The article discusses how California's environmental laws interact with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and compares them to other states. It highlights the Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 and the differences between state and federal environmental impact processes. The study identifies four key areas of concern where state and federal laws differ: the scope of the act, EIR/EIS content, treatment of ongoing projects, and limitations on challenging agency action. Challenges in complying with both California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and NEPA are discussed, focusing on the adoption process, environmental considerations, litigation issues, and EIS preparation by the State Highway Department.