A bill granting the consent and approval of Congress to an interstate forest fire protection compact.
PL 110-79 (S.975), enacted 08/13/2007

121 STAT. 730 
PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 
Public Law 110–79 
110th Congress 
An Act 
Granting the consent and approval of Congress to an interstate forest fire protection 
compact. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CONSENT OF CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The consent and approval of Congress is 
given to an interstate forest fire protection compact, as set out 
in subsection (b). 
(b) COMPACT.—The compact reads substantially as follows: 
‘‘THE GREAT PLAINS WILDLAND FIRE PROTECTION 
AGREEMENT 
‘‘THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the State, 
Provincial and Territorial wildland fire protection agencies signa-
tory hereto, hereinafter referred to as ‘Members’. 
‘‘FOR, AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the following 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 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. 
‘‘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 equiva-
lent position who is responsible for forest fire control may act 
as compact administrator for that state 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 administrators of the member states may organize 
State listing. 
Aug. 13, 2007 
[S. 975] 
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121 STAT. 731 
PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 
to coordinate the services of the member states and provide adminis-
trative integration in carrying out the purposes of this compact. 
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 mainte-
nance of protection at home. 
‘‘ARTICLE V 
‘‘If the forces of any member state are rendering outside aid 
pursuant to the request of another member state under this com-
pact, 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 rendering aid. 
‘‘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 connec-
tion with rendering the outside aid. 
‘‘All liability, except as otherwise provided in this compact, 
that may arise either under the laws of the requesting state or 
under the laws of the aiding state or under the laws of a third 
state on account of or in connection 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, transportation, wages, salaries, and maintenance 
of employees and equipment incurred in connection with such 
request. However, 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. 
‘‘Each member state shall assure that workers compensation 
benefits in conformity with the minimum legal requirements of 
the state are available to all employees and contract firefighters 
sent to a requesting state pursuant to this compact. 
‘‘For the purposes of this compact the term, employee, 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 procedures for 
claims and reimbursement under the provisions of this article, 
in accordance with the laws of the member states. 
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121 STAT. 732 
PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 
‘‘ARTICLE VI 
‘‘Ratification of this compact does not affect any existing statute 
so as to authorize or permit curtailment or diminution of the forest 
fighting forces, equipment, services, 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 within its borders in the same manner and to the 
same extent as if this compact were not operative. 
‘‘Nothing in this compact limits or restricts the powers 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, control, and extinguishment in the state. 
‘‘Nothing in this compact affects any existing or future coopera-
tive 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 the Governor of 
the state takes action to withdraw from the compact. Such action 
is not effective until six months after notice of the withdrawal 
Effective date. 
Notification. 
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121 STAT. 733 
PUBLIC LAW 110–79—AUG. 13, 2007 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 975: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 153 (2007): 
July 13, considered and passed Senate. 
July 30, considered and passed House. 
has been sent by the chief executive of the state desiring to with-
draw to the chief executives of all states then parties to the com-
pact.’’. 
Approved August 13, 2007. 
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