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Managing America: Health & Safety

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Week Ending July 20, 2007

S.975 A bill granting the consent and approval of Congress to an interstate forest fire protection compact.

Congress gives its consent and approval in this bill to an interstate compact regarding forest and other wildland fires. The bill aims specifically to allow cooperation between Great Plains States to fight fires, provide for liability protection and the loaning or donation of equipment.

Article I of the bill explains, “The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention and control of forest fires in the Great Plains region of the United States by the maintenance of adequate forest fire fighting services by the member states, and by providing for reciprocal aid in fighting forest fires among the compacting states of the region, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and any adjoining sate of a current member state”

The State Forester or equivalent may act as the compact administrator and will interact with similar colleagues in other states to coordinate firefighting. States are authorized to provide all possible aid to a requesting state consonant with maintaining protection at home. “No member state or its officers or employees rendering outside aid pursuant to this compact is liable on account of any act or omission on the part of such forces while so engaged, or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection with rendering the outside aid.” “…nothing in this compact prevents any assisting member state from assuming such loss, damage, expense, or other cost or from loaning such equipment or from donating such services to the receiving member state without charge or cost.”

“Any member state rendering outside and pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the member state receiving the aid for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment answering a request for aid, and for the cost of all materials, transportation, wages, salaries, and maintenance of employees and equipment incurred in connection with such request.”

The compact is effective immediately after two states ratify the compact. States may withdraw from the compact.

Sponsor:  Senator John Thune (R-SD)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent July 13, 2007. Passed House by voice vote July 30, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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