42 U.S.C. § 4336e
Verified against govinfo.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on govinfo.gov ↗
In this subchapter:
- (1)The term “categorical exclusion” means a category of actions that a Federal agency has determined normally does not significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 4332(2)(C) of this title.
- (2)The term “cooperating agency” means any Federal, State, Tribal, or local agency that has been designated as a cooperating agency under section 4336a(a)(3) of this title.
- (3)The term “Council” means the Council on Environmental Quality established in subchapter II.
- (4)The term “environmental assessment” means an environmental assessment prepared under section 4336(b)(2) of this title.
- (5)The term “environmental document” means an environmental impact statement, an environmental assessment, or a finding of no significant impact.
- (6)The term “environmental impact statement” means a detailed written statement that is required by section 4332(2)(C) of this title.
- (7)The term “finding of no significant impact” means a determination by a Federal agency that a proposed agency action does not require the issuance of an environmental impact statement.
- (8)The term “participating Federal agency” means a Federal agency participating in an environmental review or authorization of an action.
- (9)The term “lead agency” means, with respect to a proposed agency action—
- (10)
- (A)The term “major Federal action” means an action that the agency carrying out such action determines is subject to substantial Federal control and responsibility.
- (B)The term “major Federal action” does not include—
- (i)a non-Federal action—
- (ii)funding assistance solely in the form of general revenue sharing funds which do not provide Federal agency compliance or enforcement responsibility over the subsequent use of such funds;
- (iii)loans, loan guarantees, or other forms of financial assistance where a Federal agency does not exercise sufficient control and responsibility over the subsequent use of such financial assistance or the effect of the action;
- (iv)business loan guarantees provided by the Small Business Administration pursuant to section 7(a) or (b) and 1 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear. of the Small Business Act ( U.S.C. 636(a)),2 So in original. Probably should refer to 15 U.S.C. 636(a), (b). or title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.);
- (v)bringing judicial or administrative civil or criminal enforcement actions;
- (vi)extraterritorial activities or decisions, which means agency activities or decisions with effects located entirely outside of the jurisdiction of the United States; or
- (vii)activities or decisions that are non-discretionary and made in accordance with the agency’s statutory authority.
- (11)The term “programmatic environmental document” means an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment analyzing all or some of the environmental effects of a policy, program, plan, or group of related actions.
- (12)The term “proposal” means a proposed action at a stage when an agency has a goal, is actively preparing to make a decision on one or more alternative means of accomplishing that goal, and can meaningfully evaluate its effects.
- (13)The term “special expertise” means statutory responsibility, agency mission, or related program experience.