---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6502"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6502"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6502"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Healthy Forest Restoration"
---

# §6502. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Federal land—** The term “Federal land” means—
  - (A) land of the National Forest System (as defined in [section 1609(a) of this title](/usc/16/1609.md?p=a)) administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service; and
  - (B) [public lands](/usc/16/620e.md?p=7) (as defined in [section 1702 of title 43](/usc/43/1702.md)), the surface of which is administered by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
- (2) **Indian tribe—** The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–148, § 3, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1888.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 108–148, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1887, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6501 of this title and Tables.