In simple terms, when the use of federal funds is envisioned, NEPA provisions are to be followed. It is laborious and costly but before we go trashing it, consider that had it been in place earlier, the Embarcadero Freeway might never have seen the light of day.

That said, I doubt NEPA provisions were being observed on any study costing $800,000. The cost for onsite analysis and communication to the public (e.g., website, mailers, public meetings, etc. would have eaten that up alone).

National Environmental Policy Act