16 USC 3705 - Volunteer status

Collapse to view only § 3705. Volunteer status

§ 3701. Establishment and purposes of Foundation
§ 3702. Board of Directors of Foundation
§ 3703. Rights and obligations of Foundation
§ 3704. Administrative services and support
§ 3705. Volunteer status
§ 3706. Audits, report requirements, and petition of Attorney General for equitable relief
§ 3707. United States release from liability
§ 3708. Reservation of right to amend or repeal chapter
§ 3709. Authorization of appropriations
§ 3710. Limitation on authority

§ 3701. Establishment and purposes of Foundation

(a) Establishment

(b) Purposes

The purposes of the Foundation are—

(1) to encourage, accept, and administer private gifts of property for the benefit of, or in connection with, the activities and services of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to further the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources;

(2) to undertake and conduct such other activities as will further the conservation and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources of the United States, and its territories and possessions, for present and future generations of Americans; and

(3) to participate with, and otherwise assist, foreign governments, entities, and individuals in undertaking and conducting activities that will further the conservation and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources of other countries.

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 2, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 107; Pub. L. 100–240, § 1(a), Jan. 11, 1988, 101 Stat. 1785; Pub. L. 103–232, title I, § 102, Apr. 11, 1994, 108 Stat. 336; Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 202, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1777.)

§ 3702. Board of Directors of Foundation

(a) Establishment and membership

(1) In general

(2) Representation of diverse points of view

(3) Not Federal employees

(b) Appointment and terms

(1) Agency heads

(2) Appointment of DirectorsAfter consulting with the Secretary of Commerce and considering the recommendations submitted by the Board, the Secretary of the Interior shall appoint 28 Directors who, to the maximum extent practicable, shall—

(A) be knowledgeable and experienced in matters relating to the conservation of fish, wildlife, or other natural resources; and

(B) represent a balance of expertise in ocean, coastal, freshwater, and terrestrial resource conservation.

(3) Terms

(4) Vacancies

(A) In general

(B) Term of appointments to fill unexpired terms

(5) Reappointment

(6) Request for removal

(7) Consultation before removal

(d) Quorum

(e) Meetings

(f) Reimbursement of expenses

(g) General powers

(1) The Board may complete the organization of the Foundation by—

(A) appointing officers and employees;

(B) adopting a constitution and bylaws consistent with the purposes of the Foundation and the provisions of this chapter; and

(2) The following limitations apply with respect to the appointment of officers and employees of the Foundation:

(A) In general

(B) Executive DirectorThe Foundation shall have an Executive Director who shall be—

(i) appointed by, and serve at the direction of, the Board as the chief executive officer of the Foundation; and

(ii) knowledgeable and experienced in matters relating to fish and wildlife conservation.

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 3, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 107; Pub. L. 101–593, title I, § 110(b), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2959; Pub. L. 103–232, title I, § 103(a)(1), (b), Apr. 11, 1994, 108 Stat. 336; Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 203(a), (b), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1777, 1778; Pub. L. 110–281, § 2, July 21, 2008, 122 Stat. 2617; Pub. L. 116–188, title I, § 107(a)(1), Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 917.)

§ 3703. Rights and obligations of Foundation

(a) In generalThe Foundation—

(1) shall have perpetual succession;

(2) may conduct business throughout the several States, territories, and possessions of the United States and abroad;

(3) shall have its principal offices in the District of Columbia or in a county in the State of Maryland or Virginia that borders on the District of Columbia; and

(4) shall at all times maintain a designated agent authorized to accept service of process for the Foundation.

The serving of notice to, or service of process upon, the agent required under paragraph (4), or mailed to the business address of such agent, shall be deemed as service upon or notice to the Foundation.

