The National Environmental Policy Act, affectionately called NEPA in the alphabet soup of environmental law, is the cornerstone law that requires the federal government to look at the environmental, economic, social, and health impacts of any decision that might impact the environment. 
It applies to federal permitting decisions like those related to logging, mining, transportation, oil and gas extraction, and infrastructure like pipelines. It also applies to consequential multi-year land management plans that can set out how federal lands may be subjected to extractive projects. 

Most important, it gives local people and the public generally the chance to participate in the federal decision-making process to convey their concerns, knowledge, approval, and disapproval.… Read More

  I recently watched Frank Capra’s 1938 film, “You Can’t Take it with You,” again. It’s a sentimental take on a play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. It tells the story of young lovers who come from vastly … Read More

October brought good news I love the fall season. The smell of change cuts through the Alaska chill and reminds me that we really live on Mother Nature’s cycles. We may feel overwhelmed by day-to-day work and chores at home, … Read More

On fish stories and protests The people of Bristol Bay will share the big fish story of 2017 for years to come. A record red salmon run exceeded projections for most areas of the region. The catch in the Nushagak district … Read More

When it comes to how our current leaders grapple with the health of Americans and the health of public lands, we have to wonder, just whom do they work for? When a baker’s dozen of men in Congress make repeated … Read More

Dear Supporter: Do you remember that movie “Independence Day”? It told the story of people coming together to fend off a destructive alien force. They unified. They innovated. They did things that were uncomfortable. They even saved the world. Amazing … Read More

Dear Supporter: After the disappointing rollbacks of important regulations like the predator control rule for federal wildlife refuges, we had good news last week when the Senate voted down the repeal of the Bureau of the Land Management’s rule limiting … Read More

  The people of Bristol Bay spend a lot of time outside—on the river fishing for white fish and salmon, and in the wilderness hunting and gathering food. They take care of the things they use and need to make … Read More

Last week, the Canadian conglomerate behind the Pebble mine—Northern Dynasty—cut a backroom deal with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to roll back scientifically supported common sense protections for Bristol Bay. The settlement’s apparent goal? To make potential investors believe the … Read More