(EA) a concise, public document containing a federal agency's analysis of the significance of potential environmental consequences —note 1. the environmental assessment need not contain the level of analysis contained in an environmental impact statement —note 2. an environmental assessment is used to determine whether an environmental impact statement is needed or a "finding of no significant impact" is warranted —note 3. an EA is one of four classes of National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 documentation, the other three being environmental impact statement, conformance determination record, and categorical exclusion This definition last updated 10/25/2008