Categorical exclusions are categories of actions that a Federal agency has determined normally do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement normally is required. DOE's categorical exclusions are listed in Appendix B of its NEPA regulations at 10 CFR Part 1021 and in Appendix B of its DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures.
DOE has updated its categorical exclusions three times since online posting began in late 2009. More information on past DOE rulemakings is available here: DOE NEPA Program History.
DOE has also adopted categorical exclusions from other Federal agencies, pursuant to Section 109 of NEPA, as amended. These are listed in Appendix C of its DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures. See the Section 109: Adopting Categorical Exclusions page for more information.
When DOE determines that one or more categorical exclusions applies to a proposed agency action, it issues a document called a categorical exclusion determination. These can be found by browsing the links below. Not all categorical exclusion determinations contain the full text of the relevant categorical exclusions. To find the full text, refer to the DOE NEPA regulations that were in effect at the time the categorical exclusion determination was signed.
DOE may also rely upon another agency’s categorical exclusion determination in certain instances. See the Relied Upon Categorical Exclusion (CX) Determinations page for more information.
For a broader overview of available NEPA documents at DOE, see NEPA Documents.
If you have any trouble finding a specific document, please contact AskNEPA@hq.doe.gov for assistance.