Biological Resources Regulations & Requirements

Overview

Biological Resources Regulations & Requirements Overview

Laboratory operations must comply with state and federal laws protecting the environment. The specific requirements of the laws, applicable to Los Alamos National Laboratory, are published in the Code of Federal Regulations. The Department of Energy (DOE) has final authority for assessments conducted under these regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency enforces these rules at a national level.

Federal

Federal Requirements

The predominant regulations that govern the Ecology program work are the National Environmental Policy Act laws and associated federal requirements. The consideration of environmental consequence in project planning is predominant to three areas. Impacts to historical or cultural resources, impacts to habitat (and subsequently species), and impacts to the institutional and public stakeholders are all considered during the project planning process. These requirements are all assessed following the specifications described in federal regulation and/or DOE Orders.

• General
• National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
• Endangered Species Act of 1973
• Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
• Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
• Code of Federal Regulations
• 50 CFR 17, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
• 50 CFR 402, Interagency Cooperation - Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
• 10 CFR Part 1022, Department of Energy Floodplain and Wetland Regulations
• Executive Orders, DOE Orders, and MOUs
• Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management (May 24, 1977)
• Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands (May 24, 1977)
• Executive Order 13186, Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds (January 10, 2001)
• DOE Order 151.1B - "Comprehensive Emergency Management System"
• DOE Order 450.1, Environmental Protection Program (January 15, 2003)
• DOE Order 451.1B - National Environmental Policy Act Compliance Program"
• Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, and the Department of Energy Regarding Implementation of Executive Order 13186, "Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds" (October 30, 2006)
• NEPA Directives
• Department Administrative Order DAO 216-11: Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands

State

New Mexico Requirements

• Summary of New Mexico Wildlife Laws

Oversight

LANL Oversight

Below are links to the agencies having oversight and/or regulatory authority for LANL biological resources.

• Federal Oversight
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Council of Environmental Quality
• US Advisory Council On Historic Preservation
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service - Southwest Region 2
• State of New Mexico
• NMED DOE Oversight Office
• New Mexico Historic Preservation Division
• New Mexico Wildlife Homepage
• U.S. Department of Energy
• DOE Homepage
• DOE Environmental Policy
• DOE Citizen's Advisory Board

LANL

LANL Biological Resources Requirements

LANL's biological resource compliance personnel must be consulted when planning construction or other projects with the potential to affect the LANL environment.