Categorical Exclusion

The CEs in this section are for proposals for financial assistance that require an applicant to submit environmental documentation with their application to facilitate agency determination of extraordinary circumstances. At a minimum, the environmental documentation will include a complete description of all components of the applicant's proposal and any connected actions, including its specific location on detailed site plans as well as location maps equivalent to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle map; and information from authoritative sources acceptable to the agency confirming the presence or absence of sensitive environmental resources in the area that could be affected by the applicant's proposal. The environmental documentation submitted must be accurate, complete, and capable of verification. The agency may request additional information as needed to make an environmental determination. Failure to submit the required environmental documentation will postpone further consideration of the applicant's proposal until the environmental documentation is submitted, or the agency may deny the request for financial assistance. The agency will review the environmental documentation and determine if extraordinary circumstances exist. The agency's review may determine that classification as an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement is more appropriate than a categorical exclusion classification.

Exclusion Text

(USDA-24-2d-RD) Financial assistance for small-scale corridor development. (A) Construction or repair of roads, streets, and sidewalks, including related structures such as curbs, gutters, storm drains, and bridges, in an existing right-of-way with minimal change in use, size, capacity, purpose, or location from the original infrastructure; (B) Improvement and expansion of existing water, wastewater, and gas utility systems: within 20 miles of currently served areas irrespective of the percent of increase in new capacity; (C) Replacement of utility lines where road reconstruction undertaken by non-Agency applicants requires the relocation of lines either within or immediately adjacent to the new road easement or right-of-way; and (D) Installation of new linear telecommunications facilities and related equipment and infrastructure.