Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) is a program to distribute Federal property original
ly purchased for use by a Federal agency
, but no longer needed by that entity
. It is then acquired by the USDA Forest Service
for loan to one of the 50 State
s or the Territories for use in the State’s rural
or wildland fire protection
program. It stays in service to America
, protecting lives and property across the nation. In this case, personal
refers to any tangible
property that is not real estate
State forestry agencies may acquire hardware this way on indefinite loan. Authorizing legislation includes the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, and the Organic Act.
Most of this equipment is recycled military equipment. Some of it originates in the Forest Service itself, and some from other land management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management.
Website: Federal Excess Personal Property (http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/planning/fepp/)