Categorical Exclusions
Categorical exclusion means a category of actions that a federal agency has determined normally does not significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
Using categorical exclusions reduces unnecessary paperwork and delays. A categorical exclusion is a form of NEPA compliance; it is not an exemption from NEPA, but an exemption from requirements to prepare an EIS. Agency procedures must, however, consider “extraordinary circumstances” in which case a normally excluded action may have a significant effect and require preparation of an EA or EIS.
The Department of the Interior has established categorical exclusions in its regulations (43 CFR § 46.210). The Department’s regulations also cover establishing and revising categorical exclusions, removing categorical exclusions, applying categorical exclusions, using other agencies’ categorical exclusions, and applying multiple categorical exclusions (43 CFR § 46.205). In addition, BOEM and BSEE have bureau-specific categorical exclusions. The existing bureau categorical exclusions are listed in Appendix 2 of the DOI NEPA Handbook. Before applying any categorical exclusion, BOEM and BSEE consider the Departmental extraordinary circumstances (43 CFR § 46.215) to determine if it is appropriate to apply a categorical exclusion. Certain categorical exclusions do not require a documented review of extraordinary circumstances; however, for categorical exclusions that do require that full documentation, BOEM prepares a categorical exclusion review document for the record.