Organization and Functions

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

7 CFR Parts 600 and 601

Organization and Functions

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service revises the

information on the organization and functions to reflect changes as a

result of the USDA reorganization.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 30, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter Zeck, 202-690-4860.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Rulemaking Analyses

EO 12291: Non-major.

Regulatory Flexibility Act: No significant impact.

Paperwork Reduction Act: No significant impact.

National Environmental Policy Act: Exempt.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Parts 600 and 601

Functions and organization (Government agencies).

For the reason stated in the preamble, CFR Chapter 7 is amended by

revising Parts 600 and 601 to read as follows.

PART 600--ORGANIZATION

Sec.

600.1 General.

600.2 National headquarters.

600.3 Regional offices.

600.4 State offices.

600.5 Area offices.

600.6 Field offices.

600.7 Specialized field offices.

600.8 Plant materials centers.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6962.

Sec. 600.1 General

(a) The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was

authorized by the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of

Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-354, 7 U.S.C. 6901

note) and established by Secretary's Memorandum 1010-1 (2.b.6),

Reorganization of the Department of Agriculture, to provide national

leadership in the conservation, development, and productive use of the

Nation's natural resources. Such leadership encompasses soil, water,

air, plant, and wildlife conservation with consideration of the many

human (economic and sociological) interactions with these resources.

NRCS is the Federal agency that works with landowners on private lands

to help them conserve their natural resources. NRCS employees are

highly skilled in many scientific and technical specialities, including

soil science, soil conservation, agronomy, biology, agroecology, range

conservation, forestry, engineering, geology, hydrology, wetlands

science, cultural resources, and economics. NRCS was formerly the Soil

Conservation Service (SCS) which was established by the Soil

Conservation Act of 1935 (Pub. L. 74-46, 49 Stat. 163 (16 U.S.C. 590

(a-f))). NRCS has responsibility for the three major areas covered by

SCS--soil and water conservation, natural resource surveys (soil

surveys, resources inventory, snow surveys, and water supply

forecasting), and community resource protection and management

(watershed projects, river basin studies and investigations, resource

conservation and development areas, land evaluation and site

assessment, and emergency watershed protection)--the Wetland Reserve

Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Grazing Lands

Conservation Initiative, Farmland Protection Program, Wildlife Habitat

Incentives Program, and Forestry Incentives Program.

(b) The NRCS organization consists of a National Headquarters

located in Washington, D.C.; six regional offices; 50 state offices and

equivalent offices in the Caribbean Area and the U.S. Trust Territories

of the Pacific Basin Area; approximately 2,500 field offices and 300

specialized offices; 28 plant materials centers; eight national

centers; and eight natural resources institutes. NRCS is headed by a

Chief who reports to the USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and

Environment.

Sec. 600.2 National headquarters.

(a) Chief. The Chief, with assistance of the Associate Chief, is

responsible for administering a coordinated national program of natural

resource conservation; planning, directing, and coordinating all

program, technical, and administrative activities of NRCS; developing

policies and procedures; correlating NRCS conservation programs with

other agencies; accepting departmental leadership for programs for

other activities assigned by the Secretary of Agriculture; and serving

as Equal Employment Opportunity Officer for NRCS.

(b) Deputy Chiefs. Four deputy chiefs assist the Chief as follows:

(1) Deputy Chief for Management. The Deputy Chief for Management is

responsible for management services, operations management and

oversight, human resources management, civil rights employment,

financial management, information technology, administrative support

(providing a coordinated administrative management program for National

Headquarters activities), special projects, and controlled

correspondence. This deputy chief is also responsible for the

activities of three national centers: Business management, information

technology, and employee development.

(2) Deputy Chief for Programs. The Deputy Chief for Programs is

responsible for conservation operations, watershed planning, wetlands

restoration, community assistance, resource conservation and

development, USDA program outreach, civil rights program compliance,

budget formulation and analysis, and international conservation.

(3) Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment. The

Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment is responsible for

soil survey, resource inventory, and resource assessment and strategic

planning. This deputy chief is also responsible for the activities of

two national centers: soil survey and cartography and geospatial.

(4) Deputy Chief for Science and Technology. The Deputy Chief for

Science and Technology is responsible for the ecological sciences,

conservation engineering, institutes, and resource economics and social

sciences division.

[[Page 16660]]

This deputy chief is also responsible for the activities of three

nation centers (water and climate, soil mechanics, and plant data) and

eight institutes. This deputy chief, working closely with the deputy

chiefs for Management and Soil Survey and Resource Assessment, provides

overall direction for the National Science and Technology Consortium.

