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August 31, 2023

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

From: Michael Blackmon

NEPA Coordinator

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Subject: Categorical Exclusion

Project: Center for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture 

Location: Inter American University of Puerto Rico

KM.HM 0.4 CARR 719 BO HELECHAL, Barranquitas

Puerto Rico, 00794

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and associated implementing regulations (40 

CFR Parts 1500-1508) require that all major federal actions be reviewed with respect to their

environmental consequences. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has 

selected the project: Center for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture at the Inter American 

University, Barranquitas Campus for a federal funding grant. Consequently, NEPA and the 

associated implementing regulations apply to this project.

 

This memorandum summarizes NIST’s environmental review of this project and the 

determination that this project is categorically excluded from further environmental review under 

NEPA.
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Description of the Action

The Center for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture is a project underway on the Inter 

American University, Barranquitas Campus in Puerto Rico. The intent of the project is to 

increase agricultural resilience, reduce food insecurity, and promote economic development 

through the application of biotechnological tools. This goal will be realized through the 

construction of a specialized laboratory, where many of these biotechnological tools can be 

applied. The laboratory is to be located in a new separate building with a footprint of 62’ x 52’ 

(3,224 Square feet) on the Barranquitas Campus. 

The general structure of the building is substantially complete, but the facility has not been fully 

equipped. The environmental impact of the building construction was evaluated in 2019 and a 

categorical exclusion was issued by the Puerto Rico government (Attachment 1).

NIST’s grant funds will be used for the purchase of equipment for the Center for Food Security 

and Sustainable Agriculture including:

• Mechanical works – plumbing, air conditioning, lighting, workplace ventilation and 

exhaust,

• An emergency electrical generator,

• Computer hardware, software, and networking equipment,

• Laboratory workbenches,

• Laboratory equipment – atomic emission spectrophotometers, ultraviolet and visible 

light spectrophotometers, centrifuges, pH meters, analytical balances, biosafety cabinets, 

bioreactors, cryogenic freezers, refrigerators, autoclaves, and 

• other minor equipment and supplies.

Effects of the Action

NIST has determined that no significant environmental impacts are expected from the equipment 

purchase, installation, and operation.

Categorical Exclusion

The activities associated with this project fall under the following Department of Commerce 

Categorical Exclusions: 

A1 Minor renovations and additions to buildings, roads, airfields, grounds, equipment, 

and other facilities that do not result in a change in the functional use of the real 

property, and 
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A-7 Acquisition, installation, operation, and removal of communications systems, 

data processing equipment, and similar electronic equipment.

Since this grant will only fund equipment purchases, the project meets the conditions described 

above in categorical exclusions A-1 and A-7.

The proposed project, Center for Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture at the Inter 

American University, Barranquitas Campus, is categorically excluded from the need for further 

environmental review under NEPA. Any changes to the above project will require additional 

NEPA review.

_________________________________ ______________________

Michael Blackmon Date

NIST NEPA Coordinator

_________________________________ ______________________

R.C. Vaughn Date

NIST Chief Facilities Management Officer
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Attachment 1 
Certificación de Cumplimiento Ambiental por Exclusión Categórica

Número de Caso:

2019-280324-DEC-079819

Fecha de Expedición:

Datos de Localización

De conformidad con las disposiciones contenidas en las leyes y los reglamentos vigentes, se expide la presente

Certificación de Exclusión Categórica para la acción(es) antes descrita(s):

Dueño:

Datos de determinación

Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico

Estado: Puerto Rico

Dirección: KM.HM 0.4 CARR 719 BO HELECHAL

Dirección Física:

Código Postal: 00794

Municipio: Barranquitas

11/SEP/2019

Sometido por:

Número(s) de Catastro:

Calificación

Exclusión Categórica

11/SEP/2019

Fecha de Expedición:

Números de exclusión categórica aplicables de acuerdo a la R-11-17 de la

JCA*:

Distrito(s) de Calificación: DT-G

Distrito en el Mapa de Inundabilidad: X (87.8%), A (12.2%)

Tipo de Suelo: DaD (61.9%), HtE (21.8%), Uv (16.4%)

273-002-056-02

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Nanette Ortiz

Ampliacion Universidad Interamericana de PR Recinto de Barranquitas

Condiciones Generales

De acuerdo con la solicitud de esta Determinación, se certificó cumplimiento con los siguientes requisitos, cuyo

incumplimiento podrá repercutir en la revocación de esta Determinación:

1. Las actividades de uso o de construcciones livianas de nuevas estructuras no están ubicadas o desarrolladas en:

a. Areas especiales de riesgo de inundaciones, derrumbes o marejadas.

