Draft State Technical Committee & Local Work Groups Policy

The Secretary is required to establish a technical committee in each State to advise on the implementation and technical aspects of natural resource conservation programs and activities under Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (the 1985 Act), as amended.

The Secretary delegated responsibility for establishing technical committees to NRCS.

Although the State Conservationist chairs the Committee, State Technical Committees may be used in an advisory capacity by other USDA agencies.

Section 1262 of the 1985 Act, as amended, exempts State Technical Committees and Local Working Groups (Part 501.14) from compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) requirements.

State Technical Committees provide information, analysis, and recommendations to appropriate officials of the Department of Agriculture who are charged with implementing and establishing priorities and criteria for natural resources conservation activities and programs under Title XII of the 1985 Act, as amended.

Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative

Conservation Innovation Grants

Conservation Reserve Program

Conservation Security Program

Conservation Stewardship Program

Conservation of Private Grazing Land

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Although State Technical Committees are advisory in nature and have no implementation or enforcement authority, USDA shall give strong consideration to the State Technical Committees’ recommendations.

Priority natural resource concerns in the state;

Criteria for priority watersheds for programmatic focus;

Appropriate mix of conservation programs and practices to address natural resource concerns, including coordination with relevant State and Tribal programs;

Cost-share rates as applied in payment schedules for conservation practices;

Techniques for outreach to historically underserved citizens;

Criteria to be used in ranking program applications;

Conservation practice standards; and

Innovative conservation practices and approaches.

Annually, the State Technical Committees shall review whether Local Working Groups are addressing State priorities and criteria for ranking program applications.

Each State Technical Committee shall be composed of

Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA;
Farm Service Agency (FSA), USDA;
FSA State Committee, USDA;
Forest Service, USDA;
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA;
American Indian Tribal Governments - 100,000 acres or more
Association of soil and water conservation districts;
State departments and agencies within the State
Agricultural producers
Owners of nonindustrial private forest land;
Nonprofit organizations – conservation expertise
Agribusiness.
Other Federal agencies and persons knowledgeable about economic and environmental impacts of conservation

To ensure that recommendations of the State Technical Committee take into account the needs of diverse groups:

The State Conservationist may assemble certain Committee members, including members of Local Working Groups and other experts, to discuss, examine, and focus on a particular technical or programmatic topic, or combination of such.

Specialized subcommittees may seek public participation, but they are not required to do so. Recommendations of specialized subcommittees shall be presented in general sessions of State Technical Committees, where the public is notified and invited to attend.

Local Working Groups are subcommittees of the State Tech Committee

Environmental Quality Incentives Program
State Forestry Subcommittee
State Wildlife Subcommittee
Tribal Subcommittee

The State Technical Committee shall meet at least twice a year at a time and place designated by the State Conservationist. Other meetings whenever there is business that should be brought before the Committee.

Any USDA agency can request a meeting.

Meetings are open to the public.

The State Conservationist will provide public notice of all State Technical Committee meetings at least 14 calendar days prior to the meeting.

The State Conservationist will provide a meeting agenda to the Committee members at least 14 calendar days prior to a scheduled meeting.

Additional agenda items will be considered if submitted at least five working days prior to the meeting.

Summaries for all State Technical Committee meetings will be available within 30 calendar days of the Committee meeting, and distributed to committee members. The summaries will be filed at the appropriate NRCS State Office and posted to the NRCS State website.

The State Conservationist will inform the State Technical Committee as to the decisions made in writing to all Committee members and posted to the NRCS State website.

Local Working Groups are composed of

Local Working Groups provide recommendations to the District Conservationist (or Designated Conservationist) and the State Technical Committee on local natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs listed in Section 501.11(b).

Local Working Group membership should be diverse and focus on agricultural interests and natural resource issues existing in the local community.

Membership should include

To ensure that recommendations of the Local Working Group take into account the needs of diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent the conservation and related technical concerns of particular historically underserved groups and individuals including, but not limited to, the following:

Individuals or groups wanting to become a member of a Local Working Group may submit to the Local Working Group Chairperson and the NRCS District Conservationist (or Designated Conservationist), a request that explains their interest and outlines their credentials for becoming a member of the Local Working Group.

Organization and Function

Local Working Groups are to provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities and criteria for USDA conservation activities and programs.

Local Working Groups are normally chaired by the appropriate soil and water conservation district (SWCD). In the event the SWCD is not able, or does not choose to chair the Local Working Group, NRCS’s District Conservationist (or Designated Conservationist) will be responsible for those duties.

The Local Working Group shall meet at least once each year at a time and place designated by the Chairperson unless otherwise agreed to by the members of the Local Working Group.

Other meetings may be held at the discretion of the Chairperson. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson whenever it is determined that there is business that should be brought before the Local Working Group.

Local Working Group meetings are open to the public. Public

Notice of Local Working Group meetings should be provided at least 14 calendar days prior to the meeting. Notification will need to exceed the 14 calendar-day minimum where State open meeting laws exist and require a longer notification period. The minimum 14 calendar-day notice requirement may be waived in the case of exceptional conditions, as determined by the Chairperson or NRCS District Conservationist (or Designated Conservationist).

The public notice of Local Working Group meetings will include the time, place, and agenda items for the meeting.

Agendas and information will be provided to the Local Working Group members at least 14 calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting.

The District Conservationist (or Designated Conservationist) will assist the Local Working Group Chairperson, as requested, in preparing meeting agendas and necessary background information for meetings.

The minimum 14 calendar-day notice requirement may be waived in the case of exceptional conditions, as determined by the Chairperson or NRCS District Conservationist (or Designated Conservationist).

Individuals attending the Local Working Group meetings shall be given the opportunity to address the Local Working Group.

Opportunity to address non-agenda items will also be provided if time allows at the end of the meeting.

Presenters are encouraged to provide written records of their comments to the Chairperson at the time of the presentation but are not required to do so.

The meetings will be conducted as an open discussion among members. Discussion will focus on identifying local natural resource concerns that can be treated using programs and activities. All recommendations will be considered.

(1) The Chairperson will lead the discussion.

(2) Only one person may speak at a time. Every participant who so desires should have an opportunity to speak. The Chairperson or his/her designee is responsible for recognizing speakers.

(3) The Chairperson, in consultation with those members present, may establish time limits for discussion on individual agenda items.

(4) The Chairperson will defer to the next meeting those agenda items not covered because of time limits.

Summaries for all Local Working Group meetings will be available within 30 calendar days of the meeting, and will be filed at the appropriate local NRCS Office.

Local Working Group recommendations are to be submitted to State Technical Committee Chairperson and/or the District Conservationist (or, Designated Conservationist), as appropriate, within 14 calendar days after a meeting.