U.S. State Laws

 
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U.S. State Governments Pass Their Own Laws to Protect the Environment

State constitutions and legislatures are free to regulate the environment - as long as it does not conflict with any federal law. In fact, most of the country’s environmental laws are handled at the state and local levels.

Read below to learn more about how U.S. state governments help to protect the environment.

 
Lake Guntersville, Alabama

Lake Guntersville, Alabama

Alabama

Alabama is located in the American South, containing temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. Alabama has passed a number of state laws to protect its environment. Click below to learn more about Alabama’s environment and laws.

 
Denali National Park, Alaska

Denali National Park, Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the country’s largest state and home to some of the most pristine natural habitats in the world. Click below to learn more about Alaska’s environment and laws.

 
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Arizona

Arizona is home to a sweeping desert and mountainous landscape in the American Southwest. Click below to learn more about Arizona’s environment and laws.

 
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Arkansas

Arkansas is home to the Ozark National Forest, a nationally protected preserve with over 1 million acres of wooded area and is home to over 500 species of trees and plants. The forest contains five designated wilderness areas and several Wildlife Management Areas. Click below to learn more about Arkansas’s environment and laws.

 
Big Sur, California

Big Sur, California

California

California is situated on the American West Coast, occupying 840 miles of coastline from Mexico to Oregon. It is home to the Redwood National Park, the trees of which are up to 3,500 years old. Click below to learn more about California’s environment and laws.

 
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Colorado

Colorado is home to the Rocky Mountains, an abrupt geographic change from the Great Plains on its eastern border. Click below to read more about Colorado’s environment and laws.

 
Squantz Pond, Connecticut

Squantz Pond, Connecticut

Connecticut

Connecticut is located in the American Northeast and is home to the Connecticut River. In 2019, vast stretches of the Connecticut River were designated “Wild and Scenic,” meaning they have special cultural and ecological importance. Click below to learn more about Connecticut’s environment and laws.

 
Winterthur, Delaware

Winterthur, Delaware

Delaware

Delaware is located on the United States East Coast, containing temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. Delaware has passed a number of state laws aimed at protecting the environment. Click below to learn more about Delaware’s environment and laws.

 
Everglades, Florida

Everglades, Florida

Florida

Florida is located in the American southeast, with 1,350 miles of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is also home to the Everglades National Park, which covers a million and a half acres. Click below to learn more about Florida’s environment and laws.

 
Molokaii, Hawaii

Molokaii, Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean, over 2,400 miles from the American mainland. Formed by volcanic eruptions, Hawaii is made up of 132 islands, atolls, reefs, shallow banks, shoals, and seamounts, stretching over 1,500 miles. Click below to learn more about Hawaii’s environment and laws.

 
Image by RobertCrum / Getty Images

Image by RobertCrum / Getty Images

Idaho

Idaho is home to stunning geologic formations, including the Selkirk Mountains, the Purcell trench and the Cabinet Mountains. Idaho also contains vast natural resource reserves, such as lead, silver and other ores. Click here to learn more about Idaho’s environmental and laws.

 

Illinois

Illinois is located in the American Midwest and is home to vast stretches of farmland. Before it was farmland, it was home to millions of acres of temperate forestland, such as that found in Illinois’s Shawnee National Forest. Click below to learn more about Illinois’s environment and laws.

 
Indiana Dunes, Indiana

Indiana Dunes, Indiana

Indiana

Click below to learn more about Indiana’s environment and laws.

 
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Iowa

Click below to learn more about Iowa’s environment and laws.

 
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Kansas

Click below to learn more about Kansas’s environment and laws.

 
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Kentucky

Click below to learn more about Kentucky’s environment and laws.

 
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Louisiana

Click below to learn more about Louisiana’s environment and laws.

 
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Maine

Click below to learn more about Maine’s environment and laws.

 
Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland

Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland

Maryland

Click below to learn more about Maryland’s environment and laws.

 
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Massachusetts

Click below to learn more about Massachusetts’s environment and laws.

 
Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan

Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan

Michigan

Click below to learn more about Michigan’s environment and laws.

 
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Minnesota

Click below to learn more about Minnesota’s environment and laws.

 
Mississippi River, Mississippi

Mississippi River, Mississippi

Mississippi

Click below to learn more about Mississippi’s environment and laws.

 
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Missouri

Click below to learn more about Missouri’s environment and laws.

 
Lake McDonald, Montana

Lake McDonald, Montana

Montana

Click below to learn more about Montana’s environment and laws.

 
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Nebraska

Click below to learn more about Nebraska’s environment and laws.

 
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Nevada

Click below to learn more about Nevada’s environment and laws.

 
White Mountains, New Hampshire

White Mountains, New Hampshire

New Hampshire

Click below to learn more about New Hampshire’s environment and laws.

 
Kittatinny Lake, New Jersey

Kittatinny Lake, New Jersey

New Jersey

Click below to learn more about New Jersey’s environment and laws.

 
Shiprock, New Mexico

Shiprock, New Mexico

New Mexico

Click below to learn more about New Mexico’s environment and laws.

 
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New York

Click below to learn more about New York’s environment and laws.

 
Fontana Dam, North Carolina

Fontana Dam, North Carolina

North Carolina

Click below to learn more about North Carolina’s environment and laws.

 

North Dakota

Click below to learn more about North Dakota’s environment and laws.

 
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Ohio

Click below to learn more about Ohio’s environment and laws.

 
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Oklahoma

Click below to learn more about Oklahoma’s environment and laws.

 
Salt Creek Falls, Oregon

Salt Creek Falls, Oregon

Oregon

Click below to learn more about Oregon’s environment and laws.

 
Lake Shohola, Pennsylvania

Lake Shohola, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Click below to learn more about Pennsylvania’s environment and laws.

 
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Rhode Island

Click below to learn more about Rhode Island’s environment and laws.

 
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South Carolina

Click below to learn more about South Carolina’s environment and laws.

 
Badlands, South Dakota

Badlands, South Dakota

South Dakota

Click below to learn more about South Dakota’s environment and laws.

 
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Tennessee

Click below to learn more about Tennessee’s environment and laws.

 
Rio Grande River, Texas

Rio Grande River, Texas

Texas

Click below to learn more about Texas’s environment and laws.

 
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Utah

Click below to learn more about Utah’s environment and laws.

 
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Vermont

Click below to learn more about Vermont’s environment and laws.

 
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Virginia

Click below to learn more about Virginia’s environment and laws.

 
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Washington

Click below to learn more about Washington’s environment and laws.

 
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West Virginia

Click below to learn more about West Virginia’s environment and laws.

 
Devils Lake, Wisconsin

Devils Lake, Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Click below to learn more about Wisconsin’s environment and laws.

 
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Wyoming

Wyoming is home to six national parks, including Yellowstone National Park. Click below to learn more about Wyoming’s environment and laws.