Reference Guide to Emerging Technologies to Implement NEPA

Introduction

Advances in technology offer great opportunity to implement National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements more efficiently and to meet environmental protection objectives more effectively.

Satellite remote sensing and digital earth information systems provide powerful tools to help decision makers visualize the complex earth science, legal, economic, and social considerations necessary to solve complex legal and environmental problems.

Technologies exist today that have revolutionized the collection, organization, storage and distribution of information. But these incredible hardware and software tools, such as the Web, geographic information systems (GIS), and a host of powerful satellite sensors are of limited value if decision makers do not apply them to real world tasks, functions, operations, and issues.

To truly develop great applications, meaningful dialogue must occur between the persons that want to perform their work more effectively and the scientists/engineers that understand the power and limitations of the technology tools. As such, this Web site is designed to educate members of the NEPA community on several technology tools in hopes of sparking creative thinking on how these tools may assist them in carrying out their responsibilities -- whether it's the review of laws; compilation, management and analysis of data; preparation and submittal of reports; document review; public participation; or dispute resolution. These tools may even be powerful enough to help members of the NEPA community visualize the modernization of the NEPA process and NEPA itself.

The materials on this Web site were developed by Ken Markowitz as part of a presentation at the ALI-ABA Course of Study: Environmental Impact Assessment: NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and Related Requirements, December, 2001, Washington, DC.