Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§559g Designation authority of Secretary of Agriculture
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 3— - FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 559g
Summary
Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to make law enforcement in the National Forest System more efficient by letting officers from other federal agencies use Forest Service powers when it saves money and the other agency agrees. The Forest Service can also accept authority from federal, state, or local agencies to work together on investigations and enforcement if it helps both sides and they sign a written agreement.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §559g
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)It is the purpose of this section to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make law enforcement operations more efficient in connection with the administration and use of the National Forest System.
(b)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.
(c)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 the investigation and enforcement of any Federal or State law or ordinance and regulation of any such agency, when such investigation or enforcement is mutually beneficial to the National Forest System and the cooperating agency or jurisdiction, upon entering into a memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement with such agency or jurisdiction.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 559g
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73