The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) became law in 1970, establishing a national environmental policy and a framework for environmental planning and decision-making by federal agencies. It came into existence following widespread protests against the federal government's destruction of neighborhoods and the natural environment while building interstate highways during the 1950s and 1960s. The law has since been applied to any public works project that either involves federal funding or when a federal agency is a key participant in the project's development.
NEPA forces Federal agencies to conduct environmental reviews to consider potential environmental impacts when planning projects or issuing permits for proposed actions. This process has resulted in a major change in the way government faces environmental issues. Under NEPA, environmental review is an interagency process. One agency assumes the lead role and works cooperatively with other federal and state agencies to conduct a review that includes input from the public. Its purpose is to guarantee that environmental concerns and other issues are addressed before a project takes place, saving time and money in the long run by reducing controversy, building consensus, and ensuring that a project is done right the first time. Affected projects include: timber sales, forest projects, wildlife restoration, habitat management, or the building of housing developments, roads, airports, water diversions, irrigation projects or military bases.
With the creation of NEPA, environmental organizations and their litigation allies are afforded an opportunity to voice concerns and halt projects that were poorly conceived and destructive to many who previously had no voice. These environmental citizen groups use NEPA to sue federal agencies for noncompliance, requiring that alternatives must be considered including those that will minimize possible damage to our health, environment or quality of life. By making sure that the public is informed and that alternatives are considered, NEPA has stopped some damaging projects and made many better.
How does SAFC work on NEPA
SAFC and its member groups keep a close eye on NEPA, since it has a huge impact over projects taking place within our National Forests. When NEPA comes under attack SAFC alerts and educates its members and the general public, providing updates, talking points and sample letters for them to use when contacting Congress.
The current NEPA situation
In 2002, the administration ordered a review of NEPA and the Council on Environmental Quality appointed a Modernizing NEPA Congressional Task Force. In September of 2003 the Task Force released its findings in a report. The CEQ is currently considering the report and deciding the best way to implement the recommendations made within it.