Generic Environmental Impact Statements

One way to plan and evaluate the potential impacts of development in a specific area is to prepare a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS). A GEIS is particularly useful when there is a need to account for the cumulative impacts, regional influences, and secondary effects of an overall group of actions or overall program. It is a way to consider the potential environmental impacts of future actions and develop mitigation measures and alternatives at a time when there is greater flexibility in designing projects and plans. GEISs should set forth specific conditions or criteria under which future actions will be undertaken or approved.

The main advantage in preparing a GEIS is that no further State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) compliance is required if a subsequent proposed action will be carried out in conformance with all the conditions and thresholds established in the GEIS or its findings statement.