Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73
§1742 Search, rescue, and protection forces; emergency situations authorizing hiring
Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 35— - FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - ADMINISTRATION › § 1742
Summary
Secretary may pay emergency expenses on public lands when local search-and-rescue or protection forces aren't available. This covers finding or rescuing lost people, protecting people or animals in natural disasters, and moving deceased or seriously ill or injured people to nearest parties or authorities.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §1742
Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Where in his judgment sufficient search, rescue, and protection forces are not otherwise available, the Secretary is authorized in cases of emergency to incur such expenses as may be necessary (a) in searching for and rescuing, or in cooperating in the search for and rescue of, persons lost on the public lands, (b) in protecting or rescuing, or in cooperating in the protection and rescue of, persons or animals endangered by an act of God, and (c) in transporting deceased persons or persons seriously ill or injured to the nearest place where interested parties or local authorities are located.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 1742
Title 43 — Public Lands
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73