Environental Impact Statements: Instruments for Environmental Protection or Endless Litigation?

Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on January 1, 1970. NEPA\u27s purpose is to declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment. In an effort to achieve this national policy, NEPA requires federal agencies proposing certain major federal actions that affect the environment to include an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in their proposal or recommendations. The EIS must include both an assessment of the beneficial and adverse environmental impacts of the proposed actions and an analysis of the impacts in light of other circumstances. This Comment discusses the historical background of NEPA and recent interpretations of EIS requirements. Limitations placed on judicial interference with agency action will also be reviewed and ways in which NEPA might be improved