The rules and regulations in this part apply to all persons entering, while on, or leaving all the property known as the Mt. Weather Emergency Operations Center (Mt. Weather) located at 19844 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont, Virginia 20135, and all the property known as the National Emergency Training Center (NETC), located on 16825 South Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg, Maryland, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) owns, operates and controls.

Terms used in part 15 have these meanings:

Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Assistant Administrator means the Assistant Administrator, United States Fire Administration, FEMA.

FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mt. Weather means the Mt. Weather Emergency Operations Center, Bluemont, Virginia.

Mt. Weather Executive Director means the Executive Director of the Mt. Weather Emergency Operations Center.

NETC means the National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, MD.

We means the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA.

Mt. Weather contains classified material and areas that we must protect in the interest of national security. The facility is a restricted area. We deny access to Mt. Weather to the general public and limit access to those persons having official business related to the missions and operations of Mt. Weather. The Administrator or the Mt. Weather Executive Director must approve all persons and vehicles entering Mt. Weather. All persons must register with the Mt. Weather Police/Security Force and must receive a Mt. Weather identification badge and vehicle parking decal or permit to enter or remain on the premises. No person will enter or remain on Mt. Weather premises unless he or she has received permission from the Administrator or the Mt. Weather Executive Director and has complied with these procedures.

(a) In general. All vehicles, packages, handbags, briefcases, and other containers being brought into, while on or being removed from Mt. Weather or the NETC are subject to inspection by the Police/Security Force and other authorized officials. A full search of a vehicle or person may accompany an arrest.

(b) Inspection at Mt. Weather. We authorize inspection at Mt. Weather to prevent the possession and use of items prohibited by these rules and regulations or by other applicable laws, to prevent theft of property and to prevent the wrongful obtaining of defense information under 18 U.S.C. 793. If individuals object to such inspections they must tell the officer on duty at the entrance gate before entering Mt. Weather. The Police/Security Force and other authorized officials must not authorize or allow individuals who refuse to permit an inspection of their vehicle or possessions to enter the premises of Mt. Weather.

At both Mt. Weather and NETC we prohibit:

(a) The improper disposal of rubbish;

(b) Willful destruction of or damage to property;

(c) Theft of property;

(d) Creation of any hazard on the property to persons or things;

(e) Throwing articles of any kind from or at a building;

(f) Climbing upon a fence; or

(g) Climbing upon the roof or any part of a building.

Persons at Mt. Weather and the NETC must comply at all times with official signs that prohibit, regulate, or direct, and with the directions of the Police/Security Force and other authorized officials.

At both Mt. Weather and NETC we prohibit any unwarranted loitering, disorderly conduct, or other conduct at Mt. Weather and NETC that:

(a) Creates loud or unusual noise or a nuisance;

(b) Unreasonably obstructs the usual use of classrooms, dormitory rooms, entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, offices, elevators, stairways, roadways or parking lots;

(c) Otherwise impedes or disrupts the performance of official duties by government employees or government contractors;

(d) Interferes with the delivery of educational or other programs; or

(e) Prevents persons from obtaining in a timely manner the administrative services provided at both facilities.

We prohibit participating in games for money or other personal property, including the operation of gambling devices, the conduct of a lottery or pool, or the sale or purchase of numbers tickets at both facilities.

At both Mt. Weather and the NETC we prohibit:

(a) Operating a motor vehicle by any person under the influence of alcoholic beverages, narcotic drugs, hallucinogens, marijuana, barbiturates or amphetamines as defined in Title 21 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Transportation, sec. 21–902 or in Title 18.2, ch. 7, Art. 2 of the Code of Virginia, secs. 18.2–266 and 18.2–266.1, as applicable;

(b) Entering upon or while on either property being under the influence of or using or possessing any narcotic drug, marijuana, hallucinogen, barbiturate or amphetamine. This prohibition does not apply in cases where a licensed physician has prescribed the drug for the person;

(c) Entering upon either property or being on either property under the influence of alcoholic beverages;

(d) Bringing alcoholic beverages, narcotic drugs, hallucinogens, marijuana, barbiturates or amphetamines onto the premises unless the Assistant Administrator, the Mt. Weather Executive Director, or the Administrator or designee for the NETC authorizes it in writing; and

(e) Use of alcoholic beverages on the property except:

(1) In the Balloon Shed Lounge at Mt. Weather and in other locations that the Administrator or the Mt. Weather Executive Director authorizes in writing; and

(2) In the NETC Recreation Association and other locations that the Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration or the Administrator, or designee, authorizes in writing.

