The National Environment Policy Act (NEPA), created in 1969 and enacted in 1970, is the national charter for protecting the environment. The goal of NEPA is to protect, restore and enhance the environment. NEPA policies ensure that environmental considerations, along with economic and technical considerations, are factored into decisions made by federal agencies.

NEPA requires a detailed statement on major federal projects significantly affecting the environment. This statement must be prepared before the project begins and describes all reasonable alternatives to the project. Decisions about the specific project can then be made with an awareness of its environmental impact. Federal agencies are required to implement and administer NEPA policies. The National Environmental Policy Act encourages participation of any interested or affected citizens and organizations in the environmental review process. Environmental regulations require that interested parties be able to obtain information on environmental reviews of projects and that they have the opportunity to comment on the potential environmental impacts of specific projects.