(a) In accordance with § 51.26, the appropriate NRC staff director will publish in the Federal Register a notice of intent stating that an environmental impact statement will be prepared. The notice will contain the information specified in § 51.27.

(b) Copies of the notice will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and Indian Tribes, appropriate State, regional, and metropolitan clearinghouses and to interested persons upon request. A public announcement of the notice of intent will also be made.