Authorizing Legislation
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended at: http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/nepanet.htm

Applicable NEPA Regulations
The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Program procedures for the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act can be viewed at 28 CFR, Part 61. These regulations apply to all projects except those funded under the Violent Offender Incentive/Truth In Sentencing Act (VOI/TIS).

VOI/TIS correctional facility construction and renovation projects, including those funded under the Correctional Facilities on Tribal Lands Program, are subject to specific VOI/TIS regulations. They are at 28 CFR Part 91, pertaining to grants for correctional facilities. Please see www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/nepaimpact.pdf.

Who is required to act to ensure compliance with NEPA?
There are two major areas where NEPA requires action by BJA grantees:

1. Any BJA grantee with a project involving construction, expansion, renovation, facility planning, site selection, site preparation, and security or facility upgrades. The grantee must be in compliance with NEPA requirements during the initiation of the project-as part of planning, site selection, and site preparation. The BJA grantee must complete the NEPA process prior to actual construction, expansion, renovation, or remodeling (including security upgrades).
2. Any BJA grantee with a project involving the use of chemicals, including clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operations (such as clean up) and the use of chemicals in processing forensic evidence. For projects involving clean up of clandestine methamphetamine labs, BJA has already obtained a program-wide Environmental Assessment (EA). As a result, the grantee must only provide and get approval of a mitigation plan prior to moving forward with the project.

What steps must be taken to be compliant with NEPA?

1. Review your award package and especially any special conditions that provide specific instructions for NEPA compliance.
2. If BJA provides a categorical exclusion, you do not have to take any further action to be in compliance with NEPA.
3. If a categorical exclusion does not apply, prepare a preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) and submit to the BJA NEPA Coordinator for approval.
4. Provide additional information or clarification as requested.
5. BJA will review and determine whether a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is merited. If issued, provide 30 day public notice.
6. Respond to comments and submit to BJA NEPA Coordinator.
7. BJA will review and issue final FONSI and will issue approval to proceed.
8. If BJA determines that there will be significant impact, an Environmental Impact Statement may be needed. BJA will work with the grantee to issue an EIS.

More details about these steps and sample documents can be found in BJA's NEPA Guidance.

What is a Categorical Exclusion?
Categorical Exclusions may be available for some projects where the NEPA impact is minimal. They are defined by the regulations:

Categorical Exclusions for all projects except those funded under VOI/TIS are minor renovation projects that: (1) do not change the basic prior use of the facility; and (2) do not significantly change the size of the facility.

Categorical Exclusions for all projects funded under VOI/TIS are:

1. Minor renovations: Projects for minor renovations within an existing facility, unless the renovation would impact a structure which is on the National Register of Historic Places, or is eligible for listing on the register.
2. Limited expansion: Projects for the expansion of an existing facility or within an existing correctional complex, which does not add more than 50 beds or increase the capacity of the facility by more than 50 percent whichever is smaller. This exclusion does not apply to either a phased project that exceeds these numerical thresholds or projects to expand facilities that:
   (1) Are located in a floodplain;
   (2) Will affect a wetland;
   (3) Will affect a facility on the National Register of Historic Places or that is eligible for listing on the register;
   (4) Will affect a federally proposed or listed endangered or threatened species or its habitat;
   (5) Is controversial for environmental reasons; or
   (6) Would not be served by adequate sewage treatment, solid waste disposal, or water facilities.
3. Expansion of support facilities: Projects for the expansion of bed space within an existing facility (e.g., double bunking or conversion of non-cell space) which are using grant funds to expand or add support facilities, such as a kitchen, medical facilities, recreational space, or program space, to accommodate the increased number of inmates. This does not include projects to increase capacity for support facilities which might pose a threat to the environment, such as solid waste and waste water management, new roads, new or upgraded utilities coming into the facility, or prison industry programs that involve the use of chemicals and produce hazardous waste or water or air pollution.
4. Security upgrades: Security upgrades of an existing facility which are inside the existing perimeter fence or involve the upgrade of the existing perimeter fence. This exclusion does not include such upgrades as adding lethal fences or increasing height or lighting of a perimeter fence in a residential area or other areas sensitive to the visual impacts resulting from
5. Privatization: Projects that involve the leasing of bed space (which may include operational costs) from a facility operated by a private correctional corporation or that contract with a private correctional corporation for the operation of a state facility or program. This exclusion does not apply if the correctional agency has contracted with the private vendor to build the facility, operate the facility, or lease beds to the correctional agency using federal grant funds.
6. Drug testing and treatment: Projects that use grant funds to implement drug treatment, testing, sanctions, or interdiction programs.

Although these activities are excluded from environmental reviews under NEPA, they are not excluded from compliance with other applicable local, state, or federal environmental laws. In addition, an otherwise excluded activity loses its exclusion and is subject to environmental review if it either would be located within or potentially effect any of the following: a 100-year flood plain, a wetland, important farmland, a proposed or listed endangered or threatened species, a proposed or listed critical habitat, a property that is listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, an area within an approved State Coastal Zone Management Program, a coastal barrier or a portion of a barrier within the Coastal Barrier Resources System, a river or portion of a river included in or designated for potential addition to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a designated or proposed Wilderness Area, or a sole source aquifer recharge area designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The resulting environmental review for those activities that lose their exclusion status shall focus on the factor or factors that caused the loss of the exclusion.

