Chapter 1: PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

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This release completely revises the Department's procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  The procedures adopt the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Chapters 2-6 cannot be read independently from CEQ's regulations.  In addition the procedures reflect the Secretary's decision that there be only one set of NEPA procedures for the Department, that environmental impact statements be approved at the organizational levels responsible for decisionmaking on proposals, and that decisionmakers be held accountable for NEPA compliance.