Laws, Regulations, and Policies

Forest planning and project activities that involve watershed, wildlife, fisheries, air, and rare plants must comply with specific laws, regulations, and policies. While not exhaustive, we have listed the major statutory requirements for these resource programs. Specific laws, regulations and policies for individual resources are found within the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Code of Federal Regulations and Forest Service Directive System.

Recommended References:

The Principal Laws Relating to Forest Service Activities. 1993. 1191 p. Printed by Government Printing Office. ISBN: 0-16-041927-1 Currently out of print. Look for it at used book stores. Contact Emily Weidner for the 1993 digital version.

The Principal Laws Relating to USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Programs. Revised October 2005. 62 p. USDA Forest Service; FS-758.

For more help finding laws, visit the National Forest Service Library.

Statutory Requirements:

• Wildlife
  • Bald Eagle Protection Act
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (Amended 1989)
  • Wildlife Game Refuges Act of August 11, 1916
• Threatened and Endangered Species
  • Endangered Species Act of (December 28,) 1973 as amended
  • 16 U.S. Code Chapter 35 - ENDANGERED SPECIES, Cornell Law School
• Fisheries
  • Clean Water Act
  • Magnuson-Stevenson Fisheries Management and Conservation Act of 1996
  • CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980); commonly known as Superfund
  • CERCLA was amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) on October 17, 1986.
• Air
  • Clean Air Act of August 7, 1977, as amended (1977 and 1990)
  • 42 U.S. Code Chapter 85 - AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL
• Soil and Water
  Includes the areas of Watershed Restoration, Water Rights, Water Quality, Hydrology, Ground Water, Riparian, and Wetlands
  • Clean Water Act - formerly the 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended
  • Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, July 22, 1937
  • Domestic Water Supply Act of May 28, 1940