What is a Draft Environmental Assessment?
An Environmental Assessment (EA) is an assessment of the need for a project, or proposed action, alternatives to the project/action and the environmental impacts of the proposed and alternative action. The assessment is designed to help public officials to make decisions that are based on an understanding of the human and physical environmental consequences of the proposed project and to take actions in the location and design of the project that protect, restore, and enhance the environment. The assessment becomes a concise public document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis for BJA to determine whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or determines the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Major renovation or expansion of an existing facility or construction of a new facility would require an environmental assessment, as well as projects involving the use of chemicals.

What is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)?
BJA reviews all documentation submitted for compliance with NEPA and makes a determination of whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which permits the project to begin. This confirms reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures been considered and implemented where possible, including the costs and resources to operate the facility and that the project as presently conceived will have only insignificant impacts on identified areas of environmental concern.

What is an Environmental Impact Statement?
An environmental assessment with a finding of a "significant environmental impact" determines the need for an environmental impact statement. The environmental impact statement will address the significant impact, the proposed action, alternatives to the proposed action, stress the major conclusions of the action, and all issues to be resolved. An EIS is usually required for proposed construction of a new facility, or expansion of an existing facility. An EIS is usually required for any proposal that is large, complex or controversial because of the nature of the possible environmental impacts. The format on how to compile the statement can be viewed at: www.nepa.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm.

What is a mitigation plan for projects involving Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory Operations?
Implementation of programs relating to clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operations, including their identification, seizure, or closure, require compliance with NEPA through the preparation of a detailed Mitigation Plan that outlines in detail plans to address the following terms and conditions:

1. The grantee shall ensure compliance by OJP-funded sub-grantees with federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations applicable to meth lab operations, to include the disposal of the chemicals, equipment, and wastes resulting from those operations.
2. The grantee shall have a Mitigation Plan in place that identifies and documents the processes and points of accountability within its state. This plan will be used to ensure that the adverse environmental, health, and safety impacts delineated in the Assessment are mitigated in a manner consistent with the requirements of this condition.
3. C. The grantee shall monitor OJP funded meth lab operations to ensure that they comply with the following nine mitigation measures identified in the Assessment and whose implementation is addressed in the grantee's Mitigation Plan. These mitigation measures must be included as special conditions in all sub grants:
   (1) Provide medical screening of personnel assigned or to be assigned by the grantee to the seizure or closure of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories;
   (2) Provide Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) required initial and refresher training for law enforcement officials and all other personnel assigned to either the seizure or closure of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories;
   (3) As determined by their specified duties, equip the personnel with OSHA required protective wear and other required safety equipment;
   (4) Assign properly trained personnel to prepare a comprehensive contamination report on each seized/closed laboratory;
   (5) Utilize qualified disposal personnel to remove all chemicals and associated glassware, equipment, and contaminated materials and wastes from the site(s) of each seized laboratory;
   (6) Dispose of the chemicals, equipment, and contaminated materials and wastes at properly licensed disposal facilities or, when allowable, at properly licensed recycling facilities;
   (7) Monitor the transport, disposal, and recycling components of subparagraphs numbered 5. and 6. immediately above in order to ensure proper compliance;
   (8) Have in place and implement a written agreement with the responsible state environmental agency. This agreement must provide that the responsible state environmental agency agrees to (i) timely evaluate the environmental condition at and around the site of a closed clandestine laboratory and (ii) coordinate with the responsible party, property owner, or others to ensure that any residual contamination is remediated, if determined necessary by the state environmental agency and in accordance with existing state and federal requirements; and
   (9) Have in place and implement a written agreement with the responsible state or local service agencies to properly respond to any minor, as defined by state law, at the site. This agreement must ensure immediate response by qualified personnel who can (i) respond to the potential health needs of any minor at the site; (ii) take that minor into protective custody unless the minor is criminally involved in the meth lab activities or is subject to arrest for other criminal violations; (iii) ensure immediate medical testing for methamphetamine toxicity; and (iv) arrange for any follow-up medical tests, examinations, or health care made necessary as a result of methamphetamine toxicity.

For more information and a template for the mitigation plan, see: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/nepa-gui.pdf.

Resources
For more details about preparing documents related to NEPA, consult BJA's NEPA Guide at: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/nepa-gui.pdf

For additional information on the closure of Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory Operations, consult the Community Oriented Policing guide at www.cops.usdoj.gov

A Citizen's Guide to NEPA: ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/Citizens_Guide_Dec07.pdf

Contact Information
Regional or Local Office: Coordinating with your state can avoid duplication of efforts in complying with both the federal NEPA laws, and any state NEPA laws. Contact your State Administering Agency at: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/

Bureau of Justice Assistance:
M.A. Berry, Senior Advisor
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
Phone: 202-353-8643/1-866-859-2687
Fax: 202-305-1367
E-mail: M.A.Berry@ojp.usdoj.gov