Comment Letters

The most effective comments are substantive in nature.  Let the agency know how YOU would personally be harmed by the proposed action.  Other fruitful areas for comment are:

• challenging the adequacy of the scientific and other relevant information used in the proposal;
• challenging the number of alternatives analyzed (i.e., whether there were alternatives that should have been considered but were not);
• challenging the thoroughness of the agency’s analysis of the alternatives presented;
• challenging compliance with other environmental laws that might apply to the proposed action; and
• challenging the adequacy of proposed mitigation measures.

Sample Comment Letters

These examples show a range of comment letters varying in subject, technicality, and length.

• Northern Alaska Environmental Center’s Comment Letter on Red Dog Mine Fugitive Dust
• Southeast Alaska Conservation Council’s Comment Letter on Greens Creek Mine Tailings Dump Expansion
• Mono Lake Committee’s sample comment letter to the EPA

Comment Letter Templates

• Catawba Riverkeeper’s comment letter regarding coal ash waste discharges into the Catawba River.

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