81_FR_32788 81 FR 32688 - National Environmental Policy Act Procedures

81 FR 32688 - National Environmental Policy Act Procedures

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 100 (May 24, 2016)

Page Range32688-32693
FR Document2016-11945

The Department of Justice is proposing to promulgate regulations establishing the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. These proposed regulations would establish a process for the FBI's implementation of NEPA, Executive Order 11514, Executive Order 12114, and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Department of Justice (Department) regulations addressing the procedural provisions of NEPA. Pursuant to CEQ regulations, the FBI is soliciting comments on the proposed FBI NEPA regulations from members of the interested public.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32688-32693]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11945]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Federal Bureau of Investigation

28 CFR Part 61

RIN 1110-AA32


National Environmental Policy Act Procedures

AGENCY: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rule; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice is proposing to promulgate 
regulations establishing the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. These proposed 
regulations would establish a process for the FBI's implementation of 
NEPA, Executive Order 11514, Executive Order 12114, and Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Department of Justice (Department) 
regulations addressing the procedural provisions of NEPA. Pursuant to 
CEQ regulations, the FBI is soliciting comments on the proposed FBI 
NEPA regulations from members of the interested public.

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must 
be submitted on or before July 25, 2016. Commenters should be aware 
that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept 
comments after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the comment 
period.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments online at http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
written comments by addressing them to FBI NEPA Comments, ATTN: Scott 
A. Bohnhoff, 935 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Room WB-460, Washington, DC 
20535 or by facsimile to 202-436-7248.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Bohnhoff, FBI Occupational 
Safety and Environmental Programs (OSEP) Unit Chief; Email: 
[email protected]; Telephone: (202) 436-7500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    Electronic comments are preferred. For comments sent via U.S. 
Postal Service, please do not submit duplicate electronic or facsimile 
comments. Please confine comments to the proposed rule.
    All submissions received must include the agency name (FBI) and 
docket number or RIN for this Federal Register document. The general 
policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is 
to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, 
including any personal identifiers or contact information.

Explanation of Proposed Rule

    CEQ's NEPA implementing regulations contained in 40 CFR parts 1500 
through 1508 require each Federal agency to adopt procedures (40 CFR 
1507.3) to ensure that decisions are made in accordance with the 
policies and purposes of NEPA (40 CFR 1505.1). The Department has 
established such policies and procedures at 28 CFR part 61. The FBI 
NEPA Program has been established to supplement the Department's 
procedures and to ensure that environmental considerations are fully 
integrated into the FBI's mission activities.
    The FBI NEPA regulations are intended to promote reduction of 
paperwork by providing guidelines for development of streamlined and 
focused NEPA documents and to reduce delay by integrating the NEPA 
process into the early stages of planning. They are also intended to 
promote transparency by ensuring that NEPA documents are written in 
plain language and follow a clear format so that they are easily 
understood by the public and all parties involved in implementation of 
the proposed action.
    The FBI NEPA regulations are not intended to serve as a 
comprehensive NEPA guide, but will serve as a framework for the FBI 
NEPA Program. The FBI plans to apply its NEPA regulations in 
conjunction with NEPA, the CEQ regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508), the Department's implementing regulations (28 CFR part

[[Page 32689]]

61), and all other applicable environmental regulations, executive 
orders, statutes, and laws developed for the protection of the 
environment.
    The FBI will, as appropriate, keep the public informed of the FBI 
NEPA program and NEPA actions and ensure that relevant environmental 
documents, comments, and responses accompany proposals through all 
levels of decision making (40 CFR 1505.1(d)). The FBI's NEPA program 
will be implemented primarily by the following key persons within the 
FBI:
     The Environmental Executive/Bureau Designated 
Environmental, Safety and Health Official (DESHO) will maintain 
signature authority over all Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs) 
and Records of Decision (RODs); oversee the FBI NEPA Program; ensure 
that NEPA reviews are initiated as early as possible in the project 
planning process; ensure that decisions are made in accordance with the 
general policies and purposes of NEPA; and use his or her best efforts 
to ensure that sufficient funds are available to perform NEPA 
management-related planning, actions, and reporting. These 
responsibilities may be delegated to the Program Deputy Bureau DESHO.
     The Program Deputy Bureau DESHO will designate and assign 
duties to the FBI NEPA Program Manager; ensure that the FBI NEPA 
Program is coordinated with other environmental policies and 
directives; review the FBI NEPA Program metrics; and sign FONSIs and 
RODs as delegated by the Environmental Executive/Bureau DESHO.
     The FBI NEPA Program Manager will serve as the FBI's 
primary, centralized NEPA contact; provide for overall development, 
implementation, coordination, administration, and quality assurance 
measures associated with the FBI NEPA Program; advise FBI employees on 
NEPA matters; establish and ensure implementation of FBI-wide NEPA 
policy, guidance, and training; and review NEPA documentation.
     Deputy Bureau DESHOs are heads of the FBI branches, 
divisions, or offices reporting directly to the FBI Deputy Director or 
Associate Deputy Director who, within their span of control, will 
ensure the NEPA program is properly implemented and managed; use their 
best efforts to ensure that sufficient funds within their branches, 
divisions, and offices are available to perform NEPA management-related 
planning, actions, and reporting; and assign staff to fill NEPA roles 
as required.

Regulatory Certifications

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563--Regulatory Planning and Review

    These proposed regulations have been drafted and reviewed in 
accordance with Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and 
Review,'' section 1(b), Principles of Regulation, and in accordance 
with Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review,'' section 1(b), General Principles of Regulation.
    The Department has determined that these proposed regulations are 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, 
section 3(f), and accordingly, they have not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.
    Both Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility.
    The Department has assessed the costs and benefits associated with 
implementation of these proposed regulations and believes that the 
regulatory approach selected maximizes net benefits by better enabling 
the FBI to comply with NEPA. Further benefits associated with 
implementation of these proposed regulations include: A streamlined 
approach to performing NEPA reviews, which is expected to lead to a 
reduction in delay and excessive paperwork; enhanced environmental 
awareness; collaborative and participatory public involvement; clear 
compliance guidelines resulting in reduced liability risk; and enhanced 
cost savings arising from fewer requirements to prepare Environmental 
Assessments (EAs) where projects are covered by categorical exclusions 
(CATEXs).
    The FBI contracts out, on average, twenty EAs annually for actions 
that would be covered by the CATEXs instated by the proposed 
regulations. The average contracting costs associated with development 
of each of these EAs is approximately $50,000. Therefore, the proposed 
rule would result in an annual cost savings of approximately $1,000,000 
in contract payouts. The FBI anticipates that its own staffing costs 
with regard to NEPA compliance will remain roughly the same upon 
adoption of the new rule, as FBI personnel will still be involved in 
reviewing projects and developing and implementing a NEPA compliance 
strategy for each one.
    The exact impact of the proposed regulations on staffing and 
funding requirements cannot be calculated due to uncertainty about the 
number of future projects and the level at which environmental review 
will occur (CATEX, EA, or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)). 
However, as discussed in the preceding paragraphs, the FBI estimates a 
net annual cost savings of up to $1,000,000.

Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    These proposed regulations will not have a substantial, direct 
effect on the states, on the relationship between the national 
government and the states, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. In accordance 
with Executive Order 13132, these proposed regulations do not have 
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. 605(b)) has reviewed these proposed regulations and, by 
approving them, certifies that these regulations will not have a 
substantial economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    These proposed regulations will not result in the expenditure by 
state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year, and it will 
not substantially or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no 
action was deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    These proposed regulations are not a major rule as defined by 
section 251 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
of 1996, (5 U.S.C. 804). These proposed regulations will not result in 
an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, a major 
increase in costs or prices, or have substantial adverse effects on 
competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on 
the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-
based enterprises in domestic and export markets.

[[Page 32690]]

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    The collection of information contained in this notice of proposed 
rulemaking will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for 
review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).
    The proposed regulations are intended to promote reduction of 
paperwork by providing guidelines for the development of streamlined 
and focused NEPA documents and to reduce delay by integrating the NEPA 
process into the early stages of planning. They are also intended to 
promote transparency by ensuring that NEPA documents are written in 
plain language and follow a clear format so that they are easily 
comprehensible by the public and all parties involved in implementation 
of the proposed action. A CATEX is a category of actions that, barring 
extraordinary circumstances, do not individually or cumulatively have a 
significant effect on the quality of the human environment and for 
which neither an EA nor an EIS is required. Using CATEXs for such 
activities reduces unnecessary paperwork and delay. The estimated 
average document length is 15 pages for an EA and 150 pages for an EIS. 
EAs, EISs, and their associated administrative records must be retained 
for at least six years after signature of the NEPA decision document. 
By contrast, a CATEX requires either no documentation or very brief 
documentation (records of environmental consideration documenting 
CATEXs are typically only a few pages long). The estimated total annual 
NEPA documentation burden associated with these regulations is unknown 
at this time due to the uncertainty of the number of projects that will 
require various levels of NEPA review.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The Council on Environmental Quality regulations do not direct 
agencies to prepare a NEPA analysis or document before establishing 
agency procedures (such as this regulation) that supplement the CEQ 
regulations for implementing NEPA. Agencies are required to adopt NEPA 
procedures that establish specific criteria for, and identification of, 
three classes of actions: Those that normally require preparation of an 
environmental impact statement; those that normally require preparation 
of an environmental assessment; and those that are categorically 
excluded from further NEPA review (40 CFR 1507.3(b)). Establishing 
categorical exclusions does not require preparation of a NEPA analysis 
or document. Agency NEPA procedures are procedural guidance to assist 
agencies in the fulfillment of agency responsibilities under NEPA, but 
are not the agency's final determination of what level of NEPA analysis 
is required for a particular proposed action. The requirements for 
establishing agency NEPA procedures are set forth at 40 CFR 1505.1 and 
1507.3. The issuance of regulations establishing categorical exclusions 
does not itself require NEPA analysis and documentation. See, e.g., 
Heartwood, Inc. v. U.S. Forest Service, 73 F. Supp. 2d 962, 972-73 
(S.D. Ill. 1999), aff'd, 230 F.3d 947, 954-55 (7th Cir. 2000).

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 61

    Environmental impact statements.

Authority and Issuance

    Accordingly, part 61 of title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 61--PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL 
POLICY ACT

0
1. The authority citation for part 61 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; 5 U.S.C. 301; Executive Order No. 
11991.

