PCAP - Presidential Climate Action Project

accordance with the policies set forth in this chapter (see policies above), and all agencies of theFederal Government shall:(A) utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach which will insure theintegrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmentaldesign arts in planning and in decision making which may have an impacton man’s environment;(B) identify and develop methods and procedures, in consultation withthe Council on Environmental Quality established by subchapter II ofthis chapter, which will insure that presently unquantified environmentalamenities and values may be given appropriate consideration in decisionmaking along with economic and technical considerations . . . . 358Further, agencies are required to include “in every recommendation or report on proposals forlegislation and other major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the humanenvironment,” a detailed statement on:(i) the environmental impact of the proposed action,(ii) any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should theproposal be implemented,(iii) alternatives to the proposed action,(iv) the relationship between local short-term uses of man’s environmentand the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and(v) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources whichwould be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented. 359This statement is commonly referred to as an environmental impact statement (EIS). Copies ofthe EIS are made available to the President, the CEQ and to the public as provided by the publicrecords law, and the EIS accompanies the proposal through the existing agency reviewprocesses. The CEQ is explicitly authorized by executive order to issue: regulations toimplement this section; guidelines to federal agencies for the preparation of the EIS; and suchother instructions to agencies, and request such reports and other information from them, as maybe required to carry out the Council’s responsibilities under the Act. 360To the fullest extent possible, the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States shallbe interpreted and administered in accordance with the policies set forth in NEPA and an EISshall be prepared for “major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human358 42 U.S.C. § 4332(2)(A), (B) (emphasis added).359 Id. at § 4332(2)(C).360 Exec. Order No. 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality, (Mar. 5, 1970), amended byExec. Order No. 11991, Relating to Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality, (May 24, 1997).CEES 98 | P age