Welcome to NEPA
Welcome to the Department of War Environmental Planning website. This is the home of National Environmental Policy Act policy information for DoW.
Background
Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969 to establish a national policy for the environment. NEPA requires Federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of proposed major Federal actions prior to making decisions. NEPA ensures agencies consider the significant environmental consequences of their proposed actions and inform the public about their decision making. On June 30, 2025, the DoW published new NEPA implementing procedures to cover NEPA compliance and implementation for all of DoW, including DoW Components and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works. The DoW NEPA Procedures provide guidelines for agency procedure and practice with respect to NEPA compliance.
Department of War NEPA Procedures (Last Updated September 3, 2026)
What’s New
On September 3, the Assistant Secretary of War (Energy, Installations, & Environment) formalized the DoW Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) Guidance, marking the completion of extensive collaboration among DoW Components and the Office of General Council to update categorical exclusion policy in line with the 2025 DoW NEPA Procedures. This achievement enhances DoW’s consistent use of CATEXs, centralizes communication regarding environmental review processes, clarifies procedures for adopting CATEXs from other federal agencies, and fosters a cohesive Department wide strategy for carrying out NEPA.
The DoW CATEX Guidance has been incorporated into the DoW NEPA Procedures as Appendix C. A copy of the memo formalizing the CATEX Guidance as well as a copy of the DoW CATEX Guidance can be found under the “Department of War NEPA Procedures” page.
Resources
Watch the latest update from Honorable Dale Marks as he highlights how modernizing the Department’s NEPA Procedures is accelerating readiness.
Through streamlined processes and strengthened environmental stewardship, NEPA modernization ensures compliance with environmental laws while driving forward mission‑critical projects at installations across the country. These updates directly support required facility upgrades and the strengthening of the defense industrial base, ensuring warfighters have the capabilities they need to defend the homeland and protect the nation’s security.
Frequently Asked Questions for Department of War NEPA Procedures
This FAQ document provides updates and responses to questions regarding the DoW’s compliance with NEPA.