0
2. Add appendix F to part 61 to read as follows:

Appendix F to Part 61--Federal Bureau of Investigation Procedures 
Relating to the Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act

1. Authority

    These procedures are issued pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq., 
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 40 CFR 
part 1500, regulations of the Department of Justice (Department), 28 
CFR part 61, the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4371, et seq., and Executive Order 11514 of March 
5, 1970, ``Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality,'' as 
amended by Executive Order 11991 of May 24, 1977.

2. Purpose

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) NEPA Program has been 
established to assist the FBI in integrating environmental 
considerations into the FBI's mission and activities. The FBI NEPA 
regulations have been developed to supplement CEQ and Department 
NEPA regulations by outlining internal FBI policy and procedures. 
Through these provisions, the FBI shall promote compliance with NEPA 
and CEQ's implementing regulations, encourage environmental 
sustainability by integrating environmental considerations into 
mission and planning activities, and ensure that environmental 
analyses reflect consideration of non-regulatory requirements 
included in Federal orders, directives, and policy guidance.

3. Agency Description

    The FBI is an intelligence-driven national security and law 
enforcement component within the Department of Justice. The FBI's 
mission is to protect and defend the United States against terrorist 
and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal 
laws of the United States, and to provide leadership and criminal 
justice services to Federal, state, municipal, and international 
agencies and partners. General types of FBI actions include:
    (a) Operational activities, including the detection, 
investigation, and prosecution of crimes against the United States 
and the collection of intelligence.
    (b) Training activities, including the training of Federal, 
state, local, and foreign law enforcement personnel.
    (c) Real estate activities, including acquisitions and transfers 
of land and facilities and leasing.
    (d) Construction, including new construction, renovations, 
repair, and demolition of facilities, infrastructure, utilities 
systems, and other systems.
    (e) Property maintenance and management activities, including 
maintenance of facilities, equipment, and grounds and management of 
natural resources.
    (f) Administrative and regulatory activities, including 
personnel management, procurement of goods and services, and 
preparation of regulations and policy guidance.

4. NEPA Documentation and Decision Making

    The FBI will use the NEPA process as a tool to ensure an 
interdisciplinary review of its actions and to ensure that impacts 
of those actions on the quality of the human environment are given 
appropriate consideration in FBI decisions; to identify and assess 
reasonable alternatives to its actions; and to facilitate early and 
open communication, when practicable, with the public and other 
agencies and organizations.

(a) Level of NEPA Analysis

    The level of NEPA analysis will depend on the context and 
intensity of the environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
action. Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact 
Statements (EISs) should include a reasonable range of alternatives, 
and should also include descriptions of other alternatives that the 
decision maker determined did not require detailed study, with a 
brief discussion of the reasons for such determinations. If there 
are no reasonable alternatives, the EA or EIS must explain why no 
reasonable alternative exists. The decision maker must consider all 
the alternatives discussed in the EA or EIS. The decision maker may 
choose an alternative that is not expressly described in a draft EA 
or EIS, provided it is qualitatively within the spectrum of 
alternatives that were discussed in the draft.

[[Page 32691]]

(b) Responsibility for NEPA Analysis

    (1) The FBI's responsibility for NEPA review of actions shall be 
determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the extent to which 
the entire project will be within the FBI's jurisdiction and on 
other factors. For example, if a project involves the construction 
of a facility, the relevant factors include: The extent of FBI 
control and funding in the construction or use of the facility, 
whether the facility is being built solely for FBI requirements, and 
whether the project would proceed without FBI action.
    (2) The extent of the FBI's responsibility for NEPA review of 
joint Federal actions, where the FBI and another Federal agency are 
cooperating on a project, will be determined on a case-by-case basis 
depending on which agency is designated as the lead agency and which 
is the cooperating agency.
    (3) In cases where FBI actions are a component of a larger 
project involving a private action or an action by a local or state 
government, the FBI's proposed action analyzed in the NEPA document 
will include only the portions of the project over which the FBI has 
sufficient control and responsibility to warrant Federal review. 
However, the cumulative impacts analysis will account for past, 
present, and reasonably foreseeable future activities affecting the 
same natural resources as the FBI project. When actions are planned 
by private or other non-Federal entities, the FBI will provide the 
potential applicant reasonably foreseeable requirements for studies 
or other information for subsequent FBI action. In addition, the FBI 
will consult with appropriate state and local agencies, tribal 
entities, interested private persons, and organizations early in a 
project's planning process when the FBI's involvement is reasonably 
foreseeable.
    (4) Whenever appropriate and practicable, the FBI will 
incorporate by reference and rely upon the environmental analyses 
and reviews of other Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies.

5. Categorical Exclusions

(a) Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) Criteria (40 CFR 1508.4)

    A CATEX is a category of actions that, barring extraordinary 
circumstances, do not individually or cumulatively have a 
significant effect on the quality of the human environment and for 
which neither an EA nor an EIS is required. Using CATEXs for such 
activities reduces unnecessary paperwork and delay. Such activities 
are not excluded from compliance with other applicable Federal, 
state, or local environmental laws. To qualify for a CATEX, an 
action must meet all of the following criteria:
    (1) The proposed action fits entirely within one or more of the 
CATEXs;
    (2) The proposed action has not been segmented and is not a 
piece of a larger action. For purposes of NEPA, actions must be 
considered in the same review if it is reasonably foreseeable that 
the actions are connected (e.g., where one action depends on 
another).
    (3) No extraordinary circumstances exist that would cause the 
normally excluded proposed action to have significant environmental 
effects. Extraordinary circumstances are assumed to exist when the 
proposed action is likely to involve any of the following 
circumstances:
    (i) An adverse effect on public health or safety;
    (ii) An adverse effect on Federally listed endangered or 
threatened species, marine mammals, or critical habitat;
    (iii) An adverse effect on archaeological resources or resources 
listed or determined to be eligible for listing in the National 
Register of Historic Places;
    (iv) An adverse effect on an environmentally sensitive area, 
including floodplains, wetlands, streams, critical migration 
corridors, and wildlife refuges;
    (v) A material violation of a Federal, state, or local 
environmental law by the FBI;
    (vi) An effect on the quality of the human or natural 
environment that is likely to be highly scientifically controversial 
or uncertain, or likely to involve unique or unknown environmental 
risks;
    (vii) Establishment of precedents or decisions in principle for 
future action(s) that have the potential for significant impacts 
(e.g., master plans, Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans, 
Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plans);
    (viii) Significantly greater scope or size than normally 
experienced for a particular category of action;
    (ix) Potential for substantial degradation of already existing 
poor environmental conditions;
    (x) Initiation of a potentially substantial environmental 
degrading influence, activity, or effect in areas not already 
substantially modified; or
    (xi) A connection to other actions with individually 
insignificant, but cumulatively significant, impacts.

(b) Documentation of CATEX Usage

    As noted in paragraph (c) of this section, certain FBI actions 
qualifying for a CATEX have been predetermined to have a low risk of 
extraordinary circumstances and, as such, have been designated as 
not requiring preparation of a Record of Environmental Consideration 
(REC) Determination Form. A REC Determination Form must be prepared 
for all other FBI actions subject to NEPA review. The REC 
Determination Form will help determine if the proposed action falls 
within a category of actions that has been excluded from further 
NEPA review or if the action will require further analysis through 
an EA or EIS. The REC Determination Form will also identify any 
extraordinary circumstances that require the FBI to perform an EA or 
an EIS for an action that would otherwise qualify for a CATEX.

(c) List of No REC Required (NR) FBI CATEXs

    (NR1) Reductions, realignments, or relocation of personnel, 
equipment, or mobile assets that do not result in changing the use 
of the space in such a way that could cause environmental effects or 
exceed the infrastructure capacity outside of FBI-managed property. 
An example of exceeding the infrastructure capacity would be an 
increase in vehicular traffic beyond the capacity of the supporting 
road network to accommodate such an increase.
    (NR2) Personnel, fiscal, management, and administrative 
activities, including recruiting, processing, paying, contract 
administration, recordkeeping, budgeting, personnel actions, and 
travel.
    (NR3) Decisions to close facilities, decommission equipment, or 
temporarily discontinue use of facilities or equipment, where the 
facility or equipment is not used to prevent or control 
environmental impacts. This excludes demolition actions.
    (NR4) Preparation of policies, procedures, manuals, and other 
guidance documents for which the environmental effects are too 
broad, speculative, or conjectural to lend themselves to meaningful 
analysis and for which the applicability of the NEPA process will be 
evaluated upon implementation, either collectively or case-by-case.
    (NR5) Grants of license, easement, or similar arrangements for 
use by vehicles (not to include substantial increases in the number 
of vehicles loaded); electrical, telephone, and other transmission 
and communication lines; pipelines, pumping stations, and facilities 
for water, wastewater, stormwater, and irrigation; and for similar 
utility and transportation uses. Construction or acquisition of new 
facilities are not included.
    (NR6) Acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of 
temporary equipment, devices, or controls necessary to mitigate 
effects of FBI's missions on health and the environment. This CATEX 
is not intended to cover facility construction or related 
activities. Examples include:
    (i) Temporary sediment and erosion control measures required to 
meet applicable Federal, tribal, state, or local requirements;
    (ii) Installation of temporary diversion fencing to prevent 
earth disturbance within sensitive areas during construction 
activities; and
    (iii) Installation of temporary markers to delineate limits of 
earth disturbance in forested areas to prevent unnecessary tree 
removal.
    (NR7) Routine flying operations and infrequent, temporary (fewer 
than 30 days) increases in aircraft operations up to 50 percent of 
the typical FBI aircraft operation rate.
    (NR8) Proposed new activities and operations to be conducted in 
an existing structure that would be consistent with previously 
established safety levels and would not result in a change in use of 
the facility. Examples include new types of research, development, 
testing, and evaluation activities, and laboratory operations 
conducted within existing enclosed facilities designed to support 
research and development activities.
    (NR9) Conducting audits and surveys; data collection; data 
analysis; and processing, permitting, information dissemination, 
review, interpretation, and development of documents. If any of 
these activities result in proposals for further action, those 
proposals must be covered by an appropriate CATEX or other NEPA 
analysis. Examples include:
    (i) Document mailings, publication, and distribution, training 
and information

