Ch. 117

LAWS OF MARYLAND

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.

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.

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