02 NCAC 59D .0108         technical assistance funds

(a)  The funds available for technical assistance shall be allocated by the Commission based on the recommendation of the Division, the needs as expressed by the district, and the needs to accelerate the installation of BMPs in the respective district. The district shall provide at least 50 percent of the total matching funds for technical assistance.

(b)  The Commission shall allocate technical assistance funds as described in its DIP. This allocation shall be made based on the implementation of conservation practices for which district employees provided technical assistance incorporating the following:

(1)           Commission Cost Share Programs funded practices will be weighted at 100 percent;

(2)           other local, State, federal, and grant funded practices that meet the purpose requirements as set forth in Rule .0101 of this Section will be weighted at a minimum of 25 percent as specified in the DIP;

(3)           districts shall submit information on funded practices as specified in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph through their annual strategic plan;

(4)           this allocation will be calculated using the highest three of the most recent seven years; and

(5)           this allocation will be calculated once every three years, unless there is a change in technical assistance State appropriations.

(c)  Technical assistance funds may be used for salary, benefits, social security, field equipment and supplies, office rent, office equipment and supplies, postage, telephone service, travel, mileage, and any other expense of the district in implementing Soil and Water Conservation Commission Cost Share Programs.

(d)  Each district requesting technical assistance funding with the required 50 percent local match shall receive a minimum allocation of $20,000 each year.

(e)  If a district is not spending more financial assistance funds on Commission Cost Share Programs than they receive for technical assistance, the district shall appeal to the Commission to receive technical assistance funding.

(f)  All technical district employees shall obtain Job Approval Authority for two best management practices from the Commission or the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service within three years of being hired or three years of the effective date of this Rule, whichever is later.

(1)           One of the best management practices for which the employee has obtained Job Approval Authority shall be a design practice. "Design practice" means an engineering practice as defined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of Soil and Water Conservation Commission in their Program Detailed Implementation Plan(s).

(2)           The District Board of Supervisors may request a one-year extension for their employees in meeting the Job Approval Authority requirement for extenuating circumstances outside of the employee's control.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 106-840; 106-850; 139‑4; 139‑8;

Eff. May 1, 1987;

Recodified from 15A NCAC 6E .0008 Eff. December 20, 1996;

Amended Eff. March 1, 2008; November 1, 1997;

Transferred from 15A NCAC 06E .0108 Eff. May 1, 2012;

Readopted Eff. January 1, 2020.