22 CFR 216 (“Reg. 216”) is the US federal regulation defining USAID’s pre-implementation environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. The output of this process is Reg. 216 documentation – Requests for Categorical Exclusion (RCEs), Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs), and Environmental Assessments (EAs). This section provides access to resources explaining the Regulation and supporting the process of developing Reg. 216 documentation.
All EAs and most IEEs establish mandatory environmental “conditions” [mitigation actions] that must be fulfilled during project or activity implementation to protect the environment and human health and welfare. See the Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting section for resources.
- Text of 22 CFR 216
- Presentation: 22 CFR 216 – USAID’s Pre-implementation EIA Process.
- USAID Environmental Impact Assessment Tool – checklist to help determine elegibility of actions for categorical exclusion, and nature of potential impacts that must be addressed in project design and/or in IEEs.
- USAID Environmental Impact Assessment Tool PDF (1.4 MB)
- USAID Environmental Impact Assessment Tool Word (1.3 MB)
- Environmental Procedures Training Manual (EPTM) – How to guidance manual for developing RCEs, IEEs, and EAs.
- IEE Assistant – Step-by-step guidance tool with linked resources to facilitate preparation of 22 CFR 216 documentation.
- USAID Environmental Compliance Database – Searchable global database of approved 22 CFR 216 documentation.See also the Sectoral Environmental Guidelines Section for guidance regarding potential impacts and appropriate mitigation design for activities in typical sectors.
See the “underlying EIA concepts and skills” topic for resources on the general EIA process.