Thirty-seven years after the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was passed, it should come as no surprise that the United States Congress, the President, federal agencies, and private industry have unleashed a major effort to streamline, update, or “reform” the NEPA process. Many of the major stakeholders, even including some environmental interests, believe that NEPA has failed to reach its objectives. Recent Congressional actions or proposals to expand exemptions from NEPA for certain projects, compress environmental review time, and even delegate NEPA compliance to the states are seen by NEPA supporters as overreactions that could eviscerate the Act's purposes and objectives. This article analyzes some of the benefits and risks of “environmental streamlining,” which apply not only to NEPA but also to investigations and reviews required by federal or state agencies responsible for compliance with other environmental laws. The focus is on recent federal legislation, Congressional proposals, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) initiatives, and actions of selected federal agencies.

Environmental Practice 9:83–95 (2007)