US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 551

Protection of national forests; rules and regulations

1

1 See References in Text note below.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall make provisions for the protection against destruction by fire and depredations upon the public forests and national forests which may have been set aside or which may be hereafter set aside under the provisions of section 471  of this title, and which may be continued; and he may make such rules and regulations and establish such service as will insure the objects of such reservations, namely, to regulate their occupancy and use and to preserve the forests thereon from destruction; and any violation of the provisions of this section, sections 473 to 478 and 479 to 482 of this title or such rules and regulations shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Any person charged with the violation of such rules and regulations may be tried and sentenced by any United States magistrate judge specially designated for that purpose by the court by which he was appointed, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as provided for in section 3401(b) to (e) of title 18.

June 4, 1897, ch. 2, § 130 Stat. 35Feb. 1, 1905, ch. 288, § 133 Stat. 628Pub. L. 87–869, § 676 Stat. 1157Pub. L. 88–53778 Stat. 745Pub. L. 90–578, title IV, § 402(b)(2)82 Stat. 1118Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321104 Stat. 5117(, ; , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 471 of this title26 Stat. 1103Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a)90 Stat. 2792, referred to in text, was in the original a reference to act , , and was repealed by , , .

Codification

act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 290734 Stat. 1269“National forests” substituted in text for “forest reservations” on authority of , , which provided that forest reserves shall hereafter be known as national forests.

Amendments

Pub. L. 88–5371964— provided that persons charged with violation of such rules and regulations may be tried and sentenced by any United States commissioner specially designated for that purpose by the court by which he was appointed, in the same manner as in section 3401(b) to (e) of title 18.

Pub. L. 87–869section 104 of title 181962— substituted “by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both” for “as is provided for in ”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650section 631 of Title 28Pub. L. 90–578“United States magistrate judge” substituted for “United States magistrate” in text pursuant to , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Previously, “United States magistrate” substituted for “United States commissioner” pursuant to . See chapter 43 (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 28.

Short Title of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–275, § 1130 Stat. 1405

section 551c–1 of this titlesection 551c–1 of this title“This Act [enacting and provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Prescribed Burn Approval Act of 2016’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–286, § 1104 Stat. 171

section 1737 of Title 43section 551b of this title“This Act [enacting sections 551b and 551c of this title, amending sections 18i and 558c of this title and , Public Lands, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and ] may be cited as the ‘Wildfire Disaster Recovery Act of 1989’.”
, , , provided that:

Repeal; Savings Provision

Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 706(a)90 Stat. 2793section 701 of Pub. L. 94–579section 1701 of Title 43Section repealed by , , , effective on and after , insofar as applicable to the issuance of rights-of-way over, upon, under, and through the public lands and lands in the National Forest System. Such repeal not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on , see , set out as a note under , Public Lands.

Transfer of Functions

Act , transferred certain functions with regard to administration of public forests from Secretary of the Interior to Secretary of Agriculture.

National Commission on Wildfire Disasters

Pub. L. 101–286, title I104 Stat. 171, , , established a National Commission on Wildfire Disasters to study the effects of disastrous wildfires, resulting from natural or other causes, and to make recommendations concerning steps necessary for smooth and timely transition from loss of natural resources due to such fires, directed the Commission to make findings and develop recommendations for consideration by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior with respect to future management of National Forest System lands, national parks, Bureau of Land Management public lands, and community redevelopment activities and programs, directed the Commission to submit to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, not later than , a report containing its findings and recommendations, directed the Secretaries to submit the report to specific committees of Congress, and provided for the Commission to cease 90 days after submission of the report.

Existing Rights-of-Way

section 706(a) of Pub. L. 94–57990 Stat. 2793section 1701 of Title 43Provisions of , , , except as pertaining to rights-of-way, not to be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture under this section, see note set out under , Public Lands.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

93 Stat. 1373section 3012(b) of Pub. L. 102–486section 719e of Title 15section 720d(f) of Title 15Enforcement functions of Secretary or other official in Department of Agriculture, insofar as they involve lands and programs under jurisdiction of that Department, related to compliance with provisions of sections 473, 474 to 482, and 551 of this title with respect to pre-construction, construction, and initial operation of transportation system for Canadian and Alaskan natural gas transferred to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, until first anniversary of date of initial operation of Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, see Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1979, §§ 102(f), 203(a), 44 F.R. 33663, 33666, , 1376, effective , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System abolished and functions and authority vested in Inspector transferred to Secretary of Energy by , set out as an Abolition of Office of Federal Inspector note under , Commerce and Trade. Functions and authority vested in Secretary of Energy subsequently transferred to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects by .