I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3050 
To grant the consent and approval of Congress to an interstate forest fire 
protection compact. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 16, 2007 
Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To grant the consent and approval of Congress to an 
interstate forest fire protection compact. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CONSENT OF CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The consent and approval of Con-
gress is given to an interstate forest fire protection com-
pact, as set out in subsection (b). 
(b) COMPACT.—The compact reads substantially as 
follows: 
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‘‘THE GREAT PLAINS WILDLAND FIRE 
PROTECTION AGREEMENT 
‘‘THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and be-
tween the State, Provincial and Territorial wildland fire 
protection agencies signatory hereto, hereinafter referred 
to as ‘Members’. 
‘‘FOR, AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the fol-
lowing terms and conditions, the Members agree: 
‘‘ARTICLE I 
‘‘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 ade-
quate 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. 
‘‘ARTICLE II 
‘‘This compact is operative immediately as to those 
states ratifying it if any two or more of the member states 
have ratified it. 
‘‘ARTICLE III 
‘‘In each state, the state forester or officer holding 
the equivalent position who is responsible for forest fire 
control may act as compact administrator for that state 
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and may consult with like officials of the other member 
states and may implement cooperation between the states 
in forest fire prevention and control. The compact admin-
istrators of the member states may organize to coordinate 
the services of the member states and provide administra-
tive integration in carrying out the purposes of this com-
pact. Each member state may formulate and put in effect 
a forest fire plan for that state. 
‘‘ARTICLE IV 
‘‘If the state forest fire control agency of a member 
state requests aid from the state forest fire control agency 
of any other member state in combating, controlling, or 
preventing forest fires, the state forest fire control agency 
of that state may render all possible aid to the requesting 
agency, consonant with the maintenance of protection at 
home. 
‘‘ARTICLE V 
‘‘If the forces of any member state are rendering out-
side aid pursuant to the request of another member state 
under this compact, the employees of the state shall, under 
the direction of the officers of the state to which they are 
rendering aid, have the same powers (except the power 
of arrest), duties, rights, privileges, and immunities as 
comparable employees of the state to which they are ren-
dering aid. 
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‘‘No member state or its officers or employees ren-
dering 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 ren-
dering the outside aid. 
‘‘All liability, except as otherwise provided in this 
compact, that may arise either under the laws of the re-
questing state or under the laws of the aiding state or 
under the laws of a third state on account of or in connec-
tion with a request for aid, shall be assumed and borne 
by the requesting state. 
‘‘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, transpor-
tation, wages, salaries, and maintenance of employees and 
equipment incurred in connection with such request. How-
ever, nothing in this compact prevents any assisting mem-
ber state from assuming such loss, damage, expense, or 
other cost or from loaning such equipment or from donat-
ing such services to the receiving member state without 
charge or cost. 
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‘‘Each member state shall assure that workers com-
pensation benefits in conformity with the minimum legal 
requirements of the state are available to all employees 
and contract firefighters sent to a requesting state pursu-
ant to this compact. 
‘‘For the purposes of this compact the term, em-
ployee, includes any volunteer or auxiliary legally included 
within the forest fire fighting forces of the aiding state 
under the laws of the aiding state. 
‘‘The compact administrators may formulate proce-
dures for claims and reimbursement under the provisions 
of this article, in accordance with the laws of the member 
states. 
‘‘ARTICLE VI 
‘‘Ratification of this compact does not affect any ex-
isting statute so as to authorize or permit curtailment or 
diminution of the forest fighting forces, equipment, serv-
ices, or facilities of any member state. 
‘‘Nothing in this compact authorizes or permits any 
member state to curtail or diminish its forest fire fighting 
forces, equipment, services, or facilities. Each member 
state shall maintain adequate forest fighting forces and 
equipment to meet demands for forest fire protection with-
in its borders in the same manner and to the same extent 
as if this compact were not operative. 
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‘‘Nothing in this compact limits or restricts the pow-
ers of any state ratifying the compact to provide for the 
prevention, control, and extinguishment of forest fires, or 
to prohibit the enactment or enforcement of state laws, 
rules, or regulations intended to aid in the prevention, con-
trol, and extinguishment in the state. 
‘‘Nothing in this compact affects any existing or fu-
ture cooperative relationship or arrangement between the 
United States Forest Service and a member state or 
states. 
‘‘ARTICLE VII 
‘‘Representatives of the United States Forest Service 
may attend meetings of the compact administrators. 
‘‘ARTICLE VIII 
‘‘The provisions of Articles IV and V of this compact 
that relate to reciprocal aid in combating, controlling, or 
preventing forest fires are operative as between any state 
party to this compact and any other state which is party 
to this compact and any other state that is party to a 
regional forest fire protection compact in another region 
if the Legislature of the other state has given its assent 
to the mutual aid provisions of this compact. 
‘‘ARTICLE IX 
‘‘This compact shall continue in force and remain 
binding on each state ratifying it until the Legislature or 
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the Governor of the state takes action to withdraw from 
the compact. Such action in not effective until six months 
after notice of the withdrawal has been sent by the chief 
executive of the state desiring to withdraw to the chief 
executives of all states then parties to the compact.’’. 
Æ 
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