The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provides the basic national charter for protection of the environment. NEPA is intended to ensure that information about environmental effects of an Agency's proposal and alternative actions are available to agency decision makers. The Fish and Wildlife Service provides technical and biological information for use in the NEPA review process. Through these efforts, the Service seeks to ensure that impacts to fish and wildlife resources are adequately described and that mitigation needs are met. For more information on NEPA, visit the Council on Environmental Quality NEPANET Home Page at ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/nepanet.htm

Environmental Coordination

The Branch of Advanced Planning and Habitat Conservation in the Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation is responsible for coordination of Service responsibilities and activities associated with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Service coordination efforts include:

• internal compliance with NEPA related to Service proposals and environmental documents;
• Service involvement under NEPA in the coordination and review of NEPA and other environmental documents of other Federal agencies.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is involved in the preparation of about 65 environmental impact statements and 1,000 environmental assessments annually for Service actions or activity on Service lands. In addition, the Service reviews over 2,000 environmental documents annually from other Federal agencies, providing comments from Service field, Regional and other offices and facilities.

Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of the Interior NEPA guidance and procedures are contained in the Service's NEPA Reference Handbook.

For more information on NEPA, visit the Council on Environmental Quality NEPANET Home Page.

The Washington Office Environmental Coordinator: 703/358-2183