[[Page 32692]]

programs, historical and cultural demonstrations, and public affairs 
actions;
    (ii) Studies, reports, proposals, analyses, literature reviews, 
computer modeling, and intelligence gathering and sharing;
    (iii) Activities designed to support improvement or upgrade 
management of natural resources, such as surveys for threatened and 
endangered species or cultural resources; wetland delineations; and 
minimal water, air, waste, and soil sampling;
    (iv) Minimally intrusive geological, geophysical, and geo-
technical activities, including mapping and engineering surveys;
    (v) Conducting facility audits, Environmental Site Assessments, 
and environmental baseline surveys; and
    (vi) Vulnerability, risk, and structural integrity assessments 
of infrastructure.
    (NR10) Routine procurement, use, storage, and disposal of non-
hazardous goods and services in support of administrative, 
operational, or maintenance activities in accordance with executive 
orders and Federal procurement guidelines. Examples include:
    (i) Office supplies and furniture;
    (ii) Equipment;
    (iii) Mobile assets (i.e., vehicles, vessels, aircraft);
    (iv) Utility services; and
    (v) Deployable emergency response supplies and equipment.
    (NR11) Routine use of hazardous materials (including 
procurement, transportation, distribution, and storage of such 
materials) and reuse, recycling, and disposal of solid, medical, 
radiological, or hazardous waste in a manner that is consistent with 
all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Examples include:
    (i) Use of chemicals and low-level radionuclides for laboratory 
applications;
    (ii) Refueling of storage tanks;
    (iii) Appropriate treatment and disposal of medical waste;
    (iv) Temporary storage and disposal of solid waste;
    (v) Disposal of radiological waste through manufacturer return 
and recycling programs; and
    (vi) Hazardous waste minimization activities.
    (NR12) Acquisition, installation, maintenance, operation, or 
evaluation of security equipment to screen for or detect dangerous 
or illegal individuals or materials at existing facilities or to 
enhance the physical security of existing critical assets. Examples 
include:
    (i) Low-level x-ray devices;
    (ii) Cameras and biometric devices;
    (iii) Passive inspection devices;
    (iv) Detection or security systems for explosive, biological, or 
chemical substances;
    (v) Access controls, screening devices, and traffic management 
systems;
    (vi) Motion detection systems;
    (vii) Impact resistant doors and gates;
    (viii) Diver and swimmer detection systems, except sonar; and
    (ix) Blast and shock impact-resistant systems for land-based and 
waterfront facilities.
    (NR13) Maintenance of facilities, equipment, and grounds. 
Examples include interior utility work, road maintenance, window 
washing, lawn mowing, trash collecting, facility cleaning, and snow 
removal.
    (NR14) Recreation and welfare activities (e.g., picnics and 
Family Day).
    (NR15) Training FBI personnel and persons external to the FBI 
using existing facilities and where the training occurs in 
accordance with applicable permitting requirements and other 
requirements for the protection of the environment. This exclusion 
does not apply to training that involves the use of live chemical, 
biological, radiological, or explosive agents, except when conducted 
at a location designed and constructed to accommodate those 
materials and their associated hazards. Examples include:
    (i) Administrative or classroom training;
    (ii) Tactical training, including training in explosives and 
incendiary devices, arson investigation and firefighting, and 
emergency preparedness and response;
    (iii) Chemical, biological, explosive, or hazardous material 
handling training;
    (iv) Vehicle, aircraft, and small boat operation training;
    (v) Small arms and less-than-lethal weapons training;
    (vi) Security specialties and terrorist response training;
    (vii) Crowd control training, including gas range training;
    (viii) Enforcement response, self-defense, and interdiction 
techniques training; and
    (ix) Fingerprinting and drug analysis training.
    (NR16) Projects, grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or 
activities to design, develop, and conduct national, state, local, 
or international exercises to test the readiness of the nation to 
prevent or respond to a terrorist attack or a natural or manmade 
disaster where conducted in accordance with existing facility or 
land use designations. This exclusion does not apply to exercises 
that involve the use of live chemical, biological, radiological, 
nuclear, or explosive agents or devices (other than small devices 
such as practice grenades or flash bang devices used to simulate an 
attack during exercises), unless these exercises are conducted under 
the auspices of existing plans or permits that have undergone NEPA 
review.

(d) List of REC Required (R) FBI CATEXs

    (R1) Reductions, realignments, or relocation of personnel, 
equipment, or mobile assets that result in changing the use of the 
space in such a way that could cause changes to environmental 
effects, but do not result in exceeding the infrastructure capacity 
outside of FBI-managed property. An example of exceeding the 
infrastructure capacity would be an increase in vehicular traffic 
beyond the capacity of the supporting road network to accommodate 
such an increase.
    (R2) Acquisition or use of space within an existing structure, 
by purchase, lease, or use agreement. This includes structures that 
are in the process of construction or were recently constructed, 
regardless of whether the existing structure was built to satisfy an 
FBI requirement and the proposed FBI use would not exceed the 
carrying capacity of the utilities and infrastructure for the use 
and access to the space. This also includes associated relocation of 
personnel, equipment, or assets into the acquired space.
    (R3) Transfer of administrative control over real property, 
including related personal property, between another Federal agency 
and the FBI that does not result in a change in the functional use 
of the property.
    (R4) New construction (e.g., facilities, roads, parking areas, 
trails, solar panels, and wind turbines) or improvement of land 
where all of the following conditions are met:
    (i) The site is in a developed or a previously disturbed area;
    (ii) The proposed use will not substantially increase the number 
of motor vehicles at the facility or in the area;
    (iii) The construction or improvement will not result in 
exceeding the infrastructure capacity outside of FBI-managed 
property (e.g., roads, sewer, water, and parking);
    (iv) The site and scale of construction or improvement are 
consistent with those of existing, adjacent, or nearby buildings; 
and
    (v) The structure and proposed use are compatible with 
applicable Federal, tribal, state, and local planning and zoning 
standards and consistent with Federally approved state coastal 
management programs.
    (R5) Renovation, addition, repair, alteration, and demolition 
projects affecting buildings, roads, airfields, grounds, equipment, 
and other facilities, including subsequent disposal of debris, which 
may be contaminated with hazardous materials such as PCBs, lead, or 
asbestos. Hazardous materials must be disposed of at approved sites 
in accordance with Federal, state, and local regulations. Examples 
include the following:
    (i) Realigning interior spaces of an existing building;
    (ii) Adding a small storage shed to an existing building;
    (iii) Retrofitting for energy conservation, including 
weatherization, installation of timers on hot water heaters, 
installation of energy efficient lighting, installation of low-flow 
plumbing fixtures, and installation of drip-irrigation systems;
    (iv) Installing a small antenna on an already existing antenna 
tower that does not cause the total height to exceed 200 feet and 
where the FCC's NEPA procedures allow for application of a CATEX; or
    (v) Closing and demolishing a building not eligible for listing 
under the National Register of Historic Places.
    (R6) Acquisition, installation, reconstruction, repair by 
replacement, and operation of utility (e.g., water, sewer, 
electrical), communication (e.g., data processing cable and similar 
electronic equipment), and security systems that use existing 
rights-of-way, easements, distribution systems, or facilities.
    (R7) Acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of 
permanent equipment, devices, or controls necessary to mitigate 
effects of FBI's missions on health and the environment. This CATEX 
is not intended to cover facility construction or related 
activities. Examples include:
    (i) Pollution prevention and pollution-control equipment 
required to meet

[[Page 32693]]

applicable Federal, tribal, state, or local requirements;
    (ii) Installation of fencing, including security fencing, that 
would not have the potential to significantly impede wildlife 
population movement (including migration) or surface water flow;
    (iii) Installation and operation of lighting devices;
    (iv) Noise-abatement measures, including construction of noise 
barriers, installation of noise control materials, or planting 
native trees or native vegetation for use as a noise abatement 
measure; and
    (v) Devices to protect human or animal life, such as raptor 
electrocution prevention devices, and fencing and grating to prevent 
accidental entry to hazardous or restricted areas.
    (R8) Non-routine procurement, use, storage, and disposal of non-
hazardous goods and services in support of administrative, 
operational, or maintenance activities in accordance with executive 
orders and Federal procurement guidelines.
    (R9) Use of hazardous materials (including procurement, 
transportation, distribution, and storage of such materials) and 
reuse, recycling, and disposal of solid, medical, radiological, or 
hazardous waste in a manner that is consistent with all applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies, but uncharacteristic of routine FBI 
use, reuse, recycling, and disposal of hazardous materials and 
waste. Examples include:
    (i) Procurement of a new type of chemical or procurement of a 
larger quantity of a particular chemical than generally used by FBI; 
and
    (ii) Disposal of items that contain PCBs (e.g., carpets, 
lighting, caulk).
    (R10) Herbicide application and pest management, including 
registered pesticide application, in accordance with Federal, state, 
and local regulations.
    (R11) Natural resource management activities on FBI-managed 
property to aid in the maintenance or restoration of native flora 
and fauna, including site preparation and control of non-indigenous 
species, excluding the application of herbicides.

6. Environmental Assessment (EA)

    An EA is a concise public document for actions that do not meet 
the requirements for applying a CATEX, but for which it is unclear 
whether an EIS is required. An EA briefly provides evidence and 
analysis for determining whether to prepare an EIS or a Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FONSI), and facilitates preparation of an EIS 
when one is required. The requirements and contents of an EA are 
described in 40 CFR 1508.9. Significance of impacts will be 
determined based on the criteria outlined in 40 CFR 1508.27. The FBI 
will comment on other agencies' EAs when relevant to the FBI 
mission, or when the FBI has jurisdiction by law or relevant special 
expertise.
    (a) Examples of types of FBI actions that typically require an 
EA include the following:
    (1) Long-term plans for FBI-managed properties and facilities.
    (2) Proposed construction, land use, activity, or operation 
where it is uncertain whether the action will significantly affect 
environmentally sensitive areas.
    (3) New activities for which the impacts are not known with 
certainty, but where the impacts are not expected to cause 
significant environmental degradation.

7. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

    An EIS is a detailed, written statement Federal agencies must 
prepare for major Federal actions that will significantly affect the 
quality of the human environment, or when an EA concludes that the 
significance threshold of the impacts associated with a proposed 
action would be crossed. An EIS describes effects of the proposed 
action and any reasonable alternatives. A Notice of Intent (NOI) is 
published in the Federal Register as soon as practicable after a 
decision to prepare an EIS is made. The FBI may prepare an EIS 
without prior preparation of an EA. The format and content of an EIS 
are described in 40 CFR part 1502.
    (a) A Record of Decision (ROD) is prepared at the time a 
decision is made regarding a proposal that is analyzed and 
documented in an EIS. The ROD will state the decision, discuss the 
alternatives considered, and state whether all practicable means to 
avoid or minimize environmental harms have been adopted or, if not, 
why they were not adopted. Where applicable, the ROD will also 
describe and adopt a monitoring and enforcement plan for any 
mitigation. The FBI will comment on other agencies' EISs when 
relevant to the FBI mission, or where the FBI has jurisdiction by 
law or relevant special expertise.
    (b) Examples of types of actions that typically require an EIS 
include the following:
    (1) Proposed major construction or construction of facilities 
that would have a significant effect on wetlands, coastal zones, or 
other environmentally sensitive areas.
    (2) Change in area, scope, type, or frequency of operations or 
training that will result in significant environmental effects.
    (3) Actions where the effects of a project or operation on the 
human environment are likely to be highly scientifically uncertain, 
but are perceived to have potential for significant impacts.

8. Scoping

    Scoping may be used for all NEPA documents in order to 
streamline the NEPA process by identifying significant issues and 
narrowing the scope of the environmental review process. The FBI may 
seek agencies with specialized expertise or authority in 
environmental planning requirements that may be beneficial to FBI 
mission planning and encourage such agencies to be cooperating 
agencies (40 CFR 1501.6 and 1508.5). In cases where an EIS is 
prepared in response to a finding of significant impact following 
preparation of an EA, the EIS scoping process shall incorporate the 
results of the EA development process.

9. Public Involvement

    The FBI may use such means as newspaper announcements, 
electronic media, and public hearings to disseminate information to 
potentially interested or affected parties about NEPA actions, as 
appropriate. When preparing an EIS, and in certain cases an EA, the 
FBI will invite comment from affected Federal, tribal, state, and 
local agencies, and other interested persons in accordance with 40 
CFR part 1503.

10. Mitigation

    (a) Mitigation measures, such as those described in 40 CFR 
1508.20, can be used to offset environmental impacts associated with 
implementation of an action. If a FONSI or ROD is based on 
mitigation measures, all mitigation measures stipulated in the EA or 
EIS must be implemented as described in the FONSI or ROD.
    (b) Mitigation measures must be included as conditions in 
grants, permits, and relevant contract documents. Funding of actions 
shall be contingent on performance of mitigation measures, where 
such measures are identified in a FONSI or ROD. If mitigation is 
required, a mitigation monitoring plan must be developed prior to 
the initiation of the proposed action. To the extent practicable, 
the FBI will make available the progress or results of monitoring 
upon request by the public or cooperating or commenting agencies.

11. Programmatic, Tiered, and Supplemental NEPA Documents

    (a) Programmatic EAs or EISs may be prepared to cover broad 
actions, such as programs or plans (e.g., Master Plan EA).
    (b) Tiered EAs or EISs may be prepared to cover narrower actions 
that are a component to previously prepared Programmatic EAs or EISs 
as described in 40 CFR 1508.28.
    (c) Supplemental EAs or EISs shall be prepared when the FBI 
makes substantial changes to the proposed action that are relevant 
to environmental concerns; when there are significant new 
circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and 
bearing on the proposed action or its impacts (e.g., new study has 
revealed rare, threatened, and endangered species in the project 
vicinity); or when the FBI determines that the purposes of NEPA will 
be furthered by doing so.
    (1) Supplemental EAs may either be prepared by tracking changes 
in the original EA or by preparing a separate document that only 
discusses the changes in the project scope or new information and 
the associated changes with regard to impacts. The process concludes 
with a decision regarding whether to issue a revised FONSI (using 
one of the methods listed in section 9) or a decision to prepare an 
EIS.
    (2) Supplemental EISs are prepared in the same way as an EIS. 
If, however, a supplemental EIS is prepared within one year of 
filing the ROD for the original EIS, no new scoping process is 
required. The process concludes with a decision regarding whether to 
issue a revised ROD.

    Dated: April 13, 2016.
Sally Q. Yates,
Deputy Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 2016-11945 Filed 5-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-02-P



                                                    32688                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    $2,100,000. As required under rule 205–                  would not generally apply retroactively                   Bohnhoff, 935 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
                                                    3, both dollar amounts would take into                   to such contractual relationships,                        Room WB–460, Washington, DC 20535
                                                    account the effects of inflation by                      subject to the transition rules                           or by facsimile to 202–436–7248.
                                                    reference to historic and current levels                 incorporated in rule 205–3.27                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                    of the PCE Index. While the dollar                         By the Commission.                                      Scott Bohnhoff, FBI Occupational Safety
                                                    amount of the assets-under-management                      Dated: May 18, 2016.                                    and Environmental Programs (OSEP)
                                                    test would not change, because the                                                                                 Unit Chief; Email: Scott.Bohnhoff@
                                                                                                             Brent J. Fields,
                                                    amount of the Commission’s inflation                                                                               ic.fbi.gov; Telephone: (202) 436–7500.
                                                    adjustment calculation is smaller than                   Secretary.
                                                                                                             [FR Doc. 2016–12167 Filed 5–23–16; 8:45 am]               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                    the rounding amount specified under
                                                    rule 205–3, the dollar amount of the net                 BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    Electronic Access and Filing
                                                    worth test would be adjusted as a result                                                                              Electronic comments are preferred.
                                                    of the Commission’s inflation                                                                                      For comments sent via U.S. Postal
                                                    adjustment calculation effected                          DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE                                     Service, please do not submit duplicate
                                                    pursuant to the rule.24                                                                                            electronic or facsimile comments. Please
                                                       We anticipate that future changes to                  Federal Bureau of Investigation
                                                                                                                                                                       confine comments to the proposed rule.
                                                    the dollar amount tests that are issued
                                                                                                             28 CFR Part 61                                               All submissions received must
                                                    by order will be reflected in technical
                                                    amendments to rule 205–3(d), which                                                                                 include the agency name (FBI) and
                                                                                                             RIN 1110–AA32                                             docket number or RIN for this Federal
                                                    would be adopted after such order is
                                                    issued.25                                                                                                          Register document. The general policy
                                                                                                             National Environmental Policy Act                         for comments and other submissions
                                                    B. Effective Date                                        Procedures                                                from members of the public is to make
                                                      We anticipate that, if we issue the                    AGENCY:  Federal Bureau of                                these submissions available for public
                                                    order described above, the effective date                Investigation, Department of Justice.                     viewing on the Internet at http://
                                                    will be 60 days following the order                      ACTION: Notice of proposed rule; request                  www.regulations.gov as they are
                                                    date.26 To the extent that contractual                   for public comment.                                       received without change, including any
                                                    relationships are entered into prior to                                                                            personal identifiers or contact
                                                    the order’s effective date, the dollar                   SUMMARY:   The Department of Justice is                   information.
                                                    amount test adjustments in the order                     proposing to promulgate regulations
                                                                                                                                                                       Explanation of Proposed Rule
                                                                                                             establishing the Federal Bureau of
                                                       24 Specifically, rule 205–3(e) provides that the      Investigation’s (FBI’s) National                             CEQ’s NEPA implementing
                                                    adjusted dollar amounts shall be computed by: (1)        Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)                           regulations contained in 40 CFR parts
                                                    Dividing the year-end value of the PCE Index (or         procedures. These proposed regulations                    1500 through 1508 require each Federal
                                                    any successor index thereto) for the calendar year
                                                    preceding the calendar year in which the order is        would establish a process for the FBI’s                   agency to adopt procedures (40 CFR
                                                    being issued (in this case, 2015), by the year-end       implementation of NEPA, Executive                         1507.3) to ensure that decisions are
                                                    value of the PCE Index (or successor) for the            Order 11514, Executive Order 12114,                       made in accordance with the policies
                                                    calendar year 1997 (such quotient, the ‘‘Adjustment                                                                and purposes of NEPA (40 CFR 1505.1).
                                                    Percentage’’); (2) for the assets-under-management
                                                                                                             and Council on Environmental Quality
                                                    test, multiplying $750,000 by the Adjustment             (CEQ) and Department of Justice                           The Department has established such
                                                    Percentage and rounding the product to the nearest       (Department) regulations addressing the                   policies and procedures at 28 CFR part
                                                    multiple of $100,000; and (3) for the net worth test,    procedural provisions of NEPA.                            61. The FBI NEPA Program has been
                                                    multiplying $1,500,000 by the Adjustment                                                                           established to supplement the
                                                    Percentage and rounding the product to the nearest
                                                                                                             Pursuant to CEQ regulations, the FBI is
                                                    multiple of $100,000.As of April 8, 2016, the end-       soliciting comments on the proposed                       Department’s procedures and to ensure
                                                    of-year 2015 PCE Index was 109.819, and the end-         FBI NEPA regulations from members of                      that environmental considerations are
                                                    of-year 1997 PCE Index was 79.657. Assets-under-         the interested public.                                    fully integrated into the FBI’s mission
                                                    management test calculation to adjust for the effects
                                                    of inflation: (109.819/79.657) × $750,000 =              DATES: Written comments must be                           activities.
                                                    $1,033,986.34; $1,033,986.34 rounded to the nearest      postmarked and electronic comments                           The FBI NEPA regulations are
                                                    multiple of $100,000 = $1,000,000. Net worth test        must be submitted on or before July 25,                   intended to promote reduction of
                                                    calculation to adjust for the effects of inflation:                                                                paperwork by providing guidelines for
                                                    (109.819/79.657) × $1,500,000 = $2,067,972.68;           2016. Commenters should be aware that
                                                    $2,067,972.68 rounded to the nearest multiple of         the electronic Federal Docket                             development of streamlined and
                                                    $100,000 = $2,100,000.The values of the PCE Index        Management System will not accept                         focused NEPA documents and to reduce
                                                    are available from the Bureau of Economic                comments after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time                    delay by integrating the NEPA process
                                                    Analysis, a bureau of the United States Department                                                                 into the early stages of planning. They
                                                    of Commerce. See http://www.bea.gov; see also            on the last day of the comment period.
                                                                                                                                                                       are also intended to promote
                                                    Bureau of Economic Analysis, Table 2.3.4., ‘‘Price       ADDRESSES: Submit comments online at
                                                    Indexes for Personal Consumption Expenditures by                                                                   transparency by ensuring that NEPA
                                                                                                             http://www.regulations.gov. Submit
                                                    Major Type of Product,’’ available at http://www.                                                                  documents are written in plain language
                                                    bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=9&step=1#                written comments by addressing them
                                                                                                                                                                       and follow a clear format so that they
                                                    reqid=9&step=1&isuri=1&903=64 (last visited April        to FBI NEPA Comments, ATTN: Scott A.
                                                    8, 2016).
                                                                                                                                                                       are easily understood by the public and
                                                       25 See May 2011 Release, supra note 13, at n.27         27 See rule 205–3(c)(1) (‘‘If a registered investment   all parties involved in implementation
                                                    (noting that the Commission anticipated, when it         adviser entered into a contract and satisfied the         of the proposed action.
                                                    issued its notice of intent to issue an order revising   conditions of this section that were in effect when          The FBI NEPA regulations are not
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    the dollar amount thresholds of the assets-under-        the contract was entered into, the adviser will be        intended to serve as a comprehensive
                                                    management test and the net worth test, that ‘‘future    considered to satisfy the conditions of this section;
                                                    changes to the dollar amount test that are issued by     Provided, however, that if a natural person or
                                                                                                                                                                       NEPA guide, but will serve as a
                                                    order, will be reflected in technical amendments to      company who was not a party to the contract               framework for the FBI NEPA Program.
                                                    rule 205–3’’).                                           becomes a party (including an equity owner of a           The FBI plans to apply its NEPA
                                                       26 When the Commission issued the 2011 Order          private investment company advised by the                 regulations in conjunction with NEPA,
                                                    adjusting the dollar amount tests of rule 205–3 as       adviser), the conditions of this section in effect at
                                                    described above, the 2011 Order’s effective date was     that time will apply with regard to that person or
                                                                                                                                                                       the CEQ regulations (40 CFR parts 1500
                                                    approximately 60 days following its issuance. See        company.’’); see also May 2011 Release, supra note        through 1508), the Department’s
                                                    supra note 14.                                           13, at section II.B.3.                                    implementing regulations (28 CFR part