b. Areas en las que la Junta de Calidad Ambiental (JCA) u otras agencias gubernamentales estatales o federales hayan

determinado que existe un grado de contaminación que excede el permitido por los reglamentos vigentes.

c. Areas ecológicamente sensitivas o protegidas, según establecido por el Departamento de Recursos Naturales y

Ambientales (DRNA), en las que existan especies únicas de fauna o flora o que estén en peligro de extinción o en las que

puedan afectarse ecológicamente sistemas naturales o artificiales, ya sea en forma directa o indirecta.

d. Areas en las que existan problemas de infraestructura o de deficiencias en los sistemas de servicios de suministro de

agua potable, disposición de las aguas sanitarias, suministro de energía eléctrica o capacidad vial para el manejo adecuado

del tránsito de vehículos de motor.

e. Areas que constituyan yacimientos minerales, conocidos o potenciales.

f. Areas en las que existen yacimientos arqueológicos o de valor cultural, según determinado por el Instituto de Cultura

Puertorriqueña (ICP).

g. Areas de topografía escarpada, en cuencas hidrográficas donde se puedan afectar fuentes de abasto de

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Certificación de Cumplimiento Ambiental por Exclusión Categórica

Número de Caso:

2019-280324-DEC-079819

agua potable.

h. Cualquier otra acción que la JCA haya establecido mediante Resolución.

2. No descargarán contaminantes a cuerpos de agua, ni generará desperdicios peligrosos o emisiones al aire que excedan

dos (2) toneladas al año de contaminantes de aire criterio, o cinco (5) toneladas de cualquier combinación de contaminantes

criterios, ni emitirá al aire contaminantes peligrosos o tóxicos u olores objetables.

3. La disposición o descarga de las aguas usadas se realizará mediante acometidas a un sistema sanitario existente, lo cual

requerirá la obtención del endoso de la AAA previo a la solicitud de permisos de construcción.

4. Que existe la infraestructura necesaria (agua potable y alcantarillado sanitario suministrado por la AAA, energía eléctrica,

alcantarillado pluvial, vías de acceso) para servir a la operación del proyecto o actividad propuesta, con excepción de los

proyectos agrícolas que se ubican por regla general en las áreas rurales, así como las residencias unifamiliares asociadas

en las que las instalaciones de esa naturaleza son limitadas.

5. La operación de la actividad no afectará áreas residenciales o zonas de tranquilidad por contaminación sónica según

establecido por el Reglamento para el Control de la Contaminación por Ruido.

6. Que el desarrollo de la instalación comercial, industrial, de servicio, institucional y de desarrollo de terrenos para uso

turístico y proyectos recreativos no excede de cinco mil (5,000) pies cuadrados de conStrucción en área total de ocupación

y área bruta de piso y que cumple con las condiciones de ubicación y operación establecidas por la OGPe u otra agencia

con jurisdicción, según sean aplicables.

7. El uso de edificios o estructuras existentes para facilidades comerciales, almacenes y usos industriales o de servicios no

excederán de cien mil (100,000) pies cuadrados en área total de ocupación y área bruta de piso. Dicha operación deberá

cumplir con las condiciones de ubicación y operación establecidas por la OGPe u otra agencia con jurisdicción, según sean

aplicables, y las establecidas para las exclusiones categóricas en este Reglamento.

8. Para la ejecución o desarrollo de las acciones aprobadas como exclusiones categóricas, se requerirá la obtención de los

permisos aplicables de las agencias gubernamentales para las etapas de construcción y operación.

9. La acción no ha sido fragmentada o segmentada para fines de la evaluación y será determinación de la agencia

proponente si la misma satisface o no los requisitos para ser considerada y ejecutada bajo una exclusión categórica.

10. Que ha cumplido con el requisito de publicación de un Aviso Público de conformidad con la Regla 122 del Reglamento

de Evaluación y Trámite de Documentos Ambientales de la JCA, en el caso que la acción propuesta esté relacionada al uso

u otorgamiento de fondos federales que requieran un proceso de evaluación parecido al de NEPA (NEPA-Like Process).

Firma / Sellos

Fecha de Expedición:

11/SEP/2019

Si luego de haberse aquí dado cumplimiento con el Artículo 4(B) de la Ley Núm. 416 surgieran variaciones sustanciales en

la acción propuesta que requieran la evaluación a los impactos ambientales, habrá que presentar el correspondiente

documento ambiental, de conformidad con la Ley sobre Política Pública Ambiental.

