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As a practioner of NEPA at a SHA under the authority of the lead federal agency, I’ve always defined success as approval of the NEPA document. If it is good enough to be signed by the proper authority, then I have done my job. Having said that, I do not mean to imply that I am always satisfied with “good enough”. I’m always interested in opportunities to improve the process. That is pretty much why I joined Govloop and why I joined this group.

I think a truely successful NEPA effort in one where all of the agencies who participate see the outcome and agree that it is best available option. I disagree with the notion that we have to make everyone mad to do our job well. That is just too easy. I can make others mad in any number of ways. I’ve always worked toward an understanding of the outcome. Not everyone will like the results, but I work hard for them be accept the results with the feeling that it is the most balanced option available and is best for the greatest number of indivduals. I am not always as successful as I hoped, so I then fall back on the NEPA approval and say that I’ve done all I can do.