damage to the environment, and to enrich the understanding of ecological
systems andnatural resources important to the country. The act has been
described as the most important and far-reaching environmental and conservation
measure ever enacted by Congress. It applies to all federal agencies and
to every major federal action these agencies take that Before NEPA was signed into law, bills had been proposed for several years on the need for the federal government to consider environmental matters in its decision making and in formulating its policies. Members of Congress began to see the need for a comprehensive approach to the environment, one that was capable of anticipating environmentally disruptive activities and avoiding them, rather than merely reacting to episodes of pollution with abatement laws. Congressional committees and subcommittees held hearings and published reports on assessing the environmental effects of technological advances and on establishing a national policy for the environment.
The Supreme Court has described NEPA as having two major purposes:
1500
through 1508 of this title provide the regulations applicable to, and
binding on, all Federal agencies for implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA, as amended, except where compliance would be inconsistent with
other statutory requirements. The regulations were issued pursuant to
NEPA, the 
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