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           32689

                                                    61), and all other applicable                           Regulatory Certifications                             of the new rule, as FBI personnel will
                                                    environmental regulations, executive                                                                          still be involved in reviewing projects
                                                                                                            Executive Orders 12866 and 13563—
                                                    orders, statutes, and laws developed for                                                                      and developing and implementing a
                                                                                                            Regulatory Planning and Review
                                                    the protection of the environment.                                                                            NEPA compliance strategy for each one.
                                                                                                               These proposed regulations have been                  The exact impact of the proposed
                                                      The FBI will, as appropriate, keep the                drafted and reviewed in accordance
                                                    public informed of the FBI NEPA                                                                               regulations on staffing and funding
                                                                                                            with Executive Order 12866,                           requirements cannot be calculated due
                                                    program and NEPA actions and ensure                     ‘‘Regulatory Planning and Review,’’
                                                    that relevant environmental documents,                                                                        to uncertainty about the number of
                                                                                                            section 1(b), Principles of Regulation,               future projects and the level at which
                                                    comments, and responses accompany                       and in accordance with Executive Order
                                                    proposals through all levels of decision                                                                      environmental review will occur
                                                                                                            13563, ‘‘Improving Regulation and                     (CATEX, EA, or Environmental Impact
                                                    making (40 CFR 1505.1(d)). The FBI’s                    Regulatory Review,’’ section 1(b),
                                                    NEPA program will be implemented                                                                              Statement (EIS)). However, as discussed
                                                                                                            General Principles of Regulation.                     in the preceding paragraphs, the FBI
                                                    primarily by the following key persons                     The Department has determined that
                                                    within the FBI:                                                                                               estimates a net annual cost savings of up
                                                                                                            these proposed regulations are not a
                                                                                                                                                                  to $1,000,000.
                                                      • The Environmental Executive/                        ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under
                                                    Bureau Designated Environmental,                        Executive Order 12866, section 3(f), and              Executive Order 13132—Federalism
                                                    Safety and Health Official (DESHO) will                 accordingly, they have not been
                                                                                                            reviewed by the Office of Management                    These proposed regulations will not
                                                    maintain signature authority over all                                                                         have a substantial, direct effect on the
                                                    Findings of No Significant Impact                       and Budget.
                                                                                                               Both Executive Orders 12866 and                    states, on the relationship between the
                                                    (FONSIs) and Records of Decision                                                                              national government and the states, or
                                                    (RODs); oversee the FBI NEPA Program;                   13563 direct agencies to assess all costs
                                                                                                            and benefits of available regulatory                  on the distribution of power and
                                                    ensure that NEPA reviews are initiated                                                                        responsibilities among the various
                                                    as early as possible in the project                     alternatives and, if regulation is
                                                                                                            necessary, to select regulatory                       levels of government. In accordance
                                                    planning process; ensure that decisions                                                                       with Executive Order 13132, these
                                                    are made in accordance with the general                 approaches that maximize net benefits
                                                                                                            (including potential economic,                        proposed regulations do not have
                                                    policies and purposes of NEPA; and use                                                                        sufficient federalism implications to
                                                                                                            environmental, public health and safety
                                                    his or her best efforts to ensure that                                                                        warrant the preparation of a Federalism
                                                                                                            effects, distributive impacts, and
                                                    sufficient funds are available to perform                                                                     Assessment.
                                                                                                            equity). Executive Order 13563
                                                    NEPA management-related planning,
                                                                                                            emphasizes the importance of                          Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                    actions, and reporting. These
                                                                                                            quantifying both costs and benefits, of
                                                    responsibilities may be delegated to the                reducing costs, of harmonizing rules,                    The Department, in accordance with
                                                    Program Deputy Bureau DESHO.                            and of promoting flexibility.                         the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
                                                      • The Program Deputy Bureau                              The Department has assessed the                    605(b)) has reviewed these proposed
                                                    DESHO will designate and assign duties                  costs and benefits associated with                    regulations and, by approving them,
                                                    to the FBI NEPA Program Manager;                        implementation of these proposed                      certifies that these regulations will not
                                                    ensure that the FBI NEPA Program is                     regulations and believes that the                     have a substantial economic impact on
                                                    coordinated with other environmental                    regulatory approach selected maximizes                a substantial number of small entities.
                                                    policies and directives; review the FBI                 net benefits by better enabling the FBI               Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
                                                    NEPA Program metrics; and sign                          to comply with NEPA. Further benefits
                                                    FONSIs and RODs as delegated by the                     associated with implementation of these                 These proposed regulations will not
                                                    Environmental Executive/Bureau                          proposed regulations include: A                       result in the expenditure by state, local,
                                                    DESHO.                                                  streamlined approach to performing                    and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
                                                                                                            NEPA reviews, which is expected to                    or by the private sector, of $100 million
                                                      • The FBI NEPA Program Manager
                                                                                                            lead to a reduction in delay and                      or more in any one year, and it will not
                                                    will serve as the FBI’s primary,
                                                                                                            excessive paperwork; enhanced                         substantially or uniquely affect small
                                                    centralized NEPA contact; provide for
                                                                                                            environmental awareness; collaborative                governments. Therefore, no action was
                                                    overall development, implementation,
                                                                                                            and participatory public involvement;                 deemed necessary under the provisions
                                                    coordination, administration, and
                                                                                                            clear compliance guidelines resulting in              of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                                    quality assurance measures associated
                                                                                                            reduced liability risk; and enhanced                  of 1995.
                                                    with the FBI NEPA Program; advise FBI
                                                                                                            cost savings arising from fewer                       Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
                                                    employees on NEPA matters; establish
                                                                                                            requirements to prepare Environmental                 Fairness Act of 1996
                                                    and ensure implementation of FBI-wide
                                                                                                            Assessments (EAs) where projects are
                                                    NEPA policy, guidance, and training;                                                                            These proposed regulations are not a
                                                                                                            covered by categorical exclusions
                                                    and review NEPA documentation.                                                                                major rule as defined by section 251 of
                                                                                                            (CATEXs).
                                                      • Deputy Bureau DESHOs are heads                         The FBI contracts out, on average,                 the Small Business Regulatory
                                                    of the FBI branches, divisions, or offices              twenty EAs annually for actions that                  Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, (5
                                                    reporting directly to the FBI Deputy                    would be covered by the CATEXs                        U.S.C. 804). These proposed regulations
                                                    Director or Associate Deputy Director                   instated by the proposed regulations.                 will not result in an annual effect on the
                                                    who, within their span of control, will                 The average contracting costs associated              economy of $100 million or more, a
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                                                    ensure the NEPA program is properly                     with development of each of these EAs                 major increase in costs or prices, or have
                                                    implemented and managed; use their                      is approximately $50,000. Therefore, the              substantial adverse effects on
                                                    best efforts to ensure that sufficient                  proposed rule would result in an annual               competition, employment, investment,
                                                    funds within their branches, divisions,                 cost savings of approximately                         productivity, innovation, or on the
                                                    and offices are available to perform                    $1,000,000 in contract payouts. The FBI               ability of United States-based
                                                    NEPA management-related planning,                       anticipates that its own staffing costs               enterprises to compete with foreign-
                                                    actions, and reporting; and assign staff                with regard to NEPA compliance will                   based enterprises in domestic and
                                                    to fill NEPA roles as required.                         remain roughly the same upon adoption                 export markets.


