Federal Register #2026-13245

NASA Interim Final Rule: Updates to NEPA Procedures and Categorical Exclusions

This notice announces an interim final rule from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) regarding updates to its environmental regulations: - NASA is revising its procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - The rule rescinds outdated regulations and codifies recent statutory changes - Updates are made to NASA's list of categorical exclusions - The changes align NASA's environmental review process with current NEPA requirements - No procurement of products or services is involved - No OEMs, vendors, or specific products are mentioned - NASA is soliciting public comments to further refine the rule - The rule aims to provide procedural clarity for NASA action proponents, non-Federal project sponsors, and the public

Description

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is rescinding and repromulgating its regulations related to environmental quality to update the regulations to codify changes to NEPA. This interim final rule aims to avoid confusion related to NASA's administrative process and provide procedural certainty for preparing environmental documents under NEPA. The rule updates NASA's list of existing categorical exclusions and aligns NASA's environmental regulations with current NEPA requirements. Comments on the rule are due by July 31, 2026, and the rule becomes effective on August 17, 2026.

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