2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE LIBRARIES AND STATE SUPPLEMENTS

Each Rural Development office will maintain an Environmental Compliance Library in keeping with USDA Departmental Regulation 9500-3, Land Use Policy. In addition to this NRMG supplements will be prepared and distributed by the RD State Office. These supplements will provide updates on resource conservation, state, local, and federal contacts, and clarification of special requirements affecting individual programs. These supplements will be maintained as a part of each office’s Environmental Library. At a minimum the Environmental Libraries will contain the following materials:

·        FEMA flood hazard maps for the counties served.

·        Listings of communities and counties participating in the FEMA flood plain management program.

·        Listing of the National Register of Historic Places for the counties served.

·        Listing of historic districts within the counties and towns served.

·        Soils maps for the counties served.

·        Supplements prepared by the State Office.

·        Resource conservation information for the service area available from local, state, and federal agencies.

Information maintained within the Environmental Libraries will be considered public information and provided to applicants as needed to identify and assess natural resources affected or potentially affected by RD loan and grant making activities.

Each RD office and Program Division has a set of CD’s that cover most of the environmental statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders which should be considered in the NEPA compliance process.