Practical Law Glossary Item 3-501-5844 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
A federal statute that created a national policy of seeking environmental enhancement and requires federal agencies to file Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). Its major purpose is to give environmental factors as much weight as other factors in federal agencies' decision-making procedures. The statute covers most conduct a federal agency can regulate or prohibit. It also creates the Council on Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President.