What did the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) primarily reform in terms of federal decision-making?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) fundamentally reformed the federal decision-making process by emphasizing procedural rules. Specifically, NEPA established a mandatory framework that requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impacts of their proposed actions before making decisions. This means that any significant federal project or action must go through an extensive review process, which includes preparing Environmental Assessments (EAs) or Environmental Impact Statements (EISs).

The procedural aspect of NEPA ensures transparency and public involvement, giving stakeholders an opportunity to comment on potential environmental consequences. By focusing on procedures, NEPA created a systematic approach that promotes consideration of environmental factors in government decisions, thereby integrating environmental concerns into the overall federal decision-making process.

In contrast to the other choices, options mentioning substantive goals or state policies do not accurately capture the primary focus of NEPA, which is rooted in establishing federal procedures rather than enforcing specific substantive environmental goals or regulating state-level actions. Thus, the emphasis on procedural rules in NEPA is essential for ensuring that environmental implications are considered consistently across federal projects.