(EIS) a detailed statement of a federal project,s environmental consequences, including adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided, alternatives to the proposed action, the relationship between local short-term uses and long-term productivity, and any irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources —note 1. an EIS is one of four classes of National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 documentation, the other three being environmental assessment, categorical exclusion, and conformance determination record —note 2. only the EIS has a statutory basis —note 3. a programmatic environmental impact statement is the document disclosing the environmental consequences of a program or plan that guides or prescribes the use of resources, allocates resources, or establishes rules and policies, in contrast to disclosure of the environmental consequences of a site-specific project —see finding of no significant impact, lead agency, notice of intent, tiering This definition last updated 10/25/2008