National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Program

This program delineates the requirements and procedures for assessing the environmental impact of NIST actions in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 USC 4321 et seq.

Signed into law in 1970, NEPA provides a framework for federal agencies to consider environmental impacts in their decision-making. NEPA directs federal agencies to analyze and assess the environmental effects of their major actions, consider alternatives and mitigation measures for limiting the environmental effects of their actions, and as appropriate, involve and inform the public in their decision-making process. The overall intent of NEPA is to have federal agencies make better environmental decisions.

In 1978, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) promulgated regulations [40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508] implementing NEPA that are binding on all federal agencies.