Welcome

Welcome to the Department of the Navy (DoN) environmental planning and compliance website that houses National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) projects.

Background ​

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural law that, along with its implementing regulations, requires federal agencies to assess the potential for environmental effects of proposed major actions. Before an agency makes a decision to act, it must also consider reasonable measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate significant effects. Since NEPA’s enactment, the U.S. Navy institutionalized the NEPA process to thoroughly analyze potential environmental effects to inform federal decision making.

Under NEPA, the Navy must analyze the potential effects on the natural and physical environment and consider the following:

• What are the potential direct and indirect environmental impacts that might occur?
• What is the severity and context of the environmental impact?
• How much is the existing condition likely to change? 

The NEPA process ensures environmental planning, conservation, and compliance efforts by all Navy stakeholders are consistent with national policies and national security requirements in order to support operational readiness today and tomorrow.​