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CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS: Defend The People’s Law— NEPA Is Under Attack

The National Environmental Policy Act — better known as The People’s Law — is one of our strongest tools for democracy. It guarantees that communities have a say before the government or corporations move forward with projects that affect our air, water, and health.

But today, powerful lobbyists and some decision-makers in Washington are trying to weaken or even strip away parts of NEPA — silencing public voices and protecting polluters instead of people.

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Here’s what’s at stake:

  • Cutting public participation: New proposals would shorten or remove opportunities for communities to comment on projects, making it harder for residents to speak out.

  • Reducing transparency: Some agencies want to skip full environmental reviews or hide key documents from the public, leaving communities in the dark.

  • Avoiding accountability: Developers could be allowed to approve their own reviews — a dangerous conflict of interest that shuts out those most impacted by pollution.

If these rollbacks move forward, Latino, Indigenous, and low-income neighborhoods could once again face polluting projects without warning and without a voice.

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What Is “The People’s Law”?

There’s a powerful law that protects every person — no matter their income, background, or ZIP code — by giving us a say before the government approves major projects that could harm our health, land, or future.

That law is The People’s Law, officially known as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Since 1970, NEPA has served as the foundation of environmental democracy in the United States. It requires federal agencies to study and publicly disclose the potential environmental and health impacts of major projects — from highways and oil pipelines to industrial plants and energy developments — before they’re built.

Just as importantly, NEPA guarantees that the public gets a seat at the table. Communities have the right to ask questions, raise concerns, and propose better, safer alternatives before decisions are made.

For Latino, Indigenous, and other frontline communities, who often live closest to highways, refineries, and toxic sites, NEPA is one of the few tools that ensures our voices are heard — and that our neighborhoods aren’t sacrificed for profit.

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Why NEPA matters for our communities

When NEPA is working, it means:

  • Transparency: Government agencies must inform us of the potential impacts on our air, water, and neighborhoods before a project commences.
  • Public participation: We have the right to be part of the decision-making process, not left in the dark.
  • Accountability: Developers and agencies can be held responsible if they ignore community concerns or fail to disclose the truth.

This is how ordinary people — from farmworkers in California to families in Puerto Rico — have used NEPA to stop dangerous projects, demand cleaner alternatives, and push for justice.

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