[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR652.24]

[Page 461]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 652--TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER ASSISTANCE--Table of Contents
 
                        Subpart B--Certification
 
Sec. 652.24  Certification process for public agencies.

    (a) A public agency that applies for certification must identify, 
and provide supporting documentation, that an individual or individuals 
authorized to act on its behalf:
    (1) Has been certified as an individual in accordance with 
Sec. 652.22; or
    (2) Seeks certification as an individual as part of the public 
agency's certification and sufficient information as set forth in 
Sec. 652.21(a) is contained within the public agency's application to 
support such certification.
    (b) NRCS shall determine whether the individual identified in the 
public agency's application meets the certification standards set forth 
in Sec. 652.22.
    (c) NRCS will review within 60 days the application submitted by a 
public agency. If NRCS determines that all requirements for the public 
agency and the identified individual(s) are met, NRCS will perform the 
actions described in paragraph (c)(1) through (c)(3) of Sec. 652.22. The 
Certification Agreement entered into with the public agency shall:
    (1) Identify the certified individuals that are authorized to 
perform technical services on behalf of and under the auspices of the 
public agency's certification;
    (2) Require that the public agency have, at all times, an individual 
that is a certified technical service provider and is an authorized 
official of the public agency;
    (3) Require that the public agency promptly provide to NRCS for NRCS 
approval an amended Certification Agreement when the list of certified 
individuals performing technical services under its auspices changes;
    (4) Require that any work performed by non-certified individuals be 
warranted by a certified individual that is authorized to act on the 
public agency's behalf;
    (5) Require that the public agency assume liability for the quality 
of work performed by any individual working under the auspices of its 
certification; and
    (6) Prohibit any individual who provides technical services under 
the auspices of the public agency's certification from providing 
services to program participants and the Department as an individual or 
part of a private-sector entity.
    (d) NRCS may, in accordance with the decertification process set 
forth in subpart C of this part, decertify the public agency, the 
certified individual(s) acting under its auspices, or both the public 
agency and the certified individual(s) acting under its auspices.