Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 1.djvu/209

 PUBLIC LAW 101-286—MAY 9, 1990 104 STAT. 175 SEC. 203. PLANNING FOR FIRE PROTECTION. 16 USC 551c. (a) VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.—The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior shall annually offer training programs to certify volunteers for suppressing forest fires on National Forest System lands, National Park System lands and Bureau of Land Management public lands in the event that the appropriate Secretary determines that such volunteers are needed. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretaries should utilize existing authorities to train volunteer firefighters for use in fire emergencies. The Secretaries should assess the capabilities of educational institutions and other public and private organizations to provide such training programs. OD) DEFINITION.— For the purposes of this section, the term "educational institutions" shall include institutions established pursuant to the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq., commonly known as the "Morrill Act"), or the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq., commonly known as the "Second Morrill Act"). (c) MoBiuzATiON OF LocAL EQUIPMENT.— Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act— (1) the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Congress information with respect to regions of the National Forest System, and (2) the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Congress information with respect to the Bureau of Land Management public lands on a State-by-State basis and each region of the National Park System that documents mobilization plans that provide for the use of firefighting equipment in cases of fire emergencies that may occur in each such area that may be highly prone to disastrous forest fires. (d) PRESUPPRESSION NEEDS.— Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, information from the Secretary of Agriculture on presuppression needs for each region of the National Forest System and information from the Secretary of the Interior on the presuppression needs for each region of the National Park System and for each State unit of the Bureau of Land Management shall be submitted to Congress. These reports shall include needs. Reports, including an estimate of the funds required, for fire prevention, fuel reduction, training and seasonal fire crews. SEC. 204. VOLUNTEER COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES AND DAMAGES. Claims. (a) NATIONAL FORESTS.— Section 3 of the Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 558c) is amended by adding the following new subsection: "(d) For the purposes of clsiims relating to damage to, or loss of, personal property of a volunteer incident to volunteer service, a volunteer under this Act shall be considered a Federal employee, and the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 3721 shall apply.". Ob) NATIONAL PARKS.—Section 3 of the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969 (16 U.S.C. 18i) is amended by adding the following new subsection: "(d) For the purpose of claims relating to damage to, or loss of, personal property of a volunteer incident to volunteer service, a volunteer under this Act shall be considered a Federal employee, and the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 3721 shall apply.". (c) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT.— Section 307(f) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1737(f)) is amended to read as follows:

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