What is NEPA and how does it apply to the proposed runway extension project?
NEPA is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It is a federal law that requires federal agencies to take their own steps to assess potential environmental impacts and, when possible, eliminate or lessen the potentially adverse impacts generated by proposed actions/projects over which they have some jurisdiction. In this case, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the safety and efficiency of aviation in the United States. Accordingly, it has jurisdiction over that aspect of operations at Gnoss Field and, as a result, over the runway extension proposed there. Sometimes, federal, state and local agencies join together to prepare CEQA and NEPA documents. That has occurred on this project, as Marin County and the FAA have agreed to prepare a joint EIS and EIR. This approach generally saves time and money and, at a minimum, ensures that the principal agencies are aware of each other’s actions, analyses and concerns.
