Udall Foundation and Udall Center Hosting Two Virtual Forums on Engagement and Consultation in the NEPA Process
Posted:
1/3/2022
Please find current agendas and speaker biographies here (updated 1/3/22):
October 20 forum, Engaging Stakeholders and the Public in the NEPA Process:
agenda and speaker biographies
October 21 forum, Engaging Native Nations and Incorporating Government-to-Government Consultation in the NEPA Process:
agenda and speaker biographies
The meeting summary for the forums may be found here.
The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation’s (Udall Foundation) John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center) and The University of Arizona’s Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy (Udall Center) are hosting two virtual forums entitled, “NEPA Next 50: Reflections on the National Environmental Policy Act — Federal Agency Dialogue on Engagement and Consultation.” The virtual forums will be held October 20-21, 2021.
Event Overview
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970, establishing a national policy for environmental protection and becoming a cornerstone of environmental legislation in the United States. Fifty years later, NEPA remains one of the most consequential environmental laws in the Nation’s history and a standard for assessing impacts and engaging stakeholders and the public in major Federal actions.
While NEPA remains fundamentally similar today compared to when it was signed into law, it has not been immune to change. Over the years, shifting national priorities brought on by changing societal and environmental conditions have led to an evolution of NEPA strategies and approaches. Yet, as the Federal approach to NEPA implementation has evolved, certain elements remain cornerstones of the NEPA environmental review process, including interagency coordination, Tribal engagement, stakeholder engagement, and public involvement. Today, Federal agencies continue to work to improve upon these collaborative aspects of the NEPA process to better enhance project outcomes, strengthen relationships, protect public interests, and ensure efficient use of Federal resources.
To support Federal agencies’ efforts to enhance collaboration, coordination, and engagement in NEPA processes, the National Center is partnering with the Udall Center to convene two virtual learning forums to understand how Federal agencies are adapting to evolving trends in NEPA and continuing to effectively collaborate with Tribes, partners, and the public in the context of NEPA implementation. These forums will provide a space for Federal agency representatives to reflect on their experiences with NEPA successes and shortcomings, and to explore activities and trends that will propel NEPA into the future.
ABOUT THE UDALL FOUNDATION
The Morris K. Udall Foundation was established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 as an independent executive branch agency to honor Morris K. Udall's lasting impact on this Nation’s environment, public lands, and natural resources, and his support of the rights and self-governance of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. In 2009, Congress enacted legislation to also honor Stewart L. Udall for his half century of distinguished national leadership in environmental and Native American policy. The agency is known today as the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (Udall Foundation) and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.
The Udall Foundation is authorized by Congress to:
- Award Scholarships, Fellowships, and Internships for study in fields related to the environment and to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and Tribal public policy.
- Connect youth to the Nation’s public lands and natural resources to foster greater understanding, appreciation, stewardship, and enjoyment of those lands and resources through photography, positive outdoor experiences, and environmental education through the Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus® Program.
- Provide funding to the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy for research, education, and outreach on Native American and Alaska Native health care issues and Tribal public policy issues.
- Provide funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy to conduct policy research and outreach on the environment and related themes.
- Provide funding through the The University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections to serve as the repository for the papers of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall and other such public papers as may be appropriate and assure such papers’ availability to the public.
- Provide impartial collaboration, consensus-building, training, and conflict resolution services on a wide range of environmental, natural and cultural resources, Tribal, and public lands issues, conflicts, and disputes involving the Federal Government through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution.
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