USC Chapter 85

USC Chapter 85
in effect

7 U.S.C. § 5401 Establishment of Agricultural Council on Environmental Quality

(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish an Agricultural Council on Environmental Quality in the Department of Agriculture (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the “Council”). The Council shall be under the direct authority of the Secretary, and shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this chapter, and for coordination and direction of all environmental policies and programs of the Department. (b) MembershipMembership of the Council shall consist of the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, the Assistant Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education, other under and assistant secretaries as may be designated by the Secretary, and the Director of the Office of Agricultural Environmental Quality, established in section 5402 of this title, who shall serve as the Executive Director of the Council. The Secretary shall designate a member of the Council, other than the Executive Director, as chair of the Council.

7 U.S.C. § 5402 Office of Agricultural Environmental Quality

(a) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish an Office of Agricultural Environmental Quality in the Department of Agriculture (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the “Office”). (b) DirectorThe Office shall be administered by a director who shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Director shall be an individual who has demonstrated technical expertise and experience in agricultural and environmental matters. (c) Staff(1) AppointmentsThe Director may appoint such employees as may be necessary to assist the Director in carrying out this section. Such employees shall include individuals who have professional expertise in matters related to environmental quality, including (but not limited to) agricultural production, water quality, wetland, wildlife conservation, soil conservation, and agricultural chemical usage. (2) LiaisonsThe Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Interior shall detail to the Office upon request of the Secretary, on a reimbursable basis, at least one employee, respectively, with expertise in matters related to agriculture and environmental quality. Such detailed employees shall serve as a liaison for their respective agencies with the Department of Agriculture to assist the Director in carrying out the provisions of this section. The term of the detail shall not exceed 3 years. (3) Additional staffUpon request of the Secretary, the head of any Federal agency is authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, employees of such agency to the Office to assist the Director. (d) Duties of Director(1) In generalThe Director shall assist the Council in developing a departmental and agency-specific environmental quality policy statement and implementation plan and an annual agricultural environmental quality report, as specified in section 5403 of this title. The Director shall coordinate and monitor the activities of the Department regarding initiatives and programs related to environmental quality and the interpretation of departmental policies affecting environmental quality. The Director shall serve as a member of the Council and as its Executive Director. (2) Additional dutiesThe Director shall also be responsible for—(A) recommending to the Council environmental protection goals and specific programs, initiatives, and policies that will balance the needs of production agriculture with environmental concerns; (B) providing advice to the Council on the development, implementation, and review of activities of agencies of the Department to ensure consistency with the Department’s environmental protection goals; (C) coordinating environmental policy within the Department through the program managers, and between the Department and other Federal agencies, regional authorities, State and local governments, land-grant and other colleges and universities, and nonprofit and commercial organizations, regarding programs and actions relating to environmental quality; (D) serving as a coordinator for the Department’s data, information, programs, and initiatives dealing with environmental quality; (E) developing the plans and reports required as specified by this chapter; and (F) providing such staff as may be necessary to support the activities of the Council.

