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Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
Categorical Exclusion Determination Form
This form is to be completed before the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council)
uses one or more Categorical Exclusions (CEs) to comply with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) for a specific action or group of actions, as appropriate. More information
on the Council’s NEPA compliance and use of CEs can be found in the Council’s NEPA
Procedures.
Proposed Action Title:
Proposed Action Location: (State, County/Parish)
Proposed Action Description:
Categorical Exclusion(s) Applied:
Alabama Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration and Monitoring Program
(AL_RESTORE_005_001-002_Cat1)
Alabama, Mobile and Baldwin Counties
Implementation -- Alabama will complete two submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)
restoration and protection projects, and map the extent and species composition of
SAV in coastal waters at least twice over a period of 6-8 years. The Lower Perdido Bay
Sea Grass Protection and Restoration Project will include annual maintenance and
replacement of seagrass protection zone signage, the installation of bird stakes to
restore prop scars, and the production and distribution of educational materials to raise
awareness of SAV resources in the lower Perdido Bay region. The Lower
Mobile-Tensaw River Delta SAV Restoration Project will consist of a five year effort to
restore Vallisneria sp. grass to its historical range in the upper Mobile Bay and lower
Mobile-Tensaw Delta through collection, storage, and sowing of seed as well as direct
planting of plugs grown in the lab. The Alabama SAV Monitoring Program will map the
extent and species composition of SAV in coastal waters at least twice over a
period of 6-8 years. Work will include acquisition of aerial imagery, analysis of said
imagery to determine locations of SAV grassbeds, and field verification of extent and
species composition of those beds.
Pursuant to NEPA Procedures Section 4(d)(4), the Council is using DOI CEs for data
collection and species supplementation (43 C.F.R. 46.210(e) and 516 DM 8.5(b)(6)).
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Council Use of Member Categorical Exclusion(s)
If the Categorical Exclusion(s) was established by a Federal agency Council member, complete
the following. If not, leave this section blank and proceed to the segmentation section.
Member with Categorical Exclusion(s)
Has the member with CE(s) advised the Council in writing that use of the CE(s) would be
appropriate for the specific action under consideration by the Council, including consideration
of segmentation and extraordinary circumstances (as described below)?
Yes No
Segmentation
Has the proposed action been segmented to meet the definition of a Categorical Exclusion? (In
making this determination, the Council should consider whether the action has independent
utility.)
Yes No
Extraordinary Circumstances
In considering whether to use a Categorical Exclusion for a given action, agencies must review
whether there may be extraordinary circumstances in which a normally excluded action may
have a significant environmental effect and, therefore, warrant further review pursuant to NEPA.
Guidance on the review of potential extraordinary circumstances can be found in Section 4(e) of
the Council’s NEPA Procedures. The potential extraordinary circumstances listed below are set
forth in the Council’s NEPA Procedures.
The Council, in cooperation with the sponsor of the activity, has considered the following
potential extraordinary circumstances, where applicable, and has made the following
determinations. (By checking the “No” box, the Council is indicating that the activity under
review would not result in the corresponding potential extraordinary circumstance.)
Yes No 1. Is there a reasonable likelihood of substantial scientific controversy
regarding the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action?
Yes No 2. Are there Tribal concerns with actions that impact Tribal lands or resources
that are sufficient to constitute an extraordinary circumstance?
Yes No 3. Is there a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting environmentally
sensitive resources? Environmentally sensitive resources include but are not
limited to:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI)
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a. Species that are federally listed or proposed for listing as threatened
or endangered, or their proposed or designated critical habitats; and
b. Properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Yes No 4. Is there a reasonable likelihood of impacts that are highly uncertain or
involve unknown risks or is there a substantial scientific controversy over
the effects?
Yes No 5. Is there a reasonable likelihood of air pollution at levels of concern or
otherwise requiring a formal conformity determination under the Clean Air
Act?
Yes No 6. Is there a reasonable likelihood of a disproportionately high and adverse
effect on low income or minority populations (see Executive Order 12898)?
Yes No 7. Is there a reasonable likelihood of contributing to the introduction or
spread of noxious weeds or non-native invasive species or actions that may
promote the introduction, or spread of such species (see Federal Noxious
Weed Control Act and Executive Order 13112)?
.
Yes No 8. Is there a reasonable likelihood of a release of petroleum, oils, or
lubricants (except from a properly functioning engine or vehicle) or
reportable releases of hazardous or toxic substances as specified in 40 CFR
part 302 (Designation, Reportable Quantities, and Notification); or where the
proposed action results in the requirement to develop or amend a Spill
Prevention, Control, or Countermeasures Plan in accordance with the Oil
Pollution Prevention regulation?
Supplemental Information
Where appropriate, the following table should be used to provide additional information
regarding the review of potential extraordinary circumstances and compliance with other
applicable laws. The purpose of this table is to ensure that there is adequate information for
specific findings regarding potential extraordinary circumstances.
Supplemental information and documentation is not needed for each individual finding regarding
the potential extraordinary circumstances listed above. Specifically, the nature of an activity
under review may be such that a reasonable person could conclude that there is a very low
potential for a particular type of extraordinary circumstance to exist. For example, it would be
reasonable to conclude that the simple act of acquiring land for conservation purposes (where
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there are no other associated actions) does not present a reasonable likelihood of a release of
petroleum, oils, lubricants, or hazardous or toxic substances.
For some types of activities, no supplemental information may be needed to support a finding
that there are no extraordinary circumstances. For example, where the activity under review is
solely planning (with no associated implementation activity), it may be reasonable to conclude
that none of the extraordinary circumstances listed above would apply. In such cases, the table
below would be left blank.
In other cases, it may be appropriate to include supplemental information to ensure that there
is an adequate basis for a finding regarding a particular extraordinary circumstance. For
example, it might be appropriate in some cases to document coordination and/or consultation
with the appropriate agency regarding compliance with a potentially applicable law (such as
the Endangered Species Act). In those cases, the table below should be used to provide the
supplemental information.
Agency or
Authority
Consulted
Representative:
Name, Office &
Phone
Date of
Consultation
Notes: Topic discussed, relevant
details, and conclusions. (This can
include reference to other information
on file and/or attached for the given
action.)
Additional supplemental information may be attached, as appropriate. Indicate below whether
additional supplemental information is attached.
Additional Information Attached: Yes No
If “Yes”, indicate the subject:
U.S. FWS
Alabama Field
Office
7-30-15
ESA Letter ("may affect, but is not
likely to adversely affect")
NMFS
Baton Rouge Office
7-31-15
E-mail regarding potential benefits
to EFH
FWS CE Form (7-9-15) and FWS ESA Letter (7-30-15)