Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-07-1998 - 9aOrange County Board of Commissioners Action Agenda Item Abstract Meeting Date: April 7, 1998 Action Agenda Item No. 4-4 Subject: Joint Agreement for Water Quality Improvements and New Position Department: Soil and Water Public Hearing: Yes No X Budget Amendment Needed: Yes X No Attachment(s): Information Contact: 1 -Joint Agreement with the N.C. Department of Brent Bogue, District Environment and Natural Resources and Conservationist the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Extension 2751 Service 2 -Conservation Specialist Class Specification Telephone Number: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 227-2031 Purpose: To consider entering into a joint agreement with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide water quality technical assistance to farmers to reduce nitrogen delivered to the Neuse River. Background: On December 11, 1997, the N.C. Environmental Management Commission adopted a rule to support implementation of the Neuse River Basin Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy. The rules states: All persons engaging in agricultural operations in the Neuse River Basin shall collectively achieve and maintain a 30 percent net total nitrogen loading reduction from the cumulative average 1991-95 nitrogen loadings within five years from the effective date of this rule. The rule will become effective August 1, 1998, subject to approval by the Environmental Management Rules Review Commission and the North Carolina General Assembly. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service have identified Orange 2 County as one of 10 counties within the State where funds will be allocated for improving the quality of water in the Neuse River Basin. The funds will be directed at providing technical assistance to landowners and farmers in identifying, planning, and implementing nutrient run-off reduction practices to reduce the amount of nitrogen entering the Neuse River Basin. The planned project is a five year project projected to extend until September 30, 2003 in conjunction with the five year goal to reduce nitrogen delivered to the Neuse River by 30 percent in that period. Under the proposed joint agreement, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide funding to Orange County for the County to establish a new permanent full time position of Conservation Specialist. This proposed new position will: ^ Advise and educate landowners and farmers in Orange County and parts of Person and Durham Counties on regulatory requirements of agriculture operations for the Neuse River Basin. ^ Review the farmer's or landowner's existing nutrient management practices and procedures. ^ Work with the farmer or landowner to develop, design and implement plans to achieve nutrient reduction goals and apply the best management water conservation practices. ^ Oversee the installation of water conservation practices and ensure that State specifications and guidelines are met. ^ Review plans and practices periodically and make revisions if necessary. The outcome sought by the activity of this position and the others established in other counties for this same purpose is to assist farmers and landowners in using the best nutrient management practices to achieve the goal of 30 percent net total nitrogen loading reduction in the Neuse River Basin. Under the joint agreement, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service will fully fund the proposed new position. Half of the funds will come from the State government and half from the Federal government. There is no County funding involved. 3 Recommendation: The Manager recommends the Board: ^ Authorize the Board Chair to sign the joint agreement, subject to final review by County staff and the County attorney. o Establish a new permanent full-time Conservation Specialist position, subject to continuation of funds from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service. ^ Amend the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan to change the existing class title of Conservation Technician to Conservation Specialist and to change the salary grade from Salary Grade 63 ($22,958 - $36,506) to Salary Grade 65 ($25,312 - $40,244). f:\pers\elgin\classify\soil-wat\abstract. doc c~~~a~..uu c.i~ 4 i Agreement No. A-4532- Page 1 of 6 pages ~ JOINT AGREEMENT By and Between COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT State of North Carolina And The DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION State of North Carolina And The NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE United States Department of Agriculture This agreement is made on this day of , 1998 by and between the County Soil and Water Conservation District, hereinafter called the District; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water Conservation of the State of North Carolina, hereinafter called the Division; and the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, hereinafter called NRCS. Purpose: The District, Division and NRCS recognize the need to provide accelerated technical assistance to local citizens and land users in natural resource conservation planning, and application for resource systems to comply with state rules and regulations in the Neuse River Basin. Accelerated technical assistance is desirable for natural resources conservation planning, systems design and installation to achieve a 30% reduction in nitrogen delivered to the Neuse River, as described in the N.C. Neuse River Basin Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy. The District, Division and NRCS are cooperating in the conservation planning and development of resource systems. The District is willing to provide the resources needed for the planning and development. The Division and NRCS are willing to reimburse the District for the costs associated with said natural resource conservation planning and development. 5 Agreement No. A-4532- Page 2 of 6 pages I. The District agrees to: A. Advertise for a position, interview candidates, and select the best qualified candidate that is mutually acceptable to the District, Division, and NRCS. B. Allow the Neuse position employee to work where the Division's Neuse Basin Coordinator assigns him/her to achieve the greatest benefit within the basin, with first priority being in the District and second priority in a nearby District. C. Provide facilities, management and coordination for District personnel to meet needs for plans and designs associated with the Neuse River Basin Nutrient Management Strategy. D. Provide necessary equipment, supplies, transportation, travel expenses, salaries and related expenses for District personnel. E. Submit quarterly billings to the Division and NRCS for reimbursement of actual expenses of carrying out their responsibilities as outlined in this agreement. Billings will be submitted to the Division on Form NC- ACSP7, NC Agriculture Cost Share Program, and to NRCS on Form SF-270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement. Each billing will be supported by itemized statements. F. Comply with the Special Provisions, Attachment A, which are hereby attached and made a part hereof. II. The Division agrees to: A. Provide Division personnel to coordinate activities with the District personnel. B. Pay all salaries and other related expenses of Division personnel. C. Administer the Neuse Basin technical assistance program by overseeing the Neuse position employee, subject to this agreement in the areas of targeting, planning, implementing, and tracking of nutrient reduction conservation practices.. 