Discussion Board: “economist” versus “ecologist”, political science homework

For recollection purpose in helping to frame this question, recall the NEPA process visually reprented in the following flowchart:

The process suggests NEPA is mainly procedural in nature, meaning it does not demand a particular environmental outcome; rather, NEPA demands that environmental impacts be assessed through the process identified above. Regardless of its procedural nature, some suggest NEPA is a significant environmental statute because it applies to almost everything. However, others suggest NEPA is insignificant because, although it applies to many activities that may harm the environment, it does NOT prevent the harm from occurring. In other words, NEPA does not prohibit environmentally harmful activities; it simply requires the government to consider the environmental harm of the activity before allowing it to move forward.

So, I want each of you to put on your “economist” versus “ecologist” hats (carried over from the previous materials), and answer the following questions:

• Do you think NEPA actually makes a difference when it comes to environmental protection?
• Does the answer to this question depend, in part, on who is reviewing the environmental impact assessment (ecologist vs. economist)?
• Finally, how do you think NEPA “should” be used?

(Please reference between an ecologist and economist perspective when answering these questions.)

Also a Brief response about a paragraph length

Links to help you:

http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Studies/Cape-Wind-FEIS.aspx

A summary video explaining the major aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Click on the title or the following link to view the video:

https://vimeo.com/55534992

lecture_4_nepa_overview.pdf

lecture_5_nepa_remedies.pdf

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