# 2025-10994: DHS Adds 27 Shortcuts to Environmental Reviews 2025-10994, Notice of Adoption of Categorical Exclusions Under Section 109 of the National Environmental Policy Act, is a Federal Register notice from Homeland Security Department published 2025-06-16, effective 2025-06-16; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-02). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10994 - As of: 2026-11-02 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-10994 - Title: Notice of Adoption of Categorical Exclusions Under Section 109 of the National Environmental Policy Act - Type: Notice - Agencies: Homeland Security Department - Citation: 90 FR 25350 - Published: 2025-06-16 - Effective: 2025-06-16 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-11-02 ## In one line DHS Adds 27 Shortcuts to Environmental Reviews ## Summary The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just adopted 27 new shortcuts called categorical exclusions to speed up environmental reviews for certain projects. This means DHS can now skip lengthy paperwork for actions that won’t harm the environment, saving time and resources. These changes take effect on June 16, 2025, and affect anyone involved in DHS projects needing environmental checks. ## Abstract The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is notifying the public and documenting the adoption of 27 categorical exclusions (CEs) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This notice identifies the types of actions to which DHS will apply the CEs, the considerations that DHS will use in determining the applicability of the CEs, and the consultation between the agencies on the use of the CEs, including application of extraordinary circumstances. ## Effects PRIA read - DHS Adopts 27 Categorical Exclusions: benefit, medium. On June 16, 2025, DHS adopted 27 categorical exclusions (CEs) from other agencies so it can skip full NEPA paperwork (an EA or EIS) for certain actions that normally do not have significant environmental effects. DHS will apply these specified CEs to eligible DHS projects unless an "extraordinary c… - FEMA Building Rehabilitation CE Limits: benefit, medium. DHS will use HUD's CE for building rehabilitation (24 CFR 50.20(a)(2)) for some FEMA-funded disaster repairs. The CE applies when residential density stays at four units or fewer, multifamily unit density does not change more than 20 percent, non-residential size/capacity does not change more than… - New CE for Transmission and Substation Work: benefit, medium. DHS adopted a TVA CE that covers new electric transmission lines generally no more than 10 miles long and that require no more than 125 acres of new developed rights-of-way, and substations or interconnection facilities that generally disturb no more than 10 acres. DHS intends to use this CE for co… - Post-Fire and Wildland Stabilization CEs (Acreage & Time Limits): benefit, medium. DHS will use CEs for post-fire and wildland stabilization including BLM and USFS CEs that limit actions to no more than 4,200 acres for certain emergency/post-fire work. The BLM emergency stabilization CE requires completion within one year following the event; the USFS post-fire rehabilitation CE… - Dam Removal and Dam Rehabilitation CEs for High-Hazard Dams: benefit, medium. DHS will apply multiple NRCS, USFS, and RD CEs to support dam removal and rehabilitation work funded under High Hazard Potential Dam programs. DHS intends to use CEs for actions such as removing dikes, restoring flow to floodplains, repairing or improving spillways, increasing freeboard, and other… - Tree Removal, Salvage, and Sanitation Harvest CEs: benefit, low. DHS adopted BLM CEs covering sale/removal of hazardous individual trees, reforestation activities, salvaging dead or dying trees up to 250 acres (with up to 0.5 mile of temporary road construction), and commercial/non-commercial sanitation harvests up to 250 acres. DHS plans to use these CEs for ha… - Minor Disaster Repairs & Routine Road/Firebreak Work: benefit, low. DHS adopted Navy and Army CEs that cover minor repairs after wildfires, floods, earthquakes, or severe weather and routine road, trail, and firebreak maintenance. The Navy CE requires covered activities to be completed within one year following the event and prohibits construction of new permanent… - Extraordinary Circumstances Still Require Review: benefit, low. Even when a CE appears to apply, DHS will evaluate "extraordinary circumstances" (for example, effects on listed species, wetlands, historic properties, 100-year floodplains, or other sensitive resources). If such circumstances exist or could result in significant effects, DHS will prepare an envir… ## Related documents - [2026-21600](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-21600): Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process; Delayed Compliance Extension, 2026-10-22 - [2026-20955](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20955): Removal of Automatic Extensions for Certain Employment Authorization Documents, 2026-10-14 - [2026-20884](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20884): Advance Traveler Information for Rail, 2026-10-13 - [2026-20650](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20650): Low-Value Shipments, 2026-10-08 - [2026-20660](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20660): Optional Practical Training Fees, 2026-10-08 - [2026-20087](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20087): Clarification of Certain Mariner Training Requirements, 2026-10-01 ## Sources - [2025-10994 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/16/2025-10994/notice-of-adoption-of-categorical-exclusions-under-section-109-of-the-national-environmental-policy) - [2025-10994 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-06-16/pdf/2025-10994.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-10960, Informal Working Group 1 (IWG-1), Informal Working Group 2 (IWG-2), Informal Wo…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10960) - [Next: 2025-10995, 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Operating Fund Shortfall Prog…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10995) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-10994 (as of 2026-11-02).