The US Bureau of Reclamation has added two new categorical exclusions for hydropower-related activities under the National Environmental Policy Act, in a move the agency says will speed up environmental reviews for selected projects and maintenance work across its hydropower portfolio. The changes were announced on Friday as part of Reclamation’s ongoing Hydropower Action Plan, which the agency says is intended to support capital investment, regulatory efficiency and technological innovation in the US hydropower sector. … The agency said the exclusions were developed after identifying categories of hydropower activity that have “consistently demonstrated no significant environmental impacts.” 

Other hydropower news:

• Circle of Blue: Blog: Hoover Dam approaches a hydropower cliff
• Bureau of Reclamation: News release: Reclamation develops new categorical exclusions to streamline environmental reviews for hydropower