National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of the Interior Office of the Secretary 43 CFR Part 46 [267D0102DM; DS6CS00000; DLSN00000.000000; DOI-2025-0004] RIN 1090-AB18 ( printed page 8738) AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (Department or DOI) is adopting the interim final rule (IFR) published on July 3, 2025, with minor changes, as final. In the IFR, DOI provided a 30-day comment period for the public to review and make comments. This final rule addresses public comments and adopts as final the IFR, with certain substantive changes as explained herein. The IFR partially rescinded DOI's regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and made necessary targeted updates to those provisions that were not repealed. DOI will henceforth maintain the majority of its NEPA procedures—which apply only to DOI's internal processes—in a Departmental Handbook separate from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). DATES: This final rule is effective February 24, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen G. Tryon, Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, 202-208-4221, NEPAregulations@ios.doi.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background DOI is issuing this final rule to adopt as final, subject to the revisions made by this final rule, the IFR promulgated on July 3, 2025. The IFR partially rescinded and made other needed, targeted updates to DOI's regulations, codified at 43 CFR part 46 , implementing…