The following definitions apply to subparts A and B:

Camping equipment. Personal property used in or suitable for camping, including any vehicle used for transportation and all equipment in possession of a person camping, other than food and beverages.

Damage. To injure, mutilate, deface, destroy, cut, chop, girdle, dig, excavate, kill, or in any way harm or disturb.

Forest officer. An employee of the Forest Service.

Law enforcement personnel. An employee of the Forest Service who is a special agent, law enforcement officer, or reserve law enforcement officer.

National Forest System. As defined in the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, the “National Forest System” includes all National Forest lands reserved or withdrawn from the public domain of the United States, all National Forest lands acquired through purchase, exchange, donation, or other means, the National Grasslands and land utilization projects administered under Title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (50 Stat. 525, 7 U.S.C. 1010-1012), and other lands, waters or interests therein which are administered by the Forest Service or are designated for administration by the Forest Service as a part of that system.

Vehicle. Any device in, upon, or by which any person or property may be transported, including any frame, chassis, or body of any motor vehicle, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(a) Law enforcement personnel may pay up to $50,000 as a reward for information and evidence leading to the conviction of any person for:

(1) Willfully or maliciously setting on fire or causing to be set on fire any timber, underbrush, or grass on National Forest System lands or on non-National Forest System lands if the fire endangers or injures National Forest System lands or users;

(2) Kindling or causing to be kindled a fire on National Forest System lands or on non-National Forest System lands if the fire endangers or injures National Forest System lands or users; or

(3) Destroying, damaging, or stealing any property of the United States.

(b) See 36 CFR 296.17 for direction on payment of a reward from a criminal or civil penalty collected under Section 6 or 7 of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 470ee or 470ff) for information and evidence leading to the criminal conviction or civil liability of the person who paid the penalty.

(c) Officers and employees of the United States Department of Agriculture may not receive rewards under this section.

(d) Submit applications for a reward to the Special Agent in Charge who has responsibility for the investigation involved in the violation of law no later than 3 months after the date of conviction of an offender. Applications submitted after that date will not be considered. To allow all claimants to present their claims within the prescribed limit, the Special Agent in Charge shall not take action with respect to rewards regarding an investigation until 3 months after the date of conviction of an offender.

(e) The Special Agent in Charge reserves the right to refuse payment of a reward when it is determined that collusion or improper methods were used to secure the conviction involved.

(f) The Special Agent in Charge reserves the right to pay only one reward where several persons have been convicted of the same offense or where one person has been convicted of several offenses, but may, depending on the circumstances, determine that payment of a reward for each conviction is justified.

(a) Approval of Payment. Law enforcement personnel may pay for information and evidence in furtherance of investigations of felonies and misdemeanors related to Forest Service administration.

(1) Criminal investigators in the GS-1811 series and other law enforcement personnel designated by the Chief of the Forest Service, Director of Law Enforcement and Investigations, or Special Agent in Charge may, without prior approval, pay up to $1,000 for information and evidence under this section.

(2) Payments over $1,000 and up to $5,000 require prior written approval from the Special Agent in Charge.

(3) Payments over $5,000 and up to $10,000 require prior written approval from the Director of Law Enforcement and Investigations.

(4) Payments over $10,000 require prior written approval from the Chief of the Forest Service.

(b) Limitations. Payments for information and evidence under this section are restricted to furthering investigations of felony and misdemeanor violations. Payments for information and evidence in furtherance of investigations of infractions are not authorized under this section.

The Chief of the Forest Service shall, through appropriate directives to agency personnel, assure the accountability of all funds spent in carrying out the provisions of this subpart and safeguard the identity of those wishing to remain anonymous.

All evidence purchased under the authority of this subpart shall be maintained in accordance with all laws, regulations, and rules applicable to the care, custody, and control of evidence. Evidence purchased under this subpart shall be disposed of in accordance with laws, regulation, rules, and Forest Service policy applicable to the disposal of evidence.