{"abstract":"The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Agency) is adopting a final rule amending its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. The final rule establishes new and revised categorical exclusions (pertaining to certain special use authorizations, infrastructure management activities, and restoration and resilience activities) and adds the determination of NEPA adequacy provision to the Agency's NEPA regulations. These amendments will increase efficiency in the Agency's environmental analysis and decision-making while meeting NEPA's requirements and fully honoring the Agency's environmental stewardship responsibilities. Public comment has informed and improved the final rule.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE","name":"Agriculture Department","id":12,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/agriculture-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/12","parent_id":null,"slug":"agriculture-department"},{"raw_name":"Forest Service","name":"Forest Service","id":209,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/forest-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/209","parent_id":12,"slug":"forest-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2020/11/19/2020-25465.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":220,"title":36}],"citation":"85 FR 73620","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective November 19, 2020.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2020-25465","effective_on":"2020-11-19","end_page":73632,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2020/11/19/2020-25465.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/19/2020-25465/national-environmental-policy-act-nepa-compliance","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2020-25465?publication_date=2020-11-19","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2020-11-19/2020-25465/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":13,"page_views":{"count":10887,"last_updated":"2026-04-22 16:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-11-19/pdf/2020-25465.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-25465.pdf?1605707124","publication_date":"2020-11-19","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2020/11/19/2020-25465.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0596-AD31":{"issue":"202004","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0596-AD31/national-environmental-policy-act-procedures","title":"National Environmental Policy Act Procedures","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202004&RIN=0596-AD31&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0596-AD31"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Supporting Statement Appx. A-D","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-43440"},{"title":"NEPA Final Rule - Supporting Statement","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-43439"},{"title":"Appendices Special Uses CE","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-0007"},{"title":"Appendices Restoration CE","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-0006"},{"title":"Appendices Infrastructure CE","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-0005"},{"title":"Restoration CE Supporting Statement","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-0004"},{"title":"Infrastructure CE Supporting Statement","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-0003"},{"title":"Special Uses CE Supporting Statement","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-0002"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0596-AD31/national-environmental-policy-act-procedures","title":"National Environmental Policy Act Procedures"},"comments_count":0,"agency_id":"FS","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=FS-2019-0010","supporting_documents_count":8,"docket_id":"FS-2019-0010","document_id":"FS-2019-0010-43438","regulation_id_number":"0596-AD31","title":"National Environmental Policy Act Compliance - Proposed Rule","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2020-11-22T04:30:10Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":73620,"subtype":null,"title":"National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance","toc_doc":"National Environmental Policy Act Compliance","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Environmental impact statements","Environmental protection","National forests","Science and technology"],"type":"Rule","volume":85}