National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institute of Standards and Technology's Categorical Exclusions (opens in new tab)Categorical Exclusion
V. Research
Exclusion Text
V-1.* Proposed new and recurring activities and operations conducted in laboratories and facilities where research practices and safeguards (including but not limited to environmental permits for operation) prevent environmental effects, would be consistent with previously established safety levels, and would not result in a change in use of the facility. Examples include types of research, development, testing, and evaluation activities, and laboratory operations conducted within existing facilities designed to support research and development activities. Such facilities could be used for indoor small-scale research and development projects and small-scale pilot projects using nanoscale materials in accordance with applicable requirements (such as engineering, worker safety, procedural, and administrative regulations) necessary to ensure the containment of any hazardous materials. Not included in this category are demonstration actions, meaning actions that are undertaken at a scale to show whether a technology would be viable on a larger scale and suitable for commercial deployment.
Disclaimer
This CE Explorer tool is not an authoritative source and creates no rights or obligations. When using the CE Explorer Tool, Federal agencies and stakeholders should review the relevant agency's NEPA procedures for information about how to apply the CE, including any limitations or potential extraordinary circumstances, and to ensure that a CE is current and applicable to a given proposed action. For ease of use, a link to each agency's NEPA procedures and CEs is provided along with the text of the CE. To adopt and use another agency's categorical exclusion, an agency must follow the steps described in section 109 of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4336c.
