---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 574"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "574"
heading: "Damages caused private property in protection, administration, and improvement of national forests; reimbursement"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/574"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Forests; Forest Service; Reforestation; Management"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §574. Damages caused private property in protection, administration, and improvement of national forests; reimbursement


The [Secretary](/usc/16/580p.md?p=3) of Agriculture is authorized to reimburse [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of private property for damage or destruction thereof caused by employees of the United States in connection with the protection, administration, or improvement of the [national forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3), payment to be made from any [funds](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=2) appropriated for the protection, administration, and improvement of the [national forests](/usc/16/5207.md?p=3): Provided, That no payment in excess of $2,500 shall be made on any such claim.


## Source credit

(May 27, 1930, ch. 337, § 2, 46 Stat. 387; Pub. L. 87–869, § 8, Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1157.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1962—Pub. L. 87–869 increased from $500 to $2,500 the authorization for reimbursement of owners of private property for damages caused in protection, administration, and improvement of national forests.