President Nixon Signing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
1/1/1970
Add to Favorites:
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969; and President Richard Nixon signed it on New Year's Day, 1970. The goal of the Act was to "create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony" and to "assure for all Americans safe, healthful, productive, esthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings."
NEPA requires that Federal executive branch agencies assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions, and prepare Environmental Impact Statements, prior to making decisions. NEPA also formed the Cabinet-level Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to advise the President on the environment and review the impact statements submitted by Federal agencies.
Building on this momentum, President Nixon decided to establish an autonomous regulatory body to oversee environmental policy enforcement. On July 9, 1970, President Nixon sent a message to Congress, along with Reorganization Plan No. 3, announcing his plan to create the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with a mission "to protect human health and the environment." Congressional subcommittees approved the proposal.
It is now the EPA's job to review Federal agencies' environmental impact statements; and the EPA has the authority to create and enforce environmental standards and regulations. Congress passes environmental laws and the President signs them; then the EPA writes regulations that explain the critical details necessary to implement the laws.
NEPA requires that Federal executive branch agencies assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions, and prepare Environmental Impact Statements, prior to making decisions. NEPA also formed the Cabinet-level Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to advise the President on the environment and review the impact statements submitted by Federal agencies.
Building on this momentum, President Nixon decided to establish an autonomous regulatory body to oversee environmental policy enforcement. On July 9, 1970, President Nixon sent a message to Congress, along with Reorganization Plan No. 3, announcing his plan to create the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with a mission "to protect human health and the environment." Congressional subcommittees approved the proposal.
It is now the EPA's job to review Federal agencies' environmental impact statements; and the EPA has the authority to create and enforce environmental standards and regulations. Congress passes environmental laws and the President signs them; then the EPA writes regulations that explain the critical details necessary to implement the laws.
This primary source comes from the Collection RN-WHPO: White House Photo Office Collection (Nixon Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 27580121
Full Citation: Photograph 2713-11; President Richard Nixon Signing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; 1/1/1970; Nixon White House Photographs, 1/20/1969 - 8/9/1974; Collection RN-WHPO: White House Photo Office Collection (Nixon Administration); Richard Nixon Library, Yorba Linda, CA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/nixon-sign-nepa, October 12, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
