Interior to Limit Use of Categorical Exclusion In Applying NEPA to Offshore Oil, Gas Work

摘要

The Interior Department announced Aug. 16 that it will restrict the use of categorical exclusions-exemptions from the requirement to conduct environmental assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act-in deepwater offshore oil and natural gas activities while it reviews the use of exclusions. The department released a memorandum saying that even after the current six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling ends, all plans submitted for approval of a deepwater drilling permit "shall be subject to an environmental assessment."