NOTICE OF APPLICATION OF ADOPTED CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION (CATEX)
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HYBRID LIVING SHORELINE
AT PORT MAHON, DELAWARE
Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware and the Department of the Air Force (DAF) are proposing to remove stone riprap and install a 1500-foot hybrid living shoreline, subtidal oyster reefs, and offshore wave dampening structures along Port Mahon Road. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Dover AFB completed an environmental impact analysis, which considered potential effects of the proposed action on various environmental media. The proposed action is not expected to yield any significant adverse effects on the environment.
In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.4(e), the Air Force adopted thirty-five CATEXes from other federal agencies on 25 Nov 2024. These CATEXes are categories of actions that have historically shown little to no potential to harm the environment and are thus excluded from further environmental analysis. Adopted CATEXes may be applied to projects, provided that the agency utilizing them satisfies the following requirements:
- Dover AFB must evaluate proposed actions for extraordinary circumstances as listed by both DAF and the agency that originally issued the CATEX; in this case, it is the Department of the Navy (DON).
- In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.4(e)(5), DAF must publish every use of any adopted CATEX.
Pursuant to these newly adopted CATEXes, Dover AFB is documenting the application of the DON CATEX found at 32 CFR 775.6(f)(33): “New construction that is similar to or compatible with existing land use (i.e., site and scale of construction are consistent with those of existing adjacent or nearby facilities) and, when completed, the use or operation of which complies with existing regulatory requirements (e.g., a building within a cantonment area with associated discharges and runoff within existing handling capacities). The test for whether this CATEX can be applied should focus on whether the proposed action generally fits within the designated land use of the proposed site.”