Number: RS20621
Title: Overview of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requirements
Authors: Kristina Alexander, American Law Division 
Abstract: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) establishes environmental policies that apply to the federal government, but it is best known for imposing environmental review procedures on federal agency actions. NEPA requires agencies to review the potential environmental impacts of their projects, recording their review in a publicly available document. There are three types of environmental documents, based on the type of review: a categorical exclusion (CE), an environmental assessment (EA) and an environmental impact statement (EIS). The act dictates procedure, not results. Agencies are required to take a "hard look" at the environmental impacts, not to meet set environmental standards nor to choose the project with the least environmental consequence. This report provides an overview of NEPA's requirements.
Pages: 6
Date: January 11, 2008