Categorical Exclusion

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The following categorical exclusions do not require NEPA documentation.

Exclusion Text

(USDA-08c-APHIS) Routine measures, such as, seizures, quarantines, removals, sanitizing, inoculations, and control employed by agency programs to pursue their missions and functions. (i) Such measures may include the use—according to any label instructions or other lawful requirements and consistent with standard, published program practices and precautions—of chemicals, pesticides, or other potentially hazardous or harmful substances, materials, and target-specific devices or remedies, provided that such use meets all of the following criteria (insofar as they may pertain to a particular action): (A) The use is localized or contained in areas where humans are not likely to be exposed, and is limited in terms of quantity, i.e., individualized dosages and remedies; (B) The use will not cause contaminants to enter water bodies, including wetlands; (C) The use does not adversely affect any federally protected species or critical habitat; and (D) The use does not cause bioaccumulation. (ii) Examples of routine measures include, but are not limited to: (A) Inoculation or treatment of discrete herds of livestock or wildlife undertaken in contained areas (such as a barn or corral, a zoo, an exhibition, or an aviary); (B) Use of vaccinations or inoculations including new vaccines (e.g., genetically engineered vaccines) and applications of existing vaccines to new species provided that the project is conducted in a controlled and limited manner, and the impacts of the vaccine can be predicted; and (C) Isolated (e.g., along a highway) weed control efforts.