Skip common site navigation and headers
United States Environmental Protection Agency
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

 

EPA Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

EPA is legally required to comply with the procedural requirements of NEPA for its research and development activities, facilities construction, wastewater treatment construction grants under Title II of the Clean Water Act (CWA), EPA-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for new sources, and for certain projects funded through EPA annual Appropriations Acts.

Section 511(c) of the CWA exempts other EPA actions under the CWA from the requirements of NEPA. Section 7(c) of the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 793(c)(1)) exempts actions under the Clean Air Act from the requirements of NEPA. EPA is also exempted from the procedural requirements of environmental laws, including NEPA, for comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) response actions. Courts also consistently have recognized that EPA procedures or environmental reviews under enabling legislation are functionally equivalent to the NEPA process and thus exempt from the procedural requirements in NEPA.

To learn more about EPA's compliance with NEPA, please review the following documents.

 

 

Planning & Results | Compliance Assistance | Compliance Incentives & Auditing | Compliance Monitoring
Civil Enforcement | Cleanup Enforcement | Criminal Enforcement | Environmental Justice | NEPA
 
Begin Site Footer

EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us