National Environmental Policy Act: Implementing Procedures; Revision to Categorical Exclusions for U.S. Geological Survey (516 DM 9)

摘要

This notice announces proposed revisions to two existing categorical exclusions included in the Department of the Interior's Departmental Manual 516 DM 9. The proposed revisions to the categorical exclusions pertain to two types of activities conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): the excavation of trenches across potentially active faults to assess the history of earthquakes along those faults; and the removal of hydrologic and water-quality monitoring structures and equipment and restoration of the sites. USGS experience with these activities indicates that they do not have the potential for significant environmental impacts. The intent of the revisions is to improve the efficiency of the environmental review process.