(a)        The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may take such action as it may deem necessary to provide for the prevention and control of forest fires in any and all parts of this State, and it is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States for the protection of the forested watersheds of streams in this State.

(a1)      The Department shall adopt Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 113A-52.1 of the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act.

(b)        In this Article, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1)        “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Agriculture.

(2)        “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. ?(1915, c. 243, s. 1; C.S., s. 6133; 1925, c. 122, s. 22; 1973, c. 1262, s. 28; 1977, c. 771, s. 4; 1989, c. 727, s. 60; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2011-145, ss. 13.25(p), (q); 2017-108, s. 6(d).)