The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduces a new Environmental Policy Act allowing for a broader range of projects with reduced environmental review. This is made possible by a provision in the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act, enabling DHS to adopt categorical exclusions from other agencies like DOI, FSA, and NASA. The exceptions will be used for fire prevention, maintenance projects, and drone operations.
The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday filed a new Environmental Policy Act that will allow the agency to carry out a wider range of projects with less environmental review.The policy change is possible due to a little-noticed provision in a 2023 law - the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which allows a federal agency to"adopt a categorical exclusion listed in another agency’s NEPA procedures for a category of proposed agency actions for which the categorical exclusion was established.
” In this case, the National Environmental Policy Act , which allows an agency to establish categorical exclusions. DHS is therefore adopting five categorical exclusions under NEPA, which include exceptions from the Department of Interior 's Bureau of Reclamations, the Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency , and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . One use of these exceptions as noted in the filing is to use the DOI exception related to prescribed burning for habitat improvement, which FEMA will use to support limited fire prevention activities; the FSA exception for"construction or ground disturbance actions" to cover"routine and maintenance projects" on a smaller scale; and the NASA exceptions for maintenance, repair, and operation of small unmanned aircrafts. "When applying these categorical exclusions, DHS will evaluate the proposed actions for whether there are any extraordinary circumstances," the filing stated. "Based on those consultations and reviews, DHS has determined that the types of activities DHS proposes to authorize are substantially similar to the activities for which BOR, USFWS, FSA, and NASA have applied their respective categorical exclusions," the filing added., ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not"both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you., you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations.
DHS Environmental Policy NEPA Fiscal Responsibility Act Environmental Regulations
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