NEPA Law & Policy
This 1970 law requires federal agencies to consider environmental effects of their actions.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA requires agencies to analyze this, sometimes called “the do nothing option.”
No Action Alternative
Decision document used when an EIS is prepared.
Record of Decision (ROD)
This president signed NEPA into law on January 1, 1970.
Richard Nixon
Type of NEPA document prepared when there are significant impacts.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
This Council issues regulations guiding how agencies implement NEPA.
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Section of an EIS that describes resources that have the potential to be affected by alternatives.
Affected Environment
Document often prepared based on the analysis in an EA.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The CEQ was established within this office of the Executive Branch.
Executive Office of the President
Type of NEPA document prepared when it is uncertain if impacts are significant or nonsignificant.
Environmental Assessment (EA)
This law gives BLM its multiple-use mandate.
Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA)
This section of an EIS should briefly present the proposal, purpose and need, and alternatives.
Summary
Term for connected, cumulative, or similar actions considered together in an environmental analysis.
"Proposed Action" or "Connected Action"
Standard practices, design features, or operating procedures built into the project from the start to avoid or minimize impacts.
Protective Measures
Category of actions determined to be nonsignificant in an agency's NEPA procedures.
Categorical Exclusion (CE)
Section of a law covering consultation on Federal actions that may effect a Federally listed species
Environmental Species Act (ESA), Section 7
Type of NEPA document that is prepared for a program where additional NEPA documents will be developed later that are narrower in scope
Programmatic or Tiered NEPA
A process where bureaus collect information to learn more about potentially significant issues related to a proposed action.
Public Involvement or Scoping
BLM's official NEPA guidance (other than a law/regulation)
DOI NEPA Handbook
This online site is where BLM posts its NEPA documents, including EAs, EISs, and Decision Records.
ePlanning
Section of a law requiring Federal agencies to take into account effects of a proposal on sites eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106
Type of NEPA document prepared when the agency makes substantive changes to the proposed action.
Supplemental NEPA
A Federal, State, Tribal, or local agency that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise can be designated as what in the NEPA process.
Cooperating Agency
Location of the official list of Extraordinary Circumstances for BLM
DOI NEPA regulations (43 CFR 46)
This BLM tool is used early in the NEPA process to identify resource specialists, issues, and whether additional analysis is needed.
Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) Checklist