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Defining The Project Purpose Under Nepa: Promoting Consideration Of Viable Eis Alternatives, Jason J. Czarnezki

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This Comment examines how courts should construe EIS project goals under NEPA. Part I provides the basic foundation for EIS alternative analysis by outlining NEPA's goals, framework, and legal development. Part II identifies and discusses two conflicting positions in current case law supporting narrow versus general goal formulations in project purpose evaluation. To resolve this conflict, Part III suggests that courts should reject the narrow formulation in evaluating a project's purpose and objectively inquire into the effect and purpose of the agency's action.