The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is the federal government's charter for protection of the human environment. Through NEPA, Congress directed federal agencies to integrate environmental considerations into their planning and decision making. The NEPA process provides agency decision makers and the public with an understanding of the potential environmental impacts of proposed actions.
In accordance with NEPA, DHS prepares environmental documentation to identify and assess the potential for environmental impacts associated with proposed DHS activities and projects. NEPA documents include Environmental Assessments (EA), Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), and Records of Decision (ROD). As a part of the process, DHS works in a collaborative manner with diverse stakeholders including local and state government, Native American Tribes, Federal land managers, and the interested public to identify, understand, and, to the extent possible, minimize impacts to the environment. DHS invites members of the public to participate in the Department's NEPA process by reviewing documents and findings issued by the Department and providing comments during the public comment period.
Environmental Impact Statements
- There are currently no Environmental Impact Statements available for public review and comment. Please check the CBP, FEMA, and USCG environmental websites for additional documents.
Environmental Assessments
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DHS has prepared a draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment to evaluate the potential impacts to the human and natural environment that can result from acquisition of land, and construction, operation, and maintenance of a new Joint Processing Center on 100 acres parcel in Laredo, Webb County, Texas. Substantive comments will be addressed accordingly in the final EA. If you have comments or information relevant to the development of the EA, please direct your correspondence by March 18, 2024, to BPAMNEPA@cbp.dhs.gov or mail to:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office of Facilities and Asset Management
1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 1555N
Mail Stop 1102
Washington, DC 20229-1102
Attn: Tim SmithPlease include “Laredo JPC” in the subject line.
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DHS S&T prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment to evaluate the potential impacts to the human and natural environment resulting from a proposed construction and operation the Detection Sciences, Testing and Applied Research Center and the associated Facility for Energetic Materials Research. This project, together with ancillary projects at the Transportation Security Lab, would be located at the Federal Aviation Administration’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey. This Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact are available for a 30-day public review and comment period which concludes on January 15, 2024. Please submit comments to DSTAR_EA@hq.dhs.gov
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DHS S&T prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (Draft FONSI) to evaluate the potential impacts to the human and natural environment relating to the abandonment in place of an existing undersea utility cable and the installation of a new undersea utility cable between Orient Point, NY, and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) on Plum Island, NY, located 1.5 miles northeast of Orient Point (Proposed Action). The Proposed Action is to replace one of two existing cables for electrical and communication services to PIADC. DHS S&T is soliciting public comments on the Draft EA and Draft FONSI, which is available for a 30-day public comment period from January 25, 2024, through February 24, 2024. Printed copies of the Draft EA are available at the Floyd Memorial Library at 539 1st Street, Greenport, New York 11944, and the Southold Free Library at 53705 Main Road, Southold, New York 11971 for public review. Comments on the Draft EA should be submitted during the 30-day comment period via email at: PlumIslandUnderseaCable@st.dhs.gov.
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There are currently no Environmental Assessments available for public review and comment. Please check the CBP, FEMA, and USCG environmental websites for additional documents.
Other Documents for Public Review
The following NEPA documents are provided for your reference.
- DHS Environmental Justice Strategy & Annual Reports
- Executive Order 13604 Agency Plan (PDF, 9 pages, 371 KB)
- DHS Directive 023-01, Rev 01 "Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act" (effective March 26, 2015)
- Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev 01 "Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act" (effective March 26, 2015, administrative revisions effective October 13, 2017)
- Administrative Revisions to Instruction 023-01-001 Rev 01 (October 2017)