Protection and enhancement of environmental quality originating office. The issue arose as early as 1970 when a house merchant marine and fisheries subcommittee criticized the state department for its initial position that environmental impact statements were. Long title, national environmental policy act of 1969. This nepa decision document, a finding of no significant impact fonsi, sets forth aphis nepa decision and its rationale. That this act may be cited as the national environmental policy act. The national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa was. The national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa is a sweeping federal law often called the magna carta of the nations environmental. The comprehensive environmental response, compensation and liability act cercla, 1980 and superfund amendment 1986 the national environmental policy. This document is prepared in compliance with nepa, as amended, and the council on environmental quality regulations for implementing nepa 40 cfr parts 15001508. Crs report for congress national agricultural law center. The national environmental policy act nepa was one of the first laws ever written that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. The national environmental policy act of 1969 the national environmental policy act of 1969, as amended pub. National environmental policy act nepa passed by congress in 1969 and signed into law on january 1, 1970, the national environmental policy act nepa broke new ground as the first major federal legislative effort to incorporate environmental considerations into all government decisionmaking. The national environmental policy act nepa is the foundation of modern american environmental protection.
The national environmental policy act of 1969 by douglas s. Enhancing collaboration and partnerships lynn scarlett forty years ago, the u. The purpose of this directive is to establish department of homeland security dhs policy for implementing the requirements of the national environmental policy act nepa and the council on environmental quality ceq regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of nepa. An agenda for the future, indiana university press, 1998, pp. Pdf national environmental policy act 1969 researchgate. The national environmental policy act federal transit administration. National environmental policy act of 1969 an act to esmbtish a mtional policy for the environment, to provide for the esbhshment of a council on environmental quality, and for other purposes act of january 1, 1970, public hw 91190, 83 smt. A, notice of the availabi1ity of the draftnvironmental statement and request fox comments from interested persons is being sent to the office of the federal register for filingand publication copies enclosed. It is prepared to comply with nepa through the assessment of selected nepa values associated with.
At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topicallyorganized titles, and each title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics. The main concept in this article is that the federal government has fallen behind in implementing its basic law for protecting the environment, the national environmental policy act nepa of 1969. Nepa documents must concentrate on the issues that are truly. National environmental policy act nepa of 1969, as amended, the council of environmental qualitys ceq regulations implementing nepa, and the usda aphis nepa implementing regulations and procedures. The purpose of nepa is to a declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment. Nepa established a national policy for the environment. National environmental policy act a law passed in 1969 requiring agencies to issue an environmental impact statement before undertaking any major action affecting the environment. National environmental policy act united states 1969. That polluters use the best available technology to deal with water pollution b. Nepa remains one of the most influential, comprehensive and wideranging environmental policies enacted within the united states. This act may be cited as the national environmental policy act of 1969. College of agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences agricultural experiment station cooperative extension service ritf 85 an introduction to nepa. This chapter provides instructions for implementing the national environmental policy act of 1969, as amended 42 u. Introduction the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa 1 established by congressional action a national policy for the management and preservation of the quality of the environment.
Nixon, nepa requires all federal agencies to go through a formal process before taking any action anticipated to have substantial impact on the environment. In the intervening years, the act has become the bedrock for evaluating environmental and other social and economic impacts of federal actions. Nepa established for the first time national policies and goals for the protection of the environment. The national environmental policy act nepa requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions. This section discusses the federal, state, and local environmental statutes and regulations that are applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements arars to the response action at ou3. While united states conservation efforts began more than one hundred years ago, and continued throughout the twentieth century, nepa focused environmental concerns within a comprehensive national policy.
Pdf on jan 1, 2011, mark anderson and others published national environmental policy act 1969 find, read and cite all the research you need on. Policy statements and advocacy policy statements policy statements. National environmental policy act of 1969, as amended. January 1, 1970 2492 national environmental policy. National environmental policy act of 1969 legal definition. Office of environmental policy and compliance 516 dm 1 1. International application of the national environmental. This document is prepared in compliance with nepa, as amended, and the council on.
Enacted in 1969 and signed into law in 1970 by president richard m. National environmental policy act as amended 1 42 u. Assessing and managing the ecological impacts of paved roads. Included among the federal statutes to follow and remaining in effect today are the clean air act, 42 u. National environmental policy act 1969 nepa 1969 green. To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable. Nepa established a national policy for the environment and provided for the establishment of a council on environmental quality. The national environmental policy act nepa is a united states environmental law that promotes the enhancement of the environment and established the presidents council on environmental quality ceq.
