The National Environmental Policy Act (or, NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970 by US President Richard Nixon. January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... Order: 37th President Vice President: Spiro Agnew (1969–1973), Gerald Ford (1973–1974) Term of office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Preceded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Succeeded by: Gerald Ford Date of birth: January 9, 1913 Place of birth: Yorba Linda, California Date of death: April 22, 1994 Place...

The preamble reads:

"To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation..."

The action forcing provision of the law required an environmental impact statement (EIS) to be written for all major federal actions. A major federal action was later defined as something that a federal agency could prohibit or regulate. In practice, a project is required to meet NEPA guidelines when a federal agency provides any portion of the financing for the project. Sometimes, however, review of a project by a federal employee can be viewed as a federal action and would then, therefore, require NEPA-compliant analyses be performed. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is an examination of the effects on the environment that will occur if a particular action is taken. ...

An EIS is a document written to aid in decision making. It explores alternatives to a proposed action, and the environmental consequences of those actions. NEPA sought to put environmental concerns on par with economic motivations and technological feasibility when making a decision that could effect the environment. Hydrological/geological, biological/ecological and social are among the consequences considered. Hydrology is the study of the occurrence, distribution, and movement of water on, in, and above the earth. ... Geology (from Greek γη- (ge-, the earth) and λογος (logos, word, reason)) is the science and study of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history, and the processes that shape it. ... Biology is the science of life (from the Greek words bios = life and logos = reasoned account). ... Ecology can mean either: the natural environment, or an analysis or study using the principles and methods of ecological science. ... A society is a group of people living or working together. ...

NEPA requires that an EIS must include: the environmental impacts of the proposed action; unavoidable adverse environmental impacts; alternatives including no action; the relationship between short term uses of the environment and maintenance of long-term ecological productivity; irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources; and secondary/cumulative effects of implementing the proposed action.

NEPA established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to write regulations for EISs and advise the executive branch on environmental issues. The United States Council On Environmental Quality (CEQ) is a division of the White House that coordinates federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives. ...

External links

• U.S. Department of Energy Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (http://tis.eh.doe.gov/nepa/), National Environmental Policy Act Program.

"NEPA" is also the acronym for the North Eastern Pirates Association, a large group specializing in pirating games for the Commodore 64.