The Secretary of Agriculture shall make provisions for the protection against destruction by fire and depredations upon the public forests and national forests which may have been set aside or which may be hereafter set aside under the provisions of section 471 1

The Secretary of Agriculture, in connection with the administration and regulation of the use and occupancy of the national forests and national grasslands, is authorized to cooperate with any State or political subdivision thereof, on lands which are within or part of any unit of the national forest system, in the enforcement or supervision of the laws or ordinances of a State or subdivision thereof. Such cooperation may include the reimbursement of a State or its subdivision for expenditures incurred in connection with activities on national forest system lands. This section shall not deprive any State or political subdivision thereof of its right to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction, within or on lands which are a part of the national forest system.

Consent of the Congress of the United States is given to each of the several States of the Union to enter into any agreement or compact, not in conflict with any law of the United States, with any other State or States for the purpose of conserving the forests and the water supply of the States entering into such agreement or compact.

The President, upon recommendation of the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, may, by Executive order, when in his judgment the public interest would best be served thereby and after reasonable notice has been given through the Department of the Interior, restore any reserved national-forest lands covered by a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture for the protection of a watershed within a national forest from which water is secured, to appropriation under any applicable public-lands law.

Lands withdrawn under the provisions of sections 552a to 552d of this title shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture under such agreements for the protection of the watershed as he may make with the municipality concerned, and the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, in addition to the rules and regulations adopted for the administration of the national forests, to adopt and prescribe such further rules and regulations as he considers necessary to effect the adequate protection of the watershed, including a rule or regulation forbidding persons other than forest officers and representatives of the municipality from going on the lands so reserved or making any use whatever thereof.

Whenever national-forest lands are withdrawn under sections 552a to 552d of this title, and the municipality concerned objects to the utilization of the timber or other resources of lands withdrawn, and the Secretary of Agriculture agrees to withhold such resources from utilization, said municipality shall pay to the Forest Service annually an amount which the Secretary of Agriculture shall determine is necessary to reimburse the United States for the loss of net annual revenues which would be derived from the resources so withheld from disposition.

Any violation of the regulations issued under sections 552a to 552d of this title shall be punished as is provided in section 1853 of title 18.

Officials of the Forest Service designated by the Secretary of Agriculture shall, in all ways that are practicable, aid in the enforcement of the laws of the States or Territories with regard to stock, for the prevention and extinguishment of forest fires, and for the protection of fish and game, and with respect to national forests, shall aid the other Federal bureaus and departments on request from them, in the performance of the duties imposed on them by law.

Forest supervisors and rangers shall be selected, when practicable, from qualified citizens of the States or Territories in which the national forests, respectively, are situated.

Forest inspectors, superintendents, supervisors, surveyors, rangers, and fire patrol are to be hereafter appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture wholly with reference to their fitness and without regard for their political affiliations.

Appropriations for the Forest Service shall be available for medical supplies and services and other assistance necessary for the immediate relief of artisans, laborers, and other employees engaged in any hazardous work under the Forest Service, and for expenses of notifying employees of the death or serious illness of close relatives and, in such cases where no public transportation is available, for transporting the employees to a point where public transportation is available.

Appropriations for the Forest Service shall be available within such limitations as may be prescribed therein for the expenses of properly caring for the graves of persons who have lost their lives as a result of fighting fires while employed by the Forest Service.

Not to exceed $100,000 annually of funds available to the Forest Service may be expended for providing recreation facilities, equipment, and services for use by employees of the Service located at isolated situations and, where deemed to be in the public interest, by members of the immediate families of such employees.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after October 21, 1998, the Forest Service is authorized to employ or otherwise contract with persons at regular rates of pay, as determined by the Service, to perform work occasioned by emergencies such as fires, storms, floods, earthquakes or any other unavoidable cause without regard to Sundays, Federal holidays, and the regular workweek.

Where no suitable Government land is available for national forest headquarters, ranger stations, dwellings, or for other sites required for the effective conduct of the authorized activities of the Forest Service, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to purchase such lands out of the appropriation applicable to the purpose for which the land is to be used, and to accept donations of land for any national forest or experimental purpose: Provided, That such lands may be acquired subject to such reservations and outstanding interests as the Secretary determines will not interfere with the purpose for which acquired: Provided further, That not to exceed $50,000 may be expended in any one fiscal year pursuant to this authority.

Where lands under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service have been acquired and are being administered under laws which contain no provision for their exchange, the Secretary of Agriculture may convey such lands and in exchange therefor may accept on behalf of the United States title to any lands which in his opinion are suitable for use in connection with activities of the Forest Service. The value of the lands so conveyed by the Secretary of Agriculture shall not exceed the value of the lands accepted by him.

Funds available to the Forest Service shall be available for expenses of, or payment of assessment for, construction of sidewalks, curbs, or street paving along the boundary of Government-owned residential or otherwise improved lots.

No part of any funds appropriated for the Forest Service shall be used to pay the transportation or traveling expenses of any forest officer or agent except he be traveling on business directly connected with the Forest Service and in furtherance of the works, aims, and objects specified and authorized by law; nor shall any such funds be paid or used for the purpose of paying for, in whole or in part, the preparation or publication of any newspaper or magazine article, but this shall not prevent the giving out to all persons, without discrimination, including newspapers and magazine writers and publishers, of any facts or official information of value to the public: Provided, That this prohibition shall not apply to scientific or technical articles prepared for or published in scientific publications.

