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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 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.
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