Aviso

Condiciones Especiales

NINGUNA

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Certificación de Cumplimiento Ambiental por Exclusión Categórica

Número de Caso:

2019-280324-DEC-079819

Ing. Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez

Secretario Auxiliar

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Environmental Compliance Certification by Categorical Exclusion

Expansion Interamerican University of PR Barranquitas Campus

Date of Issue:

SEP/11/2019

Location Data

In accordance with the provisions contained in the laws and regulations in force, this Certification of Categorical Exclusion is 

issued for the action(s) described above:

Physical Address:

Address: KM. HM 0.4 CARR 719 BO HELECHAL

Municipality: Barranquitas

State: Puerto Rico

Postal Code: 00794 

Rating

Rating District(s): DT-G

District on the Flood Map: X (87.8%), A (12.2%) 

Soil Type: DaD (61.9%), HtE (21.8%), Uv (16.4%)

Determination data

Categorical exclusion Date of Issue:

Owner:

Inter American 

University of Puerto 

Rico

Submitted by:

Nanette Ortiz

Cadastre 

Number(s):

273-002-056-02

Categorical exclusion numbers applicable according to R-11-17 of JCA* 

11/SEP/2019 

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General Conditions

In accordance with the request for this Determination, compliance with the following requirements was certified, noncompliance with which may result in the revocation of this Determination:

1. Activities of use or light construction of new structures are not located or developed in:

a. Special areas at risk of flooding, landslides or storm surges.

b. Areas in which the Environmental Quality Board (JCA) or other state or federal government agencies have determined that 

there is a degree of contamination that exceeds that permitted by current regulations.

c. Ecologically sensitive or protected areas, as established by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources 

(DRNA), in which there are unique species of fauna or flora or that are in danger of extinction or in which natural or artificial 

systems may be ecologically affected, either directly or indirectly.
d. Areas where there are infrastructure problems or deficiencies in the systems of drinking water supply, sanitary water 

disposal, electricity supply or road capacity for the proper management of motor vehicle traffic.

e. Areas constituting known or potential mineral deposits.

f. Areas in which there are archaeological sites or sites of cultural value, as determined by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture 

(ICP).

g. Areas of steep topography, in watersheds where sources of supply of drinking water.

h. Any other action that the JCA has established through Resolution.

2. Discharge pollutants into bodies of water, generate hazardous waste or air releases exceeding (2) tons per year of 

criteria air pollutants, or five (5) tons of any combination of criteria pollutants, or emit hazardous or toxic pollutants or 

objectionable odors into the air.

3. The disposal or discharge of used water will be carried out through connections to an existing sanitary system, which 

will require obtaining the endorsement of the AAA prior to the application for construction permits.

4. That there is the necessary infrastructure (drinking water and sanitary sewerage supplied by the AAA, electricity, storm 

sewerage, access roads) to serve the operation of the proposed project or activity, with the exception of agricultural projects 

that are generally located in rural areas, as well as associated single-family residences in which facilities of that nature are 

limited.

5. The operation of the activity will not affect residential areas or zones of tranquility due to sonic pollution as established 

by the Regulation for the Control of Noise Pollution.

6. That the development of the commercial, industrial, service, institutional and land development facility for tourist use 

and recreational projects does not exceed five thousand (5,000) square feet of construction in total area of occupation and 

gross floor area and that it complies with the conditions of location and operation established by the OGPe or another agency

with jurisdiction, as applicable.

7. The use of existing buildings or structures for commercial facilities, warehouses, and industrial or service uses shall not 

exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet in total occupancy area and gross floor area. Such operation shall comply 

with the location and operation conditions established by the EPO or other agency with jurisdiction, as applicable, and those

established for categorical exclusions in these Regulations.

8. For the execution or development of the actions approved as categorical exclusions, it will be required to obtain the 

applicable permits from government agencies for the construction and operation stages.

9. The action has not been fragmented or segmented for the purposes of the evaluation and it will be determined by the 

proposing agency whether or not it satisfies the requirements to be considered and executed under a categorical exclusion.

10. That it has complied with the requirement of publication of a Public Notice pursuant to Rule 122 of the JCA Regulation 

on Evaluation and Processing of Environmental Documents, in the event that the proposed action is related to the use or 

granting of federal funds that require an evaluation process similar to that of NEPA (NEPA-Like Process).

Notice

If, after compliance with Article 4(B) of Law No. 416, substantial variations arise in the proposed action that require the 

assessment of environmental impacts, the corresponding environmental document must be submitted, in accordance with 

the Law on Environmental Public Policy.
Conditions Special

NO

Signature / Stamps

Date of Issue:

SEP/11/2019

Mr. Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez

Assistant Secretary