(a) We prohibit soliciting alms and contributions, commercial or political soliciting and vending of all kinds, displaying or distributing commercial advertising, or collecting private debts unless the Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration or the Mt. Weather Executive Director approve the activities in writing and in advance.

(b) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to:

(1) National or local drives for funds for welfare, health, or other purposes as authorized by 5 CFR part 950, Solicitation of Federal Civilian and Uniformed Service Personnel for Contributions to Private Voluntary Organizations. The Administrator, or the Senior Resident Manager, or the Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration or designee, must approve all such national or local drives before they are conducted on either premises;

(2) Authorized concessions;

(3) Personal notices posted by employees on authorized bulletin boards; and

(4) Solicitation of labor organization membership or dues authorized by occupant agencies under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.

We prohibit the distribution of materials such as pamphlets, handbills or flyers, and the displaying of placards or posting of materials on bulletin boards or elsewhere at Mt. Weather and the NETC unless the Administrator, the Mt. Weather Executive Director, or the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration or designee, approves such distribution or display, or when such distribution or display is conducted as part of authorized government activities.

(a) Photographs and other depictions at Mt. Weather. We prohibit taking photographs and making notes, sketches, or diagrams of buildings, grounds or other features of Mt. Weather, or the possession of a camera while at Mt. Weather except when the Administrator or Mt. Weather Executive Director approves in advance.

(b) Photographs and other depictions at the NETC. (1) Photographs may be taken inside classroom or office areas of the NETC only with the consent of the occupants. Except where security regulations apply or a Federal court order or rule prohibits it, photographs may be taken in entrances, lobbies, foyers, corridors, or auditoriums when used for public meetings.

(2) Subject to the foregoing prohibitions, photographs for advertising and commercial purposes may be taken only with written permission of the Director of Management Operations and Systems Support, United States Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emmitsburg, MD 21727, (telephone) (301) 447–1223, (facsimile) (301) 447–1052, or other authorized official where photographs are to be taken.

Dogs and other animals, except seeing-eye dogs, must not be brought onto Mt. Weather grounds or into the buildings at NETC for other than official purposes.

(a) Drivers of all vehicles entering or while at Mt. Weather or the NETC must drive carefully and safely at all times and must obey the signals and directions of the Police/Security Force or other authorized officials and all posted traffic signs;

(b) Drivers must comply with NETC parking requirements and vehicle registration requirements;

(c) At both Mt. Weather and the NETC we prohibit:

(1) Blocking entrances, driveways, walks, loading platforms, or fire hydrants on the property; and

(2) Parking without authority, parking in unauthorized locations or in locations reserved for other persons, or parking contrary to the direction of posted signs.

(3) Where warning signs are posted vehicles parked in violation may be removed at the owners' risk and expense.

(d) The Administrator, Mt. Weather Executive Director, or the Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration or designee may issue and post specific supplemental traffic directives if needed. When issued and posted supplemental traffic directives will have the same force and effect as if they were in these rules. Proof that a parked motor vehicle violated these rules or directives may be taken as prima facie evidence that the registered owner was responsible for the violation.

No person entering or while at Mt. Weather or the NETC will carry or possess firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, explosives or items intended to be used or that could reasonably be used to fabricate an explosive or incendiary device, either openly or concealed, except:

(a) For official purposes if the Administrator, Mt. Weather Executive Director, or the Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration or designee approves; and

(b) In accordance with FEMA policy governing the possession of firearms.

(a) Misconduct. (1) Whoever is found guilty of violating any of these rules and regulations is subject to a fine of not more than $50 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. (See 40 U.S.C. 318c.)

(2) We will process any misconduct at NETC according to FEMA/NETC policy or instructions.

(b) Parking violations. We may tow at the owner's expense any vehicles parked in violation of State law, FEMA, Mt. Weather, or NETC instructions.

Nothing in the rules and regulations in this part will be construed to abolish any other Federal laws or any State and local laws and regulations applicable to Mt. Weather or NETC premises. The rules and regulations in this part supplement penal provisions of Title 18, United States Code, relating to Crimes and Criminal Procedure, which apply without regard to the place of the offense and to those penal provisions that apply in areas under the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 7. They supersede provisions of State law, however, that Federal law makes criminal offenses under the Assimilated Crimes Act (18 U.S.C. 13) to the extent that State laws conflict with these regulations. State and local criminal laws apply as such only to the extent that the State reserved such authority to itself by the State consent or cession statute or that a Federal statute vests such authority in the State.