Environmental quality act

In the search for economic development opportunities and the race to increase the tax base, environmental concerns are often tossed to the side or considered as an afterthought.  Iowa has already lost significant numbers of acres of native prairie and forest; Iowa’s waters are threatened with pollution; and Iowa’s air quality needs to be protected.  Federal projects require an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 4(f) of the Federal Highway Act.  But Iowa does not have an environmental policy act that requires environmental review of actions taken by state and local governmental entities.  State law currently requires an analysis of economic impacts for projects and legislation.  It is only fitting that state law requires an analysis of environmental effects in its decision making process.  The end result would be that environmental impacts identified in the environmental impact statement would be avoided.