The award of FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 funds for the purpose of providing technical assistance or planning assistance will not be subject to any environmental review. However, applicants will be expected to consider in the development of their plans and to generally document within their plans:
(a) The existing environmental quality and the important environmental factors within the planning area, and
(b) The potential environmental impacts on the planning area of the plan as well as the alternative planning strategies that were reviewed.