Pennsylvania Act 1974-178 — INTERSTATE COOPERATION FIRE PROTECTION ACT

Act text

INTERSTATE COOPERATION FIRE PROTECTION ACT
                 Act of Jul. 20, 1974, P.L. 524, No. 178              Cl. 32
                                  AN ACT

     An Act providing for cooperation with other states, groups of
        states and the Federal Government to provide and accept
        assistance in the protection of forests from fire; conferring
        powers and imposing duties upon the Department of
        Environmental Resources.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 302(h) of Act 18 of 1995, which
            created the Department of Conservation and Natural
            Resources and renamed the Department of Environmental
            Resouces as the Department of Environmental Protection,
            provided that the Department of Conservation and Natural
            Resources shall exercise the powers and duties conferred
            upon the Department of Environmental Resources by Act 178
            of 1974.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  The preservation of the part of the earth's
     surface occupied by this Commonwealth is of vital concern to the
     people of Pennsylvania. Similar concerns are held by the
     citizens of other states.
        The quality of the environment of each is directly dependent
     upon the maintenance of the quality of the environment of the
     others. In furtherance of its cooperation with other states and
     the Federal Government in this respect it is hereby declared to
     be the policy of this Commonwealth, under certain circumstances,
     to aid other states, groups of states and Federal agencies and
     to accept aid therefrom in the protection of forests from the
     ravages of fire.
        Section 2.  The Department of Environmental Resources may
     upon request of any other state or the United States, forward to
     or receive therefrom, for use under the supervision of such
     department, except as otherwise provided herein, such of its
     employees and equipment as it deems necessary to assist in the
     protection of forests from the ravages of fire.

        Compiler's Note:  The Department of Environmental Resources,
            referred to in this section, was abolished by Act 18 of
            1995. Its functions were transferred to the Department of
            Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of
            Environmental Protection.
        Section 3.  Employees of the Department of Environmental
     Resources, during their detail to another state or Federal
     agency to fight forest fires, shall be considered, for all
     purposes, to be working in the Commonwealth for that department.
     The supervision of their duties during such detail may, however,
     be governed by agreement between the department and the state,
     group of states, or Federal agency to which they are detailed.

        Compiler's Note:  The Department of Environmental Resources,
            referred to in this section, was abolished by Act 18 of
            1995. Its functions were transferred to the Department of
            Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of
            Environmental Protection.
        Section 4.  The Department of Environmental Resources may, in
     accordance with the travel regulations of such agency, pay the
     travel expenses of the employees detailed to another state or
     Federal agency, and may pay travel or living expenses of such
     employees incurred in connection with their work assignments in
     the receiving state or area of Federal responsibility. The
     department may request reimbursement from any state, groups of
     states or Federal agency requesting assistance for any loss or
     damage or expense incurred in the operations of any equipment,
     and for the cost of all materials, transportation wages,
     salaries and maintenance of employees and equipment incurred in
     connection with such a request.

        Compiler's Note:  The Department of Environmental Resources,
            referred to in this section, was abolished by Act 18 of
            1995. Its functions were transferred to the Department of
            Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of
            Environmental Protection.
        Section 5.  The Department of Environmental Resources shall,
     in accordance with its regulations, pay those travel and other
     expenses of employees or equipment of other states or Federal
     agencies detailed to assist it in forest fire protection in
     Pennsylvania incurred in the performance of their work
     assignments while in this Commonwealth provided such payment is
     requested by the assisting states, groups of states or Federal
     agency.

        Compiler's Note:  The Department of Environmental Resources,
            referred to in this section, was abolished by Act 18 of
            1995. Its functions were transferred to the Department of
            Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of
            Environmental Protection.