NEPA Exam 1 questions with complete
solutions
When was NEPA created and by who? - correct answer ✔✔ Signed into law by Nixon in 1970
What does NEPA stand for? - correct answer ✔✔ National Environmental Policy Act
What are the 4 purposes of NEPA? - correct answer ✔✔ 1. Declare national policy to encourage
harmony between humans and the environment
2. Promote efforts that will prevent or eliminate damage to environment and biosphere (to
stimulate human health and welfare)
3. Enrich understanding of ecological systems and natural resources important to the nation
4. To establish a Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ)
What are NEPA's 6 fundamental objectives? - correct answer ✔✔ 1. Supplemental legal
authority
2. Procedural reform
3. Disclosure of environmental information
4. Resolution of environmental problems
5. Fostering intergovernmental coordination and cooperation
6. Enhancing public participation in government planning and decision making
What does NEPA require of federal agencies? - correct answer ✔✔ To make a series of
evaluations and decisions that anticipate adverse effects on environmental resources
, When is NEPA needed? - correct answer ✔✔ When federal agency proposes an action, grants a
permit, or agrees to fund/authorize an action
What is CEQ? - correct answer ✔✔ The Council of Environmental Quality, created by Congress
to administer NEPA
What is EPA? - correct answer ✔✔ The Environmental Protection Agency, which assists federal
agencies in certain aspects of the NEPA process
Why did NEPA become a reality? - correct answer ✔✔ Growing fear for environmental harm
from public
Ex: Santa Barbara oil spill
Before NEPA... - correct answer ✔✔ Decisions were made behind closed doors and the public
wouldn't know about an action until the bulldozers were on sight
What is NEPA's most enduring legacy? - correct answer ✔✔ Its use as a framework for
collaboration between federal agencies and those who will bear the environmental, social, and
economic impacts of their decisions
What does section 102 of NEPA establish? - correct answer ✔✔ Establishes a series of action-
forcing procedures that require federal agencies to consider environmental factors
What is an EIS? - correct answer ✔✔ Detailed statement that is required to describe:
1. Environmental impacts of proposed action
2. Any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided
3. Alternatives to the proposed action
solutions
When was NEPA created and by who? - correct answer ✔✔ Signed into law by Nixon in 1970
What does NEPA stand for? - correct answer ✔✔ National Environmental Policy Act
What are the 4 purposes of NEPA? - correct answer ✔✔ 1. Declare national policy to encourage
harmony between humans and the environment
2. Promote efforts that will prevent or eliminate damage to environment and biosphere (to
stimulate human health and welfare)
3. Enrich understanding of ecological systems and natural resources important to the nation
4. To establish a Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ)
What are NEPA's 6 fundamental objectives? - correct answer ✔✔ 1. Supplemental legal
authority
2. Procedural reform
3. Disclosure of environmental information
4. Resolution of environmental problems
5. Fostering intergovernmental coordination and cooperation
6. Enhancing public participation in government planning and decision making
What does NEPA require of federal agencies? - correct answer ✔✔ To make a series of
evaluations and decisions that anticipate adverse effects on environmental resources
, When is NEPA needed? - correct answer ✔✔ When federal agency proposes an action, grants a
permit, or agrees to fund/authorize an action
What is CEQ? - correct answer ✔✔ The Council of Environmental Quality, created by Congress
to administer NEPA
What is EPA? - correct answer ✔✔ The Environmental Protection Agency, which assists federal
agencies in certain aspects of the NEPA process
Why did NEPA become a reality? - correct answer ✔✔ Growing fear for environmental harm
from public
Ex: Santa Barbara oil spill
Before NEPA... - correct answer ✔✔ Decisions were made behind closed doors and the public
wouldn't know about an action until the bulldozers were on sight
What is NEPA's most enduring legacy? - correct answer ✔✔ Its use as a framework for
collaboration between federal agencies and those who will bear the environmental, social, and
economic impacts of their decisions
What does section 102 of NEPA establish? - correct answer ✔✔ Establishes a series of action-
forcing procedures that require federal agencies to consider environmental factors
What is an EIS? - correct answer ✔✔ Detailed statement that is required to describe:
1. Environmental impacts of proposed action
2. Any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided
3. Alternatives to the proposed action
