Photo: Overgrazed sagebrush steppe, Eastern Washington. Copyright 2007 Delena Norris-Tull
Legislation signed into law in the 1940s through the 1960s
Summarized by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, updated June 2022
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 1947, as amended through 1996
Pub. L. 110-94, Oct. 9, 2007
7 USC 135-136
US Code, Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 6, Insecticides & Environmental Pest Control
Sections 135-136
Agency: US Environmental Protection Agency
This law “provides for federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use.” The law gives the EPA authority to regulate importation and distribution of substances, including biological control organisms, intended to function as pesticides. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act also authorizes the EPA to regulate hazardous wastes.
Federal Plant Pest Act, 1957
Pub. L. 85-36
7 USC, 150
US Code, Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 7B, Plant Pests
Section 150
Agency: USDA
Repealed and replaced by the Plant Protection Act, 2000.
The Federal Plant Pest Act was an Act “to facilitate the regulation, control, and eradication of plant pests.” This law “prohibited the movement of pests from a foreign country into or through the US” unless authorized by the USDA. “’Plant pest’ means any living stage of: Any insects, mites, nematodes, slugs, snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate animals, bacteria, fungi, other parasitic plants or reproductive parts thereof, viruses, or any organisms similar to or allied with any of the foregoing, or any infectious substances, which can directly or indirectly injure or cause disease or damage in any plants or parts thereof, or any processed, manufactured, or other products of plants.” The Act authorized the USDA to carry out plant quarantines. This Act did not directly reference noxious weeds.
Federal Water Project Recreation Act, 1965, as amended
Public Law 89-72, July 9, 1965
16 USC 4601-12-21
US Code, Title 16, Conservation
Several Sections
43 USC
US Code, Title 43, Public Lands
Numerous Sections
Agency: Secretary of the Interior, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Provides funding for reclamation projects, and lists numerous projects in Western States. Reclamation includes mitigation and conservation projects to protect fish and wildlife. Projects can include revegetation projects, to reduce invasive plant infestations.
Noxious Plant Control, Carson-Foley Act, 1968
Public Law 90-583, Oct. 17, 1968
43 USC 2701-2703
US Code, Title 43, Public Lands
Chapter 45, State Control of Noxious Plants on Federal Lands
Sections 2701-2703
Agencies: All
Replaced by the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, the Management of Undesirable Plants on Federal Lands of 1990, and the Plant Protection Act of 2000.
Authorizes Federal funding for the control of noxious plants on land under the control or jurisdiction of the various Federal Agencies. Authorizes States to carry out noxious plants control activities on Federal lands, with reimbursement from the Federal Agencies.
According to George Hittle, the first Wyoming Weed & Pest Coordinator, “We had the Carlson-Foley Act, which was supposed to provide a mechanism for the Federal land management agencies to pay into States for management of noxious weeds on Federal lands.” This was an important step in ensuring that noxious weeds would be managed. Prior to this, the Federal Agencies had no mechanisms in place to control noxious weeds on Federal lands.
Next Sections on Federal & State Laws on Invasive Species:
Legislation signed into law in the 1940s through the 1960s
Summarized by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, updated June 2022
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 1947, as amended through 1996
Pub. L. 110-94, Oct. 9, 2007
7 USC 135-136
US Code, Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 6, Insecticides & Environmental Pest Control
Sections 135-136
Agency: US Environmental Protection Agency
This law “provides for federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use.” The law gives the EPA authority to regulate importation and distribution of substances, including biological control organisms, intended to function as pesticides. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act also authorizes the EPA to regulate hazardous wastes.
Federal Plant Pest Act, 1957
Pub. L. 85-36
7 USC, 150
US Code, Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 7B, Plant Pests
Section 150
Agency: USDA
Repealed and replaced by the Plant Protection Act, 2000.
The Federal Plant Pest Act was an Act “to facilitate the regulation, control, and eradication of plant pests.” This law “prohibited the movement of pests from a foreign country into or through the US” unless authorized by the USDA. “’Plant pest’ means any living stage of: Any insects, mites, nematodes, slugs, snails, protozoa, or other invertebrate animals, bacteria, fungi, other parasitic plants or reproductive parts thereof, viruses, or any organisms similar to or allied with any of the foregoing, or any infectious substances, which can directly or indirectly injure or cause disease or damage in any plants or parts thereof, or any processed, manufactured, or other products of plants.” The Act authorized the USDA to carry out plant quarantines. This Act did not directly reference noxious weeds.
Federal Water Project Recreation Act, 1965, as amended
Public Law 89-72, July 9, 1965
16 USC 4601-12-21
US Code, Title 16, Conservation
Several Sections
- Amended by the Water Resources Development Act of 1974, Pub. L. 93-251, 88 Stat. 33
- Amended by Public Law 102-575, the Reclamation Recreation Management Act, Title 28, Oct. 12, 1982
43 USC
US Code, Title 43, Public Lands
Numerous Sections
- Amended as the Reclamation Projects Authorization & Adjustment Act, 1992
Agency: Secretary of the Interior, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Provides funding for reclamation projects, and lists numerous projects in Western States. Reclamation includes mitigation and conservation projects to protect fish and wildlife. Projects can include revegetation projects, to reduce invasive plant infestations.
Noxious Plant Control, Carson-Foley Act, 1968
Public Law 90-583, Oct. 17, 1968
43 USC 2701-2703
US Code, Title 43, Public Lands
Chapter 45, State Control of Noxious Plants on Federal Lands
Sections 2701-2703
Agencies: All
Replaced by the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, the Management of Undesirable Plants on Federal Lands of 1990, and the Plant Protection Act of 2000.
Authorizes Federal funding for the control of noxious plants on land under the control or jurisdiction of the various Federal Agencies. Authorizes States to carry out noxious plants control activities on Federal lands, with reimbursement from the Federal Agencies.
According to George Hittle, the first Wyoming Weed & Pest Coordinator, “We had the Carlson-Foley Act, which was supposed to provide a mechanism for the Federal land management agencies to pay into States for management of noxious weeds on Federal lands.” This was an important step in ensuring that noxious weeds would be managed. Prior to this, the Federal Agencies had no mechanisms in place to control noxious weeds on Federal lands.
Next Sections on Federal & State Laws on Invasive Species:
- 1970s Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 1980s Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 1990s Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 2000-2010 Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 2011-2022 Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- Federal Bills on Invasive Species not passed
- Executive Orders on Invasive Species
- Federal Excise Taxes
- State Laws and Lists of Noxious Weeds