
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: 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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    \1\ So in original.
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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.
