In the US federal legislation and other “Major Federal Actions” significantly affecting the environment are required to have an environmental impact assessment (NEPA 1969, section 102). This includes actions approved by permit or other means by the federal government. Note that this law does not cover legislation or actions by a state, except where they are federally funded and the federal government exercises control over those funds. More importantly, it does not cover private actions that are licensed solely by a state. Since states do most of the licensing or permitting most private actions are not covered by EIS’s unless they affect a natural park or other federal lands, or involve a federal prerogative, such as nuclear power plants. However, 17 states have there own EIA laws.