§ 559c. — Powers of officers and employees of Forest Service.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC559c]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 3--FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 559c. Powers of officers and employees of Forest Service
For the purposes of sections 559b to 559f of this title, if
specifically designated by the Secretary and specially trained, not to
exceed 1,000 special agents and law enforcement officers of the Forest
Service when in the performance of their duties shall have authority
to--
(1) carry firearms;
(2) conduct, within the exterior boundaries of the National
Forest System, investigations of violations of and enforce section
841 of title 21 and other criminal violations relating to marijuana
and other controlled substances that are manufactured, distributed,
or dispensed on National Forest System lands and to conduct such
investigations and enforcement of such laws outside the exterior
boundaries of the National Forest System for offenses committed
within the National Forest System or which affect the administration
of the National Forest System (including the pursuit of persons
suspected of such offenses who flee the National Forest System to
avoid arrest);
(3) make arrests with a warrant or process for misdemeanor
violations, or without a warrant or process for violations of such
misdemeanors that any such officer or employee has probable cause to
believe are being committed in his presence or view, or for a felony
with a warrant or without a warrant if he has probable cause to
believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is
committing such felony, for offenses committed within the National
Forest System or which affect the administration of the National
Forest System;; \1\
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(4) serve warrants and other process issued by a court or
officer of competent jurisdiction;
(5) search with or without warrant or process any person, place,
or conveyance according to Federal law or rule of law; and
(6) seize with or without warrant or process any evidentiary
item according to Federal law or rule of law.
(Pub. L. 99-570, title XV, Sec. 15003, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207-
191; Pub. L. 100-690, title VI, Sec. 6254(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat.
4363.)
Amendments
1988--Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 6254(b)(1), in introductory provision
substituted ``1,000 special agents and law enforcement officers'' for
``500 officers and employees'', and struck out ``within the boundaries
of the National Forest System'' after ``shall have authority''.
Par. (2). Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 6254(b)(2), inserted ``, within the
exterior boundaries of the National Forest System,'' after ``conduct''
and ``and to conduct such investigations and enforcement of such laws
outside the exterior boundaries of the National Forest System for
offenses committed within the National Forest System or which affect the
administration of the National Forest System (including the pursuit of
persons suspected of such offenses who flee the National Forest System
to avoid arrest)'' before semicolon at end.
Par. (3). Pub. L. 100-690, Sec. 6254(b)(3), inserted ``, for
offenses committed within the National Forest System or which affect the
administration of the National Forest System;'' before semicolon at end.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 460lll-12, 559b, 559d of
this title.