National environmental policy act nepa of 1969, 42 u. In some ways, ecosystem management repackages rules from the national environmental policy act of 1969, which required the agency to study the environmental and human impacts of its actions across a landscape, not just in individual timber stands, and the national forest management act of 1976, which asked it to protect biodiversity, including key species like the spotted owl, and promote the. The national environmental policy act nepa was passed by the united states congress in 1969 and signed into law by president richard m. The department of the interior department is amending its regulations by adding a new part to codify its procedures for implementing the national environmental policy act nepa, which are currently located in chapters 16 of part 516 of the departmental manual dm.
The legislation came into existence following increasing public awareness and appreciation for the environment. National environmental policy act nepa law and legal. The national environmental policy act nepa is a united states environmental law that. Epa plays a unique role in the national environmental policy act nepa process. The national environmental policy act nepa, the magna carta of environmental law, requires all federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of their actions, a duty that extends to. Action by the secretary of the interior in managing the public lands, or the secretary of agriculture in managing national forest system lands, with respect to any of the activities described in subsection b shall be subject to a rebuttable presumption that the use of a categorical exclusion under the national environmental policy act of 1969. Supporting the national environmental policy act of 1969. Eas are concise public documents that include the need for a proposal, a list of. To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and. Crs3 2 senate report 91296, 91st congress, 1st session, july 9, 1969, pp. Comprehensive environmental response, compensation and liability act.
Congressional declaration of national environmental policy, national environmental policy act of 1969. May include official documents prepared or approved by federal agencies. The national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa 42 u. Environmental policy act of 1969 as set out in appendi3c d of the commission regulations, 10 cfr part 50. Resolution copper and the national environmental policy. Part of that process requires the agencies to assess the potential environmental impact of. Summary of the national environmental policy act laws. Nepas basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal. However, the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa is an exception to the general rule that the targets and goals of the formulators of policy ebb away as the implementors take over. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. National environmental policy act nepa, the first major u. Full text of nepa national environmental policy act. The national environmental policy act of 1969, as amended pub. National environmental policy act of 1969 title i of the 1969 national environmental policy act nepa requires that all federal agencies prepare detailed environmental impact statements for every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
To meet this requirement, federal agencies prepare a detailed statement known as an environmental impact statement eis. The national environmental policy act of 1969 requires which of the following. Docurnentinq usgs compliance activities that are required by the nepa of 1969. National environmental policy act nepa environmental. Congress assembled, that this act may be cited as the national environmental policy act of 1969. National environmental policy act of 1969 portions, as amended this act became law on january 1, 1970 public law 91190, 42 u. The national environmental policy act of 1969, as amended. National environmental policy act of 1969 announcement of signing of the bill into law. Implementation of the national environmental policy act. To date, more than 100 nations around the world have enacted national environmental policies modeled after nepa. The national environmental policy act of 1969 requires. Full text of the national environmental policy act nepa of 1969, as amended, available as a download. Nepas basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment.
Bureau of land management departmental manual part. The purpose of the national environmental policy act was to establish recommendations for federal agencies to encourage mitigation and reduction of potential damage to environmental systems from humanenvironment interactions that prioritized human interest over environmental health dept. Judicial recognition of the substantive requirements of. Transportation research board and national research council.
An act to establish a national policy for the environment, to provide for the establishment of a council on environmental quality, and for other purposes. That people receive permits from the army corps of engineers before they fill or dredge wetlands c. Read assessing and managing the ecological impacts of. National environmental policy act of 1969 unt digital. The national environmental policy act of 1969 was enacted by the 91st united states congress.
Act of 1969 national environmental policy act of 1969. Search for eiss electronic pdf versions of eiss received by epa since. Congress enacted the national environmental policy act nepa. The description of the act, as amended, tracks the language of the united states code except that following common usage we refer to the act. Policy statement database development process archiving process proposed policy statements you must be a loggedin apha member to. The national environmental policy act of 1969 department. Epa has responsibility to prepare its own nepa documents for. Us environmental national environmental policy act of. The national environmental policy act of 1969 department of energy. National environmental policy act of 1969 page 3 unt. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled, that this act may be cited as the national environmental policy act of 1969.