[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: 7CFR631.2]

[Page 455-457]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 631_GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A_General Provisions
 
Sec. 631.2  Definitions.

    The terms defined shall have the following meaning in this part and 
in all contracts, forms, documents, instructions, and procedures in 
connection therewith, unless the contract or subject matter requires 
otherwise.
    Applicant. A land user who has requested in writing to participate 
in the GPCP.
    Area conservationist. The NRCS employee who is the supervisor with 
primary responsibility for quality control. This person serves as 
contracting officer if designated by the state conservationist.
    Chief. The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
(NRCS), USDA.

[[Page 456]]

    Conservation district (CD). A conservation district, soil 
conservation district, soil and water conservation district, natural 
resource district, or similar legally constituted body with which the 
Secretary of Agriculture cooperates pursuant to the Soil Conservation 
and Domestic Allotment Act. The members of governing bodies of these 
organizations may be known as supervisors, directors, or commissioners.
    Conservation plan. A written record of the land user's decisions 
regarding planned land use and treatment, including estimates of extent 
and cost. The timing of applications for each practice and/or 
identifiable unit is scheduled in the conservation plan.
    Conservation practice. A specific treatment which is planned and 
applied according to NRCS standards and specifications as a part of a 
resource management system for land, water, and related resources.
    Contract. A legal document that binds both the participants and the 
federal government to carry out the terms and conditions of the 
conservation plan. The contract forms the basis for GPCP sharing the 
costs of implementing the conservation plan.
    Contracting officer. The NRCS employee authorized to sign GPCP 
contracts on behalf of NRCS.
    County program committee. A group of Federal, State, and local 
officials selected by the designated conservationist. The committee 
provides ideas to the designated conservationist regarding program 
development and interagency program coordination.
    Designated county. A county within a Great Plains state that the 
Chief has designated for participation.
    Designated conservationist. A district conservationist or other NRCS 
employee who the state conservationist has designated to be responsible 
for administration of the GPCP in a designated county.
    District conservationist. The NRCS employee assigned to direct and 
supervise NRCS activities in one or more conservation districts.
    Great Plains area. The area comprising those counties within the 
Great Plains states designated for GPCP participation.
    Great Plains states. Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New 
Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
    Identifiable unit. A discernibly distinct component of a 
conservation practice.
    Land user. An individual, partnership, firm, joint-stock company, 
corporation, association, trust, estate, or other nonpublic legal entity 
having control of a unit of land. This definition includes two or more 
persons having a joint or common interest.
    Life span. The period of time specified in the contract and/or 
operation and maintenance agreement during which the resource management 
systems of component practices are to be maintained and used for the 
intended purpose. Most practices will have a useful life beyond the 
specified life span.
    Operation and maintenance agreement. A document signed by both the 
participant and the contracting officer outlining the operation and 
maintenance requirements for applied conservation treatment.
    Operating unit. A parcel or parcels of land, whether contiguous or 
noncontiguous, constituting a single management unit for agricultural 
purposes.
    Other land. Nonagricultural land on which erosion must be controlled 
to protect agricultural land and which can be covered by contract.
    Participant. A land user who is a party to a GPCP contract.
    Resource management system. A combination of conservation practices 
identified by the land or water use that, if installed, will protect or 
improve the soil or water resource base.
    Specifications. Minimum guantity or quality requirements established 
by NRCS to meet the standard for a specific conservation practice.
    State conservationist. The NRCS employee authorized to direct and 
supervise NRCS activities within the state.
    State program committee. A group of Federal, state, and local 
officials selected by the state conservationist. The committee provides 
ideas to the state conservationist regarding program development, 
coordination, general policies, and operating procedures of GPCP in the 
state.

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    Technical assistance. Guidance provided to land users regarding the 
use and treatment of soil, water, plant, animal, and related resources. 
This assistance may include conservation plan formulation, application, 
and maintenance and is usually confined to those activities which the 
recipient could not reasonably be expected to do without specialized 
assistance.
    Technical guide. A document containing detailed information on the 
conservation of soil, water, plant, animal, and related resources 
applicable specifically to the area for which it is prepared.