NEPA rules

Excerpts from Subpart I – Procedures Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 — § 1.1301 et seq.

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subpart-I

§ 1.1304 Information, assistance, and waiver of electronic filing and service requirements.

(a) For general information and assistance concerning the provisions of this subpart, the Office of General Counsel may be contacted, (202) 418-1700. For more specific information, the Bureau responsible for processing a specific application should be contacted.

(b) All submissions relating to this subpart shall be made electronically. If an interested party is unable to submit or serve a filing electronically, or if it would be unreasonably burdensome to do so, such party may submit its filing on paper to the appropriate address for the Commission Secretary and serve the filing on other parties by mail. Such party should include as part of its paper submission a request for waiver of the electronic filing requirement. Such waiver request must contain an explanation addressing the requestor’s inability to file electronically or why electronic filing would be unreasonably burdensome. Either showing will be sufficient to obtain a waiver under this section.

[85 FR 85530, Dec. 29, 2020]

§ 1.1305 Note-1:

Our current application forms refer applicants to § 1.1305 to determine if their proposals are such that the submission of environmental information is required (see § 1.1311). Until the application forms are revised to reflect our new environmental rules, applicants should refer to § 1.1307. Section 1.1307 now delineates those actions for which applicants must submit environmental information.

§ 1.1306 Note-1:

The provisions of § 1.1307(a) requiring the preparation of EAs do not encompass the mounting of antenna(s) and associated equipment (such as wiring, cabling, cabinets, or backup-power), on or in an existing building, or on an antenna tower or other man-made structure, unless § 1.1307(a)(4) is applicable. Such antennas are subject to § 1.1307(b) of this part and require EAs if their construction would result in human exposure to radiofrequency radiation in excess of the applicable health and safety guidelines cited in § 1.1307(b) of this part. The provisions of § 1.1307 (a) and (b) of this part do not encompass the installation of aerial wire or cable over existing aerial corridors of prior or permitted use or the underground installation of wire or cable along existing underground corridors of prior or permitted use, established by the applicant or others. The use of existing buildings, towers or corridors is an environmentally desirable alternative to the construction of new facilities and is encouraged. The provisions of § 1.1307(a) and (b) of this part do not encompass the construction of new submarine cable systems.

§ 1.1306 Note-2:

The specific height of an antenna tower or supporting structure, as well as the specific diameter of a satellite earth station, in and of itself, will not be deemed sufficient to warrant environmental processing, see § 1.1307 and § 1.1308, except as required by the Bureau pursuant to the Note to § 1.1307(d).

§ 1.1306 Note-3:

The construction of an antenna tower or supporting structure in an established “antenna farm”: (i.e., an area in which similar antenna towers are clustered, whether or not such area has been officially designated as an antenna farm), will be categorically excluded unless one or more of the antennas to be mounted on the tower or structure are subject to the provisions of § 1.1307(b) and the additional radiofrequency radiation from the antenna(s) on the new tower or structure would cause human exposure in excess of the applicable health and safety guidelines cited in § 1.1307(b).

[51 FR 15000, Apr. 22, 1986, as amended at 51 FR 18889, May 23, 1986; 53 FR 28393, July 28, 1988; 56 FR 13414, Apr. 2, 1991; 64 FR 19061, Apr. 19, 1999; 77 FR 3952, Jan. 26, 2012; 80 FR 1268, Jan. 8, 2015]

§ 1.1307 Note-1:

The list of endangered and threatened species is contained in 50 CFR 17.11, 17.22, 222.23(a) and 227.4. The list of designated critical habitats is contained in 50 CFR 17.95, 17.96 and part 226. To ascertain the status of proposed species and habitats, inquiries may be directed to the Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

§ 1.1307 Note-2 — Note to paragraph (d):

Pending a final determination as to what, if any, permanent measures should be adopted specifically for the protection of migratory birds, the Bureau shall require an Environmental Assessment for an otherwise categorically excluded action involving a new or existing antenna structure, for which an antenna structure registration application (FCC Form 854) is required under part 17 of this chapter, if the proposed antenna structure will be over 450 feet in height above ground level (AGL) and involves either:

  1. Construction of a new antenna structure;
  2. Modification or replacement of an existing antenna structure involving a substantial increase in size as defined in paragraph I(C)(1)(3) of Appendix B to part 1 of this chapter; or
  3. Addition of lighting or adoption of a less preferred lighting style as defined in § 17.4(c)(1)(iii) of this chapter. The Bureau shall consider whether to require an EA for other antenna structures subject to § 17.4(c) of this chapter in accordance with § 17.4(c)(8) of this chapter. An Environmental Assessment required pursuant to this note will be subject to the same procedures that apply to any Environmental Assessment required for a proposed tower or modification of an existing tower for which an antenna structure registration application (FCC Form 854) is required, as set forth in § 17.4(c) of this chapter.

§ 1.1308 Note-1:

With respect to actions specified under § 1.1307 (a)(3) and (a)(4), the Commission shall solicit and consider the comments of the Department of Interior, and the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, respectively, in accordance with their established procedures. See Interagency Cooperation – Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 50 CFR part 402; Protection of Historic and Cultural Properties, 36 CFR part 800. In addition, when an action interferes with or adversely affects an American Indian tribe’s religious site, the Commission shall solicit the views of that American Indian tribe. See § 1.1307(a)(5).

