Notice2025-14658
Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Nationwide Operation of Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems
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Published
August 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security Department
Abstract
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the availability of a draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) and its draft finding that the research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) of counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), and nationwide C-UAS operational and training activities will not significantly impact the environment. The draft PEA will inform DHS's decision whether to perform such activities with C-UAS nationwide.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 147 (Monday, August 4, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 147 (Monday, August 4, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 36446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14658]
[[Page 36446]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Docket No: DHS-2025-0027]
Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental
Assessment for the Nationwide Operation of Counter Unmanned Aircraft
Systems
AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the
availability of a draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) and
its draft finding that the research, development, testing, and
evaluation (RDT&E) of counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), and
nationwide C-UAS operational and training activities will not
significantly impact the environment. The draft PEA will inform DHS's
decision whether to perform such activities with C-UAS nationwide.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 3, 2025.
ADDRESSES: The draft PEA and draft Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) are available on DHS's website at: <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ocrso/eed/epb/nepa">https://www.dhs.gov/ocrso/eed/epb/nepa</a>.
Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:
<bullet> <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> web portal: Navigate to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket No. DHS-2025-0027 to submit
public comments. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments. All public comments received are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act and will be posted in their entirety at this site and
available for public viewing. Do not include any information you would
not like to be made publicly available.
<bullet> By email: Emailed comments should be sent to: Jennifer
Hass, Acting Executive Director, Energy and Environment Division, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dc999998f1998c9cb4adf2b8b4aff2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c3868687ee869383abb2eda7abb0eda4acb5">[email protected]</span></a>.
All comments received may be made publicly available without
change, including any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hass, Acting Executive
Director, Energy and Environment Division, Department of Homeland
Security at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81c4c4c5acc4d1c1e9f0afe5e9f2afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd9d9d8b1d9ccdcf4edb2f8f4efb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a> or by phone at 202-834-4346.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action: DHS proposes to perform RDT&E of C-UAS, and
conduct operational and training activities to support existing and
emerging DHS mission requirements nationwide. C-UAS are a system or
device capable of tracking, disabling, disrupting, or seizing control
of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system (UAS). UAS have
become a security concern in recent years due to the ease with which
they can aid in intelligence gathering and be used for malicious
activities. DHS has been granted statutory authority under the
Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018 to counter credible threats
from UAS to the safety or security of a covered facility or asset,
which are designated based on their importance to the security missions
of DHS and Components. DHS prepared the subject Draft PEA to streamline
the review process and review duplicative, lengthy reviews for
repetitive C-UAS actions that may be broadly analyzed given their
similar scopes.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to support ongoing and
proposed RDT&E of C-UAS technologies and to deploy C-UAS in operational
and training settings to detect, identify, monitor, track, and mitigate
(passively and actively) threats posed by UAS, including across the
radio-frequency spectrum, using a streamlined approach to environmental
analysis and documentation. The Proposed Action is needed to enhance
DHS's ability to use C-UAS technologies, monitor emerging threats,
protect DHS's missions, and defend the Nation from UAS threats and
malicious activity. The use of C-UAS would support existing and
emerging mission requirements of the various Components within DHS and
facilitate their services and strategies essential to the Nation's
security, safety, and emergency response.
The Draft PEA evaluates the potential environmental, cultural,
socioeconomic, and physical impacts associated with DHS's Proposed
Action.
Alternatives: In addition to the Proposed Action Alternative, which
would implement the Proposed Action, DHS considered a No Action
Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, DHS would continue to use
C-UAS to counter threats as authorized under the Preventing Emerging
Threats Act of 2018 on a project-by-project basis. However, DHS would
be limited in its ability to carry out critical mission objectives and
respond to potential threats in a streamlined, efficient manner.
Draft Finding of No Significant Impact: The evaluation performed
within this draft PEA concludes that no significant adverse impact to
the environmental or quality of life is anticipated as a result of
implementing the Proposed Action, provided that routine best management
practices specified in the draft PEA are implemented.
Request for Public Review: Federal agencies; Tribal, state, and
local governments, the public; and other interested parties are
requested to provide input or comments on the draft PEA, which will be
available for a 30-day public comment period. Comments must be
submitted on or before September 3, 2025. For information on how to
submit, see the ADDRESSES section above. A mailing address to submit
hardcopy comments can be provided upon request.
Availability of the Draft PEA: The draft PEA and draft FONSI are
available on DHS's website at: <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/ocrso/eed/epb/nepa/public-comment">https://www.dhs.gov/ocrso/eed/epb/nepa/public-comment</a>.
(Authority: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), DHS Management Directive 023-01, rev. 01
(Implementation of NEPA), and DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01,
rev. 01 (Implementation of the NEPA).)
Jennifer Hass,
Acting Executive Director, Energy and Environment Division, Office of
the Chief Readiness Support Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2025-14658 Filed 8-1-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9112-FF-P
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