CHAPTER 6

An Act to authorize the Governor to execute, on behalf of the Common-
wealth of Virginia, a compact with any one or more of the states of
Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
to promote the effective prevention and control of forest fires in the
Middle Atlantic region of the United States; to create a Compact
Committee and provide the membership therefor to administer the
compact; and to provide for carrying out the said compact. 34

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Approved February 14, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. The Governor is hereby authorized to execute, on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, a compact with any one or more of the
states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
which compact shall be in substantially the following form:
MIDDLE ATLANTIC INTERSTATE FOREST FIRE
PROTECTION COMPACT

ARTICLE I

The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention and
control of forest fires in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States
by the development of integrated forest fire plans, by the maintenance
of adequate forest fire fighting services by the member states, and by pro-
viding for mutual! aid in fighting forest fires among the compacting states
of the region and with states which are party to other regional forest
fire protection compacts or agreements.

ARTICLE II

This compact shal] become operative immediately as to those states
ratifying it whenever any two or more of the states of Delaware, Maryland,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia which are con-
tiguous have ratified it and Congress has given consent thereto.

ARTICLE III

In each state, the state forester or officer holding the equivalent posi-
tion who is responsible for forest fire control shall act as compact admin-
istrator for that state and shall consult with like officials of the other
member states and shall implement cooperation between such states in
forest fire prevention and control.

The compact administrators of the member states shall organize to
coordinate the services of the member states and provide administrative
mtegration in carrying out the purposes of this compact.

The compact administrators shall formulate and, in accordance with
vie from time to time, revise a regional forest fire plan for the member

‘tes.

It shall be the duty of each member state to formulate and put in
effect a forest fire plan for that state and take such measures as may be
necessary to integrate such forest fire plan with the regional forest fire
pian formulated by the compact administrators.

ARTICLE IV

Whenever the state forest fire control agency of a member state re-
quests aid from the state forest fire control agency of any other member
state in combating, controlling or preventing forest fires, it shall be the
duty of the state forest fire control agency of that state to render all
possible aid to the requesting agency which is consonant with the main-
tenance of protection at home.

ARTICLE V

Whenever the forces of any member state are rendering outside aid
pursuant to the request of another member state under this compact, the
employees of such 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
enployees of the state to which they are rendering aid.
No member state or its officers or employees rendering outside aid
pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission
on the part of such forces while so engaged, or on account of the main-
tenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection therewith.

All liability, except as otherwise provided hereinafter, 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 connec-
arn with a request for aid, shall be assumed and borne by the requesting
state.

Any member state rendering outside aid pursuant to this compact
shall be reimbursed by the member state receiving such 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, transporta-
tion, wages, salaries, and maintenance of employees and equipment incur-
red in connection with such request: provided, that nothing herein con-
tained shall prevent 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 provide for the payment of compensation
and death benefits to injured employees and the representatives of de-
ceased employees in case employees sustain injuries or are killed while
rendering outside aid pursuant to this compact, in the same manner and
on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained within such
state.

For the purposes of this compact the term “employee’”’ shall include
any volunteer or auxiliary legally included within the forest fire fighting
forces of the aiding state under the laws thereof.

The compact administrators shall formulate procedures for claims
and reimbursement under the provisions of this article, in accordance
with the laws of the member states.

ARTICLE VI

Nothing in this compact shall be construed to authorize or permit
any member state to curtail or diminish its forest fire fighting forces,
equipment, services or facilities, and it shall be the duty and responsibility
of each member state to maintain adequate forest fire 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 shall be construed to limit or restrict the
powers of any state ratifying the same 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 such
prevention, control and extinguishment in such state.

Nothing in this compact shall be construed to affect any existing or
future cooperative relationship or arrangement between the United States
Forest Service and a member state or states.

ARTICLE VII

The compact administrators may request the United States Forest
Service to act as the primary research and coordinating agency of the
Middle Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact in cooperation
with the appropriate agencies in each state, and the United States Forest
Service may accept the initial responsibility in preparing and presenting
to the compact administrators its recommendations with respect to the
regional fire plan. Representatives of the United States Forest Service
may attend meetings of the compact administrators.
The provisions of Articles IV and V of this compact which relate tc
mutual aid in combating, controlling or preventing forest fires shall be
operative as between any state party to this compact and any other state
which is party to a regional forest fire protection compact in another
region: provided, That the legislature of such other state shall have given
its assent to such 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 such state takes
action to withdraw therefrom. Such action shall not be effective until six
months after notice thereof 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. .

§ 2. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly re-

Chapter 6

BUDGET SYSTEM

$§ 2.1-52 to 2.1-63