FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
                           WASHINGTON

            TITLE 3100 - COOPERATIVE FIRE PROTECTION

                    Amendment No.  3100-98-13

                     Effective July 22, 1998

POSTING NOTICE.  Amendments are numbered consecutively by Title 
and calendar year.  Post by document name.  Remove entire 
document and replace with this amendment.  Retain this 
transmittal as the first page of this document.  The last 
amendment to this Title was Amendment 3100-98-12 to FSM 3170 
Contents.

This amendment supersedes Amendment 3100-90-1 to FSM 3170.

                                   Superseded    New
   Document Name                   (Number of Pages)

   3170                                3         3

Digest:

3170 - Revises, reorganizes, and recodes direction throughout 
chapter FSM 3170.

3170.2 - Establishes objectives for cooperation in fire 
management.

3171 - Changes caption to "Agreements" (formerly "Federal Excess 
Personal Property") and adds direction.

3171.04 - Adds direction on responsibilities of Regional 
Foresters, the Area Director, and the Institute Director in 
negotiating cooperative fire protection agreements and contracts.




MIKE DOMBECK
Chief
             
             






             FSM 3100 - COOPERATIVE FIRE PROTECTION
                     WO AMENDMENT 3100-98-13
                        EFFECTIVE 7/22/98

                   CHAPTER 3170 - COOPERATION

For direction related to authorities and responsibilities for 
cooperation in fire management, see FSM 5170.  Further direction 
on developing and negotiating cooperative agreements for fire 
protection purposes is contained in FSM 1580 and FSH 1509.11.

3170.02 - Objective.  The objective of cooperation in fire 
protection is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of 
programs for fire management and protection on State, private and 
Federal lands.

3171 - AGREEMENTS.  Several types of agreements and other 
instruments are appropriate for establishing fire management 
cooperation between the Forest Service, States, territories, and 
private entities (FSM 3171.1-3171.4).

3171.04 - Responsibility.  Regional Foresters, the Area Director, 
and the Institute Director have the authority and responsibility 
to negotiate agreements and contracts for cooperative fire 
protection with States, other governmental jurisdictions, and 
landowners (including individuals, corporations, and 
associations).

3171.1 - Cooperative Fire Agreements With States and Other 
Political Subdivisions.  Regional Foresters, the Area Director, 
and the Institute Director may negotiate fire protection 
cooperative agreements or contracts with States and other 
governmental subdivisions within their areas of responsibility.  
Such agreements must clearly define areas of fire protection 
responsibility that each agency will perform 
(FSH 1509.11, ch. 20).

3171.2 - Agreements With States for Loan of Federal Excess 
Personal Property.  Regional Foresters (except in Region 9), the 
Area Director, and the Institute Director shall enter into 
cooperative agreements with each State Forester or other 
appropriate responsible fire protection agency to provide for the 
acquisition, management, and disposal of personal property 
through the Federal excess personal property program (FEPP). 

3171.3 - Agreements With Individual, Company, and Corporate 
Landowners and Forest Protection Associations.  Regional 
Foresters, the Area Director, and the Institute Director may 
establish procedures to be followed by their units in negotiating 
cooperative fire management agreements or contracts with 
landowners, including individuals, companies, corporations, and 
associations.  State Foresters should be consulted in negotiation 
and development of such agreements 
(FSH 1509.11, ch. 20).

3171.4 - Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compacts.

3171.41 - Objective.  To promote effective fire protection within 
a group of two or more States and/or contiguous Canadian 
Provinces. 

3171.42 - Responsibility.  Regional Foresters and the Area 
Director may advise and otherwise assist States with the 
development and maintenance of interstate compacts and with 
related multi-state fire coordination activities.

3171.43 - Definition.

Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact.  A formal working 
agreement between or among two or more States and/or contiguous 
Canadian Provinces providing for mutual aid and cooperation in 
fire protection.

3171.44 - Application.  Interstate forest fire protection 
compacts are particularly valuable and appropriate in parts of 
the country where Federal wildland management agencies have 
limited presence and responsibility, such as east of the Rocky 
Mountains (Regions 8 and 9 and the Northeastern Area).  Examples 
of existing compacts are the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection 
Compact, which includes seven Northeastern States and three 
Canadian Provinces; the South Central Compact, which includes six 
States; and the Southeastern Compact, which includes ten States.