42 U.S.C. § 5173 — Debris removal

(a) Presidential authority. When the President decides it is in the public interest, the President may:

(1) use Federal departments, agencies, and other Federal bodies to clear major-disaster debris and wreckage from public and private land and water; and

(2) give grants to a State^*, local government^*, or owner^* or operator of a private nonprofit facility^* to remove that debris or wreckage.

(b) State or local authorization and indemnity. The President may use this authority only after the affected State or local government has arranged unconditional permission to remove debris or wreckage from public and private property. For removal from private property, the State or local government must also agree to protect the Federal Government against claims arising from the removal.

(c) Large lots. The President must issue rules recognizing differences among urban, suburban, and rural land so debris and wreckage can be adequately removed from large lots.

(d) Federal share. The Federal share must be at least 75 percent of the eligible removal cost.

(e) Expedited payments.

(1) Grant assistance. When making a grant under subsection (a)(2), the President must pay at least 50 percent of the President’s initial estimate of the Federal share as an initial payment.

(2) Date of payment. The initial payment must be made by the later applicable deadline: no later than 60 days after the estimate, and no later than 90 days after the State, local government, or private nonprofit facility owner or operator applies for assistance.