---
kind: "range"
citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 559b–559f"
title: "16"
from: "559b"
to: "559f"
count: 5
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/559b..559f"
---

# §559b. Prevention of manufacture, etc., of marijuana and other controlled substances

- (a) **Purpose—** The purpose of [sections 559b to 559f](/usc/16/559b..559f.md) of this title is to authorize the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture (hereinafter in [sections 559b to 559f](/usc/16/559b..559f.md) of this title referred to as the “[Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3)”) to take actions necessary, in connection with the administration and use of the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14), to prevent the [manufacture](#c), distribution, or dispensing of marijuana and other controlled substances.
- (b) **Law enforcement authority—** Nothing in [sections 559b to 559f](/usc/16/559b..559f.md) of this title shall diminish in any way the law enforcement authority of the Forest Service.
- (c) **Definitions—** As used in [sections 559b to 559f](/usc/16/559b..559f.md) of this title, the terms “manufacture”, “dispense”, and “distribute” shall have the same meaning given such terms in [section 802 of title 21](/usc/21/802.md).

# §559c. Powers of officers and employees of Forest Service


For the purposes of [sections 559b to 559f](/usc/16/559b..559f.md) of this title, if specifically designated by the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) and specially trained, not to exceed 1,000 special agents and law enforcement officers of the Forest Service when in the performance of their duties shall have authority to—

- (1) carry firearms;
- (2) conduct, within the exterior boundaries of the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14), investigations of [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of and enforce [section 841 of title 21](/usc/21/841.md) and other criminal [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) relating to marijuana and other controlled substances that are manufactured, distributed, or dispensed on [National Forest System lands](/usc/16/6592c.md?p=a-5) and to conduct such investigations and enforcement of such laws outside the exterior boundaries of the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) for offenses committed within the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) or which affect the administration of the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) (including the pursuit of [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) suspected of such offenses who flee the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) to avoid arrest);
- (3) make arrests with a warrant or process for misdemeanor [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11), or without a warrant or process for [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of such misdemeanors that any such officer or employee has probable cause to believe are being committed in his presence or view, or for a felony with a warrant or without a warrant if he has probable cause to believe that the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony, for offenses committed within the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) or which affect the administration of the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14);;[^1]
- (4) serve warrants and other process issued by a court or officer of competent jurisdiction;
- (5) search with or without warrant or process any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), place, or conveyance according to Federal law or rule of law; and
- (6) seize with or without warrant or process any evidentiary item according to Federal law or rule of law.

# §559d. Cooperation with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies


For the purposes of [sections 559b to 559f](/usc/16/559b..559f.md) of this title, in exercising the authority provided by [section 559c of this title](/usc/16/559c.md)—

- (1) the Forest Service shall cooperate with any other Federal law enforcement agency having primary investigative jurisdiction over the offense committed;
- (2) the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) may authorize the Forest Service to cooperate with the law enforcement officials of any Federal agency, [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2), or political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) in the investigation of [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of and enforcement of section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act ([21 U.S.C. 841](/usc/21/841.md)), other laws and regulations relating to marijuana and other controlled substances, and [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) drug control laws or ordinances for offenses committed within the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) or which affect the administration of the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14).[^1]
- (3) the Forest Service shall cooperate with the Attorney General in carrying out the seizure and forfeiture provisions of section 511 of the Controlled Substances Act ([21 U.S.C. 881](/usc/21/881.md)) for [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of the Controlled Substances Act [[21 U.S.C. 801](/usc/21/801.md) et seq.] relating to offenses committed within the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14), or which affect the administration of the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14);
- (4) the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) is authorized to designate law enforcement officers of any other Federal agency, when the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) determines such designation to be economical and in the public interest, and with the concurrence of that agency, to exercise the powers and authorities of the Forest Service while assisting the Forest Service in the [National Forest](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3) [System](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14), or for activities administered by the Forest Service; and
- (5) the Forest Service is authorized to accept law enforcement designation from any other Federal agency or agency of a [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) or political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof for the purpose of cooperating in a multi-agency law enforcement [task force](/usc/16/4702.md?p=15) investigation of [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of the Controlled Substances Act [[21 U.S.C. 801](/usc/21/801.md) et seq.] and other offenses committed in the course of or in connection with such [violations](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11).

# §559e. Forest Service authorization


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](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3), in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) 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](/usc/16/460ss–6.md?p=1) with [State](/usc/16/6456.md?p=2) and local law enforcement agencies.


# §559f. Approval of Secretary of Agriculture and Attorney General


The authorities conferred herein shall be exercised pursuant to an agreement approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture and the Attorney General.