Auto Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) Form (Feb. 2012).pdf

GSA Public Buildings Service Automatic Categorical Exclusion AutoCATEX Form NEPA Memo to File Last Revised 2/17/12

Section I – Project Information From

Lease No.

Title

Project No.

Date

Agency

Section II – Site Information Building Name

Size (SF) indicate GSF or RSF Floodplain

Building # Built Date Critical Action Letter *

Street Address # Personnel Critical Action *

City

# Parking Spaces Floodplain Justification

State

Zip Code Type of Space (office, lab, etc.) RHPO Notification

* Critical Action Letter required within the 500-yr floodplain. “Critical Action” is any activity for which even a slight chance of flooding would be too great a risk.

Section III – Action Description

(e.g., new lease for 5 years with an option for a 5-year succeeding lease, and relate to the category selected below)

Supplemental Documentation Attached?

(e.g., site map, floodplain map, additional project details)

Description:

Section IV – Types of Action

Based on the definitions provided in Section VI, this action qualifies for an automatic categorical exclusion (CATEX) as selected below. As such, it is excluded from the requirements to prepare an EA or an EIS, pursuant to paragraph 5.3 of the PBS NEPA Desk Guide (October 1999).

Please select the categories that best apply to the action described in Section III.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v

Section V – Approval Project Representative (Print Name)

Environmental Protection (Print Name)

Signature

Date Signature Date

GSA Public Buildings Service Automatic Categorical Exclusion AutoCATEX Form NEPA Memo to File Last Revised 2/17/12

Section VI – Category Descriptions

Pursuant to paragraph 5.3 of the PBS NEPA Desk Guide (October 1999) the following are automatic CATEXs and require no checklist:

(a) Outleases, licenses, and other arrangements for non-federal use of space in existing Federal office buildings, where such use is consistent with local planning and zoning, where Section 106 of the NHPA is complied with where applicable; and there is no evidence of community controversy or unresolved environmental issues.

(b) Acquisition of space within an existing structure, either by purchase or lease, where no change in the general type of use and only minimal change from previous occupancy level is proposed (previous occupant need not have been a Federal tenant).

(c) Relocation of employees into existing Federally controlled space that does not involve a substantial change in the number of employees or motor vehicles.

(d) Reductions in force or other personnel, administrative, or ministerial actions, including bargaining with employee unions and managing routine activities normally conducted to protect or maintain GSA-controlled properties (e.g., security and custodial services).

(e) Lease extensions, renewals, or succeeding leases.

(f) Outlease or license of government-controlled space, or sublease of government-leased space to a non-Federal tenant when the use will remain substantially the same.

(g) Acquisition of land or easements that result in no immediate change in use and where subsequent compliance with NEPA and other applicable laws and regulations will take place as needed.

(h) Site characterization studies and environmental monitoring, including siting, construction, operation, and dismantling or closing of characterization and monitoring devices. Such activities include, but are not limited to the following:

ï Site characterization and environmental monitoring activities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) ï Geological, geophysical, geochemical, and engineering surveys and mapping, including the establishment of survey marks ï Installation and operation of field instruments, such as stream-gauging stations or flow-measuring devices, telemetry systems, geochemical monitoring tools, and geophysical exploration tools ï Drilling of wells for sampling or monitoring of groundwater, well logging, and installation of water-level recording devices in wells ï Aquifer response testing ï Installation and operation of ambient air monitoring equipment ï Sampling and characterization of water, soil rock, or contaminants ï Sampling and characterization of water effluents, air emissions, or solid waste streams;

ï Sampling of flora or fauna ï Historic property identification and evaluation studies in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

(i) Administrative actions such as procurement of consultant services for appraisal or environmental analysis.

(j) Repair and alteration projects involving, but not adversely affecting, properties listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic

Places, when there is no evidence of community controversy or other environmental issues. The process required by Section 106 of the NHPA must be followed; see ADM 1020.2.

(k) Other repair and alteration projects where:

ï No toxic or hazardous substances are involved with the project or exist in or on the property where the project takes place;

ï No properties listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places are involved;

ï The building footprint or envelope will not be increased;

ï There is no evidence of community controversy; and ï There is no evidence of other unresolved environmental issues.

(l) Repairs and alterations or modernization conducted in accordance with applicable plans, such as Facility Master Plans, where such plans have been reviewed under NEPA and there is no evidence of community controversy or unresolved environmental issues. The process required by Section 106 of the NHPA must be followed; see ADM 1020.2.

(m) Repair to or replacement in kind of equipment or components in GSA-controlled facilities without change in location, e.g. HVAC, electrical distribution systems, windows, doors or roof where there is no evidence of unresolved environmental issues.

(n) Facility maintenance, custodial, and groundskeeping activities not involving environmentally sensitive areas (such as eroded areas, wetlands, cultural sites, etc.), including window washing, lawn mowing, trash collecting, and snow removal.

(o) Procurement contracts for professional services and supplies not addressed elsewhere here.

(p) Preparation of implementation guidance.

(q) Studies that involve no commitment of resources other than manpower and funding.

(r) Assisting Federal agencies in public utilities management (excluding communications), negotiating for public utility services on behalf of

Federal agencies, and providing expert testimony before public utility regulatory bodies.

(s) Federal real property utilization surveys in accordance with Executive Order 12348.

(t) Real property inspections for compliance with deed restrictions.

(u) Administrative action by GSA to remove clouds on titles.

(v) Disposal of real property required by public law wherein Congress has specifically exempted the action from the requirements of NEPA.