ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the application of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to everyday decision making, so that the harmony of nature with man is achieved and preserved for generations to come. It describes the environmental statutes and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations to implement NEPA. Then, the application of NEPA is illustrated by weaving in the experience of preparing NEPA documentation with an example, a coal-fired power plant. The book also describes implementing the NEPA process requires an understanding and application of the principles of balancing the technology-environment-economics triad. To understand these principles, the environmental statutes should be understood from their implementation aspects by careful understanding of the technical aspects of these statutes as described. Discharging the responsibilities in this role of policy analyst requires an understanding of the ethics and obligations of the professional to the public.
