PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Defines common words used for federal environmental reviews. It gives short, plain meanings so people know what kinds of documents, agencies, and actions are meant. Categorical exclusion: a group of actions a federal agency has found usually do not harm the environment. Cooperating agency: a federal, State, Tribal, or local agency officially helping with the review. Council: the Council on Environmental Quality. Environmental assessment: a short study prepared to see if a full study is needed. Environmental document: any of three papers—an environmental impact statement, an environmental assessment, or a finding that no significant impact is expected. Environmental impact statement: a detailed written study required when big effects are likely. Finding of no significant impact: the agency’s decision that a detailed study is not needed. Participating Federal agency: any federal agency taking part in a review or approval. Lead agency: the agency proposing the action, or the one chosen to lead when several agencies are involved. Major Federal action: an action under strong federal control and responsibility, but it does not include several types of projects such as largely non‑Federal projects with little federal funding or control, certain funding or loan situations, enforcement actions, activities wholly outside U.S. jurisdiction, or actions the agency must carry out by law. Programmatic environmental document: a study that looks at the effects of a policy, program, plan, or group of related actions. Proposal: a planned action at a stage when the agency can compare options and judge effects. Special expertise: agency responsibility, mission, or related experience.

Title 42, §4336e

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this subchapter:

(1)Categorical exclusion

The term “categorical exclusion” means a category of actions that a Federal agency has determined normally does not significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 4332(2)(C) of this title.

(2)Cooperating agency

The term “cooperating agency” means any Federal, State, Tribal, or local agency that has been designated as a cooperating agency under section 4336a(a)(3) of this title.

(3)Council

The term “Council” means the Council on Environmental Quality established in subchapter II.

(4)Environmental assessment

The term “environmental assessment” means an environmental assessment prepared under section 4336(b)(2) of this title.

(5)Environmental document

The term “environmental document” means an environmental impact statement, an environmental assessment, or a finding of no significant impact.

(6)Environmental impact statement

The term “environmental impact statement” means a detailed written statement that is required by section 4332(2)(C) of this title.

(7)Finding of no significant impact

The term “finding of no significant impact” means a determination by a Federal agency that a proposed agency action does not require the issuance of an environmental impact statement.

(8)Participating Federal agency

The term “participating Federal agency” means a Federal agency participating in an environmental review or authorization of an action.

(9)Lead agency

The term “lead agency” means, with respect to a proposed agency action—

(A)the agency that proposed such action; or

(B)if there are 2 or more involved Federal agencies with respect to such action, the agency designated under section 4336a(a)(1) of this title.

(10)Major Federal action

(A)In general

The term “major Federal action” means an action that the agency carrying out such action determines is subject to substantial Federal control and responsibility.

(B)Exclusion

The term “major Federal action” does not include—

(i)a non-Federal action—

(I)with no or minimal Federal funding; or

(II)with no or minimal Federal involvement where a Federal agency cannot control the outcome of the project;

(ii)funding assistance solely in the form of general revenue sharing funds which do not provide Federal agency compliance or enforcement responsibility over the subsequent use of such funds;

(iii)loans, loan guarantees, or other forms of financial assistance where a Federal agency does not exercise sufficient control and responsibility over the subsequent use of such financial assistance or the effect of the action;

(iv)business loan guarantees provided by the Small Business Administration pursuant to section 7(a) or (b) and of the Small Business Act ( U.S.C. 636(a)), or title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.);

(v)bringing judicial or administrative civil or criminal enforcement actions;

(vi)extraterritorial activities or decisions, which means agency activities or decisions with effects located entirely outside of the jurisdiction of the United States; or

(vii)activities or decisions that are non-discretionary and made in accordance with the agency’s statutory authority.

(11)Programmatic environmental document

The term “programmatic environmental document” means an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment analyzing all or some of the environmental effects of a policy, program, plan, or group of related actions.

(12)Proposal

The term “proposal” means a proposed action at a stage when an agency has a goal, is actively preparing to make a decision on one or more alternative means of accomplishing that goal, and can meaningfully evaluate its effects.

(13)Special expertise

The term “special expertise” means statutory responsibility, agency mission, or related program experience.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Small Business Investment Act of 1958, referred to in par. (10)(B)(iv), is Pub. L. 85–699, Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat. 689. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 695 et seq.) of chapter 14B of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 661 of Title 15 and Tables.

§4336e Definitions