National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347) is our basic national charter for protection of the environment. The purpose of NEPA is:

• To promote efforts that will prevent, mitigate, or eliminate damage to the environment,
• To promote efforts that will stimulate the health and welfare of humans,
• To enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation, and
• To establish a Council on Environmental Quality.

Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements Available for Public Comment

• None currently available

Completed Environmental Assessments

• Final Rule – Vessel Capacity Limit in the Purse Seine Fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean - **Effective February 3, 2011**
  
  NMFS is issuing regulations under authority of the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, for the U.S. purse seine fishery operating in the eastern Pacific Ocean to make U.S. regulations more consistent with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution on the Capacity of the Tuna Fleet Operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (IATTC Resolution C-02-03). These revisions will ensure that the United States satisfies its obligations under the Tuna Conventions Act and as a member of the IATTC while allowing controlled operational flexibility for the U.S. industry consistent with the IATTC management framework. For details on IATTC Resolution C-02-03 and other decisions of the IATTC, please go to the following IATTC website:  http://www.iattc.org/ResolutionsActiveENG.htm.
  
  Rulemaking Documents

  • Final Rule, including Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (January 4, 2011) (PDF)

  • Proposed Rule (September 3, 2010) (PDF)

  • Compliance Guide (January 2011) (PDF)

  National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Documents
   

  • Final Environmental Assessment, including Regulatory Impact Review (December 2010) (PDF)

  • Finding of No Significant Impact (December 2, 2010) (PDF)

  • Letter to All Interested Government Agencies and Public Groups (December 16, 2010) (PDF)

• Green Sturgeon 4d Final Environmental Assessment - 06/02/10 (PDF)

  • Green Sturgeon 4d Rule Regulatory Impact Review (PDF)

  • Green Sturgeon Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (PDF)

  • References for Green Sturgeon 4d Rule (PDF)

   
• Issuance of an EFP to Fish with Longline Gear in West Coast EEZ, November 2007
  http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/fmd/longline/Final_SSLL_EA.pdf
  This EA analyzes the potential impacts of issuance of an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to conduct exploratory longline fishing off of Oregon and California. The EFP would allow one vessel to target swordfish using shallow-set longline gear.
• Implementation of the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative on the Issuance of the Marine Mammal Permit Under Section 100(a)(5)(E)of the Marine Mammal Protection Act for the California/Oregon Drift Gillnet Fishery, August 2001
  http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/psd/DriftGillnetRPAFinalE.PDF
  This EA analyzes the potential impacts of implantation of reasonable and prudent alternatives to avoid the take of marine mammals and sea turtles in the California/Oregon drift gillnet fishery.

Completed Environmental Impact Statements

• None currently available

Other Related Documents

• Scoping Report for the Mendocino Redwood Company HCP EIR/EIS
  This document summarizes the scoping process conducted for an EIS being prepared for the proposed issuance of incidental take permits to the Mendocino Redwood Company.

Related Links

• NEPA Statute

• Council on Environmental Quality
• CEO Regulations for Implementing NEPA
• NOAA NEPA Website
• NOAA NEPA Procedures
• A Citizen's Guide to NEPA: Having Your Voice Heard

For more information contact:

Shelby Mendez
SWR NEPA Coordinator
Shelby.L.Mendez@noaa.gov