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. The District Engineer may prepare an EA or an EIS, or may obtain information needed to prepare an EA or an EIS, either with Corps staff or by third-party contract. In accordance with NEPA section 107(f), 42 U.S.C. 4336a(f), the Corps has established procedures allowing applicants, or contractors hired by applicants, to prepare environmental assessments and environmental impact statements documents under the District Engineer supervision.

(a) The District Engineer will independently evaluate the environmental document and will take responsibility for its contents. The District Engineer is responsible for ensuring that the information provided by the applicant-hired contractor is consistent with Corps' need to take a hard, objective look at the public interest and environmental factors consistent with its statutory requirements.

(b) The District Engineer will assist applicants and applicant-hired contractors by providing guidance and outlining the types of information required for the preparation of the environmental document. Third party contracting is the primary method for preparing all or part of environmental impact statements covered by this part. The District Engineer may also provide appropriate guidance and assist in environmental document preparation, to the extent that the District Engineer's resources and policy priorities allow. The District Engineer will work with the applicant to define the purpose and need, and, when appropriate, to develop a reasonable range of alternatives to meet that purpose and need.

(c) The District Engineer will work develop and modify, as appropriate, a schedule for preparation of the environmental document. Major changes to the schedule or related matters will be documented through written correspondence.

(d) The District Engineer may request from an applicant environmental information for use by the Corps in preparing or evaluating an environmental document. This may include a decision file consisting of any factual, scientific, or technical information used, developed, or considered by the applicant or applicant-hired contractor in the course of preparing the environmental document, including any correspondence with the Corps or with third parties.

(e) The applicant may accept or reject the District Engineer's guidance. The District Engineer, however, may after specifying the information in contention, require the applicant to resubmit any previously submitted data which the District Engineer considers inadequate or inaccurate. The District Engineer must document in the record the Corps' independent evaluation of the information and its accuracy.