# Presentation: 139895

## the National Environmental Policy Act - NEPA

-  by Ralph Jesse
- Environmental Protection Specialist

- “Progress in every age results only from the fact that there are some men and women who refuse to believe that what they know to be right cannot be done.”
- - Russell W. Davenport

## NEPA

-  NEPA = National Environmental Policy Act
- Public Law 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, January 1, 1970
- EPA 40 CFR 1500
- Agriculture 7 CFR Part 520

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA Background

- Enacted in 1970
- Applies only to Federal agencies
- Established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
- CEQ regulations promulgated in 1977
- Allows agencies to prepare their own policies on NEPA

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA Background

**40 CFR 1500 – 1508 -- Council on Environmental Quality**
- 1500 - Purpose, Policy and Mandate
- 1501 - NEPA and Agency Planning
- 1502 - Environmental Impact Statement
- 1503 - Commenting
- 1504 - Precision Referrals to the Council of Proposed Federal Actions Determined to be Environmentally Unsatisfactory
- 1505 - NEPA and Agency Decision Making
- 1506 - Other Requirements of NEPA
- 1507 - Agency Compliance
- 1508 - Terminology and Index

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## 7 CFR 520 – 
       Procedures for ARS Implementing NEPA, 1986

520.1   General statement
520.2   Definition
520.3   Policy
520.4   Responsibilities
520.5   Categorical Exclusions (CATEX)
520.6   Preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA)
520.7   Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

**       ****Procedures for ARS Implementing NEPA, 1986**
- 520.1   General statement
- 520.2   Definition
- 520.3   Policy
- 520.4   Responsibilities
- 520.5   Categorical Exclusions (CATEX)
- 520.6   Preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA)
- 520.7   Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

- NEPA Background

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA’s Twin Objectives

- Federal managers must make “informed decisions” and consider environmental effects along with mission, cost, schedule, etc.
- Federal Agencies must diligently involve the public when making decisions having significant environmental impacts

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA 

- NEPA is PROCEDURAL statute
- Agencies must take a **“****HARD LOOK****” **at environmental consequences
- NEPA does not drive decision
- Not required to select least environmentally damaging alternative
- Not required to elevate environmental concerns above other considerations
- There is no “NEPA regulator” --  NEPA oversight is through the courts

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA Trigger

- Compliance is required whenever an agency proposes to take “a major Federal action”
- A “major Federal action” is any action that has the potential for significant  impact on human environment
- Typical actions:
- Constructing facilities
- Awarding grants
- Approving permits
- Research and Development
- Real Estate actions (leasing, disposal, acquisition)

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## “Significance”

**Context – setting**
**Intensity – severity**
**The degree to which the proposal:**
**Has uncertain or scientifically controversial impacts**
**Affects public health and safety**
**Affects important natural resources (e.g. wetlands, listed species, Federal parks, wildlife refuges, cultural resources, marine sanctuaries, coral reefs, etc.)**
**May establish a precedent for future actions with significant impacts**
**Threatens violation of an environmental law**

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA Documentation

**Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) – **routine actions with known insignificant impacts
**Environmental Assessment (EA) **– actions with unknown impacts
**Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)** – actions with significant impacts

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Procedure

- Is the planned operation a headquarters project?  Determine if the NEPA review and documentation is already completed by SHEMB – FD.
- Is the planned operation a research project?  Determine if the NEPA review and documentation is already completed by National Program Staff.

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Categorical Exclusion  =  CATEX

- Used for actions having minimal impact
- Most widely used for NEPA compliance
- _Not_ used where impacts
- Affect public health or safety
- Are uncertain / unknown
- Threaten violation of environmental law
- Would adversely affect important natural resources (endangered species, wetlands, cultural resources, etc.)

