National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) The purposes of this Act are: To declare a NATIONAL policy encouraging productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts to prevent/eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation; and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality. Amended by President Richard Nixon on January 1, 1970; drafted 1969 it sought to balance environmental concerns with the social, economic aspects of present and future generations of Americans NOT advocate environmental preservation but promote enhancement of environment consider environmental values alongside the technical and economic considerations that are in Federal decision making particularly focuses on population growth, high-density urbanization, industrial expansion, resource exploitation, and new and expanding technological advances

NEPA procedures vary from agency to agency Agencies may: a.  apply a Categorical Exclusion; b.  prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA); or  c.  prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EA determines if a proposed action or its alternatives have potentially significant environmental effects will: (1) provide evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an EIS;  (2) aid agency compliance with NEPA when no EIS is necessary; and (3) facilitate preparation of an EIS when one is necessary. Federal government regulates; the Office of Environmental Quality enforces: a Deputy Director who shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate is responsible for regulation.