Laws and Regulations
The following regulations and rules protect Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge and its resources:
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act establishes protections for fish, wildlife, and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered; provides for adding species to and removing them from the list of threatened and endangered species, and for preparing and implementing plans for their recovery; provides for interagency cooperation to avoid take of listed species and for issuing permits for otherwise prohibited activities; provides for cooperation with States, including authorization of financial assistance; and implements the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
Lacey Act
Under a provision of the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42), any importation of injurious wildlife into the United States or its territories or possessions must be authorized under a permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, for any injurious specimens listed in the code of federal regulations (50 CFR 16), transport between the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States by any means whatsoever must be authorized by the Service.
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-712) implements four international conservation treaties that the U.S. entered into with Canada in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1972, and Russia in 1976. It is intended to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species.
The law has been amended with the signing of each treaty, as well as when any of the treaties were amended, such as with Mexico in 1976 and Canada in 1995.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization by the Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 directs Federal agencies to preserve, restore, and maintain historic cultural environments.
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) provides that the Service examine the environmental impacts, incorporate environmental information, and use public participation in the planning and implementation of all actions; integrate NEPA with other planning requirements; prepare NEPA documents to facilitate better environmental decision making; and review Federal agency environmental plans and documents when the Service has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impacts involved.
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act provides authority, guidelines and directives for the Service to improve the National Wildlife Refuge System; administers a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and habitat; ensures the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of refuges is maintained; defines compatible wildlife-dependent recreation as appropriate general public use of refuges; establishes hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education as priority uses; establish a formal process for determining compatible uses of refuges; and provide for public involvement in developing comprehensive conservation plans for refuges.
National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act
The National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act authorizes cooperative agreements with nonprofit partner organizations, academic institutions, or State and local governments to construct, operate, maintain, or improve refuge facilities and services, and to promote volunteer, outreach, and education programs.
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act
Spells out wildlife conservation as the fundamental mission of the Refuge System; requires comprehensive conservation planning to guide management of the Refuge System; directs the involvement of private citizens in land management decisions; and provides that compatible wildlife-dependent recreation is a legitimate and appropriate use that should receive priority in refuge planning and management.
Firearms on National Wildlife Refuges
Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of state and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations.
Refuge Entrance Rules and Permits
Most national wildlife refuges are open to the public. Even at a refuge open to the public, however, some parts of the refuge may be off limits seasonally or year-round to avoid disturbance to wildlife or habitat. Visitors must follow refuge entrance rules regarding fees, permits and areas open/closed to the public.
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
Launching, landing or disturbing wildlife by Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (drones) on national wildlife refuges is prohibited. UAS operators should not rely solely on applications such as AirMap, DJI Go or B4UFly to determine if a location is legal for UAS use. Such applications do not always capture accurate locations of public lands where UAS use is prohibited. Contact the refuge manager if you have questions. The use of UAS on or from refuge-administered lands for the purpose of taking commercial photography requires a permit in accordance with 43 CFR 5.1-12
Look, but Don't Touch
The adage "look, but don't touch" applies to many aspects of visiting a national wildlife refuge . Visitors may not take any animal or plants, except as authorized. Visitors may not disturb, injure, spear, poison, destroy, collect or attempt to disturb, injure, spear, poison, destroy or collect any plant or animal, except as authorized. Visitors may not destroy, injure, deface, disturb or remove without authorization any property, including natural objects. Visitors may not search for or remove objects of antiquity except as may be authorized by 43 CFR Part 3. Visitors may not introduce plants and animals or their parts taken from anywhere off the refuge onto the refuge, except as authorized.
Basic Conduct
Any act of indecency or disorderly conduct as defined by state or local laws is prohibited on any national wildlife refuge . Disturbing, molesting or interfering with any employee of the United States or of any local or state government engaged in official business, or with any private person engaged in the pursuit of an authorized activity on any national wildlife refuge, also is prohibited.
Obey the Signs
All visitors must comply with national wildlife refuge rules, regulations, posted signs and special regulations or be subject to penalty.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Being on a national wildlife refuge when under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, to a degree that may endanger oneself or other persons or property or unreasonably annoy persons, is prohibited. Delivery of a controlled substance is prohibited, except when being delivered by a practitioner in accordance with applicable law. Possession of a controlled substance is prohibited unless such substance was obtained by the possessor directly, or pursuant to a valid prescription or order, from a practitioner acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by applicable law.