The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was the first modern environmental statute enacted by Congress. Under the act, all federal actions-from funding for new highways to the establishment of new hazardous waste sites-are required to undergo an environmental impact study that explains the project's potential dangers before funds can be allotted. Here, a leading expert in the environmental field provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to getting projects through the evaluation and approval process.
Historical Background and Overview of NEPA.; Overview of the NEPA Process.; Essential Concepts Underlining Effective NEPA Practice.; Promoting Efficiency in NEPA Practice.; Exemptions: Actions not Subject to NEPA'S Requirements.; Categorical Exclusions.; The Environmental Assessment: Documentation and Process Requirements.; When is an EIS Required?; The Environmental Impact Statement Process.; Interim Actions: Limitations on Actions During the NEPA Process.; Actions, Alternatives, and Effects: Determining the Scope of an Analysis.; Performing the Impact Analysis: Cumulative Impacts Analysis and Special Issues.; The Courts and NEPA Litigation.; Appendices.; Glossary.; Index.
CHARLES H. ECCLESTON is Principal Scientist at the Department of Energy's Hanford Site. He consults on NEPA and planning problems, and has lectured and written extensively on NEPA compliance issues. As a participant in a CEQ workshop, he provided recommendations for implementing CEQ's NEPA effectiveness initiative. He chairs the National Association of Environmental Professionals' Tools and Techniques (TNT) NEPA Practice Committee.