(c) National Science and Technology Consortium. The consortium

consists of four divisions, three centers, eight technical institutes,

and several cooperating scientists under the Deputy Chief for Science

and Technology; two divisions and two centers under the Deputy Chief

for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment; and three centers under the

Deputy Chief for Management.

(1) Centers. The eight centers provide specific products and

services that maintain and enhance the technical quality of the agency.

The centers are: water and climate, soil mechanics, plant data, soil

survey, cartography and geospatial, information technology, business

management, and employee development.

(2) Institutes. The eight institutes are: soil quality, natural

resources inventory and analysis, grazing lands technology, social

sciences, watershed science, wetlands science, wildlife habitat

management, and information technology. The institutes acquire,

develop, and transfer needed technology in special emphasis areas so

field employees can better serve their customers. The institutes often

establish partnerships with other Federal agencies, universities, and

public and private organizations.

(3) Cooperating Scientists. Cooperating scientists work in the

areas of soil erosion and sedimentation, air quality, and agroforestry.

These scientists are located at various universities and research

centers.

(d) Legislative Affairs. The Legislative Affairs Staff provides

coordination and assistance to the Chief on legislative affairs issues

and activities.

(e) Conservation Communication. The Conservation Communication

Staff is responsible for communications, volunteer programs,

conservation education, and public affairs activities.

(f) Strategic Natural Resource Issues. The Strategic Natural

Resource Issues Staff is responsible for coordinating priority

strategic issues as determined by the Chief.

Sec. 600.3 Regional offices.

Each regional office is under the direction and supervision of a

regional conservationist. Regional offices direct, coordinate, and

integrate all phases of NRCS programs and activities, and address the

total natural resource needs of the region. Regional offices are

located in Beltsville, Maryland; Atlanta, Georgia; Fort Worth, Texas;

Madison, Wisconsin; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Sacramento, California.

Sec. 600.4 State offices.

Each office is under the direction and supervision of a State

conservationist. Each State conservationist is responsible for NRCS

programs in a State. The Pacific Basin Area Office, under the direction

and supervision of a director, serves the U.S. Trust Territories in

that area. The Caribbean Area Office, under the direction and

supervision of a director, serves the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and

the U.S. Virgin Islands. Directors of the Pacific Basin and Caribbean

areas have the same responsibility and authority as a State

conservationist. All references to State conservationist in this

chapter include the directors of the Pacific Basin and Caribbean areas.

Sec. 600.5 Area offices.

Each area office is under the direction and supervision of an area

conservationist or assistant State conservationist for field operations

who is responsible for NRCS activities in the geographical area served

by the area office. Usually the geographical area includes multiple

field offices and counties. Many area offices now consist of teams

working on a watershed or other geopolitical basis.

Sec. 600.6 Field offices.

Each field office is under the direction and supervision of a

district conservationist who is responsible for NRCS activities in the

geographical area served by the field office. Usually the geographical

area of a field office includes one or more conservation districts and

one or more counties. Field offices are generally collocated with other

USDA agencies in USDA Service Centers.

Sec. 600.7 Specialized field offices.

Other field offices serve specialized activities, such as watershed

protection and flood reduction projects, construction projects,

resource conservation and development areas, and soil survey

activities. Direction and supervision of these offices are designated

by State conservationists.

Sec. 600.8 Plant materials centers.

Plant materials centers (PMC) assemble and test plant species for

conservation uses. Usually a PMC serves two or more States, and is

under the jurisdiction of the State conservationist where the center is

located. Each PMC is directed and supervised by a manager who is

responsible to a State office specialist/manager who is responsible to

a State office specialist/manager as designated by the State

conservationist.

PART 601--FUNCTIONS

Sec.

601.1 Functions assigned.

601.2 Functions reserved to the Secretary of Agriculture.

601.3 Natural disaster assistance.

601.4 Defense responsibilities.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1010-1011; 16 U.S.C. 590a-590f, 1001-1008,

2001-2009, 2203-2205, 3801 et seq.; 33 U.S.C. 701b-1.

Sec. 601.1 Functions assigned.

The Natural Resources conservation Service (NRCS) is the Federal

agency that works with private landowners to conserve their natural

resources. NRCS employees help land users and communities approach

conservation planning and implementation with an understanding of how

natural resources relate to each other and to people--and how human

activities affect those resources. The agency emphasizes voluntary,

science-based assistance, partnerships, and cooperative problem solving

at the community level. The mission of NRCS is to work on the Nation's

non-Federal lands to conserve, improve, and sustain natural resources.

The following functions support the mission.

(a) NRCS facilitates and provides conservation technical assistance

at the local level that helps people assess their natural resource

conditions and needs, set goals, identify programs and other resources

to address those needs, develop proposals and recommendations,

implement solutions, and measure their success. The agency's role is to

assist with:

(1) Resource inventories,

(2) Resource assessments,

(3) Planning assistance, and/or

(4) Technical assistance.

