ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that the voluminous literature on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and partly from the author’s inquiries and observations made during October 1973 and April 1974 in the United States. While in principle NEPA applies to actions with beneficial consequences as well as those that are adverse, its applicability to Environmental Protection Agency has been a matter of some dispute. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has been active in sponsoring studies on NEPA’s impact on different agencies. CEQ was established under Title II of the act as a nonexecutive body in the Executive Office of the President. The CEQ guidelines suggest that the information, data, maps, and diagrams should be adequate to permit an assessment of potential environmental impact by commenting agencies and the public. The CEQ guidelines suggest that the draft environmental impact statements should be prepared for comment prior to the “first significant point of decision” in the agency review process.
