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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.​

Environmental Stewardship Outreach Video
Tracking Protected Sea Turtles

Latest News

190516-N-N0701-0001 WASHINGTON (Dec. 21, 2017) The Department of the Navy seal. (U.S. Navy graphic/Released)
Navy Releases Draft Environmental Assessment for Homeporting of Columbia Class Submarines at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
By | May 26, 2023
The Navy has released a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the homeporting of the Columbia
190516-N-N0701-0001 WASHINGTON (Dec. 21, 2017) The Department of the Navy seal. (U.S. Navy graphic/Released)
Navy Releases Draft Environmental Assessment for ICEX
By | Nov. 24, 2021

The Department of the Navy has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA)/Overseas Environmental Assessment (OEA) for Ice Exercises (ICEX) 2022 conducted in the Beaufort Sea 150 miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The Draft EA/OEA evaluates potential environmental effects of conducting ice exercises and research activity in the Arctic environment.

190516-N-N0701-0001 WASHINGTON (Dec. 21, 2017) The Department of the Navy seal. (U.S. Navy graphic/Released)
Navy Announces Release of MQ-25A Home Basing Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
By | March 17, 2021

The Navy has released a final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for home basing of the MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based Unmanned Air System (Stingray CBUAS) at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu, California.

BAJA, Mexico (Nov. 17, 2020) A researcher from the U.S. Navy's Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, in collaboration with other scientists from the U.S. and Mexico, have potentially discovered a new beaked whale species off the coast of Baja, Mexico. Naval Sea Systems Command funded the expedition which originally set out to determine the source of a unique beaked whale vocalization recorded near a Navy test area in southern California, thought to have come from a Perrin's beaked whale. The expedition instead found this potentially new species with its own unique vocalization and potential distribution into southern California waters. The U.S. Navy is committed to supporting our Sailors while also protecting our natural environment. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)
Navy-Funded Research Team May Have Discovered New Whale Species
By Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs | Dec. 11, 2020
Researchers funded by the Naval Sea Systems Command Monitoring Program believe they have discovered a new species of beaked whale in the waters off Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.
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