and approval of Congress is hereby given to an interstate forest fire Canada. protection compact, as hereinafter set out; but before any province of the Dominion of Canada shall be made a party to such compact, the further consent of Congress shall first be obtained. Such compact reads as follows: NORTHEASTERN INTERSTATE FOREST FIRE PROTECTION COMPACT ARTICLE I The purpose of this compact is to promote effective prevention and control of forest fires in the northeastern region of the United States and adjacent areas in Canada by the development of integrated forest fire plans, by the maintenance of adequate forest fire fighting services by the member states, by providing for mutual aid in fighting forest fires among the states of the region and for procedures that will facilitate such aid, and by the establishment of a central agency to coordinate the services of member states and perform such common services as member states may deem desirable. ARTICLE II This agreement shall become operative immediately as to those states ratifying it whenever any two or more of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have ratified it and the Congress has given its consent. Any state not mentioned in this article which is contiguous with any member state may become a party to this compact. Subject to the consent of the Congress of the United States, any province of the Dominion of Canada which is contiguous with any member state may become a party to this compact by taking such action as its laws and the laws of the Dominion of Canada may prescribe for ratification. In this event, the term "state" in this compact shall include within its meaning the term "province" and the procedures prescribed shall be applied in the instance of such provinces, in accordance with the forms and practices of the Canadian Government. Aln'IcI.E III Each state joining herein shall appoint three representatives to a Commission hereby designated as the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission. One shall be the State Forester or officer holding an equivalent position in such state who is responsible for forest fire control. The second shall be a member of the legislature of such state designated by the Commission or committee on interstate cooperation of such state, or if there be none, or if said Commission on interstate cooperation cannot constitutionally designate the said member, such legislator shall be designated by the governor thereof: provided that if it is constitutionally impossible to appoint a legis- lator as a Commissioner from such state, the second member shall be appointed by the governor of said state in his discretion. The third member shall be a person designated by the governor as the respon- sible representative of the governor. In the event that any province of the Dominion of Canada shall become a member of this Commis- sion, it shall designate three members who will approximate this pattern of representation to the extent possible under the law and practices of such province. This Commission shall be a body corporate with the powers and duties set forth herein. [63 STAT. 272 PUBLIC LAWS--CH. 246 -JUNE 25, 1949
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