NEPA requires Federal agencies to prepare environmental impact statements (EISs) for major Federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. An EIS is a full disclosure document that details the process through which a transportation project was developed, includes consideration of a range of reasonable alternatives, analyzes the potential impacts resulting from the alternatives, and demonstrates compliance with other applicable environmental laws and executive orders. The EIS process in completed in the following ordered steps: Notice of Intent (NOI), draft EIS, final EIS, and record of decision (ROD).
Sources: US Department of Transportation. Environmental Review Toolkit NEPA Documentation. Accessed on 9 September 2013. Available at http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2013. Compliance and Enforcement - National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) Accessed on 9 September 2013. Available at http://www.epa.gov