USFS Proposes Revised NEPA Regulations

On June 13, 2019, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) proposed amendments to its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations that could allow the agency to avoid preparing an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement for a number of types of proposed actions. As most relevant to the climate, the proposed regulations would provide an exemption from environmental review requirements for a surface use plan for operations for oil and natural gas exploration and initial development activities associated with or adjacent to a new oil and/or gas field, as long as the approval will not authorize more than one mile of road construction, three miles of pipelines or utilities disturbance, or four drill sites. The proposed regulations would also provide an exemption from environmental review requirements for certain restoration and resilience activities, which could include adaptation activities.