6 , Agreement No. A-4532- D. Reimburse the District a portion of incurred, not to exceed $ period beginning with the effective agreement through June 30, 1998, to District expenses in performing the described in Section I. III. NRCS agrees to: Page 3 of 6 pages actual expenses for the date of this help defray items of work A. Provide NRCS personnel to coordinate activities with the District personnel. B. Pay all salaries and other related expenses of NRCS personnel. C. Provide technical oversight to ensure that conservation practices are designed and installed in accordance with NRCS standards, and provide training to the Neuse position employee hired under this agreement so that the employee achieves and maintains an appropriate level of technical expertise. D. Reimburse the District a portion of the actual expenses incurred, not to exceed $ for the period beginning with the effective date of this agreement through June 30, 1998, to help defray District expenses in performing the items of work described in Section I. IV. It is mutually agreed: A. This agreement will remain in effect until September 30, 2003. This agreement may be amended and/or revised at any time by written amendment as agreed to by the parties hereto. B. NRCS cannot make commitments in excess of appropriated funds authorized by law and administratively made available. If the National Headquarters of NRCS ceases to provide financial support for the accelerated technical assistance, or if NRCS cannot fulfill the obligations stated in this agreement because of appropriations, this agreement will automatically terminate. Agreement No. A-4532- Page 4 of 6 pages C. The Division intends to fulfill its obligations stated in this agreement. The Division cannot make commitments in excess of appropriated funds authorized by law and administratively made available. If the Division cannot fulfill the obligations because of appropriations, this agreement will automatically terminate. D. Either party may terminate this agreement at any time by giving at least 30 days written notice to the other party. E. No member or delegate to Congress, or resident commissioner, and no officer, agent or employee of the Government shall be admitted to any share or part of this agreement, or to any benefit arising from it. However, this clause does not apply to this agreement to the extent that this agreement is made with a corporation for the corporation's general benefit. By: F. The program or activities conducted under this agreement will be in compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions contained in Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act Of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-259); and other nondiscrimination statutes: namely, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. They will also be in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR-15, Subparts A & B), which provide that no person in the United States shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, or handicap be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture or any agency thereof. COUNTY Title: Chair,Orange Countv Board of Commissioners Date: 8 Agreement No. A-4532- t Page 5 of 6 pages COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT By: Title. Date: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES By: Title. Date: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION By: Title. Date: 9 Agreement No. A-4532- Page 6 of 6 pages UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE By: Title. Date: Authority: Conservation Operations, PL 74-46; 16 U.S.C. 590 a-f 15A NCAC 6E Agriculture Cost Share Program for Nonpoint Pollution Control NCGS 139-8, Soil Conservation Districts Law f:pers\soilcons.doc C3170-4/98 10 CONSERVATION SPECIALIST GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK: Performs intermediate technical and administrative work improving the quality of water in the Neuse River Basin by ensuring that landowners and farmers adhere to nutrient reduction goals that are mandated by N.C. General Statutes; does related work as required. Work is performed under general supervision. TYPICAL TASKS: Advises and educates landowners and farmers in Orange, Person and Durham Counties on regulatory requirements of agriculture operations for the Neuse River Basin; Collects and reviews data and existing practices to determine if landowners and farmers are complying with regulatory requirements; Develops and designs individual conservation plans and best management conservation practices for nutrient reduction goals in accordance with local, State and Federal rules and regulations; Implements best management conservation practices such as nutrient management plans, water control structures, riparian buffers, field borders, filter strips and animal waste management; Oversees the installation of conservation practices and ensures that the installations meet State specifications and guidelines; Reviews conservation plans and practices periodically and makes revisions if necessary; Assists Soil and Water staff in planning, developing and implementing soil and water conservation services; Inputs descriptive and statistical data into the computer and generates reports; Performs related tasks as assigned. KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: General knowledge of the theory, principles, practices and techniques of soil and water conservation in rural, suburban and urban areas; general knowledge of the various guidelines, policies, ordinances and regulations pertaining to soil and water conservation and land development and management; skill in the use of basic engineering surveying equipment; ability to present the results of research and recommendations effectively in oral, written, or graphic form; ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility; ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with land owners, land users, associates, governmental officials and the general public. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in agriculture science, soil and water resource conservation, environmental science or related field and at least two years experience in agriculture science, soil and water resource conservation or related area or graduation from high school and at least four years experience in agriculture science, soil and water resource conservation or related area. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.