(b) NRCS provides technical assistance through local conservation

districts to land users, communities, watershed groups, Federal and

State agencies, other partners, and customers.

(c) NRCS provides assistance on a voluntary basis.

(d) The agency's work focuses on soil, water, air, plant, and

animal conservation including erosion reduction, water quality

improvement, wetland restoration and protection, fish and wildlife

habitat improvement, range management, stream restoration, water

management, and other natural resource issues.

[[Page 16661]]

(e) NRCS has general responsibility for administration of the

following programs:

(1) Conservation operations, authorized by the Soil Conservation

Act of 1935 and the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977.

Activities include:

(i) Conservation technical assistance to land users, communities,

units of State and local government, and other Federal agencies in

planning and implementing natural resource solutions to reduce erosion,

improve soil and water quantity and quality, improve and conserve

wetlands, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve air quality,

improve pasture and range conditions, reduce upstream flooding, and

improve woodlands. Assistance is also provided to implement the highly

erodible land (HEL) and wetland conservation (Swampbuster) provisions,

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

in the 1985 Food Security Act, as amended by the Food, Agriculture,

Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 and Federal Agriculture Improvement

and Reform Act of 1996. NRCS technical field staff make HEL and wetland

determinations and assist land users to develop and implement

conservation plans needed to ensure compliance with the law. NRCS is

also the lead Federal agency for delineating wetlands on agricultural

lands for purposes of implementing both the provisions of the Food

Security Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

(ii) Soil surveys which provide the public with local information

on the uses and capabilities of their soil resource. Soil surveys are

based on scientific analysis and classification of the soils and are

used to determine land capabilities and conservation treatment needs.

Surveys are conducted cooperatively with other Federal agencies, land

grant universities, State agencies, and local units of government. NRCS

is the world leader in soil classification and soil mapping, and is

expanding into soil quality.

(iii) Snow survey and water supply forecasts that provide western

States and Alaska with vital information and forecasts of seasonable

variable water supplies. NRCS field staff in cooperation with

partnering organizations manually collect data from 850 remote high

mountain sites. Data is electronically collected from an additional 600

SNOTEL (automated snowpack telemetry network) sites. In cooperation

with the National Weather Service, the data is assembled and analyzed.

Then, NRCS staff develop seasonal water supply forecasts.

(iv) Plant Material Centers assemble, test, and encourage increased

plant propagation and usefulness of plant species for biomass

production, carbon sequestration, erosion reduction, wetland

restoration, water quality improvement, streambank and riparian area

protection, coastal dune stabilization, and to meet other special

conservation treatment needs. The work is carried out cooperatively

with State and Federal agencies, private organizations, commercial

businesses, and seed and nursery associations. After species are

proven, they are released to the private sector for commercial

production.

(2) Conservation programs in the Federal Agriculture Improvement

and Reform Act of 1996, most of which are funded by the Commodity

Credit Corporation (CCC). NRCS provides leadership and technical

assistance for the following programs:

(i) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP provides

a single, voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers who

face serious threats to soil, water, and related natural resources.

Nationally, it provides technical, financial, and educational

assistance, half of it targeted to livestock-related natural resource

problems and half to more general conservation priorities.

(ii) Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). WRP is a voluntary program to

restore and protect wetlands on private property. It provides an

opportunity for landowners to receive financial incentives to enhance

wetlands in exchange for retiring marginal agricultural land.

(iii) Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). WHIP is a

voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife

habitat on private lands. It provides both technical assistance and

cost sharing to help establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

(iv) Farmland Protection Program (FFP). This program provides funds

to help purchase development rights to keep productive farmland in

agricultural use. Working through existing programs, USDA joins with

State, tribal, or local governments to acquire voluntary conservation

easements or other interests from landowners.

(v) Forestry Incentives Programs (FIP). FIP supports good forest

management practices on privately owned, non-industrial forest lands

nationwide. FIP is designed to benefit the environment while meeting

future demands for wood products. Although not funded by CCC, Section

373 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

extended the program under discretionary appropriations.

(3) Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program,

authorized by Section 102 of the Flood and Agriculture Act of 1962

(Pub. L. 87-702) and Sections 1528-1538 of the Agriculture and Food Act

of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-98). This program is initiated and directed at the

local level by volunteers who involve multiple communities, various

units of government, municipalities, and grassroots organizations. RC&D

is a catalyst for civic-oriented groups to share knowledge and

resources in a collective attempt to solve common problems. The program

offers aid in balancing the environmental, economic, and social needs

of an area.

