Reclamation develops new categorical exclusions to streamline environmental reviews for hydropower

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation today released two new categorical exclusions for hydropower-related activities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as part of its ongoing Hydropower Action Plan.

"Under the Trump-Vance Administration, Reclamation is cutting outdated red tape to streamline reviews for hydropower maintenance and leasing," said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek. "This is a step in the right direction and just one of the ways we're working to increase the affordability of water and power."

To develop the new CEs, Reclamation identified hydropower activities that have been consistently shown to have no significant environmental impacts. The CEs will allow Reclamation to complete environmental reviews faster and more efficiently for two specific types of hydropower actions: 

• Issuance of a lease of power privilege or other authorization for non-federal hydropower development that supplement existing Reclamation project facilities.
• Hydropower maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement activities, including turbines, generators, transformers, gates, pumps, cranes, control systems and instrumentation work.  

"Hydropower plays a vital role in delivering reliable and affordable energy to communities across the West," said Acting Commissioner Scott Cameron. "The new streamlined reviews allow the Interior Department to focus our resources where they matter most - supporting innovation, improving efficiency and helping power the nation."

Reclamation's ongoing Hydropower Action Plan helps advance capital investment, regulatory efficiency and technological innovation in alignment with Executive Order 14154 and Secretary's Order 3418, "Unleashing American Energy". It is also aligned with Secretary's Order 3446, Cutting Red Tape and Reducing Consumer Costs at Reclamation Construction Projects.

More information is available in the Federal Register Notice.