Smart CATEX: Using AI and New Adoption Procedures to Streamline NEPA Reviews

Description

This 3-day interactive training equips environmental professionals with the tools, insights, and hands-on practice needed to confidently manage Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) determinations in today’s fast-evolving NEPA landscape. With the July 2025 CEQ rescission and the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 codifying key changes, understanding and effectively applying CATEXs is more critical than ever.

This updated course covers the foundational principles of CATEX under NEPA, explores the latest guidance for CATEX adoption across agencies, and introduces new strategies for using AI to streamline identification, drafting, and review of CATEX decisions. Participants will engage in structured exercises, real-world case studies, and AI-assisted labs to sharpen their ability to make defensible, timely, and efficient CATEX determinations.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the statutory and regulatory foundation for Categorical Exclusions post-2023.

  • Identify which projects qualify for CATEX under agency-specific procedures and the new CEQ guidance.

  • Apply best practices for reviewing extraordinary circumstances and integrating other laws (e.g., ESA, NHPA).

  • Document CATEX determinations clearly and defensibly.

  • Understand and apply the new CEQ provisions for CATEX adoption across agencies.

  • Use AI tools to:

    • Identify applicable CATEXs based on project descriptions

    • Draft CATEX justifications and supporting documentation

    • Evaluate extraordinary circumstances with LLM-powered checklists and risk prompts

  • Apply risk-mitigation strategies to reduce litigation vulnerabilities

  • Recognize evolving agency expectations and adapt internal workflows accordingly

Content

Day 1 – CATEX Foundations and Legal Framework

  • Overview of NEPA pathways and role of CATEX

  • Regulatory foundation (pre- and post-2023 updates)

  • CATEX documentation, extraordinary circumstances, and legal risks

  • New CEQ provisions for interagency CATEX adoption

  • Exercise: Reviewing sample CATEX determinations for compliance

Day 2 – Process, Application, and Case Law

  • Common pitfalls and successful CATEX strategies

  • Integrated compliance: ESA, NHPA, and tribal consultation within CATEX

  • Case law analysis and litigation trends

  • Workshop: Drafting a CATEX determination with updated language

  • Small group exercise: Red-flagging extraordinary circumstances

Day 3 – AI Tools and Practical Innovation

  • Introduction to AI-assisted NEPA workflows

  • Using AI for CATEX identification and justification drafting

  • Model prompts to evaluate extraordinary circumstances

  • Hands-on lab: Prompting and editing AI-generated CATEX language

  • Roundtable: Updating internal SOPs and risk mitigation checklists

  • Final exercise: Build an end-to-end CATEX decision strategy using human + AI inputs

Audience

This course is ideal for:

  • Federal, tribal, state, and local agency NEPA professionals

  • Environmental planners, project managers, and legal staff

  • Contractors and consultants assisting with CATEX documentation

  • Engineers, architects, and permit leads in infrastructure and energy sectors

  • Anyone seeking to modernize NEPA workflows with AI and policy-aware updates

Process

This 3-day workshop consists of a balanced mix of:

  • 50% Lecture and Case Study Presentation

  • 25% Small Group Exercises and Labs

  • 25% Guided Discussion and AI Hands-On Practice

Materials

Participants receive:

  • Comprehensive Workshop Resources Workbook

  • AI Prompt Template Toolkit (for CATEX drafting, risk checks, and justification)

  • CATEX Adoption Crosswalk Chart for Agency Coordination