
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1856n]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
           CHAPTER 15A--RECIPROCAL FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS
 
   SUBCHAPTER II--WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION WITH FOREIGN FIRE ORGANIZATION
 
Sec. 1856n. Implementation


(a) Reciprocal agreement; waiver of claims; termination of agreement; 
        reimbursement

    (1) The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, 
in consultation with the Secretary of State, may enter into a reciprocal 
agreement with any foreign fire organization for mutual aid in 
furnishing wildfire protection resources for lands and other properties 
for which such Secretary or organization normally provides wildfire 
protection.
    (2) Any agreement entered into under this subsection--
        (A) shall include a waiver by each party to the agreement of all 
    claims against every other party to the agreement for compensation 
    for any loss, damage, personal injury, or death occurring in 
    consequence of the performance of such agreement;
        (B) shall include a provision to allow the termination of such 
    agreement by any party thereto after reasonable notice; and
        (C) may provide for the reimbursement of any party thereto for 
    all or any part of the costs incurred by such party in furnishing 
    wildfire protection resources for, or on behalf of, any other party 
    thereto.

(b) Emergency wildfire protection resources; furnishing or accepting in 
        absence of agreement

    In the absence of any agreement authorized under subsection (a) of 
this section, the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the 
Interior may--
        (1) furnish emergency wildfire protection resources to any 
    foreign nation when the furnishing of such resources is determined 
    by such Secretary to be in the best interest of the United States, 
    and
        (2) accept emergency wildfire protection resources from any 
    foreign fire organization when the acceptance of such resources is 
    determined by such Secretary to be in the best interest of the 
    United States.

(c) Reimbursement of Canada

    Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, 
reimbursement may be provided for the costs incurred by the Government 
of Canada or a Canadian organization in furnishing wildfire protection 
resources to the Government of the United States under--
        (1) the memorandum entitled ``Memorandum of Understanding 
    Between the United States Department of Agriculture and Environment 
    Canada on Cooperation in the Field of Forestry-Related Programs'' 
    dated June 25, 1982; and
        (2) the arrangement entitled ``Arrangement in the Form of an 
    Exchange of Notes Between the Government of Canada and the 
    Government of the United States of America'' dated May 4, 1982.

(d) Service in line of duty

    Any service performed by any employee of the United States under an 
agreement or otherwise under this subchapter shall constitute service 
rendered in the line of duty in such employment. The performance of such 
service by any other individual shall not make such individual an 
employee of the United States.

(Pub. L. 100-428, Sec. 3, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1615.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 1856o, 1856p of this title.
