3310 Page of 5 FSM 3300 - FORESTRY INCENTIVES WO AMENDMENT 3300-90-1 EFFECTIVE 6/1/90 CHAPTER 3310 - COST-SHARING Contents 3310.3 Policy 3310.4 Responsibility 3310.41 Director of Cooperative Forestry 3310.42 Regional Foresters and Area Director 3310.6 Relationship with Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) 3311 FORESTRY INCENTIVES PROGRAM 3311.01 Authority 3311.02 Objective 3311.03 Policy 3311.06 Reference 3311.1 Technical Guidelines 3311.11 National 3311.12 State and Local 3311.2 Program Evaluation 3311.21 National 3311.22 State 3312 AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM 3312.01 Authority 3312.02 Objective 3312.03 Policy 3312.04 Responsibility 3312.06 References 3312.1 Technical Guidelines 3312.11 National 3312.12 State and Local 3312.2 Program Evaluation 3313 NAVAL STORES CONSERVATION PROGRAM 3313.01 Authority 3313.02 Objective 3313.04 Responsibility 3313.1 Naval Stores Conservation Program Development Group 3313.2 Program Funding 3313.3 Program Evaluation 3310.3 - Policy. The Forest Service shall provide technical assistance to cost-share programs at the State and local level through State forestry organizations. 3310.4 - Responsibility 3310.41 - Director of Cooperative Forestry. The Director of Cooperative Forestry shall provide leadership, guidance, and review of cost-share programs at the national level. 3310.42 - Regional Foresters and Area Director. Regional Foresters (with the exception of Region 9) and the Area Director shall provide leadership, guidance, and review of Federal cost- sharing programs at the Regional level and shall provide technical support for the States through specialists on their staffs. 3310.6 - Relationship With Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). The Forest Service shall jointly administer cost-sharing programs for forestry incentives with the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Funds for these programs are appropriated to ASCS. The Forest Service administers the technical assistance portions of the programs through State forestry organizations. 3311 - FORESTRY INCENTIVES PROGRAM 3311.01 - Authority. The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, Section 4 (Public Law 95-313, Section 4; 16 U.S.C. 2103) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and implement a forestry incentives program to encourage the development, management, and protection of nonindustrial private forest lands. 3311.02 - Objective. To increase production of timber and associated forest resources on nonindustrial private forest land. 3311.03 - Policy. The Forest Service shall: 1. Provide opportunities for all States to participate in the program. 2. Make economic efficiency a major program management criterion. 3. Encourage tree planting on crop and pasture land where tree crops would yield greater economic return to landowners than current uses. 4. Encourage reforestation and timber stand improvement on productive forest land that requires intensive management to improve long-term productivity. 3311.06 - Reference. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Handbook 1-FIP, FIP Operating Procedures for State and County Offices and CEPD, is adopted for Forest Service use. This handbook provides operational instructions for the Forest Service and State forestry organizations. 3311.1 - Technical Guidelines 3311.11 - National. The Forest Service shall develop national forestry practice guidelines in consultation with ASCS and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF). 3311.12 - State and Local. State Foresters, acting as representatives of the Forest Service and in consultation with Forest Service specialists and ASCS, develop State and local forestry guidelines. 3311.2 - Program Evaluation 3311.21 - National. The Forest Service shall conduct national program evaluations periodically to determine compliance with program guidelines and standards and to determine overall program efficiency and effectiveness. 3311.22 - State. The Forest Service, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and State Foresters jointly evaluate State programs annually. These evaluations shall examine overall program effectiveness and compliance with national and State guidelines and standards. 3312 - AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM 3312.01 - Authority. Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of February 29, 1936, as amended, (Public Law 461, Chapter 104, Section 7-17; 16 U.S.C. 590f-590q) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide cost-sharing to farmers for a variety of conservation and land treatment measures including certain forestry practices. 3312.02 - Objective. The Agricultural Conservation Program is a joint effort by farmers and the Federal government to restore, protect, and preserve the environment. Specific objectives are: to decrease soil erosion; to preserve and protect water supplies; to reduce farm-related water pollution; and to plant and manage forest vegetation for conservation purposes. 3312.03 - Policy. The Forest Service shall: 1. Encourage tree planting on crop and pastureland where tree crops would yield a greater economic return to landowners than current uses. 2. Upon request, provide the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) with technical assistance in forestry conservation practices assigned to SCS by the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). 3312.04 - Responsibility. The Director of Cooperative Forestry shall represent the Forest Service on the National Conservation Review Group. Regional Foresters and the Area Director shall designate a representative to the State Conservation Review Group. 3312.06 - References. The Forest Service has adopted the following Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service handbooks for its use in administering this program: 1. 1-ACP, Agricultural Conservation Program Development and General Provision for State and County Offices, which provides general program guidelines including practice descriptions. 2. 2-ACP, Rural Environment Program Daily Operating Procedure for State and County Offices, which provides daily operating procedures for program requests, approvals, and control of funds. 3. 3-ACP, Miscellaneous Agricultural Conservation Program for State and County Offices, which provides additional program instructions, including accomplishment reporting instructions and codes. 3312.1 - Technical Guidelines 3312.11 - National. The Forest Service shall develop national forestry practices guidelines for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. 3312.12 - State and Local. State Foresters, as representatives of the Forest Service, shall develop State and local forestry practices guidelines for State Conservation Review Group approval. 3312.2 - Program Evaluation. The Forest Service shall periodically evaluate the effectiveness of forestry technical assistance to landowners. The ASCS evaluates overall program efficiency and effectiveness. 3313 - NAVAL STORES CONSERVATION PROGRAM 3313.01 - Authority 1. Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of February 29, 1936, as amended (Public Law 461, Chapter 104, Section 8; 16 U.S.C. 590h). 2. Regulations under title 7, subchapter A, Part 701 as reprinted from the Federal Register of July 2, 1974. 3313.02 - Objectives 1. To restrict turpentining to the most productive timber. 2. To conserve the worked trees. 3. To protect and permit undisturbed growth of the uncropped trees. 4. To conserve the soil, water, and timber resources. 3313.04 - Responsibility. The Regional Forester, Region 8, shall: 1. Provide a representative to the Naval Stores Conservation Program (NSCP) Development Group. 2. Develop and maintain general program instructions (NSCP instructions-3, Naval Stores Program). 3313.1 - Naval Stores Conservation Program Development Group. The Forest Service shall participate as a member of the Naval Stores Conservation Program (NSCP) Development Group with representatives from ASCS and the State forestry agencies of the States involved in the program. This group meets annually in consultation with representatives of the American Turpentine Farmers Association (ATFA) to: 1. Develop practice provisions, specifications, and cost- share rates. 2. Make recommendations for the provisions and policies of NSCP. 3313.2 - Program Funding. Funds for this program are a part of the Agricultural Conservation Program funds appropriated to Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. 3313.3 - Program Evaluation. The Forest Service and State forestry agencies shall evaluate the program at the State and local levels at sufficient intervals of time to maintain program efficiency and effectiveness.