Does NEPA Help or Harm ESA Critical Habitat Designations? An Assessment of Over 600 Critical Habitat Rules

Ruple et al examines whether the US' National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) help or harm ESA critical habitat designations. NEPA is the centerpiece of federal environmental law. This law requires federal agencies to publicly weigh environmental impacts before proceeding with federal actions. NEPA has been criticized because it can delay development. Other critics describe NEPA as "bureaucratic red-tape" and claim that repealing NEPA "would not make a whit of difference to the environment or public health." NEPA's defenders counter that --for more than four decades, NEPA has provided the foundation for countless improvements in our environmental laws. It gives us cleaner water, cleaner air, and a safer and healthier environment. Others laud NEPA for its public involvement opportunities and for requiring consideration of reasonable alternatives to limit environmental damage