National Environmental Policy Act Policies and Guidance

EPA has prepared policies and guidance for carrying out its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and reviews under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act. These documents discuss the specific technical issues EPA looks for in NEPA documents. To learn more, select the topic from the list below.

• Air Quality
  • Using the MOVES and EMFAC Emissions Models in NEPA Evaluations (pdf) (678.91 KB)
  • Reflecting the Revised PM 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard in NEPA Evaluations (pdf) (92.77 KB)
• Children's Health
  • Addressing Children’s Health through Reviews Conducted Pursuant to the NEPA and Clean Air Act Section 309 (pdf) (483.03 KB)

• Climate Change
  • CEQ Guidance on the Consideration of Greenhouse Gases
  • CEQ Greenhouse Gas Tools and Resources
  • Memorandum from the Associate Administrator in the Office of Policy Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice through Reviews Conducted Pursuant to NEPA and Section 309 of the Clean Air Act (pdf) (278.33 KB, April 26, 2022)
• Crude Oil and Natural Gas
  • Background for NEPA Reviewers: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Exploration, Development,and Production (pdf) (6.43 MB)
• Cumulative Impacts
  • Consideration of Cumulative Impacts in EPA Review of NEPA Documents (pdf) (70.79 KB)
• Ecological Processes/Impacts
  • Evaluation of Ecological Impacts from Highway Development (pdf) (5.08 MB)
  • Considering Ecological Processes in Environmental Impact Assessments (pdf) (265.54 KB)
• Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Efficiency Reference for Environmental Reviewers (pdf) (3.3 MB, March 2010, 315-R-09-001)
  • Incorporating Energy Efficiency and Conservation in the NEPA Process (pdf) (4.36 MB, November 1994)
• Environmental Justice
  • Guidance for Consideration of Environmental Justice in Clean Air Act 309 Reviews (pdf) (77.87 KB)
  • Guidance for Incorporating Environmental Justice Concern in EPA's NEPA Compliance Analyses (pdf) (3.38 MB)
  • EPA Legal Tools to Advance Environmental Justice
• Fishery Management
  • Reviewing Environmental Impact Statements for Fishery Management Plans (pdf) (2.32 MB)
• Grazing
  • Background for NEPA Reviewers: Grazing on Federal Lands (pdf) (3.66 MB)
• Habitat
  • Habitat Evaluation: Guidance for the Review of Environmental Impact Assessment Documents (pdf) (9.28 MB)
• Health Impact Assessment
  • Promoting the Use of Health Impact Assessment to Address Human Health in Reviews Conducted Pursuant to the NEPA and Section 309 of the Clean Air Act (pdf) (358.5 KB, November 10, 2015)
• Mining
  • Background for NEPA Reviewers: Non-Coal Mining Operations (pdf) (394.5 KB)
• Natural Gas Pipelines
  • Interagency Agreement on Early Coordination of Environmental Reviews of Natural Gas Pipelines (pdf) (524.98 KB)
• Nuclear Power Plants
  • Section 309 Reviewers Guidance for New Nuclear Power Plant Environmental Impact Statements (pdf) (1.6 MB)
• Pollution Prevention
  • Guidance on Incorporating EPA's Pollution Prevention Strategy into the Environmental Review Process (pdf) (972.4 KB)
  • Pollution Prevention - Environmental Impact Reduction Checklist for NEPA/309 Reviewers (pdf) (508.54 KB)