The purpose of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is to include environmental considerations into federal agency planning and action. This is done by providing decision-makers and other stakeholders with information they need to understand any potentially significant environmental impacts resulting from an action.

The Clark Group was part of a team that developed and presented a training course entitled “Practical Implementation of NEPA and Associated Consultation in Support of Army Installations”, which was presented to the US Army Garrison–Redstone Arsenal, Department of Public Works (DPW).

The course included an overview and discussion of the legal, policy and procedural requirements relative to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The origin and history of NEPA was presented to an audience of primarily facilities engineers, but also containing the Garrison’s environmental staff. Course material was tailored to actual Redstone Arsenal issues and incorporated the Army’s perspective.

To assure that participants left the course with the knowledge and materials to assist them with future NEPA requirements, a mix of instructors with extensive Department of Defense and Department of Army experience were used. Course instruction also included experts on the ESA and Section 7 consultations, as well as consultations under Section 106 of the NHPA, and how such consultations interface with NEPA requirements.