National Environmental Policy Act
United States federal environmental law (enacted 1970) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a United States environmental law designed to promote the enhancement of the environment. It created new laws requiring U.S. federal government agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of their actions and decisions, and it established the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in December 1969 and signed into law by President Richard Nixon on January 1, 1970.[2] To date, more than 100 nations around the world have enacted national environmental policies modeled after NEPA.[3]
Long title | National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 |
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Acronyms (colloquial) | NEPA |
Enacted by | the 91st United States Congress |
Effective | January 1, 1970 |
Citations | |
Public law | Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 91–190 |
Statutes at Large | 83 Stat. 852 |
Codification | |
Titles amended | 42 U.S.C.: Public Health and Welfare |
U.S.C. sections created | 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq. |
Legislative history | |
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Major amendments | |
Public Law 94-52, July 3, 1975, Public Law 94-83, Aug 9, 1975 and Public Law 97-258, section 4(b), Sep 13, 1982 | |
United States Supreme Court cases | |
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NEPA requires Federal agencies to evaluate the environmental effects of their actions.[4]: 2–3 NEPA's most significant outcome was the requirement that all executive Federal agencies prepare environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs). These reports state the potential environmental effects of proposed Federal agency actions.[5] Further, U.S. Congress recognizes that each person has a responsibility to preserve and enhance the environment as trustees for succeeding generations.[6] NEPA's procedural requirements do not apply to the President, Congress, or the Federal courts since they are not a "Federal agency" by definition.[5][7] However, a Federal agency taking action under authority ordered by the President may be a final agency action subject to NEPA's procedural requirements.[4]: 117–118