[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 18, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 18CFR380.5]

[Page 899-900]
 
           TITLE 18--CONSERVATION OF POWER AND WATER RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 
PART 380_REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY 
ACT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 380.5  Actions that require an environmental assessment.

    (a) An environmental assessment will normally be prepared first for 
the actions identified in this section. Depending on the outcome of the 
environmental assessment, the Commission may or may not prepare an 
environmental impact statement. However, depending on the location or 
scope of the proposed action, or the resources affected, the Commission 
may in specific circumstances proceed directly to prepare an 
environmental impact statement.
    (b) The projects subject to an environmental assessment are as 
follows:
    (1) Except as identified in Sec. Sec. 380.4, 380.6 and 2.55 of this 
chapter, authorization for the site of new gas import/export facilities 
under DOE Delegation No. 0204-112 and authorization under section 7 of 
the Natural Gas Act for the construction, replacement, or abandonment of 
compression, processing, or interconnecting facilities, onshore and 
offshore pipelines, metering facilities, LNG peak-shaving facilities, or 
other facilities necessary for the sale, exchange, storage, or 
transportation of natural gas;
    (2) Prior notice filings under Sec. 157.208 of this chapter for the 
rearrangement of any facility specified in Sec. Sec. 157.202 (b)(3) and 
(6) of this chapter or the acquisition, construction, or operation of 
any eligible facility as specified in Sec. Sec. 157.202 (b)(2) and (3) 
of this chapter;
    (3) Abandonment or reduction of natural gas service under section 7 
of the Natural Gas Act unless excluded under Sec. 380.4 (a)(21), (28) 
or (29);
    (4) Except as identified in Sec. 380.6, conversion of existing 
depleted oil or natural gas fields to underground storage

[[Page 900]]

fields under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
    (5) New natural gas curtailment plans, or any amendment to an 
existing curtailment plan under section 4 of the Natural Gas Act and 
sections 401 through 404 of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 that has 
a major effect on an entire pipeline system;
    (6) Licenses under Part I of the Federal Power Act and part 4 of 
this chapter for construction of any water power project--existing dam;
    (7) Exemptions under section 405 of the Public Utility Regulatory 
Policies Act of 1978, as amended, and Sec. Sec. 4.30(b)(27) and 4.101-
4.106 of this chapter for small hydroelectric power projects of 5 MW or 
less;
    (8) Licenses for additional project works at licensed projects under 
Part I of the Federal Power Act whether or not these are styled license 
amendments or original licenses;
    (9) Licenses under Part I of the Federal Power Act and part 4 of 
this chapter for transmission lines only;
    (10) Applications for new licenses under section 15 of the Federal 
Power Act;
    (11) Approval of electric interconnections and wheeling under 
sections 202(b), 210, 211, and 212 of the Federal Power Act, unless 
excluded under Sec. 380.4(a)(17); and
    (12) Regulations or proposals for legislation not excluded under 
Sec. 380.4(a)(2).
    (13) Surrender of water power licenses and exemptions where project 
works exist or ground disturbing activity has occurred and amendments to 
water power licenses and exemptions that require ground disturbing 
activity or changes to project works or operations.

[Order 486, 52 FR 47910, Dec. 17, 1987; Order 486, 53 FR 4817, Feb. 17, 
1988, as amended by 53 FR 8177, Mar. 14, 1988; Order 486-B, 53 FR 26437, 
July 13, 1988]