Environmental Policy
The FAA's Office of Environment and Energy develops and coordinates policy recommendations and legislative issues on environmental and energy-related matters.
Environmental Review
The FAA considers the impact of its actions on the environment through coordinated environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act, and other federal laws.
- NEW June 30, 2025: Order 1050.1G FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures serves as the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) policy and procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, and aligns with the February 25, 2025, Interim Final Rule issued by the Council on Environmental Quality rescinding its regulations implementing NEPA.
- Existing projects that are currently underway should continue to follow Order 1050.1F and new projects started June 30th and after should follow Order 1050.1G. Order 1050.1F Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures outlines how the FAA implements NEPA and related federal laws.
- The 1050.1 Desk Reference is being updated and will be posted when a final version is complete. Please continue monitoring this site for updates. The Desk Reference provides additional guidance for environmental impact analysis performed to comply with NEPA. The Desk Reference is designed to be used in conjunction with Order 1050.1.
- The Office of Environment and Energy implements NEPA for FAA actions related to environmental policy and energy-related matters. The environmental review process may result in the preparation of environmental documents (environmental impact statements (EISs), environmental assessment (EAs), or findings of no significant impact (FONSIs)).
Additional Guidance and Memoranda
- Use and Documentation of Categorical Exclusions (September 2019)
- Guidance on Noise Screening Assessments (June 2018)
- Consolidated Guidance for Implementation of the Categorical Exclusion in Section 213(c)(1) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (June 2018)
- Section 106 Handbook: How to Assess the Effects of FAA Actions on Historic Properties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (June 2015)
- Proposed CATEXs for Revision of FAA Order 1050.1E (August 2013)
- Approval of Aerobatic Practice Area (APA) noise equivalent methodology (November 2012)
- DOT Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (July 1985)
Community Involvement
The FAA is committed to open and effective public participation and regards community involvement as an important consideration in decisions that affect the public.
- The FAA Community Involvement Manual provides FAA practitioners with an understanding of the value of community involvement and describes practices and effective techniques for community participation.
- The Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making (October 2022) provides practices which can promote a shared understanding of meaningful public involvement with an aim to incorporate meaningful public involvement into each stage of the transportation decision-making process.
Additional Environmental Programs
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