{"id":981,"date":"2023-02-28T15:17:54","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T15:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/public.ksc.nasa.gov\/environmental\/?page_id=981"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:54:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T17:54:26","slug":"nepa-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/public.ksc.nasa.gov\/environmental\/nepa-2\/","title":{"rendered":"NEPA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Kennedy's<\/span>
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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)<\/h1><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Kennedy's<\/figure>
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NEPA Has Changed Our Lives<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

One of the Most Significant Pieces of Environmental Legislation<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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About NEPA<\/h5><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), enacted in 1969, has changed our lives. NEPA is one of the most significant pieces of environmental legislation enacted in the United States. It has affected substantially how federal agencies conduct their planning and decision making processes because it requires all agencies to: (1) Consider environmental factors appropriately when making decisions, not basing decisions solely on technical and economic factors; (2) Involve the affected and interested public early in its environmental-analysis process; (3) Seek less environmentally damaging ways to do our jobs and (4) Document in plain language for the decision maker and the public this environmental-analysis process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEPA is just good planning and decision making that appropriately considers the potential physical, biological, economic, social, and human environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEPA requires review of the effects of all Federal, federally-assisted and federally-licensed actions, not just of those defined as \u201cmajor\u201d or as having \u201csignificant\u201d impacts. The level of review given different kinds of projects varies with the likelihood of serious impact, however. In general, the NEPA process entails: determining what need must be addressed, identifying alternative ways of meeting the needs, analyzing the environmental impacts of each alternative, and armed with the results of this analysis, deciding which alternative to pursue and how. All agencies of the Federal Government are required to utilize a systematic, multi-disciplinary approach that will insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts in reviewing projects that may have an impact on man\u2019s environment. Determinations of impact can be addressed at three different levels; Categorical Exclusions (CatEx), Environmental Assessments (EA), and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the standard NEPA documentation cited above, KSC has also developed an Environmental Resource Document (ERD). The ERD provides comprehensive baseline environmental information about KSC and is updated every five years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Environmental Reviews<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

All Reviews on KSC Begin With The KSC Environmental Checklist<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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The KSC Environmental Checklist<\/a> should be completed for every project and action implemented on KSC. It begins the process of environmental review and results in a Record of Consideration (REC), which is sent to the project proponent. The REC provides a Class of Action Determination as well as list of potential environmental requirements associated with the project or action that must be completed to assure compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please remember to provide maps, project scopes and descriptions when submitting your checklist to the Environmental Program Branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Class of Action Determination<\/h5><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The NEPA process consists of an evaluation of the environmental effects of a federal action including its alternatives. There are three levels of analysis: Categorical Exclusion (CatEx), Environmental Assessment\/Finding of no Significant Impact (EA\/FONSI), and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n