
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC502]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
                       CHAPTER 2--NATIONAL FORESTS
 
             SUBCHAPTER I--ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
 
Sec. 502. Rental of property for Forest Service; forage, care, 
        and housing of animals; storage of vehicles and other equipment; 
        pack stock; loss, damage, or destruction of horses, vehicles, 
        and other equipment
        
    The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, under such regulations 
as he may prescribe:
    (a) To hire or rent property from employees of the Forest Service 
for the use of that Service whenever the public interest will be 
promoted thereby.
    (b) To provide forage, care, and housing for animals, and storage 
for vehicles and other equipment obtained by the Forest Service for the 
use of that service from employees.
    (c) To contract with public and private agencies, corporations, 
firms, associations, or individuals to train, provide forage, care, and 
housing for, and to work pack stock owned and held in reserve by the 
Forest Service for fire emergency purposes and as all or part of the 
consideration therefor to permit such contractors to use the stock for 
their own purposes during the periods of nonuse by the Forest Service.
    (d) To reimburse owners for loss, damage, or destruction of horses, 
vehicles, and other equipment obtained by the Forest Service for the use 
of that service from employees or other private owners: Provided, That 
payments or reimbursements herein authorized may be made from the 
applicable appropriations for the Forest Service: And provided further, 
That except for fire fighting emergencies no reimbursement herein 
authorized shall be made in an amount in excess of $50 to persons who 
were employees of the Forest Service prior to the time the equipment was 
obtained or $2,500 in any other case, unless the equipment was made 
available under a written agreement, contract, or lease.

(Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 145, Sec. 1[part], 37 Stat. 843; Jan. 31, 1931, ch. 
76, 46 Stat. 1052; Pub. L. 85-464, Sec. 1, June 20, 1958, 72 Stat. 216; 
Pub. L. 89-270, Oct. 19, 1965, 79 Stat. 991; Pub. L. 97-375, title I, 
Sec. 103(b), Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1819.)


                               Amendments

    1982--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97-375 struck out provision that the 
Secretary transmit to Congress a statement of rentals under the 
authority of this paragraph as soon as practicable after the end of each 
fiscal year.
    1965--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89-270 required the transmittal of 
statement of rentals during the fiscal year to congressional committees 
and omitted restriction against use of hired or rented property by the 
employee from whom hired or rented and $3,000 limitation on aggregate 
amount of payment in any one year to permanent employees, exclusive of 
fire emergency obligations.
    1958--Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 85-464 added subsec. (c), 
redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d) and authorized reimbursement in 
an amount not in excess of $2,500 in any case where the person is not an 
employee of the Forest Service at the time the equipment is obtained.
    1931--Act Jan. 31, 1931, substituted ``The Secretary of Agriculture 
is authorized, under such regulations as he may prescribe'' for prior 
provision which authorized Secretary to reimburse owners of private 
property lost or damaged while being used for necessary official 
business.
    Subsecs. (a) to (c). Act Jan. 31, 1931, added subsecs. (a) to (c).

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 7 section 172.
