[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR26.4]

[Page 537]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
          CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (CONTINUED)
 
PART 26--ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) 
ACTIONS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 26.4  Policy.

    (a) VA must act with care in carrying out its mission of providing 
services for veterans to ensure it does so consistently with national 
environmental policies. Specifically, VA shall ensure that all practical 
means and measures are used to protect, restore, and enhance the quality 
of the human environment; to avoid or minimize adverse environmental 
consequences, consistently with other national policy considerations; 
and to attain the following objectives:
    (1) Achieve the fullest possible use of the environment, without 
degradation, or undesirable and unintended consequences;
    (2) Preserve historical, cultural, and natural aspects of our 
national heritage, while maintaining, where possible, an environment 
that supports diversity and variety and individual choice;
    (3) Achieve a balance between the use and development of resources, 
within the sustained capacity of the ecological system involved; and,
    (4) Enhance the quality of renewable resources while working toward 
the maximum attainable recycling of nonrenewable resources.
    (b) VA elements shall:
    (1) Interpret and administer the policies, regulations, and public 
laws of the United States in accordance with the policies set forth in 
the NEPA and CEQ Regulations;
    (2) Prepare concise and clear environmental documents which shall be 
supported by documented environmental analyses;
    (3) Integrate the requirements of NEPA with Department planning and 
decision-making procedures;
    (4) Encourage and facilitate involvement by affected agencies, 
organizations, interest groups and the public in decisions which affect 
the quality of the human environment; and,
    (5) Consider alternatives to the proposed actions which are 
encompassed by the range of alternatives discussed in relevant 
environmental documents, and described in the environmental impact 
statement.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370a)

[51 FR 37182, Oct. 20, 1986, as amended at 54 FR 34987, Aug. 23, 1989]