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## CATEX Examples

- Routine procurements
- Day-to-day administrative and management activities
- Rehabilitation / modification of structures resulting in less than 20% increase in size and where land use does not change
- Real estate acquisition, disposal or leasing where resulting land use does not change
- Routine movement and use of hazardous materials when conducted in accordance with applicable environmental standards
- Support services including health care, home ownership assistance, day care, rental assistance, etc.
- Construction of facilities less than 10,000 SF and consistent with surrounding land use

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Blanket CATEX for Routine Activities

-  General Repair and Maintenance Projects
- Plumbing (no asbestos abatement)
- HVAC (no insulation abatement)
- Painting (no lead abatement)
- Landscaping (no soil displacement)
- Carpentry (no landfill restrictions)
- Electrical (no PCB abatement)

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Link to NEPA PDF Fillable Checklist

- _[Link to NEPA PDF ](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/nepafillablechecklist.pdf)__[Fillable](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/nepafillablechecklist.pdf)__[ Checklist](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/nepafillablechecklist.pdf)_

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## CATEX Documentation

- One-page memo to file
- Memo:
- Describes proposed activity
- Explains why there are no extraordinary circumstances impacting the environment
- Cites 7 CFR 520.5, ARS Procedures for Implementing NEPA
- Must be signed by Area Director

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Link to Example Catex Memo

- _[Link to Example ](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/catexmemo.doc)__[Catex](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/catexmemo.doc)__[ Memo](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/catexmemo.doc)_

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Environmental Assessment 

-  Extensive Repair and Maintenance Projects
- Plumbing with asbestos abatement
- HVAC with insulation abatement
- Painting with lead abatement
- Landscaping with soil displacement
- Carpentry with abatement issues and landfill restrictions
- Electrical with PCB abatement
-  Requires a brief design review and project plan.

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Link to NEPA PDF Fillable Checklist

- _[Link to NEPA PDF ](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/nepafillablechecklist.pdf)__[Fillable](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/nepafillablechecklist.pdf)__[ Checklist](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/nepafillablechecklist.pdf)_

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Link to FONSI Memo Example 

- _[Link to FONSI Memo Example ](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/fonsimemoexample.doc)_

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Minor Environmental Assessment

- Brief review document
- Demonstrates no significant impacts
- Must
- Identify the proposed action
- State alternatives considered
- Discuss impacts
- Process time – One week
- EA Cost estimate - negligible

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Link to FONSI Memo Example 

- _[Link to FONSI Memo Example ](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/fonsimemoexample.doc)_

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Major Environmental Assessment

- Detailed review document
- Demonstrates no significant impacts, or
- Facilitates preparation of EIS when one is necessary
- Must
- Identify the proposed action
- State alternatives considered
- Discuss impacts
- Process time = Three - six months+
- EA Cost estimate = $20K - $80K

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Link to Environmental Assessment Form

- _[Link to Environmental Assessment Form](http://www.mwa.ars.usda.gov/mwa/shem/environmentalassessment.doc)_

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Link to FONSI Memo Example 

- _Link to FONSI Memo Example__ _

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Environmental Impact Statement

- Required for actions with significant environmental  impacts
- Formal process – takes 18 months or more
- Requires intensive interaction with “interested and affected parties”
- Costly ~ $150K and up

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## EIS Content

- Proposed activity
- Purpose and need
- Alternatives
- Existing conditions
- Projected impacts
- Mitigation – alternative activities

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA Process

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## NEPA Timeframe

- NEPA should occur at the earliest planning stage of a project or action – the “go” or “no go”
- Repair and Maintenance
- Construction
- NEPA is typically done at the planning stage (15% design)
- Grant applicants usually required to provide NEPA - like analysis for Federal review / adoption

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## SUMMARY

- NEPA is PROCEDURAL statute
- NEPA applies to most Federal actions
- Agency decision makers must be informed about environmental impacts before taking an action
- Agencies should develop procedures for determining the level of NEPA documentation for proposals
- Agencies should promulgate a list of Categorical Exclusions
- Plaintiffs and the courts regulate NEPA

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005

## Questions?

- Facilities Team NEPA Orientation

- May 10, 2005