TITLE 16 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VI - STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES

16 USC 3861 - Establishment of State technical committees

(a) Establishment 
The Secretary shall establish a technical committee in each State to assist the Secretary in the considerations relating to implementation and technical aspects of the conservation programs under this chapter.
(b) Standards 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary shall develop
(1) standard operating procedures to standardize the operations of State technical committees; and
(2) standards to be used by State technical committees in the development of technical guidelines under section 3862 (b)1 of this title for the implementation of the conservation provisions of this chapter.
(c) Composition 
Each State technical committee shall be composed of agricultural producers and other professionals that represent a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, wetland, and wildlife sciences. The technical committee for a State shall include representatives from among the following:
(1) The Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(2) The Farm Service Agency.
(3) The Forest Service.
(4) The National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
(5) The State fish and wildlife agency.
(6) The State forester or equivalent State official.
(7) The State water resources agency.
(8) The State department of agriculture.
(9) The State association of soil and water conservation districts.
(10) Agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock or poultry raised within the State.
(11) Owners of nonindustrial private forest land.
(12) Nonprofit organizations within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of title 26 with demonstrable conservation expertise and experience working with agriculture producers in the State.
(13) Agribusiness.
[1] See References in Text note below.

16 USC 3862 - Responsibilities

(a) In general 
Each State technical committee established under section 3861 of this title shall meet regularly to provide information, analysis, and recommendations to appropriate officials of the Department of Agriculture who are charged with implementing the conservation provisions of this chapter.
(b) Public notice and attendance 
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.
(c) Role 

(1) In general 
The role of State technical committees is advisory in nature, and such committees shall have no implementation or enforcement authority. However, the Secretary shall give strong consideration to the recommendations of such committees in administering the programs under this chapter.
(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.
(d) FACA requirements 

(1) Exemption 
Each State technical committee shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(2) Local working groups 
For purposes of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), any local working group established under this subchapter shall be considered to be a subcommittee of the applicable State technical committee.