Environmental Laws - Research Paper Example

National Environmental Policy Act was instituted by U.S. national policy to promote the enhancement of the environment. Furthermore, it established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) of the president. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Introduction The economic has a big role in determining how many and the type of environmental laws to be passed. Environmental law is a general term that describes international treaties, regulations, statues and national legislation or common law that works to regulate interaction of humanity and natural environment.

This is mainly so as to reduce impacts of human activity. There are a number of laws that are created by economic conditions: National Environmental policy Act, oil pollution Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Food Quality Protection Act, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act among others. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is one of United States environmental law. It was established in 1970; moreover, it was the first statues of the environment belonging to the modern era.

Furthermore, The National Environmental Policy Act was established by U.S. . The most significant effect of NEPA was to establish procedural requirements for all federal government agencies to prepare environmental assessments and environmental impact statements . Furthermore, EAs and EISs include statements of the effects of the proposed federal agency actions to the environment. Moreover, procedural requirements of NEPA procedural apply to all federal agencies in the executive branch. However, NEPA does not apply to the President, to Congress, or to the federal courts.

NEPA has three sections: the proclamation of national environmental goals and policies, the instituting of provisions that are action-forcing for federal agencies to ensure observation of those policies and goals and lastly, the establishment of a Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the president’s Executive Office. Furthermore, The NEPA process comprises of an evaluation of applicable environmental effects of a federal project task, including a series of relevant alternatives. Moreover, the NEPA process begins with developing a proposal by an agency to address a need to take an action.

Once a decision on whether or not the actions proposed is covered under NEPA is made. In addition, there are three analysis levels that a federal agency may accomplish to comply with the law (Stern, et al, 2009). These three levels include: Categorical Exclusion preparation, preparation of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of number Significant Impact; or drafting and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. 3 Furthermore, a major federal action has been increased in scope to include most things that a federal agency could regulate or prohibit.

Moreover, in practice, a project is expected to meet guidelines of NEPA when a federal agency gives any part of the financing