[20080111]RS20621_《国家环境政策法》（NEPA）要求概述.pdf

1 Act of January 1, 1970, P.L. 91-190, 83 Stat. 852; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.2 42 U.S.C. 4332 (“The Congress authorizes and directs that, to the fullest extent possible. allagencies of the Federal Government shall do the following”) (emphasis added). 40 C.F.R. 1508.12 defines “Federal agency” as not meaning the Congress, the Judiciary, or the President.Attention focuses on this regulation from time to time, e.g. when the President established severalnational monuments without a NEPA review.3 There are also several judicially created exemptions for when NEPA does not apply, althoughthey are the exception. Some examples include appropriations, where the statute provides no(continued.)Order Code RS20621Updated January 11, 2008Overview of National Environmental PolicyAct (NEPA) RequirementsKristina AlexanderLegislative AttorneyAmerican Law DivisionSummaryThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) establishes environmental policiesthat apply to the federal government, but it is best known for imposing environmentalreview procedures on federal agency actions. NEPA requires agencies to review thepotential environmental impacts of their projects, recording their review in a publiclyavailab