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<br />I <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />United St.te. Department of AgrIculture <br /> <br />~NRCS <br /> <br />) <br /> <br />Natural Resources Conservalion Service <br />P.O. Box 2890 . <br />Wa.hlngton, D.C. 20013 <br /> <br />tlPRJ}'3 2006 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: . PER - Reminder of the Proper Roles <br />with R~spect to Conservation Districts <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Regional Assistant Chiefs <br />State Conservationists <br /> <br />File Code: 330 <br /> <br />This notice is being sent as a reminder that no employee of the Federal Government may engage <br />in certain activities with respect to their role of providing technical assistance to Conservation <br />Districts and our association partners. . <br /> <br />In previous guidance re~ived.from the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of the <br />General Counsel (OGC); the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was informed that <br />technical assistance provided by the Federal Government does not extend to the administrative <br />activities of Conservation Districts and/or partner associations. Accordingly, no employee of the <br />Federal Government may hold supervisory authority over any Conservation District or <br />association employee as a part of their official duties. Moreover, no Federal Government <br />employee may .make de~isions regarding, or manage, the funds of a Conservation District or <br />association; nor should they serve as members of the Conservation District or association outside <br />. of their official. role as technical advisor. In accordance .with further COmn1unications with the <br />USI;>A Office of Ethics,' Federill Government employees performing these functions are acting . <br />. outside of their official capacity and would violate the Standards of Ethical Conduct for' <br />Employees of the Executive Br~ch (5 CFR, Part 2635). <br /> <br />i <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Failure to adhere to and ensure the integrity of the aforementioned guidelines may result in <br />claims df ethical violatiop.s being made against NRCSand/or the Federal Governmentemployee; <br />Therefore, in accordanc~,with guidance provided by OGC and the Office of Ethics, you are <br />. ,/~, ' <br />reminded thetno employiee of the Federal Govemmen~ employed by NRCS, may.serve in any <br />supervisory capacity for lmy Conservation District's employee, or partner association, that goes <br />beyond providing technical assistance. <br /> <br />.~~. <br /> <br />DANA D. YORK <br />Associate Chief <br /> <br />~d/L~'~" <br /> <br />ROBERT K. DOBBS, Jr. <br />President <br />National Conservation District <br />Employees Association . <br /> <br />;l{JJ1~dL <br /> <br />KRYSTA HARDEN <br />Chief Executive Officer <br />National Association of <br />. Conservation Districts' <br /> <br />The Natural Resources ConservatIon Service provIdes leaderShip In a partnership ~ffort to help people <br />. conserve, matntaln, and Improve our natural resources and environment <br /> <br />G-lo <br /> <br />nR I r,1 t\l/q <br /> <br />A~ Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />