TITLE 7 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER V - NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

7 USC 6961 - Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment

(a) Authorization 
The Secretary is authorized to establish in the Department the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment.
(b) Confirmation required 
If the Secretary establishes the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment authorized under subsection (a) of this section, the Under Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(c) Functions of Under Secretary 

(1) Principal functions 
Upon establishment, the Secretary shall delegate to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment those functions under the jurisdiction of the Department that are related to natural resources and environment (except to the extent those functions are delegated under section 6932 of this title).
(2) Additional functions 
The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment shall perform such other functions and duties as may be required by law or prescribed by the Secretary.
(d) Succession 
Any official who is serving as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment on October 13, 1994, and who was appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall not be required to be reappointed under subsection (b) of this section to the successor position authorized under subsection (a) of this section if the Secretary establishes the position, and the official occupies the new position, within 180 days after October 13, 1994 (or such later date set by the Secretary if litigation delays rapid succession).

7 USC 6962 - Natural Resources Conservation Service

(a) Establishment 
The Secretary is authorized to establish and maintain within the Department a Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(b) Functions 
If the Secretary establishes the Natural Resources Conservation Service under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary is authorized to assign to the Service jurisdiction over the following:
(1) The Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.).
(2) The forest land enhancement program under section 2103 of title 16.
(3) Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), except subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of such title [16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.].
(4) Salinity control measures under section 1592 (c) of title 43.
(5) The Farms for the Future Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 4201 note ).
(6) Such other functions as the Secretary considers appropriate, except functions under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 [16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.].
(c) Special concurrence requirements for certain functions 
In carrying out the programs specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of subsection (b) of this section and the program under subchapter C of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3837–3837f), the Secretary shall
(1) acting on the recommendations of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, with the concurrence of the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, issue regulations to carry out such programs;
(2) ensure that the Natural Resources Conservation Service, in establishing policies, priorities, and guidelines for each such program, does so with the concurrence of the Consolidated Farm Service Agency at national, State, and local levels;
(3) ensure that, in reaching such concurrence at the local level, the Natural Resources Conservation Service works in cooperation with Soil and Water Conservation Districts or similar organizations established under State law;
(4) ensure that officials of county and area committees established under section 590h (b)(5) of title 16 meet annually with officials of such Districts or similar organizations to consider local conservation priorities and guidelines; and
(5) take steps to ensure that the concurrence process does not interfere with the effective delivery of such programs.
(d) Use of Federal and non-Federal employees 

(1) Use authorized 
In the implementation of functions assigned to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Secretary may use interchangeably in local offices of the Service both Federal employees of the Department and non-Federal employees of county and area committees established under section 590h (b)(5) of title 16.
(2) Exception 
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no personnel action (as defined in section 2302 (a)(2)(A) of title 5) may be taken with respect to a Federal employee unless such action is taken by another Federal employee.
(e) Savings provision 
For purposes of subsections (c) and (d) of this section:
(1) A reference to the Natural Resources Conservation Service includes any other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department assigned the functions authorized for the Natural Resources Conservation Service under this section.
(2) A reference to the Consolidated Farm Service Agency includes any other office, agency, or administrative unit of the Department assigned the functions authorized for the Consolidated Farm Service Agency under section 6932 of this title.

7 USC 6962a - Cooperative agreements

Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including provisions of law requiring competition), the Secretary of Agriculture may on and after October 28, 2000, enter into cooperative agreements (which may provide for the acquisition of goods or services, including personal services) with a State, political subdivision, or agency thereof, a public or private agency, organization, or any other person, if the Secretary determines that the objectives of the agreement will:
(1)  serve a mutual interest of the parties to the agreement in carrying out the programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and
(2)  all parties will contribute resources to the accomplishment of these objectives: Provided, That Commodity Credit Corporation funds obligated for such purposes shall not exceed the level obligated by the Commodity Credit Corporation for such purposes in fiscal year 1998.

7 USC 6963 - Reorganization of Forest Service

(a) Required elements of reorganization proposals 
Reorganization proposals that are developed by the Secretary to carry out the designation by the President of the Forest Service as a Reinvention Lab pursuant to the National Performance Review, dated September 1993, shall include proposals for
(1) reorganizing the Service in a manner that is consistent with the principles of interdisciplinary planning;
(2) redefining and consolidating the mission and roles of, and research conducted by, employees of the Service in connection with the National Forest System and State and private forestry to facilitate interdisciplinary planning and to eliminate functionalism;
(3) reforming the budget structure of the Service to support interdisciplinary planning, including reducing the number of budget line items;
(4) defining new measures of accountability so that Congress may meet the constitutional obligation of Congress to oversee the Service;
(5) achieving structural and organizational consolidations;
(6) to the extent practicable, sharing office space, equipment, vehicles, and electronic systems with other administrative units of the Department and other Federal field offices, including proposals for using an on-line system by all administrative units of the Department to maximize administrative efficiency; and
(7) reorganizing the Service in a manner that will result in a larger percentage of employees of the Service being retained at organizational levels below regional offices, research stations, and the area office of the Service.
(b) Report 
Not later than March 31, 1995, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate that describes actions taken to carry out subsection (a) of this section, identifies any disparities in regional funding patterns, and contains the rationale behind the disparities.