National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Policies & Guidance

In addition to the EPA guidance listed below, we recommend that you visit NEPAnet, a website maintained by the President's Council on Environmental Quality, for additional policies and guidance regarding the National Environmental Policy Act.

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Subjects

Children's Health

Interim OFA Program Guidance on Implementing the EPA Policy on Evaluating Health Risks to Children (April, 1996) (PDF) (3 pp, 360K)
Guidance regarding the evaluation of health risks to children in the NEPA process

Crude Oil and Natural Gas

Background for NEPA Reviewers: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Exploration, Development, And Production (June, 1992) (PDF) (102 pp, 6.5MB)
Information to assist EPA staff in reviewing NEPA documents regarding oil and gas exploration, development and production on federal lands

Cumulative Impacts

Consideration Of Cumulative Impacts In EPA Review of NEPA Documents (May, 1999) (PDF) (22 pp, 105K)
Guidance to assist EPA reviewers of NEPA documents in providing accurate, realistic, and consistent comments on the assessment of cumulative impacts

Ecological Processes/Impacts

Considering Ecological Processes in Environmental Impact Assessments (July, 1999) (PDF) (90 pp, 500K)
Guidance on how to incorporate ecological considerations into the preparation and review of environmental impact assessments
Evaluation of Ecological Impacts from Highway Development (April, 1994) (PDF) (74 pp, 5.3MB)
Guidance for the analysis of ecological impacts from highway development activities and the evaluation of related ecosystem mitigation measures

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Reference for Environmental Reviewers (November, 1994) (PDF) (49 pp, 4.5MB)
Information on how to promote energy efficiency as part of the NEPA review process

EIS Filing System

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Filing System Guidance (March, 1989)
Information for Federal agencies regarding the administrative aspects of the EIS filing process

Environmental Justice

Final Guidance for Consideration of Environmental Justice in Clean Air Act 309 Reviews (July, 1999) (PDF) (34 pp, 135K)
Guidance for reviewing and commenting on NEPA documents prepared by other federal agencies to help ensure that environmental effects on minority communities and low-income communities have been fully analyzed
Final Guidance For Incorporating Environmental Justice Concerns in EPA's NEPA Compliance Analyses (April, 1998) (PDF) (76 pp, 305K)
Guidance on how EPA can incorporate environmental justice goals into its own preparation of EISs and Environmental Assessments (EAs) under NEPA

Fishery Management

Reviewing Environmental Impact Statements for Fishery Management Plans (September, 2005) (PDF) (234 pp, 2.6MB)
Guidance for EPA reviewers responsible for the review of Draft and Final EIS prepared for Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) and FMP Amendments by the National Marine Fisheries Service

Floodplain Management and Wetlands

Statement of Procedures on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection (January, 1979) (PDF) (7 pp, 43K)
The purpose of this Statement of Procedures is to set forth Agency policy and guidance for carrying out the provisions of Executive Orders 11988 ("Floodplain Management") and 11990 ("Wetlands Protection").

Grazing

Background for NEPA Reviewers: Grazing on Federal Lands (February, 1994) (PDF) (43 pp, 3.8MB)
Guidance to assist EPA reviewers in providing comments on NEPA documents concerning grazing on federal lands

Habitat

Habitat Evaluation: Guidance for the Review of Environmental Impact Assessment Documents (January, 1993) (PDF) (133 pp, 9.4MB)
Information to assist EPA NEPA reviewers in evaluating the ecological risks associated with federal actions and writing NEPA comments related to habitat loss and degradation issues.

Highway Development

Evaluation of Ecological Impacts from Highway Development (April, 1994) (PDF) (74 pp, 5.3MB)
Guidance for the analysis of ecological impacts from highway development activities and the evaluation of related ecosystem mitigation measures

Mining

Background for NEPA Reviewers: Non-Coal Mining Operations (December, 1994) (PDF) (68 pp, 530K)
Information to assist reviewers in providing comments on NEPA documents for non-coal mining activities proposed on Federal lands

Natural Gas Pipelines

Interagency Agreement on Early Coordination of Environmental Reviews of Natural Gas Pipelines (May, 2002) (PDF) (25 pp, 560K)
Provides a framework for early cooperation and participation among federal agencies to enhance coordination of the processes through which environmental reviews under NEPA and other related statutes are met in connection with the authorizations that are required to construct and operate interstate natural gas pipeline projects

PM 2.5 NAAQS

Reflecting the Revised PM 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard in NEPA Evaluations (June, 2007) (PDF) (2 pp, 98K)
Information on how to reflect the revised PM 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard in NEPA Evaluations

Policies and Procedures

Policy and Procedures for the Review of Federal Actions Impacting the Environment (October, 1984) (PDF) (35 pp, 170K)
This manual establishes policies and procedures for carrying out EPA's responsibilities to review and comment on federal actions affecting the quality of the environment

Pollution Prevention

Pollution Prevention - Environmental Impact Reduction Checklists for NEPA/309 Reviewers (January, 1995) (PDF) (187 pp, 1.3MB)
Guidance on incorporating pollution prevention into each step of the environmental review process, including scoping, mitigation, monitoring, and enforcement
Guidance on Incorporating EPA's Pollution Prevention Strategy into the Environmental Review Process (February, 1993) (PDF) (19 pp, 1.0MB)
Provides information on how to incorporate pollution prevention into the NEPA review process

Special Appropriation Grants

Environmental Review Guide for Special Appropriation Grants (April, 2008) (PDF) (171 pp, 3.5MB)
This handbook is to help grant applicants (i.e., applicants who are applying for project funds that were authorized by Congress and for which the grant authority is the Agency’s annual appropriations acts) understand the environmental review process required under NEPA, as well as how to assist EPA during this review.

