B'D
LUCKY CASINOCouncil
on Environmental Quality
The Council on
Environmental Quality coordinates federal environmental efforts and works closely with
agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and
initiatives. The Council's Chair, who
is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, serves as the
principal environmental policy adviser to the President. In addition, CEQ reports annually
to the President on the state of the environment; oversees federal agency implementation
of the environmental impact assessment process; and acts as a referee when agencies
disagree over the adequacy of such assessments.
Congress established
CEQ within the Executive Office of the President as part of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Additional responsibilities were provided by the Environmental
Quality Improvement Act of 1970.
In enacting NEPA,
Congress recognized that nearly all federal activities affect the environment in some way
and mandated that before federal agencies make decisions, they must consider the effects
of their actions on the quality of the human environment. NEPA assigns CEQ the task of
ensuring that federal agencies meet their obligations under the Act. The challenge of
harmonizing our economic, environmental and social aspirations has put NEPA at the
forefront of our nation's efforts to protect the environment.