7 U.S.C. § 5403 Environmental Quality Policy Statement

(a) Environmental Quality Policy Statement, implementation plan, and annual report(1) Policy statementThe Council shall develop an Environmental Quality Policy Statement that identifies goals and objectives for addressing the effects of agriculture on environmental quality. The policy statement shall be based upon an assessment, in accordance with paragraph (2), of the current status and level of effort, in terms of staff and funding, of programs at the Department of Agriculture to evaluate, prevent, and mitigate environmental problems that may result from agricultural production. The policy statement shall be revised at least every 5 years. (2) AssessmentThe assessment under paragraph (1) shall include:(A) Detailed descriptions of the roles of the involved Departmental agencies. (B) A description of current efforts to coordinate the individual activities of each of the involved departmental agencies. (C) Recommendations for precluding any undesirable duplication of efforts within the Department and among the Department and other Federal and State programs. (D) Specific recommendations for new initiatives in monitoring, research, extension, and technical assistance efforts to address present and potential environmental quality problems. The assessment may incorporate existing documents and planning processes within the Department. (b) Implementation planThe Director, subject to the approval of the Council, shall prepare a plan to implement the Environmental Quality Policy Statement. The plan shall include an assessment of the activities of each departmental agency to mitigate or reduce any negative effects on environmental quality of agricultural policies, programs, and practices under their respective jurisdictions and shall describe in detail new departmental and agency-specific initiatives intended to achieve the goals and objectives of the policy statement. The plan shall be revised at least every 5 years. (c) Annual environmental quality reportNot later than January 31, 1992, and annually thereafter, the Council, through the Director, shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Congress, other appropriate Federal and State agencies, and the public on the progress being made toward the goals and objectives established in the Environmental Quality Policy Statement. The report shall also include—(1) a review of the environmental activities and initiatives of the Department during the preceding year; (2) specific action taken to coordinate the environmental programs of the Department with programs of other Federal agencies and related State programs; and (3) such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding current or additional environmental protection programs, initiatives, or policies that will balance the needs of production agriculture while addressing environmental concerns. (d) Authorization of appropriationsThere are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually not to exceed $2,000,000 to carry out this chapter.

7 U.S.C. § 5404 Good Neighbor Environmental Board

(a) EstablishmentThe President shall establish an advisory board to be known as the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Board”). (b) PurposeThe purpose of the Board shall be to advise the President and the Congress on the need for implementation of environmental and infrastructure projects (including projects that affect agriculture, rural development, and human nutrition) within the States of the United States contiguous to Mexico in order to improve the quality of life of persons residing on the United States side of the border. (c) MembershipThe Board shall be composed of—(1) representatives from the United States Government, including a representative from the Department of Agriculture and representatives from other appropriate agencies; (2) representatives from the governments of the States of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas; and (3) representatives from private organizations, including community development, academic, health, environmental, and other nongovernmental entities with experience and expertise on environmental and infrastructure problems along the southwest border. (d) Annual reports to President and Congress(1) In generalThe Board shall submit to the President and the Congress of the United States an annual report on—(A) the environmental and infrastructure projects referred to in subsection (a) that have been implemented, and (B) the need for the implementation of additional environmental and infrastructure projects. (2) Transmission of copies to Board membersThe Board shall—(A) transmit to each member of the Board a copy of any report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) at least 14 days before its submission, and (B) allow each member of the Board to have 14 days within which to prepare and submit supplemental views with respect to the recommendations of the Board for inclusion in such report.

7 U.S.C. § 5405 Agricultural air quality research oversight

(a) FindingsCongress finds that—(1) various studies have alleged that agriculture is a source of PM–10 emissions; (2) many of these studies have often been based on erroneous data; (3) Federal research activities are currently being conducted by the Department of Agriculture to determine the true extent to which agricultural activities contribute to air pollution and to determine cost-effective ways in which the agricultural industry can reduce any pollution that exists; and (4) any Federal policy recommendations that may be issued by any Federal agency to address air pollution problems related to agriculture or any other industrial activity should be based on sound scientific findings that are subject to adequate peer review and should take into account economic feasibility. (b) PurposeThe purpose of this section is to encourage the Secretary of Agriculture to continue to strengthen vital research efforts related to agricultural air quality. (c) Oversight coordination(1) Intergovernmental cooperationThe Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable with respect to the Department of Agriculture and other Federal departments and agencies, ensure intergovernmental cooperation in research activities related to agricultural air quality and avoid duplication of the activities. (2) Correct dataThe Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the results of any research related to agricultural air quality conducted by Federal agencies not report erroneous data with respect to agricultural air quality. (d) Task force(1) EstablishmentThe Chief of the National Resources Conservation Service shall establish a task force to address agricultural air quality issues. (2) CompositionThe task force shall be comprised of employees of the Department of Agriculture, industry representatives, and other experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality. (3) DutiesThe task force shall advise the Secretary with respect to the role of the Secretary for providing oversight and coordination related to agricultural air quality.

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