NEPA Fact Sheet

National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ensures that every major federal action preserves the balance between human activities and the needs of the environment.

NEPA requires action agencies to prepare a detailed environmental impact statement (EIS) detailing the potential environmental consequences for every major federal action that significantly affects the quality of the environment. Additionally, NEPA requires federal agencies to analyze a range of alternatives other than the proposed action.