---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 551a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "551a"
heading: "Cooperation by Secretary of Agriculture with States and political subdivisions in law enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/551a"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Forests; Forest Service; Reforestation; Management"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §551a. Cooperation by Secretary of Agriculture with States and political subdivisions in law enforcement


The [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) 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](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof, on lands which are within or part of any [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of the national forest system, in the enforcement or supervision of the laws or ordinances of a [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof. Such cooperation may include the reimbursement of a [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or its [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) for expenditures incurred in connection with activities on national forest system lands. This section shall not deprive any [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof of its right to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction, within or on lands which are a part of the national forest system.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–82, Aug. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 303.)