands of draft and final environmental impact statements, all of which have records in the online catalog.  Use the subject terms "environmental impact analysis" and "environmental impact statements" to locate EIS documents through the UIUC Online Library Catalog. The call numbers for these items are typically constructed using a class number (see table below) and a local prefix.  Documents on microfiche, which use MFICHEDOC. as a prefix, may be found in the Government Documents Library.  Documents in print format, which invariably use the DOC. prefix, are located on Deck 5 of the Main Stacks.  

Many EIS documents are published by non-federal agencies, including state agencies and private entities.  These documents are catalogued using the traditional Dewey call number system rather than the Superintendent of Documents numbers.  Such documents are located throughout the Main Stacks as well in departmental libraries.

The most recent EIS publications may not yet be available in the UIUC library holdings due to the time it takes to publish, distribute, and catalog documents.  Fortunately, many may be found online, many in full text.

Statistical Sources

• Statistical Abstract of the United States
  When seeking statistics on the United States, start here.  If you are in the Government Documents Library, you will save time by locating the print version of this title (call no. DOC.C3.134:).  Note that the index refers the user to table numbers, not page numbers.
• LexisNexis Statistical  For UIUC users only.
  This database indexes and abstracts statistical tables issued by commercial publishers, state governments, the U.S. government, and intergovernmental organizations.  Tables published by the U.S. government and included in the LexisNexis Statistical component known as the American Statistics Index (ASI) are usually available online.
• Government Documents Library Statistical Site
  This site provides links to the chief statistical databases made available online by the U.S. government.
• Statistical Resources on the Web
  The links on this site lead to data published by both private and governmental sources in practically every field.

State Environmental Resources

• State Environmental Departments
• Environmental Council of the States

Ask a Librarian

Reference assistance is available in the Government Documents Library Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.   Email reference service is also available.

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