[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 47761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22077]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Program

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer, Office of 
Management, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of administrative corrections to directive and 
instruction.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to provide information on 
administrative revisions to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or 
Department) Categorical Exclusions found in DHS Instruction 023-01-001-
01, Rev. 01, Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(herein after referred to as Instruction). The Instruction was 
finalized October 31, 2014 and became effective on March 26, 2015; 
however, unintended administrative errors have since been identified. 
These errors are limited to Categorical Exclusions found in Appendix A, 
Table 1 of the Instruction. The administrative revisions covered under 
this notice either resolve ambiguity to ensure application which is 
consistent with the administrative record or resolve typographical 
errors that had the potential to result in inappropriate application. 
These revisions are effective upon publication in the Federal Register.

DATES: The list of Categorical Exclusions, found in Appendix A, Table 
1, of the Instruction is revised as of October 13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Relevant documents are posted at www.dhs.gov/nepa. These 
documents include: This notice, the Instruction with the revised list 
of Categorical Exclusions, the Administrative Record supporting the 
establishment of the Categorical Exclusions, a summary of revisions, 
the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG's) Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, and 
the Federal Register notice entitled National Environmental Policy Act: 
Coast Guard Procedures for Categorical Exclusions which appeared on 
July 23, 2002 (67 FR 48243).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jennifer Hass, Environmental 
Planning and Historic Preservation Program Manager, DHS, [email protected] or at 202-834-4346.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DHS Directive 023-01 Rev. 01 (hereinafter 
Directive) and the Instruction establish the Department's policy and 
procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for 
implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508). Together, the Directive and Instruction apply to all of the 
Components of DHS and help ensure the integration of environmental 
stewardship into DHS decision making as required by NEPA. The 
Instruction serves as the DHS implementing procedures for NEPA (as 
required by 40 CFR 1505.1 and 1507.3) and includes the Department's 
list of Categorical Exclusions, found in Appendix A, Table 1. Notice of 
the Directive and Instruction were published in the Federal Register on 
November 26, 2014 (79 FR 70538) and became effective on March 26, 2015.
    During a recent review of the Instruction, a number of 
administrative errors were identified which have the potential to 
substantively alter the correct and intended application of several 
Categorical Exclusions. Based on our internal review, we have 
determined these errors occurred during the transcription process as 
Categorical Exclusions unique to the USCG and the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency were merged with the other DHS Component Categorical 
Exclusions to create a single, unified list of Categorical Exclusions 
for application within the Department. There was no intent to 
substantively alter the language or application of these Categorical 
Exclusions.
    For the Categorical Exclusions unique to the USCG, the impacted 
Categorical Exclusions appear correctly in the USCG's Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1D which has been in effect since November 29, 2000 
and the Federal Register notice entitled National Environmental Policy 
Act: Coast Guard Procedures for Categorical Exclusions which was 
published on July 23, 2002 (67 FR 48243).
    In general, the administrative revisions include omission of an 
asterisk (*) designating the requirement to prepare a Record of 
Environmental consideration (REC); inclusion of an asterisk (*) 
designating the requirement to prepare a REC where that was not 
intended; administrative revision to more clearly delineate when a REC 
is required; clarification to resolve ambiguity to ensure application 
which consistent with the administrative record, and resolution of a 
typographical error. A copy of this Federal Register publication, DHS 
Instruction 023-01-001-01 Rev. 01 with the revised list of Categorical 
Exclusions, the Administrative Record supporting the establishment of 
the Categorical Exclusions, a summary of revisions, the USCG's 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, and the Federal Register notice 
entitled National Environmental Policy Act: Coast Guard Procedures for 
Categorical Exclusions which appeared on July 23, 2002 (67 FR 48243) 
are available on the internet at www.dhs.gov/nepa.

    Dated: October 5, 2017.
Teresa R. Pohlman,
Executive Director Sustainability and Environmental Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-22077 Filed 10-12-17; 8:45 am]
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