UFC 4-150-07
19 June 2001
4-3.1.3 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), first enacted in 1969, is the national charter
(within the United States and its territories) for protection of the environment. It
establishes policy, sets goals, and provides a means for carrying out
environmental policy within the United States and its territories. NEPA impacts a
wide variety of existing environmental legislation including the:
Clean Water Act (CWA)
Clean Air Act (CAA)
Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA)
4-3.2
Environmental Documentation. Under the NEPA Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ), a three-tiered approach of environmental
consideration and documentation has been established:
Categorical Exclusion (Cat. Ex)
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
4-3.2.1 Categorical Exclusion. A categorical exclusion is a statement that the
intended project work or action does not have, under normal circumstances,
individually or cumulatively, a significant effect on the environment. If a
categorical exclusion is allowed, an EA or EIS will not be required. The
Environmental Office is generally responsible for deciding on and preparing a
categorical exclusion. To do this, the Environmental Office will require from the
project coordinator or planner(s) a summary or scope of the work to be
performed. This summary does not need to be a lengthy document but must
contain sufficient detail of the work to allow the EO to determine whether a
categorical exclusion is appropriate. Categorical exclusions include:
Routine repair and maintenance of facilities and equipment to
maintain existing operations and activities, including maintenance
of improved and semi-improved grounds.
Alteration and additions of existing structures to conform or provide
conforming use specifically required by new or existing applicable
regulations.
4-7
Previous Page
