National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process.

• A U.S. law that requires federal agencies to identify and analyze the potential environmental effects of a proposed action before deciding whether to proceed with that action.
• Public involvement is a fundamental aspect of the NEPA process.
• The public participates in the NEPA process during the following stages:
  • Scoping Period: Help to identify the scope of the analysis, including potential environmental issues and viable alternatives.
  • Draft EIS/OEIS Public Review and Comment Period: Evaluate and provide substantive comments on the draft analysis.
  • Final EIS/OEIS 30-Day Wait Period: Review the Final EIS/OEIS and responses to substantive comments received on the Draft EIS/OEIS.
  • Record of Decision: View the explanations for the agency’s decision and plans for mitigation and monitoring.