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National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). By Carmelo Serrano. The law was enacted on January 1, 1970, but its "short title" is "National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.“ As you can tell by its name, the law is a National law to the United States.
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National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) By Carmelo Serrano
The law was enacted on January 1, 1970, but its "short title" is "National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.“ • As you can tell by its name, the law is a National law to the United States. • NEPA's most significant effect was to set up procedural requirements for all federal government agencies to prepare Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). EAs and EISs contain statements of the environmental effects of proposed federal agency actions. NEPA’s procedural requirements apply to all federal agencies in the executive branch. NEPA does not apply to the President, to Congress, or to the federal courts.
By the 1960s it had been clear that human activities were producing profound effects on the environment. The public outcry after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill was perhaps the leading catalyst. NEPA established a broad national framework to : • Encourage productive and enjoyable between man and his environment. • Promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man. • Enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the nation. • Establish a Council on Environmental Quality.
EPA’s Role • The Environmental Protection Agency, like other federal agencies, prepares and reviews NEPA documents. However, EPA has a unique responsibility in the NEPA review process. Under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to review and publicly comment on the environmental impacts of major federal actions including actions which are the subject of EISs. If EPA determines that the action is environmentally unsatisfactory, it is required by Section 309 to refer the matter to CEQ. • The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) was established to advise agencies on the environmental decision making process and to oversee and coordinate the development of Federal environmental policy.
Improve Environmental Outcomes • EPA's comments on proposed federal projects contribute to increased benefits to the environment. For example, through EPA’s review of the Folsom Dam Safety and Flood Damage Reduction Project, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers committed to a variety of environmentally friendly practices. These include use of the cleanest available on-road vehicles, the most recent pollution control equipment for all off-road construction equipment, and electrical power rather than diesel for all stationary equipment. The agencies also agreed to reduce haulage miles and minimize the overlap of activities that produce pollutant emissions. These commitments will significantly reduce emissions of air pollutants from the project, reducing impacts to communities surrounding the Folsom Reservoir.
