Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110
§559g Designation Authority of Secretary of Agriculture
Title 16 › CHAPTER 3 — FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 559g
Summary
Lets the Secretary of Agriculture make law enforcement work easier for running and using the National Forest System. The Secretary can assign officers from other federal agencies to use Forest Service law powers if it saves money and the other agency agrees. The Forest Service can also accept officers or authority from federal, state, or local agencies to cooperate on investigations and enforcement when both sides benefit and they sign a written agreement.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §559g
Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Purpose
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)Officers of other agencies
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)Acceptance by Forest Service
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
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110