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ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
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Moon set over the Earth limb taken from Space Shuttle Discovery during STS-70 mission.
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Purpose Of Environmental Planning Under The National Environmental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires all federal
agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making
processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed
actions and the reasonable alternatives to those actions.
The purpose of NASA’s NEPA program is to ensure NASA is proactive in
meeting its Federal stewardship responsibilities while ensuring mission
success and lowering environmental liability.
How Environmental Planning Supports NASA's Mission
NASA's Environmental Planning program is managed by the agency's NEPA
Coordinator, Environmental Management Division, NASA Headquarters, and
is implemented by the 13 NASA Centers and component facilities NEPA
Coordinators. The agency-wide program provides policy and procedures
for ensuring compliance with NEPA and related Executive Orders.
Non-compliance with NEPA can pose a critical risk to mission schedules
and costs. It is critical that NEPA be integrated into the early
planning stages of all programs and projects.
Environmental Planning Regulatory Drivers
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is a largely procedural
law; however, because it requires federal agencies to look at the entire
spectrum of environmental impacts, it is often referred to as “umbrella”
legislation. The NEPA process often involves coordinating compliance
with the following laws:
- Clean Air Act
- Clean Water Act
- National Historic Preservation Act
- Endangered Species Act
Recent Accomplishments & Ongoing Activities
Additional Program Information
NASA's NEPA website is currently under design
Links to Principal Center
+ Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPAnets
+ Environmental Protection Agency NEPA Website
+ NASA Environmental Tracking System (NETS) Website (NASA employees only -
password required)
+ Constellation Program NEPA Website
EMD EP Points of Contact(s)
+ Kathleen Callister, NEPA Coordinator, EMD
+ Tina Borghild Norwood, NEPA Program Support, EMD
+ Paul Robert, NEPA Program Support, EMD
+ Mike McNeill, NEPA Program Support, EMD
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