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                                                    32690                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                         not require preparation of a NEPA                     and planning activities, and ensure that
                                                                                                            analysis or document. Agency NEPA                     environmental analyses reflect consideration
                                                       The collection of information                                                                              of non-regulatory requirements included in
                                                    contained in this notice of proposed                    procedures are procedural guidance to
                                                                                                            assist agencies in the fulfillment of                 Federal orders, directives, and policy
                                                    rulemaking will be submitted to the                                                                           guidance.
                                                    Office of Management and Budget for                     agency responsibilities under NEPA, but
                                                    review in accordance with the                           are not the agency’s final determination              3. Agency Description
                                                    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44                     of what level of NEPA analysis is                        The FBI is an intelligence-driven national
                                                    U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).                                  required for a particular proposed                    security and law enforcement component
                                                       The proposed regulations are                         action. The requirements for                          within the Department of Justice. The FBI’s
                                                                                                            establishing agency NEPA procedures                   mission is to protect and defend the United
                                                    intended to promote reduction of
                                                                                                            are set forth at 40 CFR 1505.1 and                    States against terrorist and foreign
                                                    paperwork by providing guidelines for                                                                         intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce
                                                    the development of streamlined and                      1507.3. The issuance of regulations
                                                                                                            establishing categorical exclusions does              the criminal laws of the United States, and
                                                    focused NEPA documents and to reduce                                                                          to provide leadership and criminal justice
                                                    delay by integrating the NEPA process                   not itself require NEPA analysis and                  services to Federal, state, municipal, and
                                                    into the early stages of planning. They                 documentation. See, e.g., Heartwood,                  international agencies and partners. General
                                                    are also intended to promote                            Inc. v. U.S. Forest Service, 73 F. Supp.              types of FBI actions include:
                                                    transparency by ensuring that NEPA                      2d 962, 972–73 (S.D. Ill. 1999), aff’d,                  (a) Operational activities, including the
                                                    documents are written in plain language                 230 F.3d 947, 954–55 (7th Cir. 2000).                 detection, investigation, and prosecution of
                                                                                                                                                                  crimes against the United States and the
                                                    and follow a clear format so that they                  List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 61                    collection of intelligence.
                                                    are easily comprehensible by the public                                                                          (b) Training activities, including the
                                                                                                                Environmental impact statements.
                                                    and all parties involved in                                                                                   training of Federal, state, local, and foreign
                                                    implementation of the proposed action.                  Authority and Issuance                                law enforcement personnel.
                                                    A CATEX is a category of actions that,                    Accordingly, part 61 of title 28 of the                (c) Real estate activities, including
                                                    barring extraordinary circumstances, do                 Code of Federal Regulations is proposed               acquisitions and transfers of land and
                                                    not individually or cumulatively have a                                                                       facilities and leasing.
                                                                                                            to be amended as follows:                                (d) Construction, including new
                                                    significant effect on the quality of the
                                                    human environment and for which                                                                               construction, renovations, repair, and
                                                                                                            PART 61—PROCEDURES FOR                                demolition of facilities, infrastructure,
                                                    neither an EA nor an EIS is required.                   IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL                             utilities systems, and other systems.
                                                    Using CATEXs for such activities                        ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT                                 (e) Property maintenance and management
                                                    reduces unnecessary paperwork and                                                                             activities, including maintenance of facilities,
                                                    delay. The estimated average document                   ■ 1. The authority citation for part 61               equipment, and grounds and management of
                                                    length is 15 pages for an EA and 150                    continues to read as follows:                         natural resources.
                                                    pages for an EIS. EAs, EISs, and their                    Authority: 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; 5 U.S.C.                (f) Administrative and regulatory activities,
                                                    associated administrative records must                  301; Executive Order No. 11991.                       including personnel management,
                                                    be retained for at least six years after                                                                      procurement of goods and services, and
                                                    signature of the NEPA decision                          ■ 2. Add appendix F to part 61 to read                preparation of regulations and policy
                                                    document. By contrast, a CATEX                          as follows:                                           guidance.
                                                    requires either no documentation or                     Appendix F to Part 61—Federal Bureau                  4. NEPA Documentation and Decision
                                                    very brief documentation (records of                    of Investigation Procedures Relating to               Making
                                                    environmental consideration                             the Implementation of the National                       The FBI will use the NEPA process as a
                                                    documenting CATEXs are typically only                   Environmental Policy Act                              tool to ensure an interdisciplinary review of
                                                    a few pages long). The estimated total                                                                        its actions and to ensure that impacts of those
                                                                                                            1. Authority                                          actions on the quality of the human
                                                    annual NEPA documentation burden
                                                    associated with these regulations is                       These procedures are issued pursuant to            environment are given appropriate
                                                                                                            the National Environmental Policy Act of              consideration in FBI decisions; to identify
                                                    unknown at this time due to the
                                                                                                            1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.,                 and assess reasonable alternatives to its
                                                    uncertainty of the number of projects                   regulations of the Council on Environmental           actions; and to facilitate early and open
                                                    that will require various levels of NEPA                Quality (CEQ), 40 CFR part 1500, regulations          communication, when practicable, with the
                                                    review.                                                 of the Department of Justice (Department), 28         public and other agencies and organizations.
                                                                                                            CFR part 61, the Environmental Quality
                                                    National Environmental Policy Act                                                                             (a) Level of NEPA Analysis
                                                                                                            Improvement Act of 1970, as amended, 42
                                                      The Council on Environmental                          U.S.C. 4371, et seq., and Executive Order                The level of NEPA analysis will depend on
                                                    Quality regulations do not direct                       11514 of March 5, 1970, ‘‘Protection and              the context and intensity of the
                                                    agencies to prepare a NEPA analysis or                  Enhancement of Environmental Quality,’’ as            environmental impacts associated with the
                                                    document before establishing agency                     amended by Executive Order 11991 of May               proposed action. Environmental Assessments
                                                                                                            24, 1977.                                             (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements
                                                    procedures (such as this regulation) that                                                                     (EISs) should include a reasonable range of
                                                    supplement the CEQ regulations for                      2. Purpose                                            alternatives, and should also include
                                                    implementing NEPA. Agencies are                            The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)          descriptions of other alternatives that the
                                                    required to adopt NEPA procedures that                  NEPA Program has been established to assist           decision maker determined did not require
                                                    establish specific criteria for, and                    the FBI in integrating environmental                  detailed study, with a brief discussion of the
                                                    identification of, three classes of                     considerations into the FBI’s mission and             reasons for such determinations. If there are
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                                                    actions: Those that normally require                    activities. The FBI NEPA regulations have             no reasonable alternatives, the EA or EIS
                                                    preparation of an environmental impact                  been developed to supplement CEQ and                  must explain why no reasonable alternative
                                                    statement; those that normally require                  Department NEPA regulations by outlining              exists. The decision maker must consider all
                                                                                                            internal FBI policy and procedures. Through           the alternatives discussed in the EA or EIS.
                                                    preparation of an environmental                         these provisions, the FBI shall promote               The decision maker may choose an
                                                    assessment; and those that are                          compliance with NEPA and CEQ’s                        alternative that is not expressly described in
                                                    categorically excluded from further                     implementing regulations, encourage                   a draft EA or EIS, provided it is qualitatively
                                                    NEPA review (40 CFR 1507.3(b)).                         environmental sustainability by integrating           within the spectrum of alternatives that were
                                                    Establishing categorical exclusions does                environmental considerations into mission             discussed in the draft.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                               32691

                                                    (b) Responsibility for NEPA Analysis                    proposed action to have significant                   capacity of the supporting road network to
                                                      (1) The FBI’s responsibility for NEPA                 environmental effects. Extraordinary                  accommodate such an increase.
                                                    review of actions shall be determined on a              circumstances are assumed to exist when the              (NR2) Personnel, fiscal, management, and
                                                    case-by-case basis depending on the extent to           proposed action is likely to involve any of           administrative activities, including
                                                    which the entire project will be within the             the following circumstances:                          recruiting, processing, paying, contract
                                                    FBI’s jurisdiction and on other factors. For               (i) An adverse effect on public health or          administration, recordkeeping, budgeting,
                                                    example, if a project involves the                      safety;                                               personnel actions, and travel.
                                                    construction of a facility, the relevant factors           (ii) An adverse effect on Federally listed            (NR3) Decisions to close facilities,
                                                    include: The extent of FBI control and                  endangered or threatened species, marine              decommission equipment, or temporarily
                                                    funding in the construction or use of the               mammals, or critical habitat;                         discontinue use of facilities or equipment,
                                                    facility, whether the facility is being built              (iii) An adverse effect on archaeological          where the facility or equipment is not used
                                                    solely for FBI requirements, and whether the            resources or resources listed or determined to        to prevent or control environmental impacts.
                                                    project would proceed without FBI action.               be eligible for listing in the National Register      This excludes demolition actions.
                                                      (2) The extent of the FBI’s responsibility            of Historic Places;                                      (NR4) Preparation of policies, procedures,
                                                    for NEPA review of joint Federal actions,                  (iv) An adverse effect on an                       manuals, and other guidance documents for
                                                    where the FBI and another Federal agency                environmentally sensitive area, including             which the environmental effects are too
                                                    are cooperating on a project, will be                   floodplains, wetlands, streams, critical              broad, speculative, or conjectural to lend
                                                    determined on a case-by-case basis                      migration corridors, and wildlife refuges;            themselves to meaningful analysis and for
                                                    depending on which agency is designated as                 (v) A material violation of a Federal, state,      which the applicability of the NEPA process
                                                    the lead agency and which is the cooperating            or local environmental law by the FBI;                will be evaluated upon implementation,
                                                    agency.                                                    (vi) An effect on the quality of the human         either collectively or case-by-case.
                                                      (3) In cases where FBI actions are a                  or natural environment that is likely to be              (NR5) Grants of license, easement, or
                                                    component of a larger project involving a               highly scientifically controversial or                similar arrangements for use by vehicles (not
                                                    private action or an action by a local or state         uncertain, or likely to involve unique or             to include substantial increases in the
                                                    government, the FBI’s proposed action                   unknown environmental risks;                          number of vehicles loaded); electrical,
                                                    analyzed in the NEPA document will include                 (vii) Establishment of precedents or               telephone, and other transmission and
                                                    only the portions of the project over which             decisions in principle for future action(s) that      communication lines; pipelines, pumping
                                                    the FBI has sufficient control and                      have the potential for significant impacts            stations, and facilities for water, wastewater,
                                                    responsibility to warrant Federal review.               (e.g., master plans, Integrated Natural               stormwater, and irrigation; and for similar
                                                    However, the cumulative impacts analysis                Resource Management Plans, Integrated                 utility and transportation uses. Construction
                                                    will account for past, present, and reasonably          Cultural Resource Management Plans);                  or acquisition of new facilities are not
                                                    foreseeable future activities affecting the                (viii) Significantly greater scope or size         included.
                                                    same natural resources as the FBI project.              than normally experienced for a particular               (NR6) Acquisition, installation, operation,
                                                    When actions are planned by private or other            category of action;                                   and maintenance of temporary equipment,
                                                    non-Federal entities, the FBI will provide the             (ix) Potential for substantial degradation of      devices, or controls necessary to mitigate
                                                    potential applicant reasonably foreseeable              already existing poor environmental                   effects of FBI’s missions on health and the
                                                    requirements for studies or other information           conditions;                                           environment. This CATEX is not intended to
                                                    for subsequent FBI action. In addition, the                (x) Initiation of a potentially substantial        cover facility construction or related
                                                    FBI will consult with appropriate state and             environmental degrading influence, activity,          activities. Examples include:
                                                    local agencies, tribal entities, interested             or effect in areas not already substantially             (i) Temporary sediment and erosion
                                                    private persons, and organizations early in a           modified; or                                          control measures required to meet applicable
                                                    project’s planning process when the FBI’s                  (xi) A connection to other actions with            Federal, tribal, state, or local requirements;
                                                    involvement is reasonably foreseeable.                  individually insignificant, but cumulatively             (ii) Installation of temporary diversion
                                                      (4) Whenever appropriate and practicable,             significant, impacts.                                 fencing to prevent earth disturbance within
                                                    the FBI will incorporate by reference and rely                                                                sensitive areas during construction activities;
                                                    upon the environmental analyses and                     (b) Documentation of CATEX Usage                      and
                                                    reviews of other Federal, tribal, state, and              As noted in paragraph (c) of this section,             (iii) Installation of temporary markers to
                                                    local agencies.                                         certain FBI actions qualifying for a CATEX            delineate limits of earth disturbance in
                                                    5. Categorical Exclusions                               have been predetermined to have a low risk            forested areas to prevent unnecessary tree
                                                                                                            of extraordinary circumstances and, as such,          removal.
                                                    (a) Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) Criteria              have been designated as not requiring                    (NR7) Routine flying operations and
                                                    (40 CFR 1508.4)                                         preparation of a Record of Environmental              infrequent, temporary (fewer than 30 days)
                                                      A CATEX is a category of actions that,                Consideration (REC) Determination Form. A             increases in aircraft operations up to 50
                                                    barring extraordinary circumstances, do not             REC Determination Form must be prepared               percent of the typical FBI aircraft operation
                                                    individually or cumulatively have a                     for all other FBI actions subject to NEPA             rate.
                                                    significant effect on the quality of the human          review. The REC Determination Form will                  (NR8) Proposed new activities and
                                                    environment and for which neither an EA                 help determine if the proposed action falls           operations to be conducted in an existing
                                                    nor an EIS is required. Using CATEXs for                within a category of actions that has been            structure that would be consistent with
                                                    such activities reduces unnecessary                     excluded from further NEPA review or if the           previously established safety levels and
                                                    paperwork and delay. Such activities are not            action will require further analysis through          would not result in a change in use of the
                                                    excluded from compliance with other                     an EA or EIS. The REC Determination Form              facility. Examples include new types of
                                                    applicable Federal, state, or local                     will also identify any extraordinary                  research, development, testing, and
                                                    environmental laws. To qualify for a CATEX,             circumstances that require the FBI to perform         evaluation activities, and laboratory
                                                    an action must meet all of the following                an EA or an EIS for an action that would              operations conducted within existing
                                                    criteria:                                               otherwise qualify for a CATEX.                        enclosed facilities designed to support
                                                      (1) The proposed action fits entirely within                                                                research and development activities.
                                                    one or more of the CATEXs;                              (c) List of No REC Required (NR) FBI CATEXs              (NR9) Conducting audits and surveys; data
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                                                      (2) The proposed action has not been                     (NR1) Reductions, realignments, or                 collection; data analysis; and processing,
                                                    segmented and is not a piece of a larger                relocation of personnel, equipment, or                permitting, information dissemination,
                                                    action. For purposes of NEPA, actions must              mobile assets that do not result in changing          review, interpretation, and development of
                                                    be considered in the same review if it is               the use of the space in such a way that could         documents. If any of these activities result in
                                                    reasonably foreseeable that the actions are             cause environmental effects or exceed the             proposals for further action, those proposals
                                                    connected (e.g., where one action depends on            infrastructure capacity outside of FBI-               must be covered by an appropriate CATEX or
                                                    another).                                               managed property. An example of exceeding             other NEPA analysis. Examples include:
                                                      (3) No extraordinary circumstances exist              the infrastructure capacity would be an                  (i) Document mailings, publication, and
                                                    that would cause the normally excluded                  increase in vehicular traffic beyond the              distribution, training and information



