Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§559g Designation Authority of Secretary of Agriculture

Title 16 › Chapter 3— FORESTS; FOREST SERVICE; REFORESTATION; MANAGEMENT › Subchapter I— GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 559g

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to make law enforcement more efficient for managing and using the National Forest System. The Secretary may name officers from other federal agencies to use Forest Service powers while helping in national forests or in Forest Service activities, if it saves money, is in the public interest, and the other agency agrees. The Forest Service can accept law enforcement help or authority from other federal, State, or local agencies to investigate and enforce federal or state laws and rules when it helps both sides, but only after signing 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 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60