The national environmental policy act of 1969, as amended. As a legislative branch agency within the library of congress, crs has been a valued and respected resource on capitol hill for nearly a century. The national environmental policy act nepa requires all federal agencies to consider the effects of their projects and programs on the environment. The national environmental policy act nepathe statute requiring. Exemptions for military activities in federal environmental laws crs report for congress exemptions for military activities in federal environmental laws robert meltz legislative attorney american law division summary under several federal pollutioncontrol statutes, activities of the u. National environmental policy act nepa the national environmental policy act nepa was one of the first laws ever written that establishes a broad national framework for protecting our environment. The honorable peter defazio ranking member committee on natural resources house of representatives. Environmental protection agency, office of federal activities. Forest management provisions enacted in the 115th congress. The congressional research service crs works exclusively for the united states congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and members.
The congressional research service crs works exclusively for the united states congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and members of both the house and senate, regardless of party affiliation. Latest news, headlines, analysis, photos and videos on nepa. Streamlining nepa february, 2006 linda luther analyst in environmental policy resources, science, and industry division. Nepa can trace its history back to the formation of the north of england philatelic society in newcastle in 1903. Time to repeal the obsolete national environmental policy. Legislative history national environmental policy act legal. Congress ushered in a new approach to federal project planning. Federal agencies are required to systematically assess the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and consider alternative ways of accomplishing their missions, which are less. Alternatives explore other ways of meeting the purpose and need. Crs3 2 senate report 91296, 91st congress, 1st session, july 9, 1969, pp. On january 1, 1970, president richard nixon 191994 signs the national environmental policy act nepa sponsored by senator henry m.
Project name and designation of administrative action i. National historic preservation act compliance, advisory council on historic preservation. National environmental policy act nepa environmental law. Several notable documents were produced by congress during nepa s drafting and enactment.
As the society grew, it formed branches in sunderland, darlington and shields. Nepa purpose and implementation purpose the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa is the cornerstone of our nations environmental laws and was enacted to ensure that information on the environmental impacts of any federal, or federally funded, action is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and before actions are taken. Implementing the national environmental policy act nepa. Scoop jackson 19121983, who conceived of the bill in 1968 and shepherded it through his senate interior and insular affairs committee and then through. The proponent, in coordination with the appropriate nepa program manager, shall determine what proposal requires nepa analysis, when to initiate nepa analysis, and what level of nepa analysis is initially appropriate. This bill was introduced in the 114 th congress, which met from jan 6, 2015 to jan 3, 2017. Nepa was the first major environmental law in the united states and is often called the magna carta of federal environmental laws. In short, nepa assures that all branches of government given proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that could significantly affect the. Legislative history of nepa national environmental policy act. In response, congress attempted to address the impact of federal actions on the environment by enacting the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa, 42 u. Secretary of transportation, i a decision which prompted the first direct amendment of the national environmental policy act nepa2 since its.
A bill must be passed by both the house and senate in identical form and then be signed by the president to become law. President richard nixon signs senator henry jacksons. National environmental policy act national environmental. A key legislative option to a ddress this concern was the declaration of a national environmental policy. Overview of the national environmental policy act in the 1960s, the public was becoming increasingly aware of and concerned about human impacts on the environment. But the intention is that each federal agency assume responsibility for meeting nepa requirements with guidance from ceq and epa. Senate bill 1075, public law 91190, 91st congress, 1st session and legislative documents pertaining to oversight, compliance with, and amendment of the national environmental policy act of 1969 by scott c.
Determining when nepa applies to nonfederal activities. This report describes information on the 1 number and type of nepa analyses, 2 costs and benefits of completing those analyses, and 3 frequency and outcomes of related litigation. Order code rl33104 crs report for congress received through the crs web nepa and hurricane response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts march 24, 2006 linda luther environmental policy analyst resources, science, and industry division congressional research service. The revival is due in no small part to a renaissance in domestic energy production, and, of course, to the transmission infrastructure carrying energy to load. In short, nepa assures that all branches of government given proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that could significantly affect. For additional information about nepas history and requirements, see crs report rl33152, the national environmental policy act. An example of an environmental effect would be a project that has the potential to increase air pollution. Nov, 2003 on january 1, 1970, president richard nixon 191994 signs the national environmental policy act nepa sponsored by senator henry m. Preferences these cookies allow the website to remember choices you make and provice enhanced, more personal features. National environmental policy act nepa environmental.
Nepa considers the impacts of a federal action on elements of the human environment such as. The nepa act itself tells us that we have to include alternatives in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources. Background and issues for congress linda luther analyst in environmental policy april 11, 2012 congressional research service 75700. National environmental policy act 42 usc 43214375 the nepa pyramid. The national environmental policy act nepa is a procedural law that, along with its implementing regulations, requires federal agencies to assess the potential for environmental effects of proposed major actions. Beginning in the late 1950s and through the 1960s, congress. The academy is located at umsaw village under the ribhoi district of meghalaya. The library of congress crs report for congress received through the crs web order code rl33267 the national environmental policy act. Secretary of transportation, i a decision which prompted the first direct amendment of the national environmental policy act nepa2 since. However, the national agricultural law center received the crs reports related to.
