80 FR 25322 - National Environmental Policy Act: Implementing Procedures; Revision to Categorical Exclusions for U.S. Geological Survey (516 DM 9)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 85 (May 4, 2015)

Page Range		25322-25323
FR Document		2015-10242

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of the Interior (the Department) is revising two existing categorical exclusions included in the Department of the Interior's Departmental Manual 516 DM 9. The revisions to the categorical exclusions pertain to two types of activities conducted by the 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 normally have the potential for significant environmental impacts in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The intent of the revisions is to improve the efficiency of the environmental review process.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 85 (Monday, May 4, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25322-25323]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10242]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[GX15AE3800C2000]


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

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Final National Environmental Policy Act implementing 
procedures.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations 
implementing NEPA, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department 
of the Interior (the Department) is revising two existing categorical 
exclusions included in the Department of the Interior's Departmental 
Manual 516 DM 9. The revisions to the categorical exclusions pertain to 
two types of activities conducted by the 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 normally have the potential for significant environmental impacts 
in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The intent of the 
revisions is to improve the efficiency of the environmental review 
process.

DATES: Effective Date: The categorical exclusions are effective 
immediately.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the revised categorical exclusions 
contact Esther Eng, Chief, Environmental Management Branch--USGS, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192, email: eeng@usgs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Esther Eng, Chief, Environmental 
Management Branch--USGS, (703) 648-7550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal 
agencies to consider the potential environmental consequences of their 
decisions before deciding whether and how to proceed. The Council on 
Environmental Quality encourages Federal agencies to use categorical 
exclusions to protect the environment more efficiently by (a) reducing 
the resources spent analyzing proposals that normally do not have the 
potential to significantly impact the environment and, (b) focusing 
resources on proposals that may have significant environmental impacts. 
The appropriate use of categorical exclusions allows the NEPA review to 
conclude without preparing either an environmental assessment (EA) or 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) (40 CFR 1500.4(p) and 40 CFR 
1508.4) in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The Department's 
list of extraordinary circumstances under which a normally excluded 
action would require further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS 
is found at 43 CFR 46.215.

[[Page 25323]]

Categorical Exclusion Revision for Trenching

    The USGS excavates trenches across potentially active faults to 
assess the history of earthquakes along those faults. The study of 
ancient earthquakes and their rates of occurrence is known as 
paleoseismology. Paleoseismic data obtained from trenching studies is a 
fundamental input for USGS National Seismic Hazard Maps. The USGS 
National Seismic Hazard Maps are used to inform emergency response and 
to guide building codes. The revision of this categorical exclusion 
will allow for a more efficient NEPA review.
    Public comments were solicited through a notice placed in the 
Federal Register on August 22, 2014 (79 FR 49799). The proposed 
language for the categorical exclusion in the notice was as follows: 
``Digging and subsequent site restoration of exploratory trenches not 
to exceed one acre of surface disturbance.''

Categorical Exclusion for Water Monitoring Equipment

    One of the seven science mission areas of the USGS, the Water 
Mission Area, is tasked with collecting and disseminating reliable, 
impartial, and timely information that is needed to understand the 
Nation's water resources. The Water Mission Area actively promotes the 
use of this information by decision makers to: (1) Minimize loss of 
life and property as a result of water-related natural hazards, such as 
floods, droughts, and land movement; (2) effectively manage groundwater 
and surface-water resources for domestic, agricultural, commercial, 
industrial, recreational, and ecological uses; (3) protect and enhance 
water resources for human health, aquatic health, and environmental 
quality; and (4) contribute to the wise physical and economic 
development of the Nation's resources for the benefit of present and 
future generations. To achieve this science mission, the USGS 
constructs and operates a variety of hydrologic and water-quality 
monitoring structures and equipment at streams, rivers, springs, 
wellheads, and other sites across the Nation. After these structures 
are no longer needed for scientific data collection, they are removed 
and the site is restored. The revision of this categorical exclusion 
will allow for a more efficient NEPA review.
    Public comments were solicited through the same notice placed in 
the Federal Register on August 22, 2014 (79 FR 49799). The proposed 
language for the categorical exclusion as set out in the notice was as 
follows: ``Operation, construction, installation, and removal--
including restoration of sites to the pre-structure condition or 
equivalent of the surrounding environment--of hydrologic and water-
quality monitoring structures and equipment including but not limited 
to weirs, cableways, streamgaging stations, groundwater wells, and 
meteorologic structures.''

Public Comments

    No public comments were received.

Categorical Exclusion

    The Department of the Interior will add the following categorical 
exclusions to the Departmental Manual at 516 DM 9, section 9.5 
Categorical Exclusions:
    E. Operation, construction, installation, and removal--including 
restoration of sites to the pre-structure condition or equivalent of 
the surrounding environment--of hydrologic and water-quality monitoring 
structures and equipment including but not limited to weirs, cableways, 
streamgaging stations, groundwater wells, and meteorologic structures; 
and
    I. Digging and subsequent site restoration of exploratory trenches 
not to exceed one acre of surface disturbance.

