Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/692

 636

PUBLIC LAW 790-JULY 25, 1956

Public Law 790 July 25, 1956 [S. 3032]

[70

ST A T.

CHAPTER 719

AN ACT Granting the consent and approval of Congress to the Middle Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Con.gress assembled, That the consent and Fi're'Pr"© teclio'ii approval of CongFcss is hereby given to the Middle Atlantic Interstate coti^»act. Forest Fire Protection Compact, as hereinafter set out. Such compact

Middle Atiantic Interstate For e s t

reads as follows: "MIDDLE ATLANTIC INTERSTATE FOREST F I R E PROTECTION COMPACT "ARTICLE I

"The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention and control of forest fires in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States by the development of integrated forest fire plans, by the maintenance of ade(][uate forest fire fighting services by the member states, and by providing for mutual aid in fighting forest fires among the compacting states of the region and with states which are party to other Kegional Forest Fire Protection compacts or agreements. "ARTICLE II

"This compact shall become operative immediately as to those states ratifying it whenever any two or more of the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia which are contiguous have ratified it and Congress has given consent thereto. "ARTICLE III

"In each state, the state forester or officer holding the equivalent position who is responsible for forest fire control shall act as compact administrator for that state and shall consult with like officials of the other member states and shall implement cooperation between such states in forest fire prevention and control. "The compact administrators of the member states shall organize to coordinate the services of the member states and provide administrative integration in carrying out the purposes of this compact. "The compact administrators shall formulate and, in accordance with need, from time to time, revise a regional forest fire plan for the member states. " I t shall be the duty of each member state to formulate and put in effect a forest fire plan for that state and take such measures as may be necessary to integrate such forest fire plan with the regional forest fire plan formulated by the compact administrators. ((ARTICLE

IV

"Whenever the state forest fire control agency of a member state requests aid from the state forest fire control agency of any other member state in combating, controlling or preventing forest fires, it shall be the duty of the state forest fire control agency of that state to render all possible aid to the requesting agency which is consonant with the maintenance of protection at home.

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