
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: 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.''
