Federal Environmental Policy Requirements Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

1. Daniel Wheeland Director, Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations National Institutes of Health Federal Environmental Policy Requirements Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

2. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) National Environmental Policy .. to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) .. is our basic national charter for protection of the environment. It establishes policy, sets goals and provides means for carrying out the policy. The purpose of NEPA is to ensure that Federal agencies understand the potential impacts of their actions, mitigate them where possible, and make informed decisions.

3. National Environmental Policy Act What federal agency actions are subject to NEPA? • Actions that could have environmental effects, such as federal construction projects, plans to manage and develop federally owned lands, and federal approvals of non-federal activities, e.g., grants, licenses, and permits. • NIH’s action is the partial funding of the construction of the NEIDL. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) • A written statement drawing conclusions on how a course of action is likely to affect the environment and analyzing the potential impacts of an action. • NIH conducted an EIS that analyzed potential impacts and mitigation measures associated with the partial funding of the NEIDL. Record of Decision (ROD) • A concise written record of the Agency’s decision based upon the EIS. • The NIH determined on 1/26/06 in its ROD that the NEIDL posed a negligible risk to the community and that the NEIDL would not have a disproportionate impact on low-income and minority populations.

4. Areas Studied As Part Of The NEIDL EIS • Social Resources • Economic Resources • Environmental Justice • Visual Quality • Wastewater and Water Resources • Biological Resources • Air Quality • Noise • Transportation • Historic and Cultural Resources • Land Use • Cumulative Impacts • Human Health and Safety • Appendix 9: “Hazard and Risk Assessment NEIDL” Evaluated the aerosol release of anthrax spores. (Conducted by RWDI) • Appendix 11: “Executive Summary Threat and Risk Assessment”, Four-step vulnerability assessment. (Conducted by Applied Risk Management) • Appendix 12: “BUMC/NEIDL Risk Assessment”, Maximum possible risk with an aerosol release of anthrax spores. (Conducted by CDIC, Inc.)

5. NEIDL NEPA Chronology • 01/09/04: Notice of Intent to Prepare EIS • 02/17/04: EIS Scoping Meeting • 10/22/04: Draft EIS Notice of Availability • 11/10/04: Draft EIS Public Comment Meeting • 04/01/05: Supplemental DEIS Notice of Availability • 04/25/05: Supplemental DEIS Public Comment Meeting • 12/09/05: Final EIS Notice of Availability • 01/26/06: Record of Decision (ROD) Approved

6. NEPA and MEPA