National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)

NEPA is our basic national charter for protection of the environment. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on January 1, 1970, NEPA was established to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans. NEPA establishes policy, sets goals (section 101), and provides means (section 102) for carrying out the policy. Section 102(2) contains “action-forcing” provisions to make sure that federal agencies act according to the letter and spirit of the Act. The President, federal agencies, and the courts share responsibility for enforcing the Act so as to achieve the substantive requirements of section 101.

Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance

The Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance supports the Department’s efforts to comply with the requirements of NEPA and related environmental review requirements (e.g., National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and others) that are necessary prior to project implementation. The Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance maintains the DOE NEPA Website, which serves as a focal point for DOE NEPA implementation, and contains information about current opportunities for public review of NEPA documents, an electronic archive of DOE NEPA documents, and other resources for NEPA practitioners and members of the public.

Learn more about the history of DOE's NEPA program. 

To contact Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance staff, see the Office Staff Directory.

To contact a NEPA Compliance Officer for a Program or Field Office, or a Power Marketing Administration, see the Directory of DOE NEPA Compliance Officers.

For information on NEPA contracting, see the DOE-Wide NEPA Contracting page.

CONTACT US

Mail:

U.S. Department of Energy 
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54) 
1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. 
Washington, DC 20585 

e-Mail:

AskNEPA@hq.doe.gov

Phone:

202-586-4600