State of Nevada

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Nevada borders the RIX states of California and Arizona. The time zone is UTC/GMT-7, with Daylight Savings Time. Carson City is the state capital.

From the Great Basin in the mountains to the Mojave Desert, Nevada has extreme weather with high winds, drought and wildfires. As the mountain snow melts, sudden flash floods threaten roads and communities, including Las Vegas, one of the fastest growing cities in the country. 
 

Federal Environmental Requirements and Agencies

Much of desert Nevada is owned and managed by federal agencies, which do their own environmental reviews. Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal laws is required for obligation of FEMA funds. FEMA's Region 9 Environmental Office consults with the following agencies and others as needed:

State of Nevada Environmental Requirements and Agencies

The State is responsible for compliance with State laws and regulations. The following are links to helpful state agencies and resources for environmental compliance:

Environmental Issues

Flood hazards are underestimated because of the dry desert climate and few perennial rivers and streams.

Protected species include Sage grouse, Sand Mountain blue butterfly, Pygmy rabbit, Amargosa toad, and desert tortoise. For more information on threatened and endangered species in Nevada, visit the US Fish and Wildlife Service website.

Mercury is a state health issue. Mercury may be naturally-occurring, or generated by human activities. There are a variety of sources of mercury emissions into the air, such as coal combustion from electric generating plants, hospital and municipal waste incinerators, thermal treatment of ore in precious metal mining, geothermal heat recovery, and historic mining releases. Visit the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection website for more information about mercury pollution.

Nuclear test sites, uranium, and plutonium are federal concerns under the administration of the US Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. 

Historic and Cultural Preservation Issues

For information on Native American tribes in Nevada, please visit the Nevada Tribal Liaison Program website.

Railroad workers, homesteaders, miners, and ranchers who settled Nevada in the 19th Century left behind sites and structures that are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Programmatic Agreement for Historic Places

The Programmatic Agreement between FEMA, the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office and the Nevada Division of Emergency Management helps expedite the review of projects proposed for FEMA funding that could affect historic properties.

Last Updated: 
06/15/2012 - 09:33
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