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NASA RIN: 2700-AD71 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: ●Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act 
Abstract: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is proposing revisions to its regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as authorized by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, sec 20113(a), 51 U.S.C. section 20113 (a). This proposed rule would replace procedures contained in NASA's current regulation at 14 CFR 1216.3, Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. The revision is necessary to clarify and update the current regulation. This proposed regulation is accompanied by a detailed Preamble. As part of this rulemaking, NASA is proposing to amend existing and add new categories of actions eligible for categorical exclusion and add generally applicable extraordinary circumstances to bound the use of all NASA categorical exclusions (CatExs). Consistent with CEQ regulations, subpart 1216.304 of the proposed rule defines "categorical exclusion" to mean "categories of agency actions with no individually or cumulatively significant effect on the human environment." Some of the new CatExs are similar to the CatExs of other Federal agencies and reflect NASA experience with similar factual circumstances. The Preamble cites related CatExs from the NEPA regulations of other Federal agencies and examples of NASA NEPA Actions for each of the 23 CatExs proposed. Additional examples supporting the CatExs and NEPA documents supporting this proposed rule are also available at NASA's NEPA Library at http://www.nasa.gov/green/nepa. Since the previous major update of NASA's NEPA regulation in 1988, a number of Executive orders have streamlined the Federal Government through decentralization, reduction and simplification of regulations, and management of risk. This proposed rule strives to meet the spirit of these Executive orders which are also summarized in the Preamble. 
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 14 CFR 1216.3   
Legal Authority: NEPA of 1969 and CEQ CFR 40 CFR 1500 to 1508   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  06/00/2011    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Tina Norwood
NASA NEPA Program Manager
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
300 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20546
Phone:202 358-7324
Fax:202 358-3948
Email: tnorwood@hq.nasa.gov