[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR613.2]

[Page 414-415]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 613_PLANT MATERIALS CENTERS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 613.2  Policy and objectives.

    (a) It is NRCS policy to assemble, comparatively evaluate, release, 
and distribute for commercial increase new or improved plant materials 
and plant materials technology needed for broad programs of resource 
conservation and development for agriculture, wildlife, urban, 
recreation, and other land uses and environmental needs. Also, it is 
NRCS policy to conduct plant materials work in cooperation with other 
agencies of the Department of Agriculture, such as the Agricultural 
Research Service, and with other Federal and State research agencies 
including State agricultural experiment stations. The emphasis of the 
NRCS plant materials work is to find suitable plants to address 
conservation needs. In contrast, the emphasis of research agencies and 
organizations in plant development is to improve economically important 
crops. The NRCS program of testing and releasing new seed-propagated 
plant materials follows the guidelines in ``Statement of 
Responsibilities and Policies Relating to the Development, Release, and 
Multiplication of Publicly Developed Varieties of Seed-Propagated 
Crops,'' which was adopted in June 1972 by land grant colleges and 
interested Federal agencies. NRCS releases improved conservation plant 
materials requiring vegetative multiplication in ways appropriate for 
particular States and particular species by working with experiment 
stations, crop improvement associations, and other State and Federal 
agencies.
    (b) The objective of the plant materials activity is to select or 
develop special and improved plants, and techniques for their successful 
establishment and maintenance to solve conservation problems and needs 
related to:
    (1) Controlling soil erosion on all lands;
    (2) Conserving water;
    (3) Protecting upstream watersheds;
    (4) Reducing sediment movement into waterways and reservoirs through 
the stabilization of critical sediment sources such as surface mined 
lands, highway slopes, recreation sites, and urban and industrial 
development areas;

[[Page 415]]

    (5) Stabilizing disposal areas for liquid and solid wastes;
    (6) Improving plant diversity and lengthening the grazing season on 
dryland pastures and rangelands;
    (7) Managing brush on mountain slopes with fire-retarding plant 
cover to reduce the possibility of fires that threaten life and property 
or result in serious sediment sources;
    (8) Improving the effectiveness of windbreaks and shelterbelts for 
reducing airborne sediment, controlling snow drifting, and preventing 
crop damage from wind erosion;
    (9) Protecting streambank, pond, and lake waterlines from erosion by 
scouring and wave action;
    (10) Improving wildlife food and cover, including threatened and 
endangered and pollinator species;
    (11) Selecting special purpose plants to meet specific needs for 
environment protection and enhancement;
    (12) Selecting plants that tolerate air pollution agents and toxic 
soil chemicals;
    (13) Selecting plants that mitigate odor, PM-10, and PM-2.5;
    (14) Testing plants for biofuels and other energy-related 
activities; and
    (15) Evaluating plants and techniques to combat invasive plant 
species and for reestablishment of desirable species after eradication.