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                                                    32692                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                    programs, historical and cultural                       interior utility work, road maintenance,              utilities and infrastructure for the use and
                                                    demonstrations, and public affairs actions;             window washing, lawn mowing, trash                    access to the space. This also includes
                                                       (ii) Studies, reports, proposals, analyses,          collecting, facility cleaning, and snow               associated relocation of personnel,
                                                    literature reviews, computer modeling, and              removal.                                              equipment, or assets into the acquired space.
                                                    intelligence gathering and sharing;                        (NR14) Recreation and welfare activities              (R3) Transfer of administrative control over
                                                       (iii) Activities designed to support                 (e.g., picnics and Family Day).                       real property, including related personal
                                                    improvement or upgrade management of                       (NR15) Training FBI personnel and persons          property, between another Federal agency
                                                    natural resources, such as surveys for                  external to the FBI using existing facilities         and the FBI that does not result in a change
                                                    threatened and endangered species or                    and where the training occurs in accordance           in the functional use of the property.
                                                    cultural resources; wetland delineations; and           with applicable permitting requirements and              (R4) New construction (e.g., facilities,
                                                    minimal water, air, waste, and soil sampling;           other requirements for the protection of the          roads, parking areas, trails, solar panels, and
                                                       (iv) Minimally intrusive geological,                 environment. This exclusion does not apply            wind turbines) or improvement of land
                                                    geophysical, and geo-technical activities,              to training that involves the use of live             where all of the following conditions are met:
                                                    including mapping and engineering surveys;              chemical, biological, radiological, or                   (i) The site is in a developed or a
                                                       (v) Conducting facility audits,                      explosive agents, except when conducted at            previously disturbed area;
                                                    Environmental Site Assessments, and                     a location designed and constructed to                   (ii) The proposed use will not substantially
                                                    environmental baseline surveys; and                     accommodate those materials and their                 increase the number of motor vehicles at the
                                                       (vi) Vulnerability, risk, and structural             associated hazards. Examples include:                 facility or in the area;
                                                    integrity assessments of infrastructure.                   (i) Administrative or classroom training;             (iii) The construction or improvement will
                                                       (NR10) Routine procurement, use, storage,               (ii) Tactical training, including training in      not result in exceeding the infrastructure
                                                    and disposal of non-hazardous goods and                 explosives and incendiary devices, arson              capacity outside of FBI-managed property
                                                    services in support of administrative,                  investigation and firefighting, and emergency         (e.g., roads, sewer, water, and parking);
                                                    operational, or maintenance activities in               preparedness and response;                               (iv) The site and scale of construction or
                                                    accordance with executive orders and                       (iii) Chemical, biological, explosive, or          improvement are consistent with those of
                                                    Federal procurement guidelines. Examples                hazardous material handling training;                 existing, adjacent, or nearby buildings; and
                                                    include:                                                   (iv) Vehicle, aircraft, and small boat                (v) The structure and proposed use are
                                                       (i) Office supplies and furniture;                                                                         compatible with applicable Federal, tribal,
                                                                                                            operation training;
                                                       (ii) Equipment;                                                                                            state, and local planning and zoning
                                                                                                               (v) Small arms and less-than-lethal
                                                       (iii) Mobile assets (i.e., vehicles, vessels,                                                              standards and consistent with Federally
                                                                                                            weapons training;
                                                    aircraft);                                                                                                    approved state coastal management
                                                                                                               (vi) Security specialties and terrorist
                                                                                                                                                                  programs.
                                                       (iv) Utility services; and                           response training;                                       (R5) Renovation, addition, repair,
                                                       (v) Deployable emergency response                       (vii) Crowd control training, including gas        alteration, and demolition projects affecting
                                                    supplies and equipment.                                 range training;                                       buildings, roads, airfields, grounds,
                                                       (NR11) Routine use of hazardous materials               (viii) Enforcement response, self-defense,         equipment, and other facilities, including
                                                    (including procurement, transportation,                 and interdiction techniques training; and             subsequent disposal of debris, which may be
                                                    distribution, and storage of such materials)               (ix) Fingerprinting and drug analysis              contaminated with hazardous materials such
                                                    and reuse, recycling, and disposal of solid,            training.                                             as PCBs, lead, or asbestos. Hazardous
                                                    medical, radiological, or hazardous waste in               (NR16) Projects, grants, cooperative               materials must be disposed of at approved
                                                    a manner that is consistent with all                    agreements, contracts, or activities to design,       sites in accordance with Federal, state, and
                                                    applicable laws, regulations, and policies.             develop, and conduct national, state, local, or       local regulations. Examples include the
                                                    Examples include:                                       international exercises to test the readiness of      following:
                                                       (i) Use of chemicals and low-level                   the nation to prevent or respond to a terrorist          (i) Realigning interior spaces of an existing
                                                    radionuclides for laboratory applications;              attack or a natural or manmade disaster               building;
                                                       (ii) Refueling of storage tanks;                     where conducted in accordance with existing              (ii) Adding a small storage shed to an
                                                       (iii) Appropriate treatment and disposal of          facility or land use designations. This               existing building;
                                                    medical waste;                                          exclusion does not apply to exercises that               (iii) Retrofitting for energy conservation,
                                                       (iv) Temporary storage and disposal of               involve the use of live chemical, biological,         including weatherization, installation of
                                                    solid waste;                                            radiological, nuclear, or explosive agents or         timers on hot water heaters, installation of
                                                       (v) Disposal of radiological waste through           devices (other than small devices such as             energy efficient lighting, installation of low-
                                                    manufacturer return and recycling programs;             practice grenades or flash bang devices used          flow plumbing fixtures, and installation of
                                                    and                                                     to simulate an attack during exercises),              drip-irrigation systems;
                                                       (vi) Hazardous waste minimization                    unless these exercises are conducted under               (iv) Installing a small antenna on an
                                                    activities.                                             the auspices of existing plans or permits that        already existing antenna tower that does not
                                                       (NR12) Acquisition, installation,                    have undergone NEPA review.                           cause the total height to exceed 200 feet and
                                                    maintenance, operation, or evaluation of                                                                      where the FCC’s NEPA procedures allow for
                                                    security equipment to screen for or detect              (d) List of REC Required (R) FBI CATEXs
                                                                                                                                                                  application of a CATEX; or
                                                    dangerous or illegal individuals or materials              (R1) Reductions, realignments, or                     (v) Closing and demolishing a building not
                                                    at existing facilities or to enhance the                relocation of personnel, equipment, or                eligible for listing under the National Register
                                                    physical security of existing critical assets.          mobile assets that result in changing the use         of Historic Places.
                                                    Examples include:                                       of the space in such a way that could cause              (R6) Acquisition, installation,
                                                       (i) Low-level x-ray devices;                         changes to environmental effects, but do not          reconstruction, repair by replacement, and
                                                       (ii) Cameras and biometric devices;                  result in exceeding the infrastructure                operation of utility (e.g., water, sewer,
                                                       (iii) Passive inspection devices;                    capacity outside of FBI-managed property.             electrical), communication (e.g., data
                                                       (iv) Detection or security systems for               An example of exceeding the infrastructure            processing cable and similar electronic
                                                    explosive, biological, or chemical substances;          capacity would be an increase in vehicular            equipment), and security systems that use
                                                       (v) Access controls, screening devices, and          traffic beyond the capacity of the supporting         existing rights-of-way, easements,
                                                    traffic management systems;                             road network to accommodate such an                   distribution systems, or facilities.
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                                                       (vi) Motion detection systems;                       increase.                                                (R7) Acquisition, installation, operation,
                                                       (vii) Impact resistant doors and gates;                 (R2) Acquisition or use of space within an         and maintenance of permanent equipment,
                                                       (viii) Diver and swimmer detection                   existing structure, by purchase, lease, or use        devices, or controls necessary to mitigate
                                                    systems, except sonar; and                              agreement. This includes structures that are          effects of FBI’s missions on health and the
                                                       (ix) Blast and shock impact-resistant                in the process of construction or were                environment. This CATEX is not intended to
                                                    systems for land-based and waterfront                   recently constructed, regardless of whether           cover facility construction or related
                                                    facilities.                                             the existing structure was built to satisfy an        activities. Examples include:
                                                       (NR13) Maintenance of facilities,                    FBI requirement and the proposed FBI use                 (i) Pollution prevention and pollution-
                                                    equipment, and grounds. Examples include                would not exceed the carrying capacity of the         control equipment required to meet



