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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and Environmental Assessments (EAs) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, contains policy and guidance to ensure that potential impacts from proposed activities are assessed using a systematic and interdisciplinary approach. The NEPA process ensures the integrated use of the natural and social sciences in planning and decision making that may have an effect on the environment. NEPA is the foundation of modern environmental law and has been described as "the most important and far-reaching environmental and conservation measure ever enacted by Congress." This historic legislation is widely applicable yet focuses environmental issues within a comprehensive national policy. NEPA provides the continuing stimulus for review of environmental concerns associated with proposed actions. Inherent in the NEPA provisions is environmental accountability and public involvement. NEPA has been emulated by countries throughout the world as a model for environmental impact evaluation and decision making. Its visionary approach to environmental issues makes it as relevant today as when it was first enacted over 30 years ago. The NEPA process is intended to help make decisions based on analyses of alternatives and evaluations of environmental consequences. Documents resulting from the process are Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). Ultimately, NEPA's purpose is to foster excellent action through better documents and decisions. CSA has extensive experience preparing EISs and EAs according to NEPA and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations on implementing NEPA procedures. CSA synthesizes large amounts of interdisciplinary information with the objective of producing documents that are easy to read and understand so that wise environmental decisions can be made. Shock testing evaluates a vessel's integrity and operational systems during simulated combat conditions using 10,000-lb explosives detonated in close proximity to the vessel. As part of the EIS, CSA collected field data regarding the distribution of mammals and turtles in potential test areas offshore Florida and Virginia. The Draft EIS, Field Survey Reports, Biological Assessment under the Endangered Species Act, and documentation associated with a Letter of Authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) were prepared by CSA. Public hearings on the Draft EIS and MMPA Proposed Rule were coordinated through CSA prior to CSA producing the Final EIS. CSA International's Environmental Impact Documentation
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CSA
prepared the EIS for shock testing the Navy submarine, SEAWOLF