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<br />National Environmental Policy Act <br /> <br />002253 <br /> <br />Page I of2 <br /> <br />NEPA - What is it? <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />...... <br /> <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />NELLIS RANSE RENEWAL <br /> <br />NEPA -lhe Nalional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 - was passed by the Congress on December <br />23,1969 and signed into law on January 1, 1970. The Act establishes national environmental policies <br />and goals for the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of the environmenl and provides a process <br />for implementing these goals wilh federal agencies. The Acl also eSlablished the President's Council on <br />Environmental Quality (CEQ), whose primary responsibility is oversight ofNEP A implemenlation, <br />NEP A also defines Ihe level of analysis appropriale for a particular action. For Ihe Nellis Air Force <br />Range Renewal process, an Environmenlal Impacl Statement (E1S), the highest level of analysis, will <br />be prepared. Preparing the EIS is a well-defined process in itself. First, a must be published in the <br />Federal Regisler to inform Ihe public that an analysis will be done, Then, in a process known as <br />"scoping," the general public, as well as other federal and state agencies and Native American lribes, <br />are invited 10 participate 10 provide comments and issues regarding the proposed project. <br /> <br />NEPA is our basic national charter for protection of the environment, The Act ensures that <br />environmental information is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and <br />before actions are taken. <br /> <br />After the draft EIS is produced and distribuled, Ihe NEP A process proceeds to a public comment <br />period, During this period, Ihe Air Force will conducl public hearings at designaled locations 10 receive <br />verbal and written comments on the draft document. The Air Force will respond to the comments and, <br />where necessary, revise the draft EIS. The revised draft and public comments, along with other reports <br />and files, will be fOlwarded to Congress in compliance with Public Law 99.606, In this way, Congress <br />will be able to consider the environmental effects of the Nellis Air Force Range during Ihe Legislalive <br />process, <br /> <br />+ back to tile Nellis Rallge Rellewal Home Page <br /> <br />http://www.nellis.af.miVrange/renewaVnepa.htm <br /> <br />9/2 I /98 <br />