The Effect of NEPA Outside the Courtroom
Type
Policy Brief or Report
Year
2009
Level
Other Boards and Agencies
State(s)
All States
Policy Areas
Democracy & Governance, Environment & Natural Resources
The central purpose of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is to improve governmental decision making by making relevant information available to officials and by ensuring that everyone affected by the decisions is given a voice. In this article, Michael Gerrard focuses on the effect of NEPA on decisions. First, Gerrard discusses the effect that NEPA has had on internal decision making. Then, he delves into the accuracy of predictions in environmental impact statements. Lastly, Gerrard analyzes what happens to environmental impact statements after the record of decision is issued.