[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6, Parts 400 to 699]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR658.6]

[Page 739]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 658--FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY ACT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 658.6  Technical assistance.

    (a) Section 1543 of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 4204 states, ``The Secretary 
is encouraged to provide technical assistance to any State or unit of 
local government, or any nonprofit organization, as determined by the 
Secretary, that desires to develop programs or policies to limit the 
conversion of productive farmland to nonagricultural uses.'' In 
Sec. 2.62, of 7 CFR part 2, subtitle A, NRCS is delegated leadership 
responsibility within USDA for the activities treated in this part.
    (b) In providing assistance to States, local units of government, 
and nonprofit organizations, USDA will make available maps and other 
soils information from the national cooperative soil survey through NRCS 
field offices.
    (c) Additional assistance, within available resources, may be 
obtained from local offices of other USDA agencies. The Agricultural 
Stabilization and Conservation Service and the Forest Service can 
provide aerial photographs, crop history data, and related information. 
A reasonable fee may be charged. In many States, the Cooperative 
Extension Service can provide help in understanding and identifying 
farmland protection issues and problems, resolving conflicts, developing 
alternatives, deciding on appropriate actions, and implementing those 
decisions.
    (d) Officials of State agencies, local units of government, 
nonprofit organizations, or regional, area, State-level, or field 
offices of Federal agencies may obtain assistance by contacting the 
office of the NRCS State conservationist. A list of Natural Resources 
Conservation Service State office locations appears in Appendix A, 
Sec. 661.6 of this title. If further assistance is needed, requests 
should be made to the Assistant Secretary for Natural Resources and 
Environment, Office of the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, DC 20250.