National Environmental Policy Act: A Study of Its Effectiveness After Twenty-Five Years.

摘要

The Study finds that agencies sometimes engage in consultation only after a decision has for all practical purposes been made. In such instances, other agencies and the public at large believe that their concerns have not been heard. As a result, they may find themselves opposing even worthy proposed actions. This may in turn lead to agencies seeking litigation-proof documents, increasing costs and time but not necessarily quality. In such cases, potential cost savings are also lost because a full range of alternatives has not adequately been examined. Other matters of concern to participants in the Study were the length of NEPA processes, the extensive detail of NEPA analyses, and the sometimes confusing overlay of other laws and regulations.