Funds available to the Forest Service may be used, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture for expenses of transporting automobiles of employees of that Service between points in Alaska in connection with transfers of official stations of such employees to meet the needs of the Service.

Funds available to the Forest Service may be used in amounts not exceeding $100 in any single claim, for reimbursing employees of the Forest Service for loss of or damage to clothing and other personal effects resulting from fires, floods, or other casualties at or near the place in which such property is temporarily stored during services of the employees in connection with such casualties.

Advances of money under any appropriation for the Forest Service may be made to the Forest Service and by authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to chiefs of field parties for fighting forest fires in emergency cases and detailed accounts arising under such advances shall be rendered through and by the Department of Agriculture to the Government Accountability Office.

Beginning in fiscal year 1993, and in each year thereafter, only amounts for emergency rehabilitation and wildfire suppression activities that are in excess of the average of such costs for the previous ten years shall be considered “emergency requirements” pursuant to section 901(b)(2)(D) 1

On and after October 5, 1992, funds appropriated to the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service may be used to pay transportation, lodging, and subsistence expenses of student interns, defined as employees who assist scientific, professional, or technical employees and who are bona fide students of accredited colleges or universities who are pursuing courses related to the field in which employed.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1993 and thereafter, appropriations or funds available to the Department of the Interior or the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, may be used to reimburse employees for the cost of State licenses and certification fees pursuant to their employment and that are necessary to comply with State or Federal laws, regulations, or requirements.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after October 21, 1998, any appropriations or funds available to the Forest Service may be used to disseminate program information to private and public individuals and organizations through the use of nonmonetary items of nominal value and to provide nonmonetary awards of nominal value and to incur necessary expenses for the nonmonetary recognition of private individuals and organizations that make contributions to Forest Service programs.

None of the funds made available to the Forest Service in this Act or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year shall be subject to transfer under the provisions of section 2257 of title 7, section 7772 of title 7, or section 8316(b) of title 7.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to furnish subsistence to employees of the Forest Service, to purchase personal equipment and supplies for them, and to make deductions therefor from moneys appropriated for salary payments or otherwise due such employees. He is also authorized, in his discretion, to provide out of moneys appropriated for the general expenses of the Forest Service medical attention for employees of the Forest Service located at isolated situations, including the moving of such employees to hospitals or other places where medical assistance is available, and in case of death to remove the bodies of deceased employees to the nearest place where they can be prepared for shipment or for burial: Provided, That when a transient without permanent residence, or any other person while away from his place of residence, is temporarily employed by the Forest Service and while so employed becomes disabled because of injury or illness not attributable to official work, he may be provided hospitalization and other necessary medical care, subsistence, and lodging for a period of not to exceed fifteen days during such disability, the cost thereof to be payable from any funds available to the Forest Service applicable to the work for which such person is employed.

The Secretary of Agriculture is hereafter authorized, in connection with the administration of the national forests, to enter into contracts for the procurement of services, materials, and supplies for the ensuing fiscal year, prior to the passage of an appropriation therefor: Provided, That such contracts shall aliquot the cost for such service by fiscal years and shall not be binding on the United States as to that part for the ensuing year unless and until an appropriation applicable to the payment thereof is made: And provided further, That all such contracts shall by their terms provide that the obligation of the United States is contingent upon the passage of an applicable appropriation and that no payment thereunder will be made until such appropriation becomes available for expenditure.

The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) is authorized to recruit, train, and accept without regard to the civil service 1

The Secretary is authorized to provide for incidental expenses, such as transportation, uniforms, lodging, and subsistence.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 558a to 558d of this title.

All persons employed in the Forest Service of the United States shall have authority to make arrests for the violation of the laws and regulations relating to the national forests, and any person so arrested shall be taken before the nearest United States magistrate judge, within whose jurisdiction the forest is located, for trial; and upon sworn information by any competent person any United States magistrate judge in the proper jurisdiction shall issue process for the arrest of any person charged with the violation of said laws and regulations; but nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing the arrest by any officer of the United States, without process, of any person taken in the act of violating said laws and regulations.

The Secretary of Agriculture may pay rewards from appropriations available for the protection and management of the national forests, under such regulations as he may prescribe, for information leading to the arrest and conviction for violation of the laws and regulations relating to fires in or near national forests, or for the unlawful taking of, or injury to, Government property.

In order to improve Federal law enforcement activities relating to the use and production of narcotics and controlled substances on lands administered by the Forest Service, from amounts appropriated there shall be made available to the Secretary, in addition to sums made available under other authority of law, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1989, and for each fiscal year thereafter, to be used for employment and training of additional and existing Forest Service law enforcement personnel, for expenses related to such employment, training, equipment, and facilities, and for cooperative programs with State and local law enforcement agencies.

The authorities conferred herein shall be exercised pursuant to an agreement approved by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General.

The Secretary of Agriculture, whenever he may deem it necessary for the protection of the national forests from fire, may permit the use of timber free of charge for the construction of telephone lines.

In order to determine and demonstrate the best methods for the conservative management of forest and forest lands and the protection of timber and other forest products, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed (1) to establish and maintain, in cooperation with the State of California and with the surrounding States, a forest experiment station at such place or places as he may determine to be most suitable, and (2) to conduct, independently or in cooperation with other branches of the Federal Government, the States, universities, colleges, county and municipal agencies, business organizations, and individuals, such silvicultural, dendrological, forest fire, economic, and other experiments and investigations as may be necessary.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to establish and maintain a forest experiment station in the States of the Ohio Valley and central Mississippi Valley, at such a place or places as may be selected by him, and he is authorized and directed to conduct silvicultural, forest-fire, dendrological, and other experiments and investigations, independently or in cooperation with other branches of the Federal Government, and with States, universities, colleges, county and municipal agencies, associations, and individuals, to determine the best methods for the growing, management, and protection of timber crops on forest lands and farm wood lots. Such annual appropriations as may thereafter be necessary for its maintenance and operation are hereby authorized.

