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Reclamation revises categorical exclusion to streamline environmental reviews

Media Contact: Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov
For Release: Jan 13, 2025
The revised categorical exclusions are now available. The revised categorical exclusions are now available.

WASHINGTONThe Bureau of Reclamation is moving forward with final revisions to seven categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The revised categorical exclusions will allow Reclamation to complete environmental reviews more efficiently and effectively for water-related contracting, use authorizations, financial assistance, loans, and funding activities. 

“Revising these categorical exclusions will help Reclamation better support priority infrastructure projects, especially those under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “These changes are essential to ensuring timely environmental reviews, accelerating our ability to implement critical water resource projects that benefit communities across the West.”

The proposed revisions, published for public comment in June 2024, received comments from state governments, water and irrigation districts, water user organizations, and Tribal Nations.  Reclamation considered all the comments received in the final revisions. 

Most of Reclamation's categorical exclusions have been in place for over 40 years, and these revisions are part of ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline environmental review processes, ensuring they remain consistent with current regulations and policies. More information on the revisions is available here.

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