DOC 335.07(3)(b)(b) The department shall send copies of the notice to all individuals, agencies, and organizations that have requested notification of the EA or of all EAs and, in the case of a project in a particular area of the state, to appropriate news media in the vicinity of the project. The department may also publish the notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.

DOC 335.07(3)(c)(c) Following the deadline for receipt of public comment on the EA, the department shall review the EA, consider the comments received on it, make modifications judged necessary, and approve the EA which shall include a finding either of no significant impact or of the need for an EIS.

DOC 335.07(4)(4) 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 department’s offices in Madison, Wisconsin and at the county clerk, city clerk or town clerk in the area of the project. Such a finding shall be the final decision of the department which may be appealable as a contested case under ch. 227, Stats.

DOC 335.07(5)(5) If a finding is made in the EA that an EIS is required for the proposed action, the department shall proceed with preparation of an EIS.

DOC 335.08(1)(1) Scoping.

DOC 335.08(1)(a)(a) As soon as possible after the decision to prepare an EIS, the department shall inform the public and affected or otherwise interested agencies that an EIS will be prepared and that the process of identifying impacts and alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS is beginning.

DOC 335.08(1)(b)(b) The scoping process shall include, to the extent possible, affected federal, state and local agencies, any affected Indian tribe, and other interested persons. The process may consist of meetings, hearings, workshops, surveys, questionnaires, interagency committees, or other appropriate methods or activities, and may be integrated with other public participation requirements.

DOC 335.08(1)(c)1.1. Determine the parameters of the EIS and the significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS; and

DOC 335.08(1)(c)2.2. Identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues which are not significant or which have been covered by prior environmental impact analyses. This will permit limiting the discussion of these issues in the EIS to a brief presentation about why they are not significant for the human environment or to references to other documents in which these issues are discussed.

DOC 335.08(2)(2) Format of statement.

DOC 335.08(2)(a)(a) The EIS shall be written in plain language, and shall be concise, clear, and to the point. It shall include appropriate graphics to help decisionmakers and citizens understand the implications of the proposed action and alternatives for quality of the human environment.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)1.1. A cover sheet containing the title of the proposed action, name of the department, designation of the document as the draft or final statement, name and address of the office where more information can be provided, a one-paragraph abstract of the statement and the last date on which comments on the document will be considered.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)2.2. A summary of the statement. It shall briefly describe the proposed action and shall emphasize major conclusions, areas of controversy, and issues to be resolved.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)4.4. A brief specification of the purpose of the action and need for it.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)5.5. A succinct description of the environment which would be affected by the proposed action.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)6.6. In comparative format, an analysis of the impact on the environment of the proposed action and all reasonable alternatives to it, including the alternative of no action.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)7.7. A discussion of the scientific and analytic bases for the environmental consequences identified in subd. 6.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)8.8. A list of preparers of the EIS together with their qualifications.

DOC 335.08(2)(b)9.9. Appendices, if any, relevant to analyses in the EIS or otherwise relevant to the decision to be made.

DOC 335.08(2)(c)(c) Other documents and sources of information may be incorporated by reference if they are available for public inspection at the central offices of the department in Madison and at the county clerk, city clerk or town clerk in the area of the project.

DOC 335.08(3)(3) Content of statement.

DOC 335.08(3)(a)(a) When an EIS is required, first a draft EIS and then a final EIS shall be prepared by the department or else be prepared for the department under contract by a consultant with supervision and final editorial review by the department. The EIS shall emphasize significant environmental issues identified during the scoping process. An EIS shall contain, in the appropriate parts specified in sub. (2) (b) 4. to 7.:

DOC 335.08(3)(a)1.1. A description of the proposed action and of the affected environment, including the project location, type of facility, time schedules, maps and diagrams deemed relevant, and other pertinent information which will adequately allow an assessment of the potential environmental impact by commenting agencies and the public.

DOC 335.08(3)(a)2.2. An analysis of the probable impact of the proposed action on the environment of human beings, to include identification of positive as well as negative effects of the proposed action and, wherever possible, indirect as well as direct consequences for the environment.