United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Management FAQ's

What Information Technology (IT) policy and manuals are available on-line?

What Information Technology (IT) tools are available?

How do I submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request?

How do I find out about employment opportunities with the Natural Resources Conservation Service?

What is the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program?

Is outreach for everyone or just for minority clients?

As a small and limited resource farmer, what are the eligibility requirements for participation in NRCS programs?

How do I get Ethics assistance?



Q. What Information Technology (IT) policy and manuals are available on-line?

A. All policy & manuals can be found on the NRCS on-line Directives Management Systems site.



Q. What Information Technology (IT) tools are available?

A. All IT tools can be found on the NRCS on-line Directives Management Systems site.



Q. How do I submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request?

A. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and USDA regulations at 7 CFR, any person can request access to NRCS records. The FOIA requires the NRCS to allow the public to have access unless the information is exempt under the FOIA from mandatory disclosure (e.g., classified national security, business proprietary, personal privacy, investigative).

Your request must be in writing. Indicate that you are making a request under the Freedom of Information Act, and address the request to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. See more detailed information.



Q. How do I find out about employment opportunities with the Natural Resources Conservation Service?

A. Natural Resources Conservation Service lists all employment opportunities on our web site. This page also contains links to other Federal web sites related to employment.



Q. What is the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program?

A. The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program was established to provide an alternative, non-adversarial way for employees to resolve workplace conflicts or disputes with partners and customers. It involves the process of mediation, which utilizes a third party to assist in identifying and communicating mutual interests, identifying risks, and managing expected resolution of the issue or concern.



Q. Is outreach for everyone or just for minority clients?

A. As we work to conserve and sustain natural resources, NRCS provide voluntary services and assistance to all people in the continental United States, the Caribbean and the Pacific Basin. The NRCS prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.



Q. As a small and limited resource farmer, what are the eligibility requirements for participation in NRCS programs?

A. At your request, a district soil conservationist in your area will assist you in developing and implementing a conservation plan that will determine your conservation management practice needs and priorities.

Conservation technical assistance is a means by which NRCS subject matter experts provide hands-on assistance and services to customers on a voluntary basis.
                                                                                                                                      



Q. How do I get Ethics assistance?

A. The USDA Office of Ethics (OE) provides ethics advisory services for all USDA employees.  There are no ethics "advisors" outside of OE.

OE-Headquarters -- provides ethics services for all Senior Executives and Schedule Cs. 202-720-2251

OE-Farm, Conservation and Rural Programs Branch (OE-Farm) - provides ethics services for all NRCS employees exception non-career Senior Executives, and employees in the S&T or SS&RA deputy areas. 202-720-2061

OE-Science Branch -- provides ethics services for NRCS employees in the S&T and SS&RA deputy areas. 301-504-1442

NRCS employees can also contact the designated Ethics Contact (EC) in each servicing Administrative Office.  The EC will help you identify the appropriate Ethics Specialist in OE to contact to request specific advice and guidance, or applicable on-line resource for general ethics information.  However, employees wishing to be able to claim that Ethics said it was okay, must have obtained guidance from OE. If you do not know the name of your EC, please contact your Administrative Officer.


 



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