What is the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)?
The National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) is a federal law passed in the United States in 1969. It established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and sets out a number of environmental regulations that must be followed. In Washington, NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impacts of their proposed actions before they can be approved. This assessment is called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS documents any potential negative effects to the environment and provides ways to mitigate or reduce those effects. The assessment also includes a review of alternatives to the proposed action. NEPA is important in Washington because it serves as a foundation for other state and federal laws that protect the environment, such as the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and the Clean Air Act. It also provides a framework for public participation in environmental decision-making and requires federal agencies to consider the cumulative impacts of their actions. In other words, NEPA requires federal agencies to consider how their actions may effect nearby areas, ecosystems and other environmental issues. All in all, NEPA is a cornerstone for environmental protection in the United States and in Washington. It requires federal agencies to take environmental considerations into account when making decisions and encourages public participation in environmental decision-making. It is an essential part of the Washington Environment Law system.
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