[51 FR 15000, Apr. 22, 1986; 51 FR 18889, May 23, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 28394, July 28, 1988]

§ 1.1309 Application amendments.

Applicants are permitted to amend their applications to reduce, minimize, or eliminate potential environmental problems. Amendments shall be made electronically. As a routine matter, an applicant will be permitted to amend its application within thirty (30) days after the Commission or the Bureau informs the applicant that the proposal will have a significant impact upon the quality of the human environment (see § 1.1308(c)). The period of thirty (30) days may be extended upon a showing of good cause.

[85 FR 85530, Dec. 29, 2020]

§ 1.1310 Note-1 — Note to paragraphs (a) through (d):

SAR is a measure of the rate of energy absorption due to exposure to RF electromagnetic energy. These SAR limits to be used for evaluation are based generally on criteria published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for localized SAR in Section 4.2 of “IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz,” ANSI/IEEE Std C95.1-1992, copyright 1992 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., New York, New York 10017. These criteria for SAR evaluation are similar to those recommended by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) in “Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields,” NCRP Report No. 86, Section 17.4.5, copyright 1986 by NCRP, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Limits for whole body SAR and peak spatial-average SAR are based on recommendations made in both of these documents. The MPE limits in Table 1 are based generally on criteria published by the NCRP in “Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields,” NCRP Report No. 86, Sections 17.4.1, 17.4.1.1, 17.4.2 and 17.4.3, copyright 1986 by NCRP, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. In the frequency range from 100 MHz to 1500 MHz, these MPE exposure limits for field strength and power density are also generally based on criteria recommended by the ANSI in Section 4.1 of “IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz,” ANSI/IEEE Std C95.1-1992, copyright 1992 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., New York, New York 10017.

[85 FR 18145, Apr. 1, 2020]

§ 1.1312 Facilities for which no preconstruction authorization is required.

(a) In the case of facilities for which no Commission authorization prior to construction is required by the Commission’s rules and regulations the licensee or applicant shall initially ascertain whether the proposed facility may have a significant environmental impact as defined in § 1.1307 of this part or is categorically excluded from environmental processing under § 1.1306 of this part.

(b) If a facility covered by paragraph (a) of this section may have a significant environmental impact, the information required by § 1.1311 shall be submitted electronically by the licensee or applicant and ruled on by the Commission, and environmental processing (if invoked) shall be completed, see § 1.1308, prior to the initiation of construction of the facility.

(c) If a facility covered by paragraph (a) of this section is categorically excluded from environmental processing, the licensee or applicant may proceed with construction and operation of the facility in accordance with the applicable licensing rules and procedures.

(d) If, following the initiation of construction under this section, the licensee or applicant discovers that the proposed facility may have a significant environmental effect, it shall immediately cease construction which may have that effect, and submit the information required by § 1.1311 of this part. The Commission shall rule on that submission and complete further environmental processing (if invoked), see § 1.1308 of this part, before such construction is resumed.

(e) Paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section shall not apply to the construction of mobile stations.

[55 FR 20396, May 16, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 13414, Apr. 2, 1991; 83 FR 19458, May 3, 2018; 84 FR 59567, Nov. 5, 2019; 85 FR 85531, Dec. 29, 2020]

§ 1.1313 Objections.

(a) In the case of an application to which section 309(b) of the Communications Act applies, objections based on environmental considerations shall be filed electronically as petitions to deny. If the interested person is unable to file electronically or if filing electronically would be unreasonably burdensome, such person may submit the petition by mail, with a request for waiver under § 1.1304(b).

(b) Informal objections which are based on environmental considerations must be filed electronically prior to grant of the construction permit, or prior to authorization for facilities that do not require construction permits, or pursuant to the applicable rules governing services subject to lotteries. If the interested person is unable to file electronically or if filing electronically would be unreasonably burdensome, such person may submit the objection by mail, with a request for waiver under § 1.1304(b).

[85 FR 85531, Dec. 29, 2020]

§ 1.1314 Environmental impact statements (EISs).

. . .

[51 FR 15000, Apr. 22, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 28394, July 28, 1988; 85 FR 85531, Dec. 29, 2020]

§ 1.1315 The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS); Comments.

. . .

[51 FR 15000, Apr. 22, 1986, as amended at 85 FR 85531, Dec. 29, 2020]

§ 1.1319 Consideration of the environmental impact statements.

(a) If the action is designated for hearing:

(1) In rendering an initial decision, the presiding officer (other than the Commission) shall use the FEIS in considering the environmental issues, together with all other non-environmental issues.

(2) When the Commission serves as the presiding officer or upon its review of an initial decision, the Commission will consider and assess all aspects of the FEIS and will render its decision, giving due consideration to the environmental and nonenvironmental issues.

(b) In all non-hearing matters, the Commission, as part of its decision-making process, will review the FEIS, along with other relevant issues, to ensure that the environmental effects are specifically assessed and given comprehensive consideration.

[51 FR 15000, Apr. 22, 1986, as amended at 62 FR 4171, Jan. 29, 1997; 85 FR 63183, Oct. 6, 2020]