Title 25 — IndiansRelease 119-73not60

§3115 Cooperative Agreement Between Department of the Interior and Indian Tribes

Title 25 › Chapter 33— NATIONAL INDIAN FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › § 3115

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior may make cooperative agreements with Indian tribes to run job and training programs, create and share environmental education and resource-planning materials, and carry out land work like forestry, fire protection, reforestation, timber improvement, debris removal, and related tasks. The Secretary may advance or reimburse funds or provide materials and equipment without following section 3324 of title 31. Tribes and their employees may work under Interior supervision in emergencies or by agreement, but they are not federal employees except for sections 2671–2680 of title 28 and 8101–8193 of title 5. This does not limit other legal authority to make cooperative agreements.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §3115

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)To facilitate the administration of the programs and activities of the Department of the Interior, the Secretary is authorized to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with Indian tribes to—

(A)engage in cooperative manpower and job training and development programs,

(B)to develop and publish cooperative environmental education and natural resource planning materials, and

(C)to perform land and facility improvements, including forestry and other natural resources protection, fire protection, reforestation, timber stand improvement, debris removal, and other activities related to land and natural resource management.

(2)In such cooperative agreements, the Secretary is authorized to advance or reimburse funds to contractors from any appropriated funds available for similar kinds of work or by furnishing or sharing materials, supplies, facilities or equipment without regard to the provisions of section 3324, title 31, relating to the advance of public moneys.

(b)In any agreement authorized by this section, Indian tribes and their employees may perform cooperative work under the supervision of the Department of the Interior in emergencies or otherwise as mutually agreed to, but shall not be deemed to be Federal employees other than for purposes of section 11 So in original. Probably should be “sections”. 2671 through 2680 of title 28 and section 1 8101 through 8193 of title 5.

(c)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements otherwise authorized by law.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 3115

Title 25 — Indians

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60