Activities at White Sands Test Facility are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Federal Executive Orders, and NASA agency environmental policy and guidelines.
Federal Regulatory Drivers
- Executive Order 13834, Efficient Federal Operations
This policy directs government agencies to prioritize actions that reduce waste, cut costs, enhance the resilience of Federal infrastructure and - Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Among other things, this law authorizes EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. - Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the federal law that protects public drinking water supplies throughout the nation. Under the SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and with its partners implements various technical and financial programs to ensure drinking water safety. - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the public law that creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. The law describes the waste management program mandated by Congress that gave EPA authority to develop the RCRA program. - National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800)
The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties and afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) a reasonable opportunity to comment on such undertakings. - National Environmental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires all Federal agencies to consider, before an action is taken, environmental values in the planning actions and activities that may have a significant impact upon the quality of the human environment. NEPA also sets goals for enhancing and preserving the environment, and provides procedural requirements to ensure that all Federal agencies comply. At White Sands Test Facility, the guidelines set forth by NEPA have been combined with other acts and regulations including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Historic Preservation Act to ensure environmental stewardship. - Natural Resource Management
While a Center’s natural resources are unique to a given area, all of NASA’s properties abide by legal requirements and seek to protect resources. Natural Resource Managers across the agency work to achieve regulatory compliance, protection of species, effective habitat management, and overall improvement of natural resource conditions.
New Mexico Regulatory Drivers
- New Mexico Environment Department
Many waste management activities at White Sands Test facility are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) has administrative control and oversight of RCRA activities in New Mexico. The NMED also administers the Hazardous Waste Operating Permit for the White Sands Test Facility. The permit may be viewed here.
Hazardous, Universal, Special, and Non-hazardous Solid Waste generated at White Sands Test Facility are regulated under the following New Mexico regulations:- New Mexico Administrative Code
- Title 20, Chapter 4 Part 1: Hazardous Waste Management
- Title 20, Chapter 9 Part 2: Solid Waste
- New Mexico Administrative Code