Willie R. Taylor,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-10242 Filed 5-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-AM-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 85 / Monday, May 4, 2015 / Notices 25323

Categorical Exclusion Revision for the notice was as follows: ‘‘Operation, In accordance with Commission
Trenching construction, installation, and policy, subject matter listed above, not
The USGS excavates trenches across removal—including restoration of sites disposed of at the scheduled meeting,
potentially active faults to assess the to the pre-structure condition or may be carried over to the agenda of the
history of earthquakes along those equivalent of the surrounding following meeting.
faults. The study of ancient earthquakes environment—of hydrologic and water- By order of the Commission:
and their rates of occurrence is known quality monitoring structures and Issued: April 28, 2015.
as paleoseismology. Paleoseismic data equipment including but not limited to Lisa R. Barton,
obtained from trenching studies is a weirs, cableways, streamgaging stations, Secretary to the Commission.
fundamental input for USGS National groundwater wells, and meteorologic
[FR Doc. 2015–10385 Filed 4–30–15; 11:15 am]
Seismic Hazard Maps. The USGS structures.’’
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
National Seismic Hazard Maps are used Public Comments
to inform emergency response and to
No public comments were received.
guide building codes. The revision of DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
this categorical exclusion will allow for Categorical Exclusion
a more efficient NEPA review. [OMB Number 1110–NEW]
The Department of the Interior will
Public comments were solicited add the following categorical exclusions
through a notice placed in the Federal Agency Information Collection
to the Departmental Manual at 516 DM Activities; Proposed eCollection
Register on August 22, 2014 (79 FR 9, section 9.5 Categorical Exclusions:
49799). The proposed language for the eComments Requested; Approval of a
E. Operation, construction, New Collection; Rap Back Services
categorical exclusion in the notice was installation, and removal—including
as follows: ‘‘Digging and subsequent site Form (1–796)
restoration of sites to the pre-structure
restoration of exploratory trenches not condition or equivalent of the AGENCY: Federal Bureau of
to exceed one acre of surface surrounding environment—of Investigation, Department of Justice.
disturbance.’’ hydrologic and water-quality ACTION: 30-day notice.
Categorical Exclusion for Water monitoring structures and equipment
including but not limited to weirs, SUMMARY: The Department of Justice
Monitoring Equipment
cableways, streamgaging stations, (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation
One of the seven science mission (FBI), Criminal Justice Information
groundwater wells, and meteorologic
areas of the USGS, the Water Mission Services (CJIS) Division will be
structures; and
Area, is tasked with collecting and submitting the following information
I. Digging and subsequent site
disseminating reliable, impartial, and collection request to the Office of
restoration of exploratory trenches not
timely information that is needed to Management and Budget (OMB) for
to exceed one acre of surface
understand the Nation’s water review and approval in accordance with
disturbance.
resources. The Water Mission Area the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
actively promotes the use of this Willie R. Taylor, The proposed information collection
information by decision makers to: (1) Director, Office of Environmental Policy and was previously published in the Federal
Minimize loss of life and property as a Compliance. Register (80 FR 9753), on February 24,
result of water-related natural hazards, [FR Doc. 2015–10242 Filed 5–1–15; 8:45 am] 2015, allowing for a 60 day comment
such as floods, droughts, and land BILLING CODE 4310–AM–P period.
movement; (2) effectively manage
DATES: Comments are encouraged and
groundwater and surface-water
will be accepted for an additional 30
resources for domestic, agricultural, INTERNATIONAL TRADE days until June 3, 2015.
commercial, industrial, recreational, COMMISSION
and ecological uses; (3) protect and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
enhance water resources for human [USITC SE–15–015] you have comments, especially on the
health, aquatic health, and estimated public burden or associated
Government in the Sunshine Act response time, suggestions, or need a
environmental quality; and (4)
Meeting Notice copy of the proposed information
contribute to the wise physical and
economic development of the Nation’s collection instrument with instructions
AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: United or additional information, please
resources for the benefit of present and States International Trade Commission.
future generations. To achieve this contact the Office of Management and
TIME AND DATE: May 7, 2015 at 11 a.m. Budget, Office of Information and
science mission, the USGS constructs
and operates a variety of hydrologic and PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW., Regulatory Affairs, Attention
water-quality monitoring structures and Washington, DC 20436, Telephone: Department of Justice Desk Officer,
equipment at streams, rivers, springs, (202) 205–2000. Washington, DC 20503. Additionally,
wellheads, and other sites across the STATUS: Open to the public. comments may be submitted via email
Nation. After these structures are no MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
to OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.
longer needed for scientific data 1. Agendas for future meetings: none SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written
collection, they are removed and the site 2. Minutes comments and suggestions from the
public and affected agencies concerning
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

is restored. The revision of this 3. Ratification List
categorical exclusion will allow for a 4. Vote in Inv. Nos. 731–TA–1013 the proposed collection of information
more efficient NEPA review. (Second Review)(Saccharin from China). are encouraged. Your comments should
Public comments were solicited The Commission is currently scheduled address one or more of the following
through the same notice placed in the to complete and file its determination four points:
Federal Register on August 22, 2014 (79 and views of the Commission on May —Evaluate whether the proposed
FR 49799). The proposed language for 20, 2015. collection of information is necessary
the categorical exclusion as set out in 5. Outstanding action jackets: none for the proper performance of the

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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:22:32
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:22:32

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Final National Environmental Policy Act implementing procedures.
Dates		Effective Date: The categorical exclusions are effective immediately.
Contact		Esther Eng, Chief, Environmental Management Branch--USGS, (703) 648-7550.
FR Citation		80 FR 25322

80 FR 25322 - National Environmental Policy Act: Implementing Procedures; Revision to Categorical Exclusions for U.S. Geological Survey (516 DM 9)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOROffice of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 85 (May 4, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary