National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 1969)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
NEPA was enacted to ensure that federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their actions and decisions. It established a national environmental policy and created mechanisms for accountability.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before NEPA, environmental protections were scattered across various statutes without a unified review process. NEPA created the requirement for Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs).