NEPA
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW process:
The National Environmental Policy Act was enacted in 1969. MEPA adopted two years later was patterned almost word for word after NEPA. The most fundamental distinction between the two statutes is that NEPA applies specifically to federal actions, while MEPA applies strictly to state actions.
- NEPA notes that "each person should enjoy a healthful environment."
- NEPA commits federal agencies to "recognize the world-wide and long-range character of environmental problems" in order to prevent a "decline in the quality of mankind's world environment."
- NEPA has no requirement for agencies to prepare a regulatory restriction analysis whenever the agency prepares an EA or an EIS for a proposed action on federal property.
- NEPA rules do not impose limits but state that agencies should adopt rules that establish timeframes for various elements of the environmental review process.
- NEPA rules are in federal regulations.
- NEPA created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) which is an executive agency within the Executive Office of the President. The CEQ is the principal agency responsible for the administration of NEPA, including the promulgation of interpretive regulations, environmental research, review, and reporting responsibilities.