The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is one of the first laws ever written (1969) that establishes the broad national framework for protecting our environment. NEPA's basic policy is to assure that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment.
EPA plays a unique role in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
- EPA has responsibility to prepare its own NEPA documents for compliance.
- EPA is charged under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act to review the environmental impact statements (EIS) of other federal agencies and to comment on the adequacy and the acceptability of the environmental impacts of the proposed action.
EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared by federal agencies and provides notice of its availability in the Federal Register.
For more info, click here: https://www.epa.gov/nepa
NEPAssist
NEPAssist (https://www.epa.gov/nepa/nepassist) is a tool that facilitates the environmental review process and project planning in relation to environmental considerations. The web-based application draws environmental data dynamically from EPA Geographic Information System databases and web services and provides immediate screening of environmental assessment indicators for a user-defined area of interest. These features contribute to a streamlined review process that potentially raises important environmental issues at the earliest stages of project development.
Department of Energy:
You can also visit DOE’s website to learn more about state specific laws and regulations: https://ceq.doe.gov/laws-regulations/states.html
