National Environmental Policy Act and Public Involvement

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a U.S. Federal law that requires Federal agencies to consider the potential environmental impacts of their actions before making a decision. The public participates in the NEPA process during the following stages:

  • Scoping Period: The public helps identify potential alternatives and environmental issues or topics to be analyzed in the EA.
  • Draft EA Public Review and Comment Period: The Draft EA is made available for the public to evaluate and comment on the analysis of the Proposed Action and alternatives.
  • Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact: The public views the Final EA, and how the Navy considered comments received on the Draft EA, and Finding of No Significant Impact.

he step-by-step process during the development of an EA.

Figure 2. The step-by-step process during the development of an EA.