National wildlife federation

Mission

To further engage the public in environmental public policy making, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Initiative seeks to empower citizens to write public comments on environmental impact statements, categorical exclusions, or environmental assessments on policies that will impact wildlife, garnering more conservation-minded policy.

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Background

The NEPA was signed into law on January 1, 1970. The Act establishes national environmental policy and goals for the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of the environment and it provides a process for implementing these goals within the federal agencies. NEPA requires federal agencies to consider the potential environmental consequences of their proposals, to consult with other interested agencies, to document the analysis, and to make this information available to the public for comment before the implementation of the proposals.

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Goals

1. The project will compile and synthesize citizens' guides for environmental comment writing, which will include upcoming comment periods. 

2. The project will empower citizens to become more engaged in environmental policy making, fostering greater environmental and legal understanding.

   1. Protect the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, association, and dissent.​

   2. Strengthen local communities, enabling them to care for their environments, and assign environmental responsibilities to the levels of government where they can be carried out most effectively.

   3. Enhance the role of the mass media in raising awareness of ecological and social challenges.

3. The project will catalyze more citizens to become more politically engaged for the long term as they will learn how to search for comment periods, learn how to submit comments, speak at public meetings, and write letters to media outlets. 

4. The project will better inform local, state and federal policymakers of public perceptions, leading to more informed decisions. 

5. The project will therefore cultivate more legitimate environmental policy in the United States, representative of the people and not solely industry interests.

   1. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.​

   2. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.

6. The project will help solidify the significance of NEPA and other environmental legislation. 

   1. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice.​

   2. Support local, regional and global civil society, and promote the meaningful participation of all interested individuals and organizations in decision making.

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Short & Long-Term Goals 

• The project seeks to raise public commenting, with a short-term goal of 10 comments within six months and 50 comments within one year; we will ask followers of the project to notify us of comment submission. 

• The project seeks to gain a following on social media and the internet of 50 people within six months and 100 people within one year; metrics will be tracked on social media channels and the Web site. 

• The projects seeks to raise environmental consciousness among our greater networks; we will ask followers of their projects to share their comments on social media to garner interest and awareness among the greater community.

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Project Outcomes 

• The project seeks to cultivate greater understanding of environmental policy and decisionmaking leading to better policy

  • Corresponding with NWF's metric of success, "increase the relevance of wildlife conservation nationwide by partnering on local water, wildlife habitat, and environmental justice projects in 1,000 diverse urban and rural communities" 

  • Corresponding to NWF's metric of success, "ensure a majority of Americans and policymakers are aware of our nation’s wildlife crisis. We will activate 11 million people and join forces with 2,500 partner organizations as part of America’s conservation army

• The project seeks to expand the following the National Wildlife Federation and the EcoLeaders program

  • Corresponding with NWF's metric of success, "rebuild America’s conservation ethic by engaging 25 million young people across 20,000 schools in environmental education and recurring outdoor experiences" 

• The project seeks to influence environmental policy, sharing concerns and solutions with policymakers

  • Corresponding with NWF's metric of success, "Put 25 percent of America’s at-risk wildlife species on a path to recovery, protect and better manage habitat and wildlife on 300 million acres of public and tribal land, and restore and enhance the resilience of 40 million acres of critical private land and water habitat. We will do this by securing at least $2 billion in additional annual conservation funding and advancing 21st century wildlife management practices in partnership with state and federal wildlife agencies"

• The project seeks to bolster participatory democracy to ensure public management.

  • Corresponding with NWF's metric of success, "defend America’s democratic public trust resources (public lands, waterways, and wildlife) for current and future generations from threats of divestiture, reduced access, or privatization