(b) Seal

(1) In generalTo carry out the purposes described in section 3701 of this title, the Foundation shall have, in addition to the powers otherwise given it under this chapter, the usual powers of a corporation acting as a trustee in the District of Columbia, including the power—

(A) to accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer and use any gift, devise, or bequest, either absolutely or in trust, of real or personal property or any income therefrom or other interest therein;

(B) to acquire by purchase or exchange any real or personal property or interest therein, subject to subsection (e);

(C) to invest any funds provided to the Foundation by the Federal Government in obligations of the United States or in obligations or securities that are guaranteed or insured by the United States;

(D) to deposit any funds provided to the Foundation by the Federal Government into accounts at 1 or more financial institutions that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investment Protection Corporation;

(E) to make use of any interest or investment income that accrues as a consequence of actions taken under subparagraph (C) or (D) to carry out the purposes of the Foundation;

(F) to use Federal funds to make payments under cooperative agreements entered into with willing private landowners to provide substantial long-term benefits for the restoration or enhancement of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources on private land;

(G) unless otherwise required by the instrument of transfer, to sell, donate, lease, invest, reinvest, retain or otherwise dispose of any property or income therefrom;

(H) to borrow money and issue bonds, debentures, or other debt instruments;

(I) to sue and be sued, and complain and defend itself in any court of competent jurisdiction, except that the Directors of the Foundation shall not be personally liable, except for gross negligence;

(J) to enter into contracts or other arrangements with public agencies and private organizations and persons and to make such payments as may be necessary to carry out its function; and 1

1 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.

(K) to receive and administer restitution and community service payments, amounts for mitigation of impacts to natural resources, and other amounts arising from legal, regulatory, or administrative proceedings, subject to the condition that the amounts are received or administered for purposes that further the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources; and

(L) to do acts necessary to carry out the purposes of the Foundation.

(2) Treatment of real property

(A) In general

(B) Encumbered real property

(3) Savings clause

(d) Certain lands, waters, and interests not subject to condemnation

(e) Acquisition, management, and disposal of real property

(1) The Foundation may only use Federal funds for the acquisition of interests in real property if—

(A) the interest is a long-term property interest, and

(B) the Foundation notifies the Federal agency that administers the program under which the funds were provided of the proposed acquisition, and the agency does not object in writing to the proposed acquisition within 60 calendar days after the date of the notification.

(2) The Foundation shall convey to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion within the National Wildlife Refuge System any real property acquired by the Foundation in whole or in part with Federal funds if the Director, within one year after the date on which the property was acquired by the Foundation, requests the conveyance in writing.

(3)

(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Foundation may—

(i) convey to another person any real property acquired in whole or in part with Federal funds and not conveyed under paragraph (2); and

(ii) grant or otherwise provide Federal funds to another person for purposes of assisting that person to acquire real property in whole or in part with such funds.

(B) The Foundation may only make a conveyance or provide Federal funds under subparagraph (A) if—

(i) the conveyance or provision is subject to terms and conditions that will ensure that the real property will be administered for the long-term conservation and management of fish and wildlife and in a manner that will provide for appropriate public access and use; and

(ii) the Foundation notifies the Federal agency that administers the Federal program under which the funds were provided of the proposed conveyance or provision of Federal funds, and the agency does not object in writing to the proposed conveyance or provision of Federal funds within 60 calendar days after the date of the notification.

(4) All real property acquired by the Foundation in whole or in part with Federal funds and held by it shall be administered for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife and in a manner that will provide for appropriate public access and use.

(5)Reconveyance of real property.—The Foundation shall convey at not less than fair market value any real property acquired by the Foundation in whole or in part with Federal funds if the Foundation notifies the Federal agency that administers the Federal program under which the funds were provided, and the agency does not disagree within 60 calendar days after the date of the notification, that—

(A) the property is no longer valuable for the purpose of conservation or management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources; and

(B) the purposes of the Foundation would be better served by use of the proceeds of the conveyance for other authorized activities of the Foundation.

