§ 701.61 - Responsibility for technical phases of practices.

The Soil Conservation Service and the U.S. Forest Service are responsible for technical phases of the practice as assigned and such assignment will be specified in State and county programs.

(a) The State conservationist of the Soil Conservation Service may utilize assistance from private, State or Federal agencies in carrying out the assigned responsibilities. No responsibilities will be assigned for counties when the Deputy Administrator, State and County Operations and the Administrator, SCS, determines that it would not be administratively practicable for the Soil Conservation Service to discharge such responsibilities. In such counties, these responsibilities shall be assumed by the county committees. The Soil Conservation Service may utilize to the fullest extent available resources of the State forestry agencies in carrying out assigned responsibilities for practices involving the establishment of wind-breaks or shelterbelts on farmland to prevent wind erosion.

(b) The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for the technical phases of practices or components of practices involving the planting of trees for forestry purposes and those involving the improving or protecting of a stand of forest trees, as specified in State and county programs. The U.S. Forest Service may utilize the assistance of private, State or Federal agencies in carrying out these assigned responsibilities, but services of State forestry agencies will be utilized to the extent that such services are available.

(c) The technical assistance to be furnished in servicing assigned practices will include, where appropriate, the following technical phases:

(1) Determining whether the practice is needed and practicable;

(2) Selecting the site (if necessary), complying with environmental and cultural regulations, determining the specific measures needed, and performing any required layout work for the practice;

(3) Supervising the installation of the practice if needed to assure conformity with specifications; and

(4) Certifying the extent performed and whether the specifications for the practice have been met. The technical agency shall perform all four phases for all assigned practices in State and county programs, except as may be provided in instructions issued by the Deputy Administrator, State and County Operations.