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Actions Requiring Categorical Exclusion Reviews (CERs)
The Regional Supervisor for Leasing and Environment (RS-LE) or the Regional Supervisor
for Environmental Evaluation (RS-EE) shall review the categorically excluded actions
listed below to ensure that individual MMS approvals falling within each category do not
represent exceptions to the exclusion. These actions are among the exclusions listed
in the Departmental manual (516 DM 6, Appendix 10 (10.4.A. Permit and Regulatory
Functions)) and were determined to have at least some potential for causing environmental
effects. Other actions listed in Appendix 10 have no such potential, although some
actions could locally be controversial. Therefore, in most cases, it is unnecessary
to conduct a CER for any permit or regulatory action other than those listed below.
 | Offshore geological and geophysical (G&G) mineral exploration activities, except
when the proposed activity includes the drilling of deep stratigraphic test holes or uses
solid or liquid explosives (10.4.C(9)). Deep Stratigraphic tests and use of solid or
liquid explosives require the preparation of an EA.
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| Offshore lease or unit Exploration Plan (EP), Development and Production Plan (DPP), or
a Development Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) in the Central or Western Gulf of
Mexico. The CER for plans that propose facilities in certain areas usually results
in preparation of an EA. This is the case for plans proposing facilities: (1) in
areas of high seismic risk or seismicity, relatively untested deep water, or remote areas;
or (2) within the boundary of a proposed or established marine sanctuary and/or within or
near the boundary of a proposed or established wildlife refuge, wilderness area, or area
of high biological sensitivity; or (3) in areas of hazardous natural bottom conditions; or
(4) using new or unusual technology (10.4.C(10)).
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| Minor revisions to or minor variances from activities described in an approved EP or DPP
or pipeline applications (10.4.C(ll)).
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| Preliminary activities (except those in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico)
conducted on a lease. These are activities such as G&G and other surveys
necessary to develop a comprehensive EP or DPP (10.4.C(13)).
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| Pipeline right-of-way grants, and lease term pipeline applications and any revisions
thereto that do not result in a new pipeline corridor to shore (10.4.C(15)).
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In the event an action cannot be categorically excluded, the decision to prepare an EA
will be made by the RS-LE or RS-EE. As appropriate, this decision should be made in
consultation with the project decision maker. For actions carried out at the
Headquarters Office, such as rulemaking, the Chief, Environmental Division will be
responsible for completing the CER.
For more information, contact James F. Bennett.
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