16 U.S.C. § 551c — Planning for fire protection

(a) Volunteer firefighters.—The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior must annually offer training programs to certify volunteers to suppress forest fires on National Forest System lands, National Park System lands, and Bureau of Land Management public lands when the appropriate Secretary determines that the volunteers are needed. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretaries should use existing authority to train volunteer firefighters for fire emergencies and should assess the ability of educational institutions and other public and private organizations to provide the training programs. (b) “Educational institutions” defined.—For this section, “educational institutions” includes institutions established under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), commonly called the “Morrill Act,” or the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), commonly called the “Second Morrill Act.” This section does not otherwise define “educational institutions.” (c) Mobilization of local equipment.—Not later than one year after May 9, 1990— (1) the Secretary of Agriculture must submit to Congress information about regions of the National Forest System; and (2) the Secretary of the Interior must submit to Congress information about Bureau of Land Management public lands on a State-by-State basis and about each region of the National Park System. The information must document mobilization plans providing for the use of firefighting equipment in fire emergencies that may occur in each area that may be highly prone to disastrous forest fires. (d) Presuppression needs.—Not later than one year after May 9, 1990, information from the Secretary of Agriculture about presuppression needs for each National Forest System region, and information from the Secretary of the Interior about presuppression needs for each National Park System region and each State unit of the Bureau of Land Management, must be submitted to Congress. The reports must include needs, including an estimate of the funds required, for fire prevention, fuel reduction, training, and seasonal fire crews.