Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§559d Cooperation with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 559d

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the Forest Service to work with other law enforcement agencies. The Forest Service must cooperate with any federal agency that has primary investigative authority. The Secretary may allow Forest Service cooperation with federal, state, or local officers to investigate and enforce 21 U.S.C. 841, other marijuana and drug rules, and state drug laws for crimes in or affecting the National Forest System. The Forest Service must also help the Attorney General with seizures and forfeitures under 21 U.S.C. 881 for those offenses. The Secretary can name officers from other federal agencies to use Forest Service law powers if it saves money and is in the public interest, and the other agency agrees. The Forest Service may accept law-enforcement status from federal or state agencies to join multi-agency task forces investigating Controlled Substances Act violations and related crimes.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §559d

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of sections 559b to 559f of this title, in exercising the authority provided by section 559c of this title—
(1)the Forest Service shall cooperate with any other Federal law enforcement agency having primary investigative jurisdiction over the offense committed;
(2)the Secretary may authorize the Forest Service to cooperate with the law enforcement officials of any Federal agency, State, or political subdivision in the investigation of violations of and enforcement of section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841), other laws and regulations relating to marijuana and other controlled substances, and State drug control laws or ordinances for offenses committed within the National Forest System or which affect the administration of the National Forest System.11 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
(3)the Forest Service shall cooperate with the Attorney General in carrying out the seizure and forfeiture provisions of section 511 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 881) for violations of the Controlled Substances Act [21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.] relating to offenses committed within the National Forest System, or which affect the administration of the National Forest System;
(4)the Secretary is authorized to designate law enforcement officers of any other Federal agency, when the Secretary determines such designation to be economical and in the public interest, and with the concurrence of that agency, to exercise the powers and authorities of the Forest Service while assisting the Forest Service in the National Forest System, or for activities administered by the Forest Service; and
(5)the Forest Service is authorized to accept law enforcement designation from any other Federal agency or agency of a State or political subdivision thereof for the purpose of cooperating in a multi-agency law enforcement task force investigation of violations of the Controlled Substances Act [21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.] and other offenses committed in the course of or in connection with such violations.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Controlled Substances Act, referred to in pars. (3) and (5), is title II of Pub. L. 91–513, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1242, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 801 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 801 of Title 21 and Tables.

Amendments

1988—Par. (2). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6254(c)(2), substituted “for offenses committed within the National Forest System or which affect the administration of the National Forest System” for “, within the boundaries of the National Forest System”. Pars. (3) to (5). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6254(c)(3), added pars. (3) to (5).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 559d

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73