Laws, Regulations & Policies

Laws, regulations, and policies direct Forest Service forest management. Policies are the Forest Services rules defining forest management. The policies are documented in agency manuals and handbooks. The links on this page refer to other Forest Service, government or educational web sites with the information.

Laws and Regulations

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - a Forest Service site with information about The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
• National Forest Management Act (NFMA) - a Forest Service site with information about The National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA).
• Environmental Appeals and Litigation - a Forest Service site with information about agency land management planning and appeals.
• United States Code, Title 16, Chapter 2 - National Forests - laws governing the establishment and administration of the National Forests. This is a link to Cornell Law Institute's Legal Information Institute.
  • The Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 - policy and purpose of the National Forests to provide for multiple-use and sustained yield of products and services. This is a link to Cornell Law Institute's Legal Information Institute.
• Forest and Range Renewable Resources Planning - establishes public land policy and guidelines for the management, protection, development, and enhancement of the public lands. This is a link to Cornell Law Institute's Legal Information Institute.
• The Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act - directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a program of land conservation and utilization to correct maladjustments in land use and thus assist such things as control of soil erosion, reforestation, preservation of natural resources and protection of fish and wildlife. This is a link to Cornell Law Institute's Legal Information Institute.
• The Endangered Species Act of 1973 - protects animal and plant species currently in danger of extinction (endangered) and those that may become endangered in the foreseeable future (threatened). It provides for the conservation of ecosystems upon which threatened and endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants depend, both through Federal action and by encouraging the establishment of state programs. This is a link to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service web site.
• The National Historic Preservation Act - secures protection of archaeological resources and sites on public and Indian lands.
• The Clean Water Act - sets the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States. This is a link to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) web site.
• The Wilderness Act of 1964 - established the National Wilderness Preservation System. This is a link to the National Park Service web site.

Policies

• Forest Service Directives - the online version of the Forest Service's Manuals and Handbooks.
• Timber Management Manuals - the 2400 series of the Forest Service Manuals concerning timber management. National and Regional direction is included on this page.
• Timber Management Handbooks - the 2400 series of the Forest Service's Handbooks concerning rangelands management are included on this page.