Answer: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law by President Nixon in 1970 and it revolutionized environmental protection in the United States by establishing a comprehensive national policy for the protection of the environment.
NEPA requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions and to provide an assessment of those impacts to the public. This process is known as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS requires agencies to analyze the environmental effects of proposed actions, alternatives to those actions, and the impacts of no action.
This act also established the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to oversee the implementation of NEPA and to provide guidance to federal agencies on how to conduct the EIS process.
NEPA has played a critical role in protecting the environment by requiring federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions and to involve the public in decision-making. It has also helped to prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of federal actions on the environment.
The law also provided a framework for a robust public participation process in which citizens, organizations and tribes can raise concerns and provide input on proposed federal actions that may impact their environment.
In summary, NEPA revolutionized environmental protection in the United States by establishing a comprehensive national policy for the protection of the environment, requiring federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions, involving the public in decision-making and provided a framework for a robust public participation process.
Explanation: Hope this meets your requirement for your assignment! :DD