In order to determine and demonstrate the best methods for the growing, management, and protection of timber crops on forest lands and farm wood lots, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to establish and maintain a forest experiment station at such place or places as may be determined as most suitable by him, in cooperation with the State of Pennsylvania and with the neighboring States, and to conduct such silvicultural and other forest experiments and investigations as may be necessary, either independently or in cooperation with other organizations, institutions, or individuals, and to carry out the purposes of this section an appropriation in the amount of $30,000 is authorized.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, and on such conditions as he deems wise, to stipulate and agree with any State or group of States to cooperate in the organization and maintenance of a system of fire protection on any private or State forest lands within such State or States and situated upon the watershed of a navigable river. No such stipulation or agreement shall be made with any State which has not provided by law for a system of forest-fire protection. In no case shall the amount expended in any State exceed in any fiscal year the amount appropriated by that State for the same purpose during the same fiscal year.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to cooperate with the Territories of the United States on the same terms and conditions as with States under sections 564 and 565 1

To facilitate the administration of the programs and activities of the Forest Service, the Secretary is authorized to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with public or private agencies, organizations, institutions, or persons to construct, operate, and maintain cooperative pollution abatement equipment and facilities, including sanitary landfills, water systems, and sewer systems; to engage in cooperative manpower and job training and development programs; to develop and publish cooperative environmental education and forest history materials; and to perform forestry protection, including fire protection, timber stand improvement, debris removal, and thinning of trees. The Secretary may enter into aforesaid agreements when he determines that the public interest will be benefited and that there exists a mutual interest other than monetary considerations. In such cooperative arrangements, the Secretary is authorized to advance or reimburse funds to cooperators from any Forest Service appropriation available for similar kinds of work or by furnishing or sharing materials, supplies, facilities, or equipment without regard to the provisions of section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31, relating to the advance of public moneys.

In any agreement authorized by section 565a–1 of this title, cooperators and their employees may perform cooperative work under supervision of the Forest Service in emergencies or otherwise as mutually agreed to, but shall not be deemed to be Federal employees other than for the purposes of chapter 171 of title 28 and chapter 81 of title 5.

Nothing in sections 565a–1 to 565a–3 of this title shall be construed as limiting or modifying the authority of the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements otherwise authorized by law.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, subject to such conditions as he may prescribe, to transfer, without reimbursement or at such prices and upon such terms as he may impose, to States and political subdivisions or agencies thereof fire lookout towers and other structures or improvements used by the Forest Service for fire prevention or suppression purposes, and the land used in connection therewith if such land is outside national forest boundaries, when they are no longer needed by the Forest Service for such purposes but are of value to the State or political subdivision or agency thereof in its fire protection system: Provided, That if any property so transferred is not put to use for the purpose for which it was transferred within two years from the date of transfer, or if, within fifteen years from the date of transfer, any such property should cease to be used for the purpose for which it was transferred for a period of two years, title thereto shall revert to and immediately revest in the United States.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds heretofore or hereafter authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Agriculture or available under any other than the Act of June 7, 1924 (43 Stat. 653), shall be used for carrying out the programs or activities authorized by sections 564, 565, and 566 1 of this title: Provided, That whenever the programs and activities being carried out under the provisions of sections 564, 565, and 566 1

For the purpose of stimulating the acquisition, development, and proper administration and management of State forests and of insuring coordinated effort by Federal and State agencies in carrying out a comprehensive national program of forest-land management, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate officials of any State or States for acquiring in the name of the United States, by purchase or otherwise, such forest lands within the cooperating State as in his judgment the State is adequately prepared to administer, develop, and manage as State forests in accordance with the provisions of sections 567a to 567c of this title and with such other terms not inconsistent therewith as he shall prescribe, such acquisition to include the mapping, examination, appraisal, and surveying of such lands and the doing of all things necessary to perfect title thereto in the United States: Provided, That, since it is the declared policy of Congress to maintain and, where it is in the national interest to extend the national-forest system, nothing herein shall be construed to modify, limit, or change in any manner whatsoever the future ownership and administration by the United States of existing national forests and related facilities, or hereafter to restrict or prevent their extension through the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of additional lands for any national-forest purpose: Provided further, That sections 567a to 567c of this title shall not be construed to limit or repeal any legislation authorizing land exchanges by the Federal Government, and private lands acquired by exchange within the limits of any area subject to a cooperative agreement of the character herein authorized shall hereafter be subject to the provisions of sections 567a to 567c of this title.

