The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. Using the NEPA process, agencies evaluate the environmental and related social and economic effects of their proposed actions. Specifically, all federal agencies are required to prepare detailed statements assessing the environmental impact of and alternatives to major federal actions significantly affecting the environment. These statements are commonly referred to as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA). Agencies also provide opportunities for public review and comment on those statements.
After review by the Council for Environment Quality, federal agencies may exclude certain categories of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment from the requirement to complete an EA or EIS. Actions that fall under a categorical exclusion do not normally require preparation of an EA or EIS, absent extraordinary circumstances.
After review and consultation, the Commission has determined the following types of actions are eligible for categorical exclusions: Category 1, Administrative and Routine Office Activities; Category 2, Regulation, Monitoring and Oversight of Indian Gaming Activities; and Category 3, Management Contract and Agreement Review Activities – that do not include any new construction or expansion of existing structures.
More information about NEPA, including categorical exclusions for certain Agency actions, and any documents that need to be published pursuant to NEPA can be found here: