Categorical Exclusions and NEPA jbr

Presented‐July 2018 8/10/2018

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Nor th Caro l ina

NEPA & Categorical Exclusions

Photo by David McAdoo.

Jeremy B. Roston (RC‐Conservation Planning Specialist)Ecological Sciences Section

NC USDA‐NRCSArea Technical Transfer Trainings


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OBJECTIVES

•Brief Overview on NEPA (Only 4 Slides!)•How NEPA, the Environmental Evaluation, and Conservation Planning process are interconnected•Review NEPA Training Aid (Handout)•Review NC Supplement to NEPA Policy•Reference Additional Resources and Other Available Training Materials

Slide 2


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WHAT IS NEPA?

N

E

P

A

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

“Umbrella” encompassing many other requirements See 7 CFR § 650 and 190 GM Part 410

Slide 3

NEPA provides a mandate and a framework for Federal agencies: To consider all reasonably

foreseeable social, economic, and ecological effects of the proposed actions, and

To involve and inform the public in the decision making process.


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Slide 4

NRCS NEPA PoliciesCompliance with NEPA Policy

(General Manual, Title 190, Part 410)

National Environmental Compliance Handbook(Handbooks, Title 190, Part 610)


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Slide 5

NEPA Process Summarized

1. Document 2. Approve

3. Exit

1. Document2. Exit

Finding of No Significant Effect (FNSI)OR

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)


3. Exit

Environmental Evaluation (EE)(NRCS-CPA-52)

Analysis & Consultations

Categorical Exclusion (CatEx)?

Programmatic NEPA Document?

Environmental Assessment (EA)

YesYes

No


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Slide 6

NEPA Process Summarized


3. Exit

1. Document2. Exit

Finding of No Significant Effect (FNSI)OR

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)


3. Exit

Environmental Evaluation (EE)(NRCS-CPA-52)

Analysis & Consultations

Categorical Exclusion (CatEx)?

Programmatic NEPA Document?

Environmental Assessment (EA)

YesYes

No


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1. National policy to protect the environment

2. Applies only to federal (Executive Branch) actions

3. Requires consideration of environmental, social and economic factors

4. Requires analysis and justification for decision

5. Does not require selection of most environmentally preferable alternative

6. Imposes procedural, not substantive, requirements

Slide 7

KEY POINTS ABOUT NEPA


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Slide 8

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN WE THINK OF NEPA?


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Step 2 Determine Objectives

Step 1 Identify Problems

Step

3 In

vent

ory

Res

ourc

esSt

ep 4

Ana

lyze

Res

ourc

e D

ata

Step 5 Formulate Alternatives

Slide 9

Step

3 In

vent

ory

Res

ourc

esSt

ep 4

Ana

lyze

Res

ourc

e D

ata


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Step 6 Evaluate Alternatives

Step 7 Make Decisions

Slide 10


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PLANNING PROCESS CPA-52 CONTENTE. Need for Action

D. Objectives

F/I. Resource Concerns/ Benchmark Conditions

G. Alternatives

H/J. Effects

Q. Finding

1. ID Problems

2. Determine Objectives

3. Inventory Resources

4. Analyze Resources

5. Formulate Alternatives

6. Evaluate Alternatives

7. Make Decisions

8. Implement Plan

9. Evaluate Plan

Slide 11

SUMMARY


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GUIDE TO USING CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS (CATEXS)

Next Pages

Exclusion (CatEx) Definition

Things to Know

Using CatExs

Overarching Criteria

Extraordinary Circumstances

Slide 12


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When Not to Use CatEx

Recommended Protocol for Analysis and Documentation When Using CatEx.USDA Categorical ExclusionsNRCS Categorical ExclusionsNRCS NEPA Documents

ReferencesNC Supplement to NEPA Policy

Slide 13State Supplement


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NORTH CAROLINA CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION GUIDANCE FOR RFOsGUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR NC CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARDS & CAPs

Slide 14


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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & TRAINING MATERIALS

Slide 15


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Slide 16


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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & TRAINING MATERIALS

Slide 17


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….NEPA COMPLIANCE NEEDED FOR….•Federal, Tribal, State and Local Laws

•Executive Orders

•Agency Policies

•Planners are responsible for documenting the EE analysis on the CPA-52 (Sections A-P)

•RFOs are responsible for determining the outcome of NEPA Compliance using the CPA-52 (Sections Q-S).

•Cannot obligate without documenting a Rationale in the NRCS-CPA-52 (Section R).

•RFOs must tier to a CatEx whenever the proposed action meets the CatEx required conditions and criteria!

Slide 18


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….IN CONCLUSION….

“Clients will make and implement sound decisionsif they understand their resources, problems and opportunities, and effects of their decisions”

Slide 19


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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age,

disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental

status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected

genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases

will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) Slide 20

QUESTIONS?Jeremy B. Roston (RC‐Conservation Planning Specialist)

Ecological Sciences SectionNC USDA‐NRCS

Email: [email protected] Tel: 919‐873‐2140

Categorical Exclusions and NEPA jbr

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