Chronological Listing

Environmental Review Guide for Special Appropriation Grants (April, 2008) (PDF) (171 pp, 3.5MB)
This handbook is to help grant applicants (i.e., applicants who are applying for project funds that were authorized by Congress and for which the grant authority is the Agency’s annual appropriations acts) understand the environmental review process required under NEPA, as well as how to assist EPA during this review.
Reflecting the Revised PM 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard in NEPA Evaluations (June, 2007) (PDF) (2 pp, 98K)
Information on how to reflect the revised PM 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard in NEPA Evaluations
Reviewing Environmental Impact Statements for Fishery Management Plans (September, 2005) (PDF) (234 pp, 2.6MB)
Guidance for EPA reviewers responsible for the review of Draft and Final EISs prepared for Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) and FMP Amendments by the National Marine Fisheries Service
Interagency Agreement on Early Coordination of Environmental Reviews of Natural Gas Pipelines (May, 2002) (PDF) (25 pp, 560K)
Provides a framework for early cooperation and participation among federal agencies to enhance coordination of the processes through which environmental reviews under NEPA and other related statutes are met in connection with the authorizations that are required to construct and operate interstate natural gas pipeline projects
Considering Ecological Processes in Environmental Impact Assessments (July, 1999) (PDF) (90 pp, 500K)
Guidance on how to incorporate ecological considerations into the preparation and review of environmental impact assessments
Final Guidance for Consideration of Environmental Justice in Clean Air Act 309 Reviews (July, 1999) (PDF) (34 pp, 135K)
Guidance for reviewing and commenting on NEPA documents prepared by other federal agencies to help ensure that environmental effects on minority communities and low-income communities have been fully analyzed
Consideration Of Cumulative Impacts In EPA Review of NEPA Documents (May, 1999) (PDF) (22 pp, 105K)
Guidance to assist EPA reviewers of NEPA documents in providing accurate, realistic, and consistent comments on the assessment of cumulative impacts
Final Guidance For Incorporating Environmental Justice Concerns in EPA's NEPA Compliance Analyses (April, 1998) (PDF) (76 pp, 305K)
Guidance on how EPA can incorporate environmental justice goals into its own preparation of EISs and Environmental Assessments (EAs) under NEPA
Interim OFA Program Guidance on Implementing the EPA Policy on Evaluating Health Risks to Children (April, 1996) (PDF) (3 pp, 360K)
Guidance regarding the evaluation of health risks to children in the NEPA process
Pollution Prevention - Environmental Impact Reduction Checklists for NEPA/309 Reviewers (January, 1995) (PDF) (187 pp, 1.3MB)
Guidance on incorporating pollution prevention into each step of the environmental review process, including scoping, mitigation, monitoring, and enforcement
Background for NEPA Reviewers: Non-Coal Mining Operations (December, 1994) (PDF) (68 pp, 530K)
Information to assist reviewers in providing comments on NEPA documents for non-coal mining activities proposed on Federal lands
Energy Efficiency Reference for Environmental Reviewers (November, 1994) (PDF) (49 pp, 4.5MB)
Information on how to promote energy efficiency as part of the NEPA review process
Evaluation of Ecological Impacts from Highway Developments (April, 1994) (PDF) (74 pp, 5.3MB)
Guidance for the analysis of ecological impacts from highway development activities and the evaluation of related ecosystem mitigation measures
Background for NEPA Reviewers: Grazing on Federal Lands (February, 1994) (PDF) (43 pp, 3.8MB)
Guidance to assist EPA reviewers in providing comments on NEPA documents concerning grazing on federal lands
Guidance on Incorporating EPA's Pollution Prevention Strategy into the Environmental Review Process (February, 1993) (PDF) (19 pp, 1.0MB)
Provides information on how to incorporate pollution prevention into the NEPA review process
Habitat Evaluation: Guidance for the Review of Environmental Impact Assessment Documents (January, 1993) (PDF) (133 pp, 9.4MB)
Information to assist EPA NEPA reviewers in evaluating the ecological risks associated with federal actions and writing NEPA comments related to habitat loss and degradation issues
Background for NEPA Reviewers: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Exploration, Development, And Production (June, 1992) (PDF) (102 pp, 6.5MB)
Information to assist EPA staff in reviewing NEPA documents regarding oil and gas exploration, development and production on federal lands
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Filing System Guidance (March, 1989)
Information for Federal agencies regarding the administrative aspects of the EIS filing process
Policy and Procedures for the Review of Federal Actions Impacting the Environment (October, 1984) (PDF) (35 pp, 170K)
This manual establishes policies and procedures for carrying out EPA's responsibilities to review and comment on federal actions affecting the quality of the environment
Statement of Procedures on Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection (January, 1979) (PDF) (7 pp, 43K)
The purpose of this Statement of Procedures is to set forth Agency policy and guidance for carrying out the provisions of Executive Orders 11988 ("Floodplain Management") and 11990 ("Wetlands Protection").