U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024
§ 373b.
Law enforcement authority at Bureau of Reclamation facilities
(a)
Public safety regulations
(b)
Violations; criminal penalties
(c)
Authorization of law enforcement officers
The Secretary of the Interior may—
(1)
authorize law enforcement personnel from the Department of the Interior to act as law enforcement officers to enforce Federal laws and regulations within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands;
(2)
authorize law enforcement personnel of any other Federal agency that has law enforcement authority (with the exception of the Department of Defense) or law enforcement personnel of any State or local government, including an Indian tribe, when deemed economical and in the public interest, through cooperative agreement or contract, to act as law enforcement officers to enforce Federal laws and regulations within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands with such enforcement powers as may be so assigned to them by the Secretary;
(3)
cooperate with any State or local government, including an Indian tribe, in the enforcement of the laws or ordinances of that State or local government; and
(4)
provide reimbursement to a State or local government, including an Indian tribe, for expenditures incurred in connection with activities under paragraph (2).
(d)
Powers of law enforcement officers
A law enforcement officer authorized by the Secretary of the Interior under subsection (c) may—
(1)
carry firearms within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands;
(2)
make arrests without warrants for—
(A)
any offense against the United States committed in his presence; or
(B)
any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if he has—
(i)
reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such a felony; and
(ii)
such arrest occurs within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands or the person to be arrested is fleeing therefrom to avoid arrest;
(3)
execute within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands any warrant or other process issued by a court or officer of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of the provisions of any Federal law or regulation issued pursuant to law for any offense committed within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands; and
(4)
conduct investigations within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands of offenses against the United States committed within a Reclamation project or on Reclamation lands if the Federal law enforcement agency having investigative jurisdiction over the offense committed declines to investigate the offense.
(e)
Legal status of State or local law enforcement officers
(1)
State or local officers not Federal employees
(2)
Application of Federal Tort Claims Act
(3)
Availability of workers compensation
(f)
Concurrent jurisdiction
(g)
Regulations
(Pub. L. 107–69, § 1, Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat. 593.)
cite as: 43 USC 373b