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The Bureau of Reclamation has released an updated NEPA Handbook for use by Reclamation employees as they carry out their responsibilities to implement the National Environmental Policy Act.

[Federal Register: July 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 143)]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - Forest Service

National Environmental Policy Act Procedures

AGENCY: USDA Forest Service.
ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture is moving the Forest Service's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) codifying procedures from Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1950 and Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15. In addition to codifying the procedures, the Department is clarifying and expanding them to incorporate Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) guidance and to better align Forest Service NEPA procedures with its decision processes.

NEPA Explained

Keeping trails and areas depends on access. Keeping that access depends on land management policies and procedures, which depend on environmental issues and concerns. Those environmental issues and concerns are reviewed through NEPA.

So, what is “NEPA”? NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act, became law on January 1, 1970 and is the basic national charter for protecting the environment. Ten years in making, NEPA is the controlling guidance for federal agencies for virtually any activity undertaken, funded, or permitted that affects the environment. All federal agencies are covered by NEPA and share some common procedures; however, each agency has different specific rules defining their NEPA process.

NEPA – Categorical Exclusion (CatX)

The term "NEPA" stands for National Environmental Policy Act and assures that federal agencies will consider the impact of an action on the human environment before decisions are made and the action is taken. NEPA establishes a specific documentation process requiring the agency to disclose the effect of actions affecting the environment.

What is a RMP?

A Resource Management Plan (RMP) is a land use plan which describes broad, multiple-use guidance for managing public land and mineral estate administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The plan is developed with public involvement and potential impacts of the plan are analyzed in an environmental impact statement (EIS) under guidelines of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1976 (NEPA).

NEPA – What is an EIS?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assures that federal agencies will consider the impact of an action on the human environment before decisions are made and the action is taken. It requires that NEPA documents concentrate on issues that are significant to the action in question. The NEPA process is intended to help public officials make better decisions based on an understanding of environmental consequences, and take actions that protect, restore, and enhance the human environment.