114 STAT. 452 PUBLIC LAW 106-224-JUNE 20, 2000 country or State, other than those owned or controlled by the United States; and (2) other facilities and means as the Secretary determines necessary. (c) TRANSFER OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL METHODS.— The Secretary may transfer to a State, Federal agency, or other person biological control methods using biological control organisms against plant pests or noxious weeds. (d) COOPERATION IN PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary may cooperate with State authorities or other persons in the administration of programs for the improvement of plants, plant products, and biological control organisms. (e) PHYTOSANITARY ISSUES.—The Secretary shall ensure that phytosanitary issues involving imports and exports are addressed based on sound science and consistent with applicable international agreements. To accomplish these goals, the Secretary may— (1) conduct direct negotiations with plant health officials or other appropriate officials of other countries; (2) provide technical assistance, training, and guidance to any country requesting such assistance in the development of agricultural health protection systems and import/export systems; and (3) maintain plant health and quarantine expertise in other countries— (A) to facilitate the establishment of phj^osanitary systems and the resolution of phytosanitary issues; (B) to assist those countries with agricultural health protection activities; and (C) to provide general liaison on agricultural health issues with the plant health or other appropriate officieds of the country. 7 USC 7752. SEC. 432. BUILDINGS, LAND, PEOPLE, CLAIMS, AND AGREEMENTS. (a) IN GENERAL.—To the extent necessary to carry out this title, the Secretary may acquire and maintain all real or personal property for special purposes and employ any persons, make grants, and enter into any contracts, cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other agreements. (b) TORT CLAIMS.— (1) IN GENERAL.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may pay tort claims in the manner authorized in the first paragraph of section 2672 of title 28, United States Code, when the claims arise outside the United States in connection with activities that are authorized under this title. (2) REQUIREMENTS OF CLAIM.— A cledm may not be allowed under this subsection unless the claim is presented in writing to the Secretary within 2 years after the date on which the cledm accrues. 7 USC 7753. SEC. 433. REIMBURSABLE AGREEMENTS. (a) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS.— The Secretary may enter into reimbursable fee agreements with persons for preclearance of plants, plant products, biological control organisms, and articles at locations outside the United States for movement into the United States. (b) FUNDS COLLECTED FOR PRECLEARANCE. —Funds collected for precleeirance shall be credited to accounts which may be established by the Secretary for this purpose and shall remain available
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