42 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2010 Edition
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 15A - RECIPROCAL FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

CHAPTER 15A—RECIPROCAL FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS

SUBCHAPTER I—PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES PROPERTY

Sec.
1856.
Definitions.
1856a.
Authority to enter into reciprocal agreement; waiver of claims; reimbursement; ratification of prior agreements.
1856a–1.
Authority to enter into contracts with State and local governmental entities.
1856b.
Emergency assistance.
1856c.
Service in line of duty.
1856d.
Funds.

        

SUBCHAPTER II—WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION WITH FOREIGN FIRE ORGANIZATION

1856m.
Definitions.
1856n.
Implementation.
1856o.
Funds.
1856p.
Repealed.

        

SUBCHAPTER I—PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES PROPERTY

§1856. Definitions

As used in this subchapter—

(a) The term “agency head” means the head of any executive department, military department, agency, or independent establishment in the executive branch of the Government;

(b) The term “fire protection” includes personal services and equipment required for fire prevention, the protection of life and property from fire,,1 fire fighting, and emergency services, including basic medical support, basic and advanced life support, hazardous material containment and confinement, and special rescue events involving vehicular and water mishaps, and trench, building, and confined space extractions; and

(c) The term “fire organization” means any governmental entity or public or private corporation or association maintaining fire protection facilities within the United States, its Territories and possessions, and any governmental entity or public or private corporation or association which maintains fire protection facilities in any foreign country in the vicinity of any installation of the United States.

(May 27, 1955, ch. 105, §1, 69 Stat. 66; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, §1060, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3444.)

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–163 substituted “, fire fighting, and emergency services, including basic medical support, basic and advanced life support, hazardous material containment and confinement, and special rescue events involving vehicular and water mishaps, and trench, building, and confined space extractions” for “and fire fighting”.

1 So in original.

§1856a. Authority to enter into reciprocal agreement; waiver of claims; reimbursement; ratification of prior agreements

(a) Each agency head charged with the duty of providing fire protection for any property of the United States is authorized to enter into a reciprocal agreement, with any fire organization maintaining fire protection facilities in the vicinity of such property, for mutual aid in furnishing fire protection for such property and for other property for which such organization normally provides fire protection. Each such agreement shall include a waiver by each party of all claims against every other party for compensation for any loss, damage, personal injury, or death occurring in consequence of the performance of such agreement. Any such agreement may provide for the reimbursement of any party for all or any part of the cost incurred by such party in furnishing fire protection for or on behalf of any other party.

(b) Any agreement heretofore executed which would have been authorized by this subchapter, if this subchapter had been in effect on the date of execution thereof, is ratified and confirmed.

(May 27, 1955, ch. 105, §2, 69 Stat. 66.)

§1856a–1. Authority to enter into contracts with State and local governmental entities

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution are authorized to enter into contracts with State and local governmental entities, including local fire districts, for procurement of services in the presuppression, detection, and suppression of fires on any units within their jurisdiction.

(Pub. L. 102–154, title III, §309, Nov. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1034; Pub. L. 110–114, title II, §2012, Nov. 8, 2007, 121 Stat. 1075.)

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1992, and not as part of act May 27, 1955, which comprises this subchapter.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in the following prior appropriation act: Pub. L. 101–512, title III, §310, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1959.

Amendments

2007—Pub. L. 110–114 inserted “the Secretary of the Army,” after “the Secretary of Energy,”.

§1856b. Emergency assistance

In the absence of any agreement authorized or ratified by section 1856a of this title, each agency head is authorized to render emergency assistance in extinguishing fires and in preserving life and property from fire, within the vicinity of any place at which such agency maintains fire-protection facilities, when the rendition of such assistance is determined, under regulations prescribed by the agency head, to be in the best interest of the United States.

(May 27, 1955, ch. 105, §3, 69 Stat. 67.)

§1856c. Service in line of duty

Any service performed under section 1856a or section 1856b of this title, by any officer or employee of the United States or any member of any armed force of the United States shall constitute service rendered in line of duty in such office, employment, or force. The performance of such service by any other individual shall not constitute such individual an officer or employee of the United States for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5.

(May 27, 1955, ch. 105, §4, 69 Stat. 67.)

Codification

“Subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5” substituted for “the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, as amended” on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, §7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§1856d. Funds

(a) Funds available to any agency head for fire protection on installations or in connection with activities under the jurisdiction of such agency may be used to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. All sums received by any agency head for fire protection rendered pursuant to this subchapter shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), all sums received for any Department of Defense activity for fire protection rendered pursuant to this subchapter shall be credited to the appropriation fund or account from which the expenses were paid. Amounts so credited shall be merged with funds in such appropriation fund or account and shall be available for the same purposes and subject to the same limitations as the funds with which the funds are merged.

(May 27, 1955, ch. 105, §5, 69 Stat. 67; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, §1080, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 335.)

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–181 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

SUBCHAPTER II—WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION WITH FOREIGN FIRE ORGANIZATION

§1856m. Definitions

As used in this subchapter—

(1) the term “fire organization” means any governmental, public, or private entity having wildfire protection resources;

(2) the term “wildfire protection resources” means personnel, supplies, equipment, and other resources required for wildfire presuppression and suppression activities; and

(3) the term “wildfire” means any forest or range fire.

(Pub. L. 100–428, §2, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1615.)

Short Title of 1989 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–11, §1, Apr. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 15, provided that: “This Act [repealing section 1856p of this title] may be cited as the ‘Wildfire Suppression Assistance Act’.”

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 100–428 provided: “That this Act [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the ‘Temporary Emergency Wildfire Suppression Act’.”

§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, §3, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1615.)

§1856o. Funds

Funds available to the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior for wildfire protection resources in connection with activities under the jurisdiction of such Secretary may be used to carry out activities authorized under agreements or otherwise under this subchapter, or for reimbursements authorized under section 1856n(c) of this title: Provided, That no such funds may be expended for wildfire protection resources or personnel provided by a foreign fire organization unless the Secretary determines that no wildfire protection resources or personnel within the United States are reasonably available to provide wildfire protection.

(Pub. L. 100–428, §4, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1616.)

§1856p. Repealed. Pub. L. 101–11, §2, Apr. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 15

Section, Pub. L. 100–428, §5, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1616, provided that authority to enter into agreements, to furnish or accept emergency wildfire protection resources, or to incur obligations for reimbursement under section 1856n of this title was to terminate Dec. 31, 1988.