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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§5159 Protection of Environment

Title 42 › CHAPTER 68 — DISASTER RELIEF › SUBCHAPTER III — MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION › § 5159

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Help given under sections 5170a, 5170b, 5172, 5173, or 5192 of this title, including help done under the procedures in section 5189, that restores a facility to how it was before the disaster is not treated as a major Federal action affecting the human environment under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (83 Stat. 852) [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.]. This does not change how NEPA applies to other Federal actions under this chapter or under any other law.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5159

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An action which is taken or assistance which is provided pursuant to section 5170a, 5170b, 5172, 5173, or 5192 of this title, including such assistance provided pursuant to the procedures provided for in section 5189 of this title, which has the effect of restoring a facility substantially to its condition prior to the disaster or emergency, shall not be deemed a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (83 Stat. 852) [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.]. Nothing in this section shall alter or affect the applicability of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to other Federal actions taken under this chapter or under any other provisions of law.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4321 of this title and Tables. This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–288, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 143. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5121 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 316 of Pub. L. 93–288 was classified to section 5156 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–707.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5159

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102