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 24, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                 32693

                                                    applicable Federal, tribal, state, or local               (3) New activities for which the impacts            Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, and
                                                    requirements;                                           are not known with certainty, but where the           other interested persons in accordance with
                                                       (ii) Installation of fencing, including              impacts are not expected to cause significant         40 CFR part 1503.
                                                    security fencing, that would not have the               environmental degradation.
                                                    potential to significantly impede wildlife                                                                    10. Mitigation
                                                                                                            7. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
                                                    population movement (including migration)                                                                        (a) Mitigation measures, such as those
                                                    or surface water flow;                                     An EIS is a detailed, written statement
                                                                                                                                                                  described in 40 CFR 1508.20, can be used to
                                                       (iii) Installation and operation of lighting         Federal agencies must prepare for major
                                                                                                            Federal actions that will significantly affect        offset environmental impacts associated with
                                                    devices;
                                                       (iv) Noise-abatement measures, including             the quality of the human environment, or              implementation of an action. If a FONSI or
                                                    construction of noise barriers, installation of         when an EA concludes that the significance            ROD is based on mitigation measures, all
                                                    noise control materials, or planting native             threshold of the impacts associated with a            mitigation measures stipulated in the EA or
                                                    trees or native vegetation for use as a noise           proposed action would be crossed. An EIS              EIS must be implemented as described in the
                                                    abatement measure; and                                  describes effects of the proposed action and          FONSI or ROD.
                                                       (v) Devices to protect human or animal life,         any reasonable alternatives. A Notice of                 (b) Mitigation measures must be included
                                                    such as raptor electrocution prevention                 Intent (NOI) is published in the Federal              as conditions in grants, permits, and relevant
                                                    devices, and fencing and grating to prevent             Register as soon as practicable after a               contract documents. Funding of actions shall
                                                    accidental entry to hazardous or restricted             decision to prepare an EIS is made. The FBI           be contingent on performance of mitigation
                                                    areas.                                                  may prepare an EIS without prior preparation
                                                                                                                                                                  measures, where such measures are
                                                       (R8) Non-routine procurement, use,                   of an EA. The format and content of an EIS
                                                    storage, and disposal of non-hazardous goods            are described in 40 CFR part 1502.                    identified in a FONSI or ROD. If mitigation
                                                    and services in support of administrative,                 (a) A Record of Decision (ROD) is prepared         is required, a mitigation monitoring plan
                                                    operational, or maintenance activities in               at the time a decision is made regarding a            must be developed prior to the initiation of
                                                    accordance with executive orders and                    proposal that is analyzed and documented in           the proposed action. To the extent
                                                    Federal procurement guidelines.                         an EIS. The ROD will state the decision,              practicable, the FBI will make available the
                                                       (R9) Use of hazardous materials (including           discuss the alternatives considered, and state        progress or results of monitoring upon
                                                    procurement, transportation, distribution,              whether all practicable means to avoid or             request by the public or cooperating or
                                                    and storage of such materials) and reuse,               minimize environmental harms have been                commenting agencies.
                                                    recycling, and disposal of solid, medical,              adopted or, if not, why they were not
                                                    radiological, or hazardous waste in a manner            adopted. Where applicable, the ROD will also          11. Programmatic, Tiered, and Supplemental
                                                    that is consistent with all applicable laws,            describe and adopt a monitoring and                   NEPA Documents
                                                    regulations, and policies, but uncharacteristic         enforcement plan for any mitigation. The FBI            (a) Programmatic EAs or EISs may be
                                                    of routine FBI use, reuse, recycling, and               will comment on other agencies’ EISs when             prepared to cover broad actions, such as
                                                    disposal of hazardous materials and waste.              relevant to the FBI mission, or where the FBI
                                                                                                                                                                  programs or plans (e.g., Master Plan EA).
                                                    Examples include:                                       has jurisdiction by law or relevant special
                                                       (i) Procurement of a new type of chemical            expertise.                                              (b) Tiered EAs or EISs may be prepared to
                                                    or procurement of a larger quantity of a                   (b) Examples of types of actions that              cover narrower actions that are a component
                                                    particular chemical than generally used by              typically require an EIS include the                  to previously prepared Programmatic EAs or
                                                    FBI; and                                                following:                                            EISs as described in 40 CFR 1508.28.
                                                       (ii) Disposal of items that contain PCBs                (1) Proposed major construction or                   (c) Supplemental EAs or EISs shall be
                                                    (e.g., carpets, lighting, caulk).                       construction of facilities that would have a          prepared when the FBI makes substantial
                                                       (R10) Herbicide application and pest                 significant effect on wetlands, coastal zones,        changes to the proposed action that are
                                                    management, including registered pesticide              or other environmentally sensitive areas.             relevant to environmental concerns; when
                                                    application, in accordance with Federal,                   (2) Change in area, scope, type, or                there are significant new circumstances or
                                                    state, and local regulations.                           frequency of operations or training that will         information relevant to environmental
                                                       (R11) Natural resource management                    result in significant environmental effects.          concerns and bearing on the proposed action
                                                    activities on FBI-managed property to aid in               (3) Actions where the effects of a project         or its impacts (e.g., new study has revealed
                                                    the maintenance or restoration of native flora          or operation on the human environment are
                                                    and fauna, including site preparation and                                                                     rare, threatened, and endangered species in
                                                                                                            likely to be highly scientifically uncertain,
                                                    control of non-indigenous species, excluding            but are perceived to have potential for               the project vicinity); or when the FBI
                                                    the application of herbicides.                          significant impacts.                                  determines that the purposes of NEPA will be
                                                                                                                                                                  furthered by doing so.
                                                    6. Environmental Assessment (EA)                        8. Scoping                                              (1) Supplemental EAs may either be
                                                       An EA is a concise public document for                  Scoping may be used for all NEPA                   prepared by tracking changes in the original
                                                    actions that do not meet the requirements for           documents in order to streamline the NEPA             EA or by preparing a separate document that
                                                    applying a CATEX, but for which it is                   process by identifying significant issues and         only discusses the changes in the project
                                                    unclear whether an EIS is required. An EA               narrowing the scope of the environmental              scope or new information and the associated
                                                    briefly provides evidence and analysis for              review process. The FBI may seek agencies             changes with regard to impacts. The process
                                                    determining whether to prepare an EIS or a              with specialized expertise or authority in            concludes with a decision regarding whether
                                                    Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI),               environmental planning requirements that
                                                    and facilitates preparation of an EIS when                                                                    to issue a revised FONSI (using one of the
                                                                                                            may be beneficial to FBI mission planning
                                                    one is required. The requirements and                   and encourage such agencies to be                     methods listed in section 9) or a decision to
                                                    contents of an EA are described in 40 CFR               cooperating agencies (40 CFR 1501.6 and               prepare an EIS.
                                                    1508.9. Significance of impacts will be                 1508.5). In cases where an EIS is prepared in           (2) Supplemental EISs are prepared in the
                                                    determined based on the criteria outlined in            response to a finding of significant impact           same way as an EIS. If, however, a
                                                    40 CFR 1508.27. The FBI will comment on                 following preparation of an EA, the EIS               supplemental EIS is prepared within one
                                                    other agencies’ EAs when relevant to the FBI            scoping process shall incorporate the results         year of filing the ROD for the original EIS, no
                                                    mission, or when the FBI has jurisdiction by            of the EA development process.                        new scoping process is required. The process
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    law or relevant special expertise.                                                                            concludes with a decision regarding whether
                                                       (a) Examples of types of FBI actions that            9. Public Involvement
                                                                                                                                                                  to issue a revised ROD.
                                                    typically require an EA include the following:             The FBI may use such means as newspaper
                                                       (1) Long-term plans for FBI-managed                  announcements, electronic media, and public             Dated: April 13, 2016.
                                                    properties and facilities.                              hearings to disseminate information to                Sally Q. Yates,
                                                       (2) Proposed construction, land use,                 potentially interested or affected parties            Deputy Attorney General.
                                                    activity, or operation where it is uncertain            about NEPA actions, as appropriate. When
                                                    whether the action will significantly affect            preparing an EIS, and in certain cases an EA,         [FR Doc. 2016–11945 Filed 5–23–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    environmentally sensitive areas.                        the FBI will invite comment from affected             BILLING CODE 4410–02–P




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Document Created: 2016-05-24 05:21:47
Document Modified: 2016-05-24 05:21:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice of proposed rule; request for public comment.
DatesWritten comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before July 25, 2016. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept comments after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.
ContactScott Bohnhoff, FBI Occupational Safety and Environmental Programs (OSEP) Unit Chief; Email: [email protected]; Telephone: (202) 436-7500.
FR Citation81 FR 32688 
RIN Number1110-AA32

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