§ 551c. — Planning for fire protection.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC551c]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 3--FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 551c. Planning for fire protection
(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.
(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.
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.''
