16 U.S.C. § 3862
Section 3862 · Responsibilities
Current version, with additions and removals from the October 13, 1994 version.
(1) Development of technical guides
Not later than one year after November 28, 1990, each State technical committee shall develop technical guides for the implementation of the wetland preservation and wildlife habitat improvement options of the agricultural water quality protection program under section 3838b of this title.
(2) Content of guides
Each State technical committee shall provide public notice of, and permit public attendance at, meetings considering issues of concern related to carrying out this chapter.
The technical guides required under this subsection shall include detailed information on the selection of crops and crop-plant varieties, cover crops, rotation practices, tillage systems, nutrient management, biological control practices (including biologically intensive integrated pest management practices), soil, water, and natural resource conservation, and other practices useful in developing practices pursuant to such option.
(B) Standards and instructions
The technical guides required under subsection (a) of this section shall provide standards and practical instructions for implementation of wetland protection and wildlife habitat improvement practices based on existing scientific and technical knowledge.
(C) Contracts
The Secretary may enter into contracts to assist in the development and periodic revision of the technical guides described in this subsection.
Each technical committee shall provide assistance and offer recommendations with respect to the technical aspects of—
(1) wetland protection, restoration, and mitigation requirements;
(2) criteria to be used in evaluating bids for enrollment of environmentally-sensitive lands in the conservation reserve program;
(3) guidelines for haying or grazing and the control of weeds to protect nesting wildlife on set-aside acreage;
(4) highly erodible lands exemptions and appeals;
(5) wetland and conservation compliance exemptions and appeals;
(6) addressing common weed and pest problems and programs to control weeds and pests found on acreage enrolled in the conservation reserve program;
(7) guidelines for planting perennial cover for water quality and wildlife habitat improvement on set-aside lands; and
(8) other matters determined appropriate by the Secretary.
The committees established under section 3861 of this title shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(2) Advisory role in establishing program priorities and criteria
Each State technical committee shall advise the Secretary in establishing priorities and criteria for the programs in this chapter, including the review of whether local working groups are addressing those priorities.
(1) Exemption
Each State technical committee shall be exempt from chapter 10 of title 5.
(2) Local working groups
For purposes of chapter 10 of title 5, any local working group established under this subchapter shall be considered to be a subcommittee of the applicable State technical committee.