What is the primary purpose of a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) in the NEPA review process?

The primary purpose of a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process is to detail criteria for excluding certain actions from further environmental review. This means that when an agency determines that a specific action falls within a category of activities that have been assessed and are understood to have minimal or no significant environmental impact, they can expedite the review process by not requiring a more in-depth Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

This allows agencies to focus their resources on actions that are more likely to have significant environmental effects while still complying with NEPA’s requirements. Categorical exclusions are established through agency regulations and serve as a way to streamline the NEPA process without compromising environmental protections, as these exclusions are based on careful considerations of past experiences and environmental impacts.