(4) Rural Abandoned Mine Program (RAMP) and other responsibilities

assigned under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

(Pub. L. 95-87). Under RAMP, NRCS provides technical and financial

assistance to landowners to reclaim certain abandoned coal-mined lands.

This assistance can be used to reclaim these lands for approved uses,

which include pasture, range, woodland, cropland, noncommercial

recreation, and wildlife habitat. The program's first priority is to

protect public health, welfare, safety, and property from hazards

caused by past surface coal mining or by surface effects of deep

mining.

(5) Watershed surveys and planning, authorized by the Watershed

Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Pub. L. 83-566, Section 6 (16

U.S.C. 1001-1008)). This 1996 appropriations act combined the Small

Watershed Planning and the River Basin Surveys and Investigations

programs into a new program called the Watershed Surveys and Planning

Program. The program involves cooperation with other Federal, State,

and local agencies to conduct watershed planning, river basin surveys

and investigations, flood hazard analysis, and flood plain management

assistance, which aid in the development of coordinated water resource

programs, including the development of guiding principles and

procedures.

(6) Watershed and flood prevention operations include the following

activities:

(i) Watershed operations authorized by the Flood Control Act of

1944. Flood prevention operations include: Planning and installing

works of improvement and land treatment measures; conservation,

development, utilization, and disposal of water; and reduction of

sedimentation and erosion damages.

[[Page 16662]]

This may also include the development of recreational facilities and

the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat.

(ii) The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, authorized

by Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1950 (Pub. L. 81-516) and

Section 403 of Title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (Pub. L.

95-334). EWP provides assistance to reduce hazards to life and property

in watersheds damaged by severe natural events. Emergency work includes

establishing quick vegetative cover on denuded land, sloping steep

land, and eroding banks; opening dangerously restricted channels;

repairing diversions and levees; and other emergency work. NRCS

provides technical and financial assistance for disaster cleanup;

stream corridor, wetland, and riparian area restoration; and urban

planning and site location assistance to the Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) when relocating communities out of flood

plains.

(iii) The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Pub. L.

83-566), also known as the Small Watersheds Program. This program

provides for cooperation with local sponsors, State, and other public

agencies in the installation of planned works of improvement and land

treatment measures in approved watershed projects. Eligible measures

include flood prevention, water conservation, recreation, agricultural

water management, flood plain easements, municipal and industrial

water, and rural water supply.

Sec. 601.2 Functions reserved to the Secretary of Agriculture.

(a) Designation of new Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)

areas. Once designated, these areas may receive RC&D Program assistance

from NRCS.

(b) Administration of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act

of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-192) to conduct an appraisal and develop a national

conservation program every five years.

Sec. 601.3 Natural disaster assistance.

(a) To assist in emergencies caused by natural disasters, NRCS may:

(1) Provide technical and financial assistance under authority of

Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1950 (Pub. L. 81-516, Stat.

184, 33 U.S.C. 701b) and Section 403 of Title IV of the Agricultural

Credit Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-334).

(2) Provide technical assistance for rehabilitation of land and

conservation systems for which other U.S. Department of Agriculture

agencies provide cost sharing.

(3) Provide technical assistance on rehabilitation of rural lands

damaged by natural disaster.

(4) Provide assistance in evaluating the severity of the disaster,

assessing problems created, and determining the amount and kind of

emergency work needed for restoration.

(5) Provide available information, maps, and reports on projects

described in Parts 621, 622, 623, and 640 of Section 216 of the Flood

Control Act of 1950.

(6) Provide assistance in locating heavy earthmoving equipment.

(7) Make light trucks and other types of NRCS transportation

equipment available for emergency use.

(8) Provide technical assistance in locating alternate routes when

existing roads and highways cannot be used.

(b) In a disaster, it is the responsibility of the state

conservationist to determine the extent of NRCS assistance. In

presidentially-declared disasters, NRCS coordinates emergency

assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Sec. 601.4 Defense responsibilities.

In the event of nuclear attack, NRCS is responsible for providing:

(a) Technical guidance, based upon results of radiological

monitoring and the extent of radiological contamination to farmers,

ranchers, and others relating to:

(1) The selection and use of land for agricultural production.

(2) The harvesting of crops.

(3) The use of crops stored on the farm.

(4) The use, conservation, disposal, and control of water to insure

adequate usable water for agricultural purposes and to prevent floods.

(5) The safety of livestock.

(b) Basic soil information, land use guides, and onsite technical

assistance in selecting land for production and in applying practices

to increase production of food and fiber with maximum efficiency.

David C. White,

Director, Conservation Communications Staff, Natural Resources

Conservation Service.

[FR Doc. 97-8943 Filed 4-7-97; 8:45 am]

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