Region X of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has objectives to assist other government agencies in developing an environmental ethic for their planning and action programs and to assure that environmental values receive equal consideration with economics and need in the Federal decision making process. As a result of experience the Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines have been revised and updated to further assist those engaged in the preparation of impact statements. These guidelines insure that the most important ecological principles are considered when evaluating possible courses of action or inaction.