Question

The primary aim of the National Environmental Policy Act is to ____.

a. encourage resource conservation
b. set aside or protect certain species, resources, and ecosystems
c. set standards for pollution levels
d. require evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency
e. require screening of new products for safety and setting standards

Answer 1

The main purpose of the National Environmental Policy Act is to mandate federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impact of their proposed activities through an environmental impact statement, overseen by the EPA.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary aim of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is d. require evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency.

NEPA set a national framework for protecting the environment by mandating that all branches of government give proper consideration to the environment before undertaking any major federal action that significantly affects the environment.

This piece of legislation is significant because it introduced the environmental impact statement (EIS), which requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for reviewing these statements, ensuring federal projects comply with environmental considerations.