Comprehensive NEPA Warrant I curriculum (32 Hours) – Course Number – WI 5
This comprehensive training fulfills all of the requirements for the U.S. Coast Guard Warrant I curriculum:
NEPA Overview and Basic Requirements (8 Hours) – Course Number – WI-1
Session 1 Overview and regulatory structure (2 hrs)
o Overview of the History and need for NEPA (30 min)
o Overview of the revised CEQ regulations and basic structure of required documents (CEs, EAs, and EIS, RODs, and FONSIs).
o Coast Guard NEPA regulations and guidance.
o Basic structure and use of documents.
o Case study on the NEPA process (10 exam questions)
Session 2— Problem and Analysis Framing (2 hrs)
o Development of a focused Purpose and Need
o The proposal and its parts.
o Scoping, public involvement and issues.
o Development of alternatives.
o Cause-effect analysis.
o Case studies for P&N, scoping, and alternatives (5 exam questions)
Session 3—Special Topics (2 hrs)
o Cooperating agencies and regulatory consultations.
o Contracting NEPA and the requirements.
o How to address Incomplete and unavailable information (data gaps).
o Appropriate application of NEPA in emergency situations.
o Case studies on cooperating agencies and contracting (5 exam questions)
Session 4— Legal Standards and APA Records Management (1hr 30 min)
o Arbitrary and capricious and hard look standards.
o Significance criteria and how to apply.
o How to write FONSIs and RODs.
o The planning record and administrative record under the APA.
o Case studies on records and decision documents. (5 exam questions)
Session 5 -- Final exam (30 min—to be submitted for grading, 15 questions).
Total student hours 8 hours
Migratory Bird Treaty Act / Coastal Zone Management Act (8 Hours) – Course Number – WI-2
Session 1—Legal Overview (1 hour)
o Overview of the History development
o Provisions for protection and management
o Civil and criminal penalties
o Executive Order 13186
Session 2—Specific Provision and Enforcement (2 hrs).
o Authorities of F&WLS and Coast Guard
o Compliance provisions for Federal agencies
o Permitting provisions and processes
o Personal liabilities under the law
o Intersection with other laws
Session 3—Recent Developments (30 min)
o Case law provisions and interpretations
o Developing Legal issues
o Wind development projects (on-shore and off-shore)
o Recent Executive Orders and regulation changes
Session 4 CZMA History and overview (1 hr)
o Origin and context for the law
o Important requirements of the law
o State primacy and authorities
o Applicability to Federal agencies
Session 5 – State Coastal Zone Management Planning (30 min)
o Coastal Zone plan required content
o Development process
o Contrasting state plans and approaches
o Approval of state plans
Session 6—Consistency Analysis (2 hrs)
o Regulation overview and consistency analyses requirements.
o Similarities and differences among state approaches.
o State by state consistency process
Objection and appeal of disagreements
Session 7 -- Developing Policies (30 min)
o Court cases that set requirements for Federal compliance.
o Case studies that exemplify compliance issues.
Session 8 -- Exam (30 hr)
Total student hours 8 hours
Endangered Species Act (8 Hours) – Course Number – WI-3
Session 1 – Statute Overview and History (1 hr )
o History of the ESA from the early 1900s
o Ranking of cases and status of species
o Definitions; Threatened, Endangered, candidate
o Agency authorities and penalties
Session 2—Listing of Species and Critical Habitat (1 and ½ hrs)
o Criteria for listing species
o The process for listing species
o The process for delisting species
o The process and requirements for designation of critical habitat
Session 3 Federal Agency Consultation—Section 7 (4 hrs)
o The Federal Section 7 consultation process
o Biological Assessments and evaluations
o Informal consultation and how it works
o Formal Consultation and how it works
o Biological opinions; reasonable and prudent alternatives
o Incidental take permits
o Integration with NEPA
o Cumulative actions under NEPA versus ESA
Session 4— Private land Owner Agreements – Section 10 (1 Hr)
o Habitat conservation plans
· The process
· The content
o Safe harbor provisions
o Mitigation measures – including monitoring
o Funding to implement mitigation
o Procedures to address unforeseen events
o Integration with NEPA
· Alternative actions considered
· Reasons for eliminating alternatives
Session 5— Take home exam, 15 questions – (30 min)
Total student hours 8 hours
National Historic Preservation Act (8 Hours) – Course Number - WI-4
Session 1 – Statute Overview and History (1 hr)
o History of the NHPA and connections to the Antiquities Act
o Important definitions of terms; the National Advisory Council. States Historic Preservation Offices
o Park Service as the “keeper,” and
o what is an “undertaking.”
Session 2—NHPA Organization Structure and Processes (2 hrs)
o The National Advisory Council and how it works
o Important sections of the Act and their requirements
o What qualifies as a historic properties and traditional cultural properties.
o Federal agencies responsibilities for protection or properties.
o Professional standards for involvement under Section 112
o Case studies on listings for the National Register.
Session 3—Federal Consultations Under Section 106 of the Act. (3 hrs)
o When Section 106 consultation is triggered
o Integration of Section 106 with NEPA
o The process for consultation and reaching agreement with SHPOs and THPOs
o Advisory Council role and consultation process
o Program agreements and how they work
o Case studies on important court cases
Session 4—Other Related Statutes and Requirements. (1hr 30 min)
o Intersection with the NAGPA, APREA, ARPA, and the AIRFA statues
o Executive Orders that expand on the NHPA and other related natural resource protection statues.
o An overview and application of the National Historic Lighthouse Protection Act.
Session 5 – 15 question take home exam (30 min)
Total student hours 8 hours