For the purposes of sections 567a to 567c of this title, there is authorized to be appropriated, a sum or sums out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not to exceed $5,000,000, as Congress may from time to time appropriate.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed, in cooperation with the land grant colleges and universities of the various States or, in his discretion, with other suitable State agencies, to aid farmers through advice, education, demonstrations, and other similar means in establishing, renewing, protecting, and managing wood lots, shelter belts, windbreaks, and other valuable forest growth, and in harvesting, utilizing, and marketing the products thereof. Except for preliminary investigations, the amount expended by the Federal Government under this section in cooperation with any State or other cooperating agency during any fiscal year shall not exceed the amount expended by the State or other cooperating agency for the same purpose during the same fiscal year, and the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make expenditures on the certificate of the appropriate State official that the State expenditures, as provided for in this section, have been made. There is authorized to be appropriated annually out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $500,000 to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the provisions of this section.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to cooperate with Territories and other possessions of the United States on the same terms and conditions as with States under sections 566, 567,1

To enable owners of lands chiefly valuable for the growing of timber crops to donate or devise such lands to the United States in order to assure future timber supplies for the agricultural and other industries of the State or for other national forest purposes, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, in his discretion, to accept on behalf of the United States title to any such land so donated or devised, subject to such reservations by the donor of the present stand of merchantable timber or of mineral or other rights for a period not exceeding twenty years as the Secretary of Agriculture may find to be reasonable and not detrimental to the purposes of this section, and to pay out of any moneys appropriated for the general expenses of the Forest Service the cost of recording deeds or other expenses incident to the examination and acceptance of title. Any lands to which title is so accepted shall be in units of such size or so located as to be capable of economical administration as national forests either separately or jointly with other lands acquired under this section, or jointly with an existing national forest. All lands to which title is accepted under this section shall, upon acceptance of title, become national forest lands, subject to all laws applicable to lands acquired under the Act of March 1, 1911, and amendments thereto. In the sale of timber from national forest lands acquired under this section preference shall be given to applicants who will furnish the products desired therefrom to meet the necessities of citizens of the United States engaged in agriculture in the States in which such national forest is situated. All property, rights, easements, and benefits authorized by this section to be retained by or reserved to owners of lands donated or devised to the United States shall be subject to the tax laws of the States where such lands are located.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to ascertain and determine the location of public lands chiefly valuable for stream-flow protection or for timber production, which can be economically administered as parts of national forests, and to report his findings to the National Forest Reservation Commission established under the Act of March 1, 1911, and if the commission shall determine that the administration of said lands by the Federal Government will protect the flow of streams used for navigation or for irrigation, or will promote a future timber supply, the President shall lay the findings of the commission before the Congress of the United States.

Notwithstanding the provisions of existing law and without regard to sections 3111 and 3112 of title 40, but within the limitations of cost otherwise applicable, appropriations of the Forest Service may be expended for the erection of buildings, lookout towers, and other structures on land owned by States, counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions, corporations, or individuals: Provided, That prior to such erection there is obtained the right to use the land for the estimated life of or need for the structure, including the right to remove any such structure within a reasonable time after the termination of the right to use the land.

The Forest Service may accept money from timber purchasers for deposit into the Treasury in the trust account, “Forest Service cooperative fund”, which moneys are made available for scaling services requested by purchasers in addition to those required by the Forest Service, and for refunds of amounts deposited in excess of the cost of such work.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to reimburse owners of private property for damage or destruction thereof caused by employees of the United States in connection with the protection, administration, or improvement of the national forests, payment to be made from any funds appropriated for the protection, administration, and improvement of the national forests: Provided, That no payment in excess of $2,500 shall be made on any such claim.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized in cases of emergency to incur such expenses as may be necessary in searching for persons lost in the national forests and in transporting persons seriously ill, injured, or who die within the national forests to the nearest place where the sick or injured person, or the body, may be transferred to interested parties or local authorities.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to establish forest tree nurseries and do all other things needful in preparation for planting on national forests on the scale possible under the appropriations authorized by section 576a of this title: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be deemed to restrict the authority of the said Secretary under other authority of law.

There is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year after year ending June 30, 1934, not to exceed $400,000, to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and operate nurseries, to collect or to purchase tree seed or young trees, to plant trees, and to do all other things necessary for reforestation by planting or seeding national forests and for the additional protection, care, and improvement of the resulting plantations or young growth.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a “Supplemental National Forest Reforestation Fund”, and transfer to that fund beginning with the fiscal year, commencing July 1, 1972, and ending on September 30, 1987, such amounts as may be appropriated therefor. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for such purpose for each of the fiscal years during such period the sum of $65,000,000.

Moneys transferred to the National Forest Reforestation Fund under the provisions of sections 576c to 576e 1

All public lands of the United States situated north of township 60 north in the Counties of Cook and Lake, State of Minnesota, including the natural shore lines of Lake Superior within such area; all public lands of the United States situated in that part of St. Louis County, State of Minnesota, lying north of a line beginning at the northeast corner of Township 63 north, Range 12 west, 4th P. M., thence westerly along the township line to the southwest corner of Township 64 north, Range 18 west, 4th P. M., thence northerly to the northwest corner of Township 65 north, Range 18 west, 4th P. M., thence westerly to the southwest corner, Township 66 north, Range 21 west, 4th P. M., thence northerly along the Township line to its intersection with the international boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada; all public lands of the United States on the shore lines of the lakes and streams forming the international boundary, so far as such lands lie within the areas heretofore described in this section; all public lands of the United States in that part of the Superior National Forest located in Townships 61 and 62, Ranges 12 and 13 west, 4th P. M.; and all public lands of the United States on the shore lines of Burntside Lake and Lake Vermilion, State of Minnesota, are withdrawn from all forms of entry or appropriation under the public land laws of the United States, subject to prior existing legal rights initiated under the public land laws, so long as such claims are maintained as required by the applicable law or laws and subject to such permits and licenses as may be granted or issued by the Department of Agriculture under laws or regulations generally applicable to national forests.

