Compliance With NEPA

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS or the Agency) publishes this interim final rule to request comments on additional categorical exclusions, which are actions that the agency has determined do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and, thus, should not require preparing an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NRCS' categorical exclusion actions promote restoration and conservation activities related to natural or human induced damage, or alteration of floodplain easements and watershed areas. For projects being funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the interim final rule will assist NRCS in meeting mandates set forth in ARRA and NEPA for undertaking actions in the most expeditious manner and in compliance with NEPA.