October 27, 2021
NEPA Extension Request Process/Template for Operations 
CEQ’s 2020 NEPA regulations established: (1) specific timelines for the completion of
environmental assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EISs) and (2)
established specific page limits for each of these document types. These limitations must be
met unless exceptions and/or waivers are granted by the agency’s senior agency official (SAO),
in writing. This message, and its attachment, establish the process and information
requirements when a district determines a request for an exception is warranted.
These
requirements apply to projects that have EA/EIS start dates on or after 15 September 2020.
Guidance for calculating time (start date) and page lengths is provided in the regulations. If we
are a cooperating agency on an EIS, the lead agency would be responsible for requesting a
time limit extension or page limit waiver if needed. Additional guidance regarding NEPA
regulations can be found at: https://ceq.doe.gov/laws-regulations/regulations.html.
To be
consistent with the process utilized by the Regulatory Program, a template (attached) is
provided for use when a district determines that a time extension and/or page limit waiver is
warranted/necessary. Instructions for completing the template and routing requests to
HQUSACE is included with the template. Information requirements have been kept to the
minimal level to enable the Senior Agency Official (SAO) to make a decision.
Requests
for time extensions/page waivers must be sent forward no less than 60-days prior to the date
in which the time extension or page limit wavier is expected to be needed.
For EAs/EISs
originating from the Natural Resources Management Program, the NRM Assessment Tool will
be modified in the future to capture basic NEPA reporting related data. Detailed information on
the use of the NRM Assessment Tool will be provided at a later date. The extension template,
instructions, and routing procedure have been posted to the NRM Gateway.
POC for
questions is Ms. Tara Whitsel tara.j.whitsel@usace.army.mil who is backfilling while Mr. Jeremy
Crossland, Program Manager for Land Use and Natural Resources,
Jeremy.M.Crossland@usace.army.mil is on assignment with ERDC until January 2022.
Thank you,
Jeff
Jeffrey F. Krause
Chief, Natural Resources Management
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