Federal · Title 16 — Conservation

16 U.S.C. § 551a: Cooperation by Secretary of Agriculture with States and political subdivisions in law enforcement

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

The Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with states and local governments to enforce state and local laws on national forest and grassland lands, including reimbursing their enforcement costs. States retain their civil and criminal jurisdiction on these lands.

Read the full statutory text

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.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.