Question

I need help with coming up with in outline for an essay over the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act). Basically and overview of what NEPA is and how it works, and then what EPCRA is and how it relates and to NEPA and how it compares to it.

Answer 1

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is an environmental law of the United States that encourages the improvement of the environment and creates the Environmental Quality Council (CEQ) of the President. On January 1, 1970, the law was enacted. To date, more than 100 nations around the world have adopted NEPA-based national environmental policies.

The aim of NEPA is to ensure that environmental factors are weighted fairly in the decision-making process conducted by federal agencies as compared with other factors and to create a national environmental policy. The act also requires the CEQ to assist the President in compiling an annual report on federal agencies ' success in enforcing NEPA. It also set up the CEQ to advise the president on environmental policy and environmental status.

The EPA is expected to comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for its research and development programs, infrastructure design, wastewater treatment construction grants under Title II of the Clean Water Act, EPAissued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for new sources and certain projects funded through the EPA

Furthermore, courts have consistently acknowledged that certain EPA or environmental review processes under enabling legislation are functionally equivalent to the NEPA system and thus excluded from NEPA procedural requirements. The aim of the waiver for functional equivalence is to prevent repeated analysis in a decision-making process that operates in an analogous way to the NEPA system.