(f) Expenditures for printing services or capital equipment

(g) Notice to Members of Congress

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 4, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 108; Pub. L. 100–240, §§ 1(b), 2(a), (b)(1), Jan. 11, 1988, 101 Stat. 1785, 1786; Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(b) [title IX, § 903], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–50, 2681–120; Pub. L. 106–408, title II, §§ 203(c)(1), 204(a)–(c), (e)–(g), 206, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1779, 1780; Pub. L. 109–363, title II, § 203, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2075; Pub. L. 116–188, title I, § 107(b), Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 918.)

§ 3704. Administrative services and support

(a) Provision of services

(b) Reimbursement

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 5, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 109; Pub. L. 100–240, § 3, Jan. 11, 1988, 101 Stat. 1786; Pub. L. 100–653, title IX, § 903, Nov. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 3834.)

§ 3705. Volunteer status

The Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce may accept, without regard to the civil service classification laws, rules, or regulations, the services of the Foundation, the Board, and the officers and employees of the Board, without compensation from the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as volunteers in the performance of the functions authorized herein, in the manner provided for under section 742f(c) of this title.

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 6, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 109; Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 203(c)(2), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1779.)

§ 3706. Audits, report requirements, and petition of Attorney General for equitable relief

(a) Audits

(b) Report

If the Foundation—

(1) engages in, or threatens to engage in, any act, practice, or policy that is inconsistent with its purposes set forth in section 3701(b) of this title; or

(2) refuses, fails, or neglects to discharge its obligations under this chapter, or threatens to do so;

the Attorney General of the United States may petition in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for such equitable relief as may be necessary or appropriate.

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 7, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 110; Pub. L. 100–240, § 2(b)(2), Jan. 11, 1988, 101 Stat. 1786; Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 205, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1780.)

§ 3707. United States release from liability

The United States shall not be liable for any debts, defaults, acts, or omissions of the Foundation nor shall the full faith and credit of the United States extend to any obligation of the Foundation.

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 8, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 110.)

§ 3708. Reservation of right to amend or repeal chapter

The Congress expressly reserves the right to repeal or amend this chapter at any time.

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 9, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 110.)

§ 3709. Authorization of appropriations

(a) Authorization of appropriations

(1) In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025—

(A) $15,000,000 to the Secretary of the Interior;

(B) $5,000,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture; and

(2) Requirement of advance payment

(3) Use of appropriated funds

(4) Prohibition on use for administrative expenses

(b) Additional authorization

(1) Amounts from Federal agencies

(A) In general

(B) Advances

(2) Use of amounts accepted from Federal agencies

(3) Administration of amounts

(A) In general

In entering into contracts, agreements, or other partnerships pursuant to this Act, a Federal department, agency, or instrumentality shall have discretion to waive any competitive process applicable to the department, agency, or instrumentality for entering into contracts, agreements, or partnerships with the Foundation if the purpose of the waiver is—

(i) to address an environmental emergency resulting from a natural or other disaster; or

(ii) as determined by the head of the applicable Federal department, agency, or instrumentality, to reduce administrative expenses and expedite the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources.

(B) Reports

Amounts provided as a grant by the Foundation shall not be used for—

(1) any expense related to litigation; or

(2) any activity the purpose of which is to influence legislation pending before Congress.

(d) Use of gifts, devises, or bequests of money or other property

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 10, Mar. 26, 1984, 98 Stat. 110; Pub. L. 100–240, § 4, Jan. 11, 1988, 101 Stat. 1786; Pub. L. 101–593, title I, § 110(c), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2960; Pub. L. 103–232, title I, § 104, Apr. 11, 1994, 108 Stat. 337; Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 207, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1781; Pub. L. 107–141, § 6, Feb. 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 14; Pub. L. 109–363, title II, §§ 202, 204, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2075; Pub. L. 116–188, title I, § 107(c), Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 919.)

§ 3710. Limitation on authority

Nothing in this chapter authorizes the Foundation to perform any function the exclusive authority for which is provided to the National Park Foundation by subchapter II of chapter 1011 of title 54.

(Pub. L. 98–244, § 11, as added Pub. L. 106–408, title II, § 208, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1781; amended Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(35), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3267; Pub. L. 116–188, title I, § 107(d), Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 920.)