February 21, 2007