According to the congressional research service, the 1950s and 1960s were marked by growing public concern. Endangered species act compliance, national marine fisheries service. Congressional research service crs reports national. Before an agency makes a decision to act, it must also consider reasonable measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate significant effects. National environmental policy act of 1969 the congressdeclares that it is the continuing policy of the federal government, to use all practicable means and measures, including financial and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to. Congress enacted nepa to establish a national policy for the environment, provide for the establishment of the council on environmental quality ceq, and for other purposes. Congress also created the epa to assist federal agencies in certain aspects of the nepa process. The national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa is a sweeping federal law often called the magna carta of the nations environmental laws. Except as otherwise provided by congress, the act applies to all federal agency actions,2 including those that intersect with. Time to repeal the obsolete national environmental policy act. Crs reports, congressional research service, congressional reports, crs. State preparation of impact statements andrew quartner introduction on december 11, 1974, the second circuit court of appeals handed down conservation society of southern vermont, inc. National environmental policy act national environmental policy act nepa requires agency and public participation in planning process requires disclosure about the action, alternatives, environmental effects,and mitigation brings out environmental concerns of the affected publics. Nepa and hurricane response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts.
It is engaged in shaping police officers for equitable, effective and sensitive policing. President nixon signed the national environmental policy act nepa into law on january 1, 1970. Categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements. Legislation not enacted by the end of a congress is cleared from the books. Determining whether a proposal is subject to the national environmental policy act nepa section 102 updated march 20051 this paper presents some key thresholds to consider when determining whether a proposal is subject to the procedural requirements of section 102 2 of the national environmental policy act nepa 42 u. Selected issues in the 1th congress r42954, greene. Several notable documents were produced by congress during nepas drafting and enactment. The national environmental policy act streamlining nepa. Search epa nepa compliance documents epas nepa compliance database contains epas nepa documents, issued after august 1, 20, for its own actions.
Congressional research service reports on foreign policy and. A 20 km journey towards the north from shillong, the capital of meghalaya, 83 km south from guwahati on the shillongguwahati national highway and 12 km west from umroi airport. The entry point towards the academy is from the main g s road popularly known as umsaw. An agenda for the future, indiana university press, 1998, pp.
Apart from nepa congress has enacted legislation that expressly exempts certain federal programs or activities. Crs report for congress national agricultural law center. As a result, numerous administrative and legislative efforts both proposed and enacted have intended to. Appendix c style guide for nepa documents page c3 august 2017 version 5. The national environmental policy act nepa set forth a national environmental policy and created the council on environmental quality ceq.
President richard nixon r signed the bill into law in january 1970 background. These include a congressional white paper articulating the need for a national policy for the environment, and house, senate, and conference reports on the national environmental policy act. Background and implementation summary beginning in the late 1950s and through the 1960s, congress reacted to increasing public concern about the impact that human activity could have on the environment. The national environmental policy act nepa of 1969 was created to ensure federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their actions and decisions. The passage of the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa p. The united states currently provides tps to approximately 437,000 foreign nationals from 10 countries. Little noticed when passed by congress in 1969, nepa turns out to be the most influential of the many environmental laws enacted in the 1960s and 1970s and is often referred to as.
Debate regarding the need for streamlining measures originates from assertions that nepa delays federal projects. Implementing the national environmental policy act nepa for disaster response, recovery, and mitigation projects congressional research service rl34650 version 12 updated 1 introduction the federal government administers various programs to assist individuals and communities in responding to, recovering from, and preparing for disasters. The congressional research service crs is a research entity within the library of congress that provides policy and legal analysis to committees and. 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. Legislative history national environmental policy act. The national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa1 establishes national environmental policies that apply to the federal government as a whole and prescribes certain procedural requirements for federal agency actions.
Baldwin, statutory modifications of the application of nepa, crs report for congress 98417 a, may 1, 1998. Aug 27, 2011 the national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa is a sweeping federal law often called the magna carta of the nations environmental laws. Congress assembled, that this act may be cited as the national environmental policy act of 1969. The national environmental policy act nepa was one of the first laws ever written that establishes a broad national framework for protecting our environment. The national environmental policy act of 1969 the national environmental policy act of 1969, as amended pub.
Streamlining nepa summary in recent years, the time needed to comply with various environmental laws has been the subject of public scrutiny and debate in congress. Primer on nepa and transmission lines adam orford transmission and the environment s lowly but surely, the us economy is coming back to life. Nepa generally requires federal agencies to evaluate the. The 91st united states congress passed nepa in december 1969. The society was reorganized as an association of societies thus forming the north of england philatelic association at a special meeting in 1944. To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment. The library of congress nepa and hurricane response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts summary as local, state, and federal.
Background on nepa implementation for highway projects. An unofficial collection of crs reports on national securityrelated topics. Nepa was the first major environmental law in the united states and is. Crs congressional research service source description ecoi.
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