(a) Process. The District Engineer will consider input received in response to the public notice, where public notice is required by the legal authority governing the proposed activity for which authorization is sought, advising interested parties of the proposed activity for which authorization is sought when determining the environmental effects that should be considered in the NEPA analysis. District Engineers will promote efficiency through the adoption or incorporation of existing applicable EAs and EISs and other relevant environmental analysis to the extent practicable. Information developed through the NEPA process will inform the District Engineer's decision on the permit application or request for permission.

(b) Limitations on actions during the NEPA process. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, until the Corps issues a record of decision or a finding of no significant impact, or makes a categorical exclusion determination, as applicable, the permit applicant should take no action concerning their application that would:

(1) have an adverse environmental effect within an area under the jurisdiction of the Corps; or

(2) limit the choice of reasonable alternatives.

(c) If the Corps is considering an application from a non-Federal entity and becomes aware that the applicant is about to take an action within the Corps' jurisdiction that would meet either of the criteria in § 333.13(b), the Corps will promptly notify the applicant that the Corps will take appropriate action to ensure that the objectives and procedures of NEPA are achieved.

(d) Coordination with the Applicant.

(1) The District Engineer will:

(i) Coordinate at the earliest reasonable time in the application review process to inform the applicant what information the District Engineer might need to comply with NEPA and, if the lead agency, establish a schedule for completing steps in the NEPA review process, consistent with NEPA's statutory deadlines and any internal agency NEPA schedule requirements; and

(ii) Begin the NEPA process by determining whether NEPA applies, as described in § 333.11, and if it does, determine the appropriate level of NEPA review, as described in § 333.12, as soon as practicable after receiving the complete application

(2) The District Engineer may require the applicant to furnish appropriate information that the District Engineer considers necessary for the preparation of an EA or EIS. An applicant or a contractor hired by the applicant may prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under the District Engineer's supervision. The Corps procedures for applicant-prepared environmental assessments and environmental impact statement are included in § 333.51 of this part.