4384596
Description
Flashcards by Caitlin Jones, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Caitlin Jones
almost 9 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted when? | President Nixon signed it into law on January 1, 1970. NEPA was the first major environmental law in the United States and is often called the “Magna Carta” of environmental laws. |
| NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. This includes: | 1. making decisions on permit applications, 2. adopting federal land management actions, and 3. constructing highways and other publicly-owned facilities. |
| NEPA established what council? | the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to oversee NEPA implementation |
| The environmental review under NEPA can involve three different levels of analysis, including: | 1. Categorical Exclusion determination (CATEX) 2. Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) 3. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) |
| Categorical Exclusion determination (CATEX) | 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" |
| Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact (EA) | A federal agency can determine that a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) doesn't apply and can then prepare an EA. The EA determines whether or not a federal action has the potential to cause significant environmental effects. Each agency has adopted its own NEPA procedures for the preparation of EAs. |
| Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) | A FONSI is a document that presents the reasons why the agency has concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts projected to occur upon implementation of the action. |
| Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) | Federal agencies prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) if a proposed major federal action is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The regulatory requirements for an EIS are more detailed and rigorous than the requirements for an EA. |
| What is Scoping? | The scoping process provides an opportunity for citizens to provide input on the range of issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). If an agency determines that an EIS is required, a Notice of Intent (NOI) is published in the Federal Register which begins the scoping process. |
| What can the Scoping process include? | public meetings conference calls formal hearings informal workshops opportunities to submit written comments |
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