Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 1.djvu/424

 92 STAT. 370

Appropriation authorization.

PUBLIC LAW 95-313—JULY 1, 1978 developments in urban areas. The Secretary is also authorized to cooperate directly with units of local government and others in implementing this section whenever the Secretary and the affected State forester or equivalent State official agree that direct cooperation would better achieve the purposes of this section. (c) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as may be needed to implement this section. RURAL FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

16 USC 2106.

SEC. 7. (a) Congress finds that— (1) significant accomplishments have been made by the Secretary and cooperating States in the prevention and control of fires on forest lands and on nonforested watersheds for more than fifty years; (2) progress is being made by the Secretary and cooperating States and rural communities in the protection of human lives, agricultural crops and livestock, property and other improvements, and natural resources from fires in rural areas; (3) notwithstanding the accomplishments and progress that have been made, fire prevention and control on rural lands and in rural communities are of continuing high priority to protect human lives, agricultural crops and livestock, property and other improvements, and natural resources; (4) the effective cooperative relationships between the Secretary and the States regarding fire prevention and control on rural lands and in rural communities should be retained and improved; (5) efforts in fire prevention and control in rural areas should be coordinated among Federal, State, and local agencies; and (6) in addition to providing assistance to State and local rural «>:'• fire prevention and control programs, the Secretary should prooosiia.; vi(Je prompt and adequate assistance whenever a rural fire emergency overwhelms, or threatens to overwhelm, the firefighting capability of the affected State or rural area, (b) Notwithstanding the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 15 USC 2201 of 1974, the Secretary is authorized, under whatever conditions the "o*®Secretary may prescribe, to— (1) cooperate with State foresters or equivalent State officials in developing systems and methods for the prevention, control, suppression, and prescribed use of fires on rural lands and in rural communities that will protect human lives, agricultural ' crops and livestock, property and other improvements, and natural resources; (2) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent State officials, and through them to other agencies and individuals, for the prevention, control, suppression, and prescribed use of fires on non-Federal forest lands and other ' non-Federal lands; and (3) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent State officials in cooperative efforts to organize, train, and equip local firefighting forces, including those of Indian tribes or other native groups, to prevent, control, and suppress fires threatening human lives, crops, livestock, farmsteads or other improvements, pastures, orchards, wildlife, range"Rural areas." land, woodland, and other resources in rural areas. As used herein, the term "rural areas" shall have the meaning set out in the first

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