The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 was created to ensure federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their actions and decisions.
Federal agencies are required to assess the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and consider less damaging and protective ways of completing their missions.
A federal action may be “categorically excluded” from a detailed environmental analysis if the federal action does not, “individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment”
Statutes addressing the following issues may be part of the environmental review under NEPA:
- Archaeological Resources
- Biological Assessments
- Central Business Areas
- Coastal Zone Management
- Cultural Resources
- Endangered Species
- Environmental Assessments & Impact Statements
- Environmental Justice
- Historic Resources
- Native Americans
- Site Location Policies
- Noise Pollution
NEPA Section 101(b) states “it is the continuing responsibility of the federal government to use all practicable means, consistent with other essential considerations of national policy” to avoid environmental degradation, preserve historic, cultural, and natural resources, and “promote the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without undesirable and unintentional consequences”.
Sheria ya Sera ya Mazingira ya Kitaifa (NEPA) ya 1969 iliundwa ili kuhakikisha mashirika ya shirikisho yanazingatia athari za mazingira za vitendo na maamuzi yao. Mashirika ya shirikisho yanahitajika kutathmini athari za mazingira za hatua zao zilizopendekezwa na kuzingatia njia za kuharibu na kulinda zaidi za kukamilisha misheni zao. "Kama vile ilivyoelezwa katika Sheria ya Uhifadhi wa Mazingira ya Marekani (NEPA) ya mwaka wa 2010: ""Ni jukumu la serikali ya Marekani kutumia njia zote zinazowezekana, kulingana na kuzingatia nyingine muhimu za sera ya kitaifa, ili kuepuka uharibifu wa mazingira, kuhifadhi rasilimali za kihistoria, kitamaduni na asili, na kukuza aina pana ya matumizi ya mazingira bila madhara yasiyotakiwa na yasiyotarajiwa."""