MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 813

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.

ARTICLE VIII

THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE IV AND V OF THIS
COMPACT WHICH RELATE TO 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