National+Environmental+Policy+Act+of+1969


 * The National Environmental Policy Act **

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is a national law that was drafted in 1969. Henry M. Jackson introduced it to the senate on February 18, 1969. President Richard Nixon signed this act into lawon January 1, 1970. Creating the act was a way of promoting the enhancement of the environment. It also established the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. The NEPAwas created because of the growing appreciation for the environment. The growing concerns about ecological and wildlife well being were also a contributing factor in the creation of this act. The Santa Barbra oil spills and the Freeway revolts both acted as catalysts to get the law into place. The freeway revolts took place in many cities around the United States some of the main cities include Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and San Francisco. These revolts were to protest thebuilding of freeways through the communities in these cities and also to protect the destruction of wildlife. The Santa Barbra Oil spill occurred between January and February of 1969 in the Santa Barbra Channel, near the city of Santa Barbra in California. This oil spill now ranks 3rd among the largest oil spills to occur in United states waters after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (BP oil spill) and the Exxon Valdez Oil spill in 1989.

The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 3, 1970.The purpose this Act is to promote harmony between man and itsenvironment; to promote efforts, which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment. It also isto help man understand how the ecological systems, and the natural resources of the world work. The EPA is an agency under the federal government of the United States; it is responsible for protecting human health and the environment. They do this by writing and enforcing laws passed by Congress.

This law has been successful in that it requires federal government agencies to abide by the requirements of preparing Environmental Impact Statements. These statements contain the environmental effects of the proposed federal agencies actions it also lists the alternative actions that may be chosen. This law has been successful because it has drastically decreased the amount of environmental damages caused by government agencies. An example of an EIS would be that National Highway system might want to build a highway to connect two or more cites. They would need to draft a proposition and send it to be reviewed. This proposition would need to list the positive effects this highway would have and the negative effects it would have on the environment. They would also have to state whether any homes or small bossiness would need to be relocated.

Work cited: “Freeway and expressway revolts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. .

"National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) | Compliance and Enforcement | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. .

"National Environmental Policy Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. .

analysts, introduces new information into the decision-making process. The NEPA has increased the influence of environmental, knowledge, agencies must hire environmental analysts. Unlike agencies who may have other priorities, and this feature introduces scientific procedures into the political process.. "Environmental impact statement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. 