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 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 & social aspirations has put NEPA at the forefront
of our nation's efforts to protect the environment.
