(a) In the event that a project requires both an environmental impact report prepared pursuant to the requirements of this division and an environmental impact statement prepared pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the lead agency shall, whenever possible, use the environmental impact statement as such environmental impact report as provided in Section 21083.5.
(b) In order to implement this section, each lead agency to which this section is applicable shall do both of the following, as soon as possible:
(1) Consult with the federal agency required to prepare such environmental impact statement.
(2) Notify the federal agency required to prepare the environmental impact statement regarding any scoping meeting for the proposed project.