National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Education and Certificate Program Capstone Papers
The following is a collection of approved, exceptional capstone papers submitted by students to the Duke Environmental Leadership Program. This collection should serve as a guide for formatting and how to compose your paper. The capstone paper is an original, research-based culminating exercise related to NEPA theory or practice. The paper should be based on what you have learned in the courses and your current or future work in the field; case study examples are encouraged. The rationale of the capstone paper is twofold: to demonstrate knowledge of the subject, and to make a contribution to the field. Exemplary papers may be incorporated into future course offerings and compiled for distribution, with authors' permission. Papers are reviewed by a panel of experts in NEPA. Topics must be approved in advance.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Recent Submissions
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Facilitation of Stakeholder Input in the National Environmental Policy Act Process
(2015-04-01)Use of effective communication techniques can greatly facilitate the process of receiving stakeholder input. Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) offers a chance for members ... -
The Role and Use of Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements And Environmental Assessments in Fulfilling NEPA and State Environmental Mandates
(2015-04-01)The Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Part 1500 (40 CFR 1500) implement Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended ... -
A Case Study of the Direction of a Federal Action Affecting the NEPA Assessment
(2015-04-01)Major Federal actions require National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments of the environmental impacts as documented in an environmental impact statement (EIS). New electrical generation units typically need one ... -
Use by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission of the Obviously Superior Criterion for Alternative Sites
(2015-04-01)In its consideration of alternative sites for new nuclear power plants, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) uses a standard that the applicant’s proposed site will not be rejected in favor of an alternative site ... -
Addressing Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change in NEPA Reviews As A Regulatory Agency
(2015-04-01)The contemporary issues of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change impacts have been receiving widespread attention over the last decade. For Federal agencies implementing the National Environmental Policy Act ... -
NEPA and Independent Regulatory Agencies
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Challenges in and Solutions for Integrating Biological Assessments Into Environmental Impact Statements
(2015-04-01)In light of the National Environmental Policy Act’s (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act’s (ESA) allowance for Federal agencies to concurrently fulfill their obligations under each statute, this paper considers potential ... -
NEPA Compliance and the Adoption of an Environmental Impact Statement by a Regulatory Agency
(2015-04-01)Federal regulatory agencies have responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) at multiple stages of their regulatory responsibilities. This includes the development of regulations and when ... -
Environmental Review Case Study for the Sequoya Fuels Corporation Uranium Conversion Site in Gore, Oklahoma
(2015-04-01)This environmental review case study reviews the historical information regarding the Sequoyah Fuels Corporation’s (SFCs) uranium conversion site (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Materials License No. SUB-1010, ... -
Uses of Tiered Significance Levels in NEPA Documents
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Cumulative Effects on the National Historic Landmark District Since 1960
(2015-04-01)The United States Military Academy, located at West Point, New York is an American icon. It was the first military academy to be established (1802), and became a National Historic Landmark District in 1960. This designation ... -
Use and Documentation of Categorical Exclusions
(2015-04-01)The Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations define “categorical exclusion” as “a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have ... -
Discussion of “Major Federal Actions” Under NEPA
(2014-06-10)Section 102(2)(C) of the NEPA statute requires that significant effects to the human environment be documented in “a detailed statement by the responsible official” for “major Federal actions”. The statute itself does not ... -
Circuit-Splitting the Atom: How the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy Reached Different Conclusions on the Need to Consider Hypothetical Terrorist Attacks under NEPA
(2014-05-12)This Paper examines possible explanations for the differing policies of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which adopted a "Ninth Circuit only" approach, and the Department of Energy (DOE), which adopted a single nationwide ... -
The Role and Use of Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements And Environmental Assessments in Fulfilling NEPA and State Environmental Mandates
(2014-05-02)The Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Part 1500 (40 CFR 1500) implement Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended ... -
Decision Making in the Environmental Impact Assessment Process
(2014-04-08)This essay analyzes the decision-making processes used by government agencies to approve or reject projects that have significant impacts on the environment. One may believe that an agency will use a well-defined procedural ... -
Addressing Effects, Affects and Impacts to Human Health in Environmental Documents Responsibilities under NEPA
(2013-08-21)The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a comprehensive and far reaching piece of legislation that requires all federal agencies and applicable federal projects to address the quality of the human environment and ...
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