36 C.F.R. Subpart A—Rewards and Payments
Title 36 - Parks, Forests, and Public Property
(a) Hereafter, provided Congress shall make the necessary appropriation or authorize the payment thereof, the Department of Agriculture will pay the following rewards: (1) Not exceeding $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person on the charge of willfully or maliciously setting on fire, or causing to be set on fire, any timber, underbrush, or grass upon the lands of the United States within the National Forest System or nearby. (2) Not exceeding $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person on the charge of having kindled or caused to be kindled a fire on lands of the United States within the National Forest System or nearby, and leaving said fire which escapes before the same has been totally extinguished; (3) Not exceeding $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person charged with destroying or stealing any property of the United States; and (4) Not exceeding $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person charged with damaging or stealing the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, or any portion thereof, including but not limited to bark, twigs, needles and other foliage. (b) A reward may be paid to the person or persons giving the information leading to such arrest and conviction upon presentation to the Department of Agriculture of satisfactory evidence thereof, subject to the necessary appropriation as aforesaid, or otherwise as may be provided. (c) Officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture are barred from receiving such rewards. (d) The Department of Agriculture reserves the right to refuse payments of any claim for reward when, in its opinion, collusion or improper methods have been used to secure arrest and conviction. The Department also reserves the right to allow only one reward where several persons have been convicted of the same offense or where one person has been convicted of several offenses, unless the circumstances entitle the person to a reward on each conviction. (e) Applications for reward should be forwarded to the Regional Forester, Research Director, or Area Director who has responsibility for the land or property involved in the trespass. However, no application will be considered unless presented to a responsible Forest Service officer within three months from the date of conviction of an offender. In order that all claimants for rewards may have an opportunity to present their claims within the prescribed limit, the Department will not take action with respect to rewards for three months from the date of the conviction of an offender. [42 FR 2961, Jan. 14, 1977, as amended at 46 FR 33521, June 30, 1981; 56 FR 29182, June 26, 1991] (a) Approval of payments. Payments for purchase of information to further investigations of felonies and misdemeanors related to Forest Service administration are authorized for each transaction as follows: (1) Criminal investigators in the GS–1811 series and such other personnel as the Chief of the Forest Service or a Regional Forester may designate, may, without prior approval, pay up to but not exceeding $200 for the purchase of information under this section. (2) For payments of amounts over $200 but not exceeding $500, advance approval of the Forest Supervisor is required. (3) For payments of amounts over $500 but not exceeding $2,500, advance approval of the Regional Forester is required. (4) For payments of amounts over $2,500, advance approval of the Chief of the Forest Service is required. (5) For purchase of information to further investigations within a Regional Office, Forest and Range Experiment Station, State and Private Forestry Area Office, or the National Office, payments in excess of $200 must be approved in advance by the Chief of the Forest Service or by such other personnel as the Chief may designate. (b) Limitations. Purchase of information under this section is restricted to furthering investigations of felony and misdemeanor violations. Payment for information to further investigations of petty offenses as classified in title 18 U.S.C., section 1, are not authorized under this section. [48 FR 26604, June 9, 1983] (a) Approval of payments. Payments for purchase of evidence to further investigations of felonies and misdemeanors related to Forest Service administration are authorized for each transaction as follows: (1) Criminal investigators in the GS–1811 series and such other personnel as the Chief of the Forest Service or a Regional Forester may designate, may, without prior approval, pay up to but not exceeding $400 for the purchase of evidence under this section. (2) For payments of amounts over $400 but not exceeding $1,000, advance approval of the Forest Supervisor is required. (3) For payments of amounts over $1,000 but not exceeding $5,000, advance approval of the Regional Forester is required. (4) For payments of amounts over $5,000, advance approval of the Chief of the Forest Service is required. (5) For purchase of evidence to further investigations within a Regional Office, Forest and Range Experiment Station, State and Private Forestry Area Office, or the National Office, payments in excess of $400 must be approved in advance by the Chief of the Forest Service or by such other personnel as the Chief may designate. (b) Limitations. Purchase of evidence under this section is restricted to furthering investigations of felony and misdemeanor violations. Payment for evidence to further investigations of petty offenses as classified in title 18 U.S.C., section 1, are not authorized under this section. [48 FR 26605, June 9, 1983; 48 FR 34262, July 28, 1983] The Chief of the Forest Service shall, through appropriate directives to agency personnel, assure the accountability of all funds spent in carrying out the provisions of this subpart and safeguard the identity of those wishing to remain anonymous. [48 FR 26605, June 9, 1983] All evidence purchased under the authority of this subpart shall be maintained in accordance with all laws, regulations, and rules applicable to the care, custody, and control of evidence. Evidence purchased under this subpart shall be disposed of in accordance with laws, regulation, rules, and Forest Service policy applicable to the disposal of evidence. [48 FR 26605, June 9, 1983]
Title 36: Parks, Forests, and Public Property
PART 262—LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Subpart A—Rewards and Payments
§ 262.1 Rewards in connection with fire or property prosecutions.
§ 262.2 Purchase of information in furtherance of investigations.
§ 262.3 Purchase of evidence in furtherance of investigations.
§ 262.4 Audit of expenditures.
§ 262.5 Disposal of purchased property.
