---
kind: "range"
citation: "16 U.S.C. §§ 565a–1–565a–3"
title: "16"
from: "565a–1"
to: "565a–3"
count: 3
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/565a-1..565a-3"
---

# §565a–1. Cooperative agreements between Secretary of Agriculture and public or private agencies, organizations, institutions, and persons covering Forest Service programs; authority; funding


To facilitate the administration of the [programs](/usc/16/460ss–6.md?p=1) and activities of the Forest Service, the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) is authorized to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with public or private agencies, organizations, institutions, or [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) to construct, operate, and maintain cooperative pollution abatement equipment and facilities, including sanitary landfills, water [systems](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14), and sewer [systems](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14); to engage in cooperative manpower and job training and development [programs](/usc/16/460ss–6.md?p=1); to develop and publish cooperative environmental education and forest history materials; and to perform forestry protection, including fire protection, timber stand improvement, debris removal, and thinning of trees. The [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) may enter into aforesaid agreements when he determines that the public interest will be benefited and that there exists a mutual interest other than monetary considerations. In such cooperative arrangements, the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) is authorized to advance or reimburse [funds](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=2) to cooperators from any Forest Service appropriation available for similar kinds of work or by furnishing or sharing materials, supplies, facilities, or equipment without regard to the provisions of section [3324(a)](/usc/31/3324.md?p=a) and [(b)](/usc/31/3324.md?p=b) of title 31, relating to the advance of public moneys.


# §565a–2. Federal employee status of cooperators


In any agreement authorized by [section 565a–1 of this title](/usc/16/565a–1.md), cooperators and their employees may perform cooperative work under supervision of the Forest Service in emergencies or otherwise as mutually agreed to, but shall not be deemed to be Federal employees other than for the purposes of [chapter 171](/usc/28/chptVI-ch171.md) of title 28 and [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII-sptG-ch81.md) of title 5.


# §565a–3. Agreements otherwise authorized by law


Nothing in [sections 565a–1 to 565a–3](/usc/16/565a–1..565a–3.md) of this title shall be construed as limiting or modifying the authority of the [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) to enter into cooperative agreements otherwise authorized by law.