516 DM 1 - Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality

  • Series: 31-ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PROGRAMS (Parts 515-526)
  • Part 516: NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969
  • Chapter 1: PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance

5/19/2021 - replaced Word document with updated 508 compliant PDF document.

This Departmental Manual Release updates the Department’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures in Part 516 DM.    

The Department finalized and published its NEPA procedures in the Code of Federal Regulations 
(43 CFR Part 46) on October 15, 2008.  Previously, the Department’s NEPA procedures were included in Part 516, Chapters 1 – 6 of the DM.  Sections of Chapters 1 - 6 that were not converted into the regulation are revised and updated in Chapters 1 – 3 as information and explanatory guidance.  

Chapter 7 was not included in the final rule because it provides internal administrative guidance specific to Departmental review of environmental documents prepared by other Federal agencies.  Chapter 7 is revised and renumbered as Chapter 4.