Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/817

 68

STAT.]

785

PUBLIC LAW 643-AUG. 24, 1954

"The compact administrators shall formulate procedures for claims and reimbursement under the provisions of this article, in accordance with the laws of the member states. "ARTICLE VI

"Ratification of this compact shall not be construed to affect any existing statute so as to authorize or permit curtailment or diminution of the forest fire fighting forces, equipment, services or facilities of any member state. "Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit or restrict the powers of any state ratifying the same to provide for the prevention, control and extinguishment of forest fires, or to prohibit the enactment or enforcement of state laws, rules or regulations intended to aid in such prevention, control and extinguishment in such state. "Nothing in this compact shall be construed to affect any existing or future cooperative relationship or arrangement between the United States Forest Service and a member st^te or states. uARTICLE

VII

"The compact administrators may request the United States Forest Service to act as the primary research and coordinating agency of the South Central Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact in cooperation with the appropriate agencies in each state, and the United States Forest Service may accept the initial responsibility in preparing and presenting to the compact administrators its recommendations with respect to the regional fire plan. Representatives of the United States Forest Service may attend meetings of the compact administrators. " ARTICLE VIII

"The provisions of Articles IV and V of this compact which relate to mutual aid in combating, controlling or preventing forest fires shall be operative as between any state party to this compact and any other state which is party to a regional forest fire protection compact in another region: Provided, That the legislature of such other state shall have given its assent to such mutual aid provisions of this compact. "ARTICLE IX

"This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on each state ratifying it until the legislature or the Governor of such state takes action to withdraw therefrom. Such action shall not be effective until six months after notice thereof has been sent by the chief executive of the state desiring to withdraw to the chief executives of all states then parties to the compact." Approved August 24, 1954. Public Law 643

CHAPTER 892

AN ACT To ratify and confirm sections 5 and 6 of Act 254 and Act 280 of the Session Laws of Hawaii 19.53 and to authorize the issuance of certain public improvement bonds by the Territory of Hawaii.

August 24, 1954 [H. R. 6886]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That sections 5 and 6 Hawaii, of Act 254 of the Session Laws of Hawaii 1953, entitled: "An Act bonds.'°"^"*"'

30777 O—55—pt. 1-

-52

