Environmental Laws that Protect Superior and Chippewa National Forests
Multiple-Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 (MUSA)
This Act defines national forestlands and stipulates that the Secretary of Agriculture shall administer national forest renewable surface resources for multiple use and sustained yield. For a comprehensive summary of this Act visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/multiu.html
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
This Act makes it illegal to pursue, hunt, take, capture, or kill any migratory birds protected under the Act. For a comprehensive summary of this Act visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/mbta.html
National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA)
This Act mandates that timber harvests within Federal Forests must insure the protection of soil, watershed, fish, wildlife, recreation, and aesthetic resources, as well as the regeneration of the timber resource. For a comprehensive summary of this Act visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/nfma.html . For further information about NFMA visit http://www.defendtheforests.org/primer/laws.html
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
This Act requires that all federal agencies consider the environmental consequences of major federal actions. For a comprehensive summary of NEPA please visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/nepa.html . For further information regarding NEPA visit http://www.defendtheforests.org/primer/laws.html.
Endangered Species Act of 1973
This Act insures that protective measures are determined for animal and plant species listed under the ESA and federal punishments are assigned for harming any of the species listed. For a comprehensive summary of ESA please visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/esa.html . For further information regarding ESA visit http://www.defendtheforests.org/primer/laws.html.
Wilderness Act of 1964
This Act aims to preserve areas that are essentially unaffected by human activity by prohibiting any activity deemed incompatible with the preservation of an area’s pristine state. For a comprehensive summary of this Act visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/wildact.html . For further information on the Wilderness Act visit http://www.defendtheforests.org/primer/laws.html.
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968
This Act aims to preserve the free flow and wild characteristics of rivers and streams. For a comprehensive summary of this Act visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/wildrive.html . For further information on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act visit http://www.defendtheforests.org/primer/laws.html
National Trail Systems Act of 1968
This Act aims to preserve significant recreational or historic trails from harmful incursions or development that may damage their recreational value and historic significance. For a comprehensive summary of this Act visit http://ipl.unm.edu/cwlfedbook/nattrail.html . For further information on the National Trail Systems Act visit http://www.defendtheforests.org/primer/laws.html .