NEPA and the Endangered Species Act: Complementary approaches or regulatory excess

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5779586

Salk, M S; McCold, L N

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, provides a broad mandate requiring protection of human health and the natural environmental, while the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, has a much narrower mandate. NEPA's purpose is to prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere{hor ellipsis},'' while the ESA's is to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved'' and a a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species{hor ellipsis}'' NEPA's current role in improving the quality of decision making by federal agencies with respect to environmental matters is a matter of some debate. This paper discusses several ways in which NEPA provides protection for rare species beyond that provided by the ESA including public involvement, consideration of rare plant species, consideration of species which are not federally listed, consideration of incremental actions of federal agencies, and discussion of alternative means to accomplish the goal of a projected action. 3 refs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5779586
• Report Number(s): CONF-9104140-2; ON: DE91014239
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
BIOLOGICAL EXTINCTION
COMPLIANCE
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECOSYSTEMS
ENDANGERED SPECIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
EVALUATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HABITAT
LAWS
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
PRESERVATION