Agency responses to NEPA: a comparison and implications. [Civil Works Program of Army Corps of Engineers and Small Watersheds Program of Soil Conservation Service]

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1976 · Nat. Resour. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7339853

Andrews, R N.L.

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) has been acclaimed as a Congressional mandate requiring all Federal agencies, whatever their traditional missions and responsibilities, to give increased consideration to the impacts of their actions upon the human environment. It is instructive to compare the initial responses to this law of Federal agencies engaged in similar activities. Such comparison provides insight into behavior patterns of agencies, and into the effectiveness of new legislative mandates in bringing about changes in administrative behavior. This study compares two water resource development programs, the Civil Works Program of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Small Watersheds Program of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). It appears that NEPA did force action by the Federal water resource agencies, but that it did so in different ways and with varying degrees of effectiveness. Both organizational characteristics and political pressures were of major significance in determining the magnitude, speed, and character of the agencies' responses. (MCW)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• OSTI ID: 7339853
• Journal Information: Nat. Resour. J.; (United States), Vol. 16:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ENVIRONMENT
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
WATER RESOURCES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LEGISLATION
LAWS
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation