EFFECTIVE DATE:
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed. / 1599.04e
Page 1 of 2
FSM 1500 – external relations
Chapter 90 – defense and emergency operations
/ Forest Service Manual
mt. hood national forest hq
sandy, oregon
fsM 1500 – external relations
chapteR 90 – defense and emergency operations
Mt. Hood Supplement No.: 1500-2002-1
Effective Date: The Directive Manager completes this field.
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: gary l. larsenForest Supervisor / Date Approved: mm/dd/yyyy
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to this manual was Mt. Hood Supplement No. 1500-99-1 to FSM 1599.
New Document / 1599.04e / 2 PagesSuperseded Document(s) (Mt. Hood Supplement No. 99-1 April 19, 1999) / 1599 / 2 Pages
Digest: A policy on search and rescue activities. Reissuing Supplement No. 99-1 as 1500-2002-1. Content has not been changed.
1599.03–Policy.The parent text states in the cases involving members of the public lost in the National Forest “the role of the Forest Service in search and rescue is one of supporting and developing strong local and State leadership.” We have a moral obligation to support the lead agencies in searches and rescues on National Forest land.
1599.04e–District Ranger. District Rangers have the responsibility to approve Forest Service involvement in search and rescue activities and to assign a liaison officer. This responsibility does not negate or supplement any delegations of authority as listed in FSM 1239.1. Mt. Hood involvement will be under the “nearest forces” concept in cases where there is an imminent life threatening situation. Lead responsibilities must be relegated to the County Sheriff or other appropriate lead agency at the earliest possible opportunity.
If the County Sheriff requests assistance, an attempt will be made to minimize our involvement to that of our liaison officer. All dispatch coordination will be done through the Headquarters’ Office centralized dispatch. Rangers will negotiate reimbursement for any costs incurred from the lead agency except liaison costs. However, no Forest Service costs will be billed to the family members of the lost individual(s). Rangers or the liaison officer will remind the lead agency they are responsible for costs of all Forest Service contract aircraft: per the parent text, this is not negotiable. No funds are available and therefore cannot be allocated for these activities; however, each District (and the HQ if applicable) should establish a separate account to track costs. Like most all other activities, there is no authority to authorize expenditure of funds for search and rescue activities occurring outside National Forest Lands.
Employees who volunteer to participate in search and rescue activities outside of the guidelines above during regularly scheduled work hours will do so on annual leave or approved leave without pay. Expenses incurred by these employees are considered their own or the lead agency’s if agreed upon in advance.