Hydropower Facility Maintenance, Rehabilitation, and Replacement and Lease of Power Privilege Categorical Exclusions

The Bureau of Reclamation established two new categorical exclusions (CE) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) in the Department of the Interior's Handbook of NEPA Implementing Procedures in 516 DM 1. The new CEs on certain two new hydropower-related activities:

 requires that when a major Federal action would have significant impacts on the quality of the human environment, a statement be prepared to describe the impacts and effects on the human environment associated with the Federal action. When a Federal agency determines that a certain category of actions will not normally have an individually or cumulatively significant effect on the human environment and for which neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required, that category of actions may be excluded from further NEPA review.

  • A CE applicable to maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of existing hydropower facilities and equipment. Examples might include modernizing pumps, unit controls, transformers, circuit breakers, turbines, generators, and related equipment; and
  • A CE on issuance of leases of power privilege (LOPPs) or alternative authorizations for non-Federal hydropower development that augments or supplements existing Reclamation Project facilities. LOPPs typically authorize use of water released from Federally-owned dams and canals to generate hydropower for water associations and other non-Federal users.

Federal Register Notice Announcing Categorical Exclusions

Substantiation Report

EAs and FONSIs Summarized in the Substantiation Report

  1. John W.Keys III Pump-Generating Plant Modernization Project (2012)
  2. Third Power Plant G19-G21 Modernization Project (2019)
  3. Hungry Horse Powerplant Modernization and Overhaul Project (2018)
  4. Minidoka Powerplant Unit Structure Maintenance and Rehab (2018)
  5. Morrow Point Trash Rack Cleaning Project (2002)
  6. Carter Lake Hydropower Project (2010)
  7. Pueblo Hydropower Project (2016)
  8. Shavano Falls Hydropower Project (2014)
  9. South Canal Drop 4 Hydropower Project (2014)
  10. South Canal Drop 5 Hydropower Project (2015)
Last Updated: 5/29/26