United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-02-11 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:RCED-94-55 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-55 P0b002ee18039d534 f:rc94055 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-55 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-55 RCED-94-55 Environmental law International relations Hazardous substances Environmental impact statements Environmental policies Jurisdictional authority Foreign governments Federal agencies Evaluation methods Antarctica Brazil Mexico Chile Germany Japan Letter Report RCED U.S. agencies perform a variety of work that could potentially affect the environments of other nations. For example, they apply pesticides in foreign countries to control agricultural pests, store waste on overseas military bases, issue permits for ocean dumping, and negotiate international trade agreements with environmental consequences. The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impact of their actions, but the courts have not determined whether this requirement extends to these agencies' activities abroad. Executive Order 12114 specifically requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impact of "major" actions abroad but exempts other actions from this requirement. This report (1) compares the requirements for environmental impact assessments under the act and Executive Order 12114; (2) reviews federal agencies' implementation of Executive Order 12114; and (3) analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of applying the act's procedures to, or strengthening environmental impact assessment procedures for, federal agencies' activities outside the United States. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-55/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-55.htm GAO/RCED-94-55 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-55 Letter Report GAO/RCED-94-55; International Environment: Improved Procedures Needed for Environmental Assessments of U.S. Actions Abroad; Environmental law International relations Hazardous substances Environmental impact statements Environmental policies Jurisdictional authority Foreign governments Federal agencies Evaluation methods Antarctica Brazil Mexico Chile Germany Japan