NEPA is frequently used and seldom understood. The acronym is short for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a federal law that promotes the enhancement of the environment.
Federal agencies are required to disclose and analyze the effects their actions will have on the natural environment. NEPA is the process that provides ridged steps to control that action.
California has a similar environmental policy, California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA). The primary difference is CEQA requires the disclosure of the effects of actions on the natural environment.
CEQA is required when state funding is applied to a project. Often, the federal agency is required to conduct both NEPA and CEQA analysis efforts.
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