### §1703. Duties and functions of Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture

#### (a) Programs and projects; conditions of employment; regulations; use of facilities by educational institutions

In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall—

(1) determine the areas under their administrative jurisdictions which are appropriate for carrying out the programs using employees of the Corps;

(2) determine with other Federal agencies the areas under the administrative jurisdiction of these agencies which are appropriate for carrying out programs using members of the Corps, and determine and select appropriate work and education programs and projects for participation by members of the Corps;

(3) determine the rates of pay, hours, and other conditions of employment in the Corps, except that all members of the Corps shall not be deemed to be Federal employees other than for the purpose of chapter 171 of title 28, and chapter 81 of title 5.1

(4) provide for such transportation, lodging, subsistence, and other services and equipment as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the needs of members of the Corps in their duties;

(5) promulgate regulation 2 to insure the safety, health, and welfare of the Corps members; and

(6) provide to the extent possible, that permanent or semipermanent facilities used as Corps camps be made available to local schools, school districts, State junior colleges and universities, and other education institutions for use as environmental/ecological education camps during periods of nonuse by the Corps program.

Costs for operations maintenance, and staffing of Corps camp facilities during periods of use by non-Corps programs as well as any liability for personal injury or property damage stemming from such use shall be the responsibility of the entity or organization using the facility and shall not be a responsibility of the Secretaries or the Corps.

#### (b) Use of unoccupied Federal facilities and equipment

Existing but unoccupied Federal facilities and surplus or unused equipment (or both), of all types including military facilities and equipment, shall be utilized for the purposes of the Corps, where appropriate and with the approval of the Federal agency involved. To minimize transportation costs, Corps members shall be employed on conservation projects as near to their places of residence as is feasible.

#### (c) Contracts for the operation of projects

The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may contract with any public agency or organization or any private nonprofit agency or organization which has been in existence for at least five years for the operation of any Youth Conservation Corps project.

(Pub. L. 91–378, title I, §103, formerly §3, Aug. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 795; Pub. L. 92–597, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1319; Pub. L. 93–408, Sept. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1067; renumbered title I, §103, and amended Pub. L. 103–82, title I, §105(1)–(3), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 848.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–82, §105(2), substituted "subchapter" for "chapter" in introductory provisions.

1974—Pub. L. 93–408 reenacted existing provisions with minor changes.

1972—Pub. L. 92–597 substantially reenacted existing provisions and inserted provisions requiring the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to determine and select appropriate work and education programs and projects for participation by members of the Corps and to provide that permanent or semipermanent facilities used as Corps camps be made available to local schools, school districts, and such other institutions for use as environmental education camps during periods of nonuse by the Corps program, that the costs of operation, maintenance, and staffing of Corps camp facilities during periods of use by non-Corps programs and liabilities arising from such use shall be the responsibility of the organization using the facility and, struck out provisions requiring preparation and submission to the President of a report not later than Aug. 13, 1971, for transmittal to the Congress for review and appropriate action, and that the provisions of Title II of the Revenue and Expenditure Control Act of 1968 shall not apply to appointments made to the Corps, to temporary supervisory personnel, or to temporary program support staff.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 1701 of this title.

1 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

2 So in original. Probably should be "regulations".