The principle of conserving the natural beauty of shore lines for recreational use shall apply to all Federal lands which border upon any boundary lake or stream contiguous to this area, or any other lake or stream within this area which is now or eventually to be in general use for boat or canoe travel, and that for the purpose of carrying out this principle logging of all such shores to a depth of four hundred feet from the natural water line is forbidden except as the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture may see fit in particular instances to vary the distance for practical reasons: Provided, That in no case shall logging of any timber other than diseased, insect infested, dying, or dead be permitted closer to the natural shore line than two hundred feet, except where necessary to open areas for banking grounds, landings, and other uses connected with logging operations.

In order to preserve the shore lines, rapids, waterfalls, beaches, and other natural features of the region in an unmodified state of nature, no further alteration of the natural water level of any lake or stream within or bordering upon the designated area shall be authorized by any permit, license, lease, or other authorization granted by any official or commission of the United States, which will result in flooding lands of the United States within or immediately adjacent to the Superior National Forest, unless and until specific authority for granting such permit, license, lease, or other authorization shall have first been obtained by special Act from the Congress of the United States covering each such project: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed as interfering with the duties of the International Joint Commission created pursuant to the convention concerning the boundary waters between the United States and Canada and concluded between the United States and Great Britain on January 11, 1909, and action taken or to be taken in accordance with provisions of the convention, protocol, and agreement between the United States and Canada, which were signed at Washington on February 24, 1925, for the purpose of regulating the levels of the Lake of the Woods: Provided, That with the written approval and consent of the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, reservoirs not exceeding one hundred acres in area may be constructed and maintained for the transportation of logs or in connection with authorized recreational uses of national-forest lands, and maximum water levels not higher than the normal high-water mark may be maintained temporarily where essential strictly for logging purposes, in the streams between lakes by the construction and operation of small temporary dams: Provided, however, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from listing for homestead entry under the provisions of the Act of June 11, 1906 (34 Stat. 233), any of the above-described lands found by him to be chiefly valuable for agriculture and not needed for public purposes: Provided further, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to any proposed development for water-power purposes for which an application for license was pending under the terms of the Federal Power Act [16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.] on or before January 1, 1928.

To protect and administer more effectively the publicly owned lands within certain parts of the area described in section 577 of this title, and to accomplish certain public purposes explicit and implicit in sections 577a and 577b of this title, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to acquire any lands or interest in lands, and appurtenances thereto, situated within the area described in section 577d of this title, where in his opinion development or exploitation, or the potentialities for development or exploitation, impair or threaten to impair the unique qualities and natural features of the remaining wilderness canoe country.

The authority granted in section 577c of this title shall be supplemental to the authority granted by existing Acts relating to the acquisition of lands for national-forest purposes and shall not be deemed as repealing any portions of those Acts except as provided hereinafter; and said supplemental authority granted by section 577c of this title, but not the authority granted by existing Acts, shall be confined to the following described areas in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, State of Minnesota:

Township 63 north, range 2 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 5 to 8, inclusive.

Township 63 north, range 3 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 12, inclusive.

Township 63 north, ranges 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 west, fourth principal meridian, entire townships.

Township 63 north, range 9 west, fourth principal meridian, south half section 19 and sections 20 to 36, inclusive.

Township 63 north, range 13 west, fourth principal meridian, section 6.

Township 63 north, range 14 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 12, inclusive, and 14 to 22, inclusive.

Township 63 north, range 15 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 24, inclusive.

Township 63 north, range 16 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 3 inclusive, 10 to 15, inclusive, and 22 to 24, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 3 east, fourth principal meridian, south half section 7.

Township 64 north, range 2 east, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 12, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 1 east, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 4, inclusive, south half section 7, sections 8 to 12, inclusive, 15 to 17, inclusive, and east half section 18.

Township 64 north, range 1 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 17 to 20, inclusive, and 29 to 32, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 2 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 7 to 11, inclusive, and 13 to 36, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 3 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 7 to 36, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 4 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 6, 7, and 10 to 36, inclusive.

Township 64 north, ranges 5, 6, 7, and 8 west, fourth principal meridian, entire townships.

Township 64 north, range 9 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 24, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 10 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 18, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 11 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 4, inclusive, and 9 to 16, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 13 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 5 to 8, inclusive, 15 to 22, inclusive, and 28 to 32, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 14 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 6 to 36, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 15 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 3, inclusive, and 10 to 36, inclusive.

Township 64 north, range 16 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 22 to 27, inclusive, and 34 to 36, inclusive.

Township 65 north, range 2 east, fourth principal meridian, entire township.

Township 65 north, range 1 east, fourth principal meridian, sections 19 to 30, inclusive, and 33 to 36, inclusive.

Township 65 north, range 1 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 19 to 30, inclusive.

Township 65 north, range 4 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 3, inclusive, 10 to 14, inclusive, and 31.

Township 65 north, range 5 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 6, 7, and 18 to 36, inclusive.

Township 65 north, ranges 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 west, fourth principal meridian, entire townships.

Township 65 north, range 12 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 17, inclusive, 20 to 27, inclusive, and 34 to 36, inclusive.

Township 65 north, range 13 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 3, inclusive, and 10 to 12, inclusive.

Township 65 north, range 14 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 18, 19, 30, and 31.

Township 65 north, range 15 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 13, 14, 23 to 26, inclusive, 35 to 36.

Township 66 north, range 4 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 3, 9, 16, 21, 22, 26 to 28, inclusive, and 33 to 36, inclusive.

Township 66 north, range 5 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 2, 8, 9, 16 to 20, inclusive, 30 and 31.

Township 66 north, range 6 west, fourth principal meridian, entire township.

Township 66 north, ranges 11, 12, and 13 west, fourth principal meridian, entire townships.

Township 66 north, range 14 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 28, inclusive, and 33 to 36, inclusive.

Township 66 north, range 15 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 17, inclusive, and 20 to 24, inclusive.

Township 66 north, range 16 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 1 to 5, inclusive, and 9 to 12, inclusive.

Township 67 north, ranges 13, 14, and 15 west, fourth principal meridian, entire townships.

Township 67 north, range 16 west, fourth principal meridian, sections 6 to 8, inclusive, 16 to 18, inclusive, 20, 21, 28, 29, and 32 to 34, inclusive.

Township 67 north, range 17 west, fourth principal meridian, those portions of sections 1, 12, and 13 east of Crane Lake.

Township 68 north, ranges 13, 14, 15, and 16 west, fourth principal meridian, entire townships.

Township 68 north, range 17 west, fourth principal meridian, that portion of section 36 east of Crane Lake.

Except as hereinafter provided, the provisions of sections 577c, 577d, 577e to 577h of this title, are extended and made applicable to the following described lands:

Township 61 north, range 6 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 5 to 8, inclusive; west half section 4; west half section 9.

Township 61 north, range 7 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 12, inclusive.

Township 61 north, range 8 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 3 to 8, inclusive.

Township 61 north, range 9 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 12, inclusive.

Township 61 north, range 10 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1, 2, 11, and 12.

Township 62 north, range 3 west, fourth principal meridian: West half of section 3; sections 4 to 9, inclusive.

Township 62 north, range 4 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 6, inclusive; sections 8 to 15, inclusive.

Township 62 north, range 5 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 24, inclusive.

Township 62 north, range 6 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 20, inclusive; north half section 21; sections 22 to 24, inclusive; sections 29 to 32, inclusive.

Township 62 north, range 7 west, fourth principal meridian: Entire township.

Township 62 north, range 8 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 34, inclusive; north half section 35; north half section 36.

Township 62 north, range 9 west, fourth principal meridian: Entire township.

Township 62 north, range 10 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 6 inclusive; sections 8 to 17, inclusive; sections 21 to 28, inclusive; sections 33 to 36, inclusive.

Township 62 north, range 11 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 and 2.

Township 63 north, range 1 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 4 to 9, inclusive; sections 16 to 21, inclusive.

Township 63 north, range 2 west, fourth principal meridian: Sections 1 to 4, inclusive; sections 9 to 16, inclusive; north half of section 17; north half of section 18; sections 21 to 24, inclusive.

Township 63 north, range 3 west, fourth principal meridian: North half section 13; north half section 14; north half, southwest quarter section 15; sections 16 to 21, inclusive; west half section 22; west half section 27; sections 28 to 33, inclusive; west half section 34.

Township 63 north, range 9 west, fourth principal meridian: Lot 3 section 15; lots 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 section 16; lots 6 and 7 section 19.

Lands shall be acquired by purchase or condemnation under the supplemental authority granted in section 577c of this title only with prior approval of the National Forest Reservation Commission created by section 4 of the Act approved March 1, 1911, as amended, and lands so acquired shall become parts of the Superior National Forest and be subject to the provisions of said Act, as amended, and of such other laws as apply to land acquired under the provisions of said Act, as amended, except as hereinafter provided.

Upon finding and determination by the Secretary of Agriculture that the public purposes and objectives explicit and implicit in sections 577 to 577b of this title, more effectively can be accomplished by exchanging lands of the United States situated within the boundaries described in said sections for other lands in State, county, or private ownership situated within the said boundaries which are more suitable for public ownership, management, and use, for the purposes contemplated by said sections, such lands of the United States shall be subject to exchange under the provisions of sections 485 and 486 of this title, or the provisions of section 516 of this title.

The Secretary of the Treasury, upon the certification of the Secretary of Agriculture, shall pay to the State of Minnesota, at the close of each fiscal year from any national-forest receipts not otherwise appropriated a sum of money equivalent to three-quarters of 1 per centum of the fair appraised value of such national-forest lands as may be situated within the area described in section 577d of this title at the end of each fiscal year; and the payments made hereunder shall be distributed to each of the three aforesaid counties in conformity with the fair appraised value of such national-forest lands in each county: Provided, That the fair appraised value of the lands shall be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture at ten-year intervals and his determination shall be conclusive and final: Provided further, That the first payment to the State of Minnesota under the provisions of this section shall not be due until the close of the first full fiscal year after June 22, 1948: And provided further, That the provisions of section 500 of this title, shall not be applicable to the national-forest lands to which this section applies.

The Secretary of the Treasury, upon the certification of the Secretary of Agriculture, shall pay to the State of Minnesota, at the close of each fiscal year from any national-forest receipts not otherwise appropriated a sum of money equivalent to three-quarters of 1 per centum of the fair appraised value of such national-forest lands as may be situated within the area described in section 577d–1 of this title at the end of each fiscal year; and the payments made hereunder shall be distributed to each of the three aforesaid counties in conformity with the fair appraised value of such national-forest lands in each county: Provided, That the fair appraised value of the lands shall be determined by the Secretary of Agriculture at ten-year intervals and his determination shall be conclusive and final: Provided further, That the first payment to the State of Minnesota under the provisions of this section shall be due at the close of the fiscal year 1959: And provided further, That the provisions of section 500 of this title, shall not be applicable to the national-forest lands to which this section applies.

The Forest Service by contract or otherwise may provide for procurement and operation of aerial facilities and services for the protection and management of the national forests and other lands administered by it, including the furnishing, at the airbase, of facilities, equipment, materials and the preparation, mixing and loading into aircraft, with authority to renew any contract for such purpose annually, not more than twice, without additional advertising.

There is established a working capital fund which shall be available without fiscal year limitation for expenses necessary, including the purchase or construction of buildings and improvements within the limitations thereon set forth in the appropriations for the Forest Service, for furnishing supply and equipment services in support of programs of the Forest Service. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to transfer to the fund, without reimbursement, and to capitalize in the fund at fair and reasonable values, such receivables, inventories, equipment, and other assets as he may determine, and assume the liabilities in connection with such assets: Provided, That the fund shall be credited with advance payments in connection with firm orders and reimbursements from appropriations and funds of the Forest Service, other departmental and Federal agencies, and from other sources, as authorized by law, at rates approximately equal to the cost of furnishing the facilities and service.

Any moneys received by the United States with respect to lands under the administration of the Forest Service (1) as a result of the forfeiture of a bond or deposit by a permittee or timber purchaser for failure to complete performance of improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work required under the permit or timber sale contract or (2) as a result of a judgment, compromise, or settlement of any claim, involving present or potential damage to lands or improvements, shall be covered into the Treasury and are hereby appropriated and made available until expended to cover the cost to the United States of any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work on lands under the administration of the Forest Service rendered necessary by the action which led to the forfeiture, judgment, compromise, or settlement: Provided, That any portion of the moneys so received in excess of the amount expended in performing the work necessitated by the action which led to their receipt shall be transferred to miscellaneous receipts.

The Forest Service shall implement and adhere to the definitions of indirect expenditures established pursuant to Public Law 105–277 on a nationwide basis without flexibility for modification by any organizational level except the Washington Office, and when changed by the Washington Office, such changes in definition shall be reported in budget requests submitted by the Forest Service: Provided further, That the Forest Service shall provide in all future budget justifications, planned indirect expenditures in accordance with the definitions, summarized and displayed to the Regional, Station, Area, and detached unit office level. The justification shall display the estimated source and amount of indirect expenditures, by expanded budget line item, of funds in the agency’s annual budget justification. The display shall include appropriated funds and the Knutson-Vandenberg, Brush Disposal, Cooperative Work-Other, and Salvage Sale funds. Changes between estimated and actual indirect expenditures shall be reported in subsequent budget justifications.

There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the “Forest Service Nonrecurring Expenses Fund” (the Fund): Provided, That unobligated balances of expired discretionary funds, and discretionary no-year funds at least four years old and deemed by the Chief of the Forest Service no longer needed for their intended purpose, appropriated for this or any succeeding fiscal year from the general fund of the Treasury to the Forest Service by this or any other Act may be transferred into the Fund: Provided further, That amounts deposited in the Fund shall be available until expended, and in addition to such other funds as may be available, for information technology; administrative expenses such as, but not limited to, utility and lease payments; facilities infrastructure maintenance, improvements, and construction; and roads infrastructure maintenance, subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, That amounts in the Fund may not be obligated without written notification to and the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate in conformance with the reprogramming guidelines described in this Act.

Appropriations for the work of the Forest Service available for the operation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of motor and other equipment may be reimbursed for use of such equipment on projects of the Forest Service chargeable to other appropriations, or on work of other Federal agencies, when requested by such agencies, reimbursement to be made from appropriations applicable to the work on which used at rental rates fixed by the Chief Forester based on the actual or estimated cost of operation, repair, maintenance, depreciation, and equipment management control, and credited to appropriations currently available at the time adjustment is effected. The Forest Service may also rent equipment for fire-control purposes to State, county, private, or other non-Federal agencies cooperating with the Forest Service in fire control under the terms of written cooperative agreements, the amount collected for such rental to be credited to appropriations currently available at the time payment is received.

The Forest Service may sell and distribute supplies, equipment, and materials to other Government activities and to State and private agencies who cooperate with the Forest Service in fire control under terms of written cooperative agreements, the cost of such supplies, equipment, and materials, including the cost of supervision, transportation, warehousing, and handling, to be reimbursed to appropriations current at the time additional supplies, equipment, and materials are procured for warehouse stocks.

Appropriations for the Forest Service shall be available hereafter for the correction of inductive interference on Forest Service telephone lines caused by transmission lines constructed by organizations financed by loans from the Rural Electrification Administration.

The provisions of section 6101 of title 41 shall not apply to purchases by the Forest Service of (1) materials to be tested or upon which experiments are to be made or (2) special devices, test models, or parts thereof, to be used (a) for experimentation to determine their suitability for or adaptability to accomplishment of the work for which designed or (b) in the designing or developing of new equipment: Provided, That not to exceed $50,000 may be expended in any one fiscal year pursuant to this authority and not to exceed $10,000 on any one item or purchase.

The Secretary of Agriculture, under such regulations as he may prescribe and at rates and for periods not exceeding thirty years as determined by him, is authorized to permit the use by public and private agencies, corporations, firms, associations, or individuals, of structures or improvements under the administrative control of the Forest Service and land used in connection therewith: Provided, That as all or a part of the consideration for permits issued under this section, the Secretary may require the permittees at their expense to renovate, recondition, improve, and maintain the structures and land to a satisfactory standard.

The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to furnish persons attending Forest Service demonstrations, and users of national forest resources and recreational facilities, with meals, lodging, bedding, fuel, and other services, where such facilities are not otherwise available, at rates approximating but not less than the actual or estimated cost thereof and to deposit all moneys received therefor to the credit of the appropriation from which the cost thereof is paid, or a similar appropriation current at the time the moneys are received: Provided, That such receipts obtained in excess of $10,000 in any one fiscal year shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1348 of title 31, appropriations for the protection and management of the national forests and other lands administered by the Forest Service shall be available to pay for telephone service installed in residences of employees and of persons cooperating with the Forest Service who reside within or near such lands when such installation is determined by the Secretary of Agriculture to be needed in protecting such lands: Provided, That in addition to the monthly local service charge, the Government may pay only such tolls or other charges as are required strictly for the public business.

Whenever such action is deemed to be in the public interest, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to pay from any appropriation available for the protection and management of the national forests all or any part of the cost of leasing, seeding, and protective fencing of public range land (other than national forest land) and privately owned land intermingled with or adjacent to national forest or other land administered by the Forest Service, if the use of the land to be seeded is controlled by the Forest Service under a lease or agreement which in the judgment of the Chief of the Forest Service gives the Forest Service control over the land for a sufficient period to justify such expenditures: Provided, That payment may not be made under authority of this section for the seeding of more than one thousand acres in any one private ownership: Provided further, That payment may not be made under authority of this section for the seeding of more than twenty-five thousand acres in any one fiscal year: Provided further, That the period of any lease under this authority may not exceed twenty years.

Of the moneys received from grazing fees by the Treasury from each national forest during each fiscal year there shall be available at the end thereof when appropriated by Congress an amount equivalent to 2 cents per animal-month for sheep and goats and 10 cents per animal-month for other kinds of livestock under permit on such national forest during the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins, which appropriated amount shall be available until expended on such national forest, under such regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, for (1) artificial revegetation, including the collection or purchase of necessary seed; (2) construction and maintenance of drift or division fences and stock-watering places, bridges, corrals, driveways, or other necessary range improvements; (3) control of range-destroying rodents; or (4) eradication of poisonous plants and noxious weeds, in order to protect or improve the future productivity of the range.

Appropriations of the Forest Service chargeable with salaries and wages shall be available for payment to temporary employees of the Forest Service for loss of time due to injury in official work at rates not in excess of those provided by subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, when the injured person is in need of immediate financial assistance to avoid hardship: Provided, That such payment shall not be made for a period in excess of fifteen days and the Secretary of Labor shall be notified promptly of the amount so paid, which amount shall be deducted from the amount, if any, otherwise payable by the Secretary of Labor to the employee on account of the injury, the amount so deducted by the Secretary of Labor to be paid to the Forest Service for deposit to the credit of the Forest Service appropriation from which the expenditure was made: Provided further, That when any person assisting in the suppression of forest fires or in other emergency work under the direction of the Forest Service, without compensation from the United States, pursuant to the terms of a contract, agreement, or permit, is injured in such work, the Forest Service may furnish hospitalization and other medical care, subsistence, and lodging for a period of not to exceed fifteen days during such disability, the cost thereof to be payable from the appropriation applicable to the work upon which the injury occurred, except that this proviso shall not apply when such person is within the purview of a State or other compensation act: Provided further, That determination by the Forest Service that payment is allowable under this section shall be final as to payments made hereunder, but such determination or payments with respect to employees shall not prevent the Secretary of Labor from denying further payments should the Secretary of Labor determine that compensation is not properly allowable under the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5.

The Secretary of Agriculture in regulating grazing on the national forests and other lands administered by him in connection therewith is authorized, upon such terms and conditions as he may deem proper, to issue permits for the grazing of livestock for periods not exceeding ten years and renewals thereof: Provided, That nothing herein shall be construed as limiting or restricting any right, title, or interest of the United States in any land or resources.

It is declared to be the policy of the United States to provide that reservoir areas of projects for flood control, navigation, hydroelectric power development, and other related purposes owned in fee and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers shall be developed and maintained so as to encourage, promote, and assure fully adequate and dependable future resources of readily available timber, through sustained yield programs, reforestation, and accepted conservation practices, and to increase the value of such areas for conservation, recreation, and other beneficial uses: Provided, That such development and management shall be accomplished to the extent practicable and compatible with other uses of the project.

In order to carry out the national policy declared in section 580m of this title, the Chief of Engineers, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army, shall provide for the protection and development of forest or other vegetative cover and the establishment and maintenance of other conservation measures on reservoir areas under his jurisdiction, so as to yield the maximum benefit and otherwise improve such areas. Programs and policies developed pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be coordinated with the Secretary of Agriculture, and with appropriate State conservation agencies.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the necessary expenses of the Forest Service for carrying out the programs for Forest Research, State and Private Forestry, and National Forest System under the appropriations account for Forest Management, Protection, and Utilization, and the programs under the appropriations account for Construction and Land Acquisition: $1,575,552,000 for fiscal year 1981; $1,498,000,000 for fiscal year 1982; $1,560,000,000 for fiscal year 1983; and $1,620,000,000 for fiscal year 1984: Provided, That none of the funds authorized to be appropriated hereby may be used for carrying out the Bald Mountain road in the Siskiyou National Forest.

The Secretary of Agriculture shall deposit into a special account to be available for furthering the nationwide forest-fire prevention campaign all fees collected under regulations promulgated by him relating to “Smokey Bear”.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, fees received by the National Tree Seed Laboratory, administered by the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, for the provision of a tree seed testing service, shall be retained and deposited as a reimbursement to current appropriations used to cover the costs of providing such service.