§5402 Office of Agricultural Environmental Quality

Summary

The Secretary must create an Office of Agricultural Environmental Quality inside the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary will pick a Director for the Office. The Director must have proven technical experience in farming and environmental issues. The Director can hire staff needed to do the job, including experts in farm production and environmental areas like water, wetlands, wildlife, soil, and farm chemicals. If asked, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior must each loan at least one expert to the Office on a reimbursable basis for up to 3 years. Other federal agencies can loan staff if asked. The Director must help the Council make department and agency environmental policies, plans, and an annual agricultural environmental quality report. The Director will oversee and coordinate USDA activities on environmental quality, serve on the Council as its Executive Director, recommend goals and programs that balance farming and the environment, advise agencies to follow those goals, coordinate with other governments and organizations, manage related data and programs, prepare required plans and reports, and provide staff support for the Council.