---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 559d"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "559d"
heading: "Cooperation with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/559d"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Forests; Forest Service; Reforestation; Management"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

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


For the purposes of sections [559b](/usc/16/559b.md) to [559f](/usc/16/559f.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/16/590q.md?p=a), 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/16/590q.md?p=a) drug control laws or ordinances for offenses committed within the National Forest System or which affect the administration of the National Forest System.[^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 System, or which affect the administration of the National Forest System;
- (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 System, 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/16/590q.md?p=a) or political [subdivision](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) thereof for the purpose of cooperating in a multi-agency law enforcement task force 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).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–570, title XV, § 15004, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–191; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6254(c), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4364.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Controlled Substances Act, referred to in pars. (3) and (5), is title II of Pub. L. 91–513, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1242, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 801 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 801 of Title 21 and Tables.

### Amendments

1988—Par. (2). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6254(c)(2), substituted “for offenses committed within the National Forest System or which affect the administration of the National Forest System” for “, within the boundaries of the National Forest System”.

Pars. (3) to (5). Pub. L. 100–690, § 6254(c)(3), added pars. (3) to (5).