(a) FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 will consider environmental quality as equal with economic, social, and other relevant factors in program development and decision-making processes.
(b) In assessing the potential environmental impacts of its actions, FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 will consult early with appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and other organizations to provide decision-makers with both the technical and human aspects of environmental planning.
(c) When adverse environmental impacts are identified, either direct or indirect, an examination will be made of alternative courses of action, including their potential environmental impacts. The objective of the environmental review will be to develop a feasible alternative with the least adverse environmental impact. The alternative of not proceeding with the proposal will also be considered particularly with respect to the need for the proposal.
(d) If no feasible alternative exists, including the no-action alternative, measures to mitigate the identified adverse environmental impacts will be included in the proposal.
(e) The performance of environmental reviews and the consideration of alternatives will be initiated as early as possible in the FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 application review process so that the Agency will be in the most flexible and objective position to deal with these considerations.