CITE

    16 USC Sec. 551c                                            01/08/2008

EXPCITE

    TITLE 16 - CONSERVATION
    CHAPTER 3 - FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT
    SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

HEAD

    Sec. 551c. Planning for fire protection

STATUTE

    (a) Volunteer firefighters
      The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior shall annually
    offer training programs to certify volunteers for suppressing
    forest fires on National Forest System lands, National Park System
    lands and Bureau of Land Management public lands in the event that
    the appropriate Secretary determines that such volunteers are
    needed. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretaries should
    utilize existing authorities to train volunteer firefighters for
    use in fire emergencies. The Secretaries should assess the
    capabilities of educational institutions and other public and
    private organizations to provide such training programs.
    (b) "Educational institutions" defined
      For the purposes of this section, the term "educational
    institutions" shall include institutions established pursuant to
    the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq., commonly known as
    the "Morrill Act"), or the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et
    seq., commonly known as the "Second Morrill Act").
    (c) Mobilization of local equipment
      Not later than one year after May 9, 1990 -
        (1) the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Congress
      information with respect to regions of the National Forest
      System, and
        (2) the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Congress
      information with respect to the Bureau of Land Management public
      lands on a State-by-State basis and each region of the National
      Park System
    that documents mobilization plans that provide for the use of
    firefighting equipment in cases of fire emergencies that may occur
    in each such area that may be highly prone to disastrous forest
    fires.
    (d) Presuppression needs
      Not later than one year after May 9, 1990, information from the
    Secretary of Agriculture on presuppression needs for each region of
    the National Forest System and information from the Secretary of
    the Interior on the presuppression needs for each region of the
    National Park System and for each State unit of the Bureau of Land
    Management shall be submitted to Congress. These reports shall
    include needs, including an estimate of the funds required, for
    fire prevention, fuel reduction, training and seasonal fire crews.

SOURCE

    (Pub. L. 101-286, title II, Sec. 203, May 9, 1990, 104 Stat. 175.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

      Act of July 2, 1862, referred to in subsec. (b), is act July 2,
    1862, ch. 130, 12 Stat. 503, as amended, popularly known as the
    Morrill Act and also as the First Morrill Act, which is classified
    generally to subchapter I (Sec. 301 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title
    7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the
    Code, see Short Title note set out under section 301 of Title 7 and
    Tables.
      Act of August 30, 1890, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Aug.
    30, 1890, ch. 841, 26 Stat. 417, as amended, popularly known as the
    Agricultural College Act of 1890 and also as the Second Morrill
    Act, which is classified generally to subchapter II (Sec. 321 et
    seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 7. For complete classification of this
    Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 321 of
    Title 7 and Tables.

MISCELLANEOUS

          FOREST FIREFIGHTING PLANNING AND COOPERATION; FINDINGS
      Pub. L. 101-286, title II, Sec. 201, May 9, 1990, 104 Stat. 174,
    provided that: "The Congress finds that -
        "(1) it is in the best interest of the Nation to take swift
      action to rehabilitate burned forests, and an assessment of the
      situation is necessary to accomplish this; and
        "(2) volunteers should be trained to assist where possible."