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1 1 (May 7, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveppl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the Iegisl9tive debate since 1914 Updated May 7, 2024 Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations on Federal Lands Each year, thousands of visitors to federal lands require the assistance of search and rescue (SAR) services. SAR operations take place in a wide range of environments and conditions and can include brief searches of buildings; medical assistance on trails; or more significant multiday air-, water-, and land-based rescue efforts. This CRS product provides an overview of how SAR operations take place on federal lands-including agency responsibilities, common types of SAR activities, and the prevalence of SAR incidents in these areas. Specifically, this product addresses SAR incidents located on lands administered by four agencies that, together, administer more than 95% of land owned by the federal government: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), all within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Forest Service (FS), within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nationa I SAR Poldes and Gukance Various federal entities set broad-generally voluntary- standards for SAR activities that take place both on and off federal lands. The National Search and Rescue Committee (the Committee) is the primary entity responsible for providing guidance and setting standards for federal agencies to meet national and international SAR obligations. The Committee is an interagency body comprising representatives from several federal agencies- including DOI (though not USDA)-and oversees the creation and implementation of the National Search and Rescue Plan (NSP). The NSP is a voluntary agreement that provides for the coordination of SAR operations, describes federal agencies' responsibilities in responding to SAR needs, and establishes national guidance for the development of SAR-related systems. Implementation of the NSP is the responsibility of the Committee and typically entails the adoption or issuance of supplemental national- level or agency-specific SAR guidance. For multi-agency, emergency, or disaster-related SAR responses, agencies also may follow certain standards or directives developed or administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency within the Department of Homeland Security. This includes the Incident Command System of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is a preparedness and response management model that establishes a scalable response structure and can be used by all jurisdictions, agencies, and organizations to ensure a unified response to complex events. For more information on SAR efforts undertaken in the context of major disasters or emergencies, see CRS Report R46696, National Preparedness: A Summary and Select Issues, by Shawn Reese and Lauren R. Stienstra. Federal land management agencies have, to varying degrees, adopted NSP and NIMS standards and procedures in their respective policies (see SAR Operations on Federal Lands). SAR Operatons on Federa Lands Each of the four federal land management agencies (BLM, NPS, FWS, and FS) has authority to conduct SAR activities on lands under its jurisdiction pursuant to a variety of statutes; however, doing so is typically discretionary (e.g., 16 U.S.C. §575 and 43 U.S.C. §1742 for FS and BLM- specific SAR authorities). SAR operations on federal lands may take different forms depending on the agency responsible for administering the land in question, location of the incident, type of SAR response required, and other contributing factors. For example, some federal lands may not see enough visitation or demand for SAR services to require a fully staffed and trained SAR team. In other instances, agencies view SAR operations as the responsibility of local authorities or entities. As a result, SAR responses by federal land management agencies range from support of local law enforcement authorities and volunteer groups to primary SAR coordination and operations. On FS and BLM lands, the responsibility for SAR response efforts generally lies with the local law enforcement authority in the county where such lands are located and with whom the agency has a standing agreement or relationship (see FS Manual §1596.03 and BLM Manual Series 1703). According to these agencies, FS and BLM occasionally may take a lead or first responder role in SAR emergencies if an immediate and quick response will reduce suffering or save lives, or due to their presence in remote and rural areas. However, once designated local authorities are available, the agency assumes a supportive role to provide assistance where requested. Agency officials also may serve as primary responders in small-scale or minor SAR incidents where agency personnel can respond without outside assistance or incidents that do not require substantial resources. For SAR incidents occurring within the National Wildlife Refuge System, FWS federal wildlife officers (FWOs) typically are the primary responders until such time that the incident grows or exceeds the technical complexity of the capacity or level of training of FWOs. Examples where the FWOs typically serve as the primary responder for SAR incidents include lost or missing persons, injured persons, water rescues, emergencies involving weather or wildfire, and vehicle accidents. NPS generally serves as the primary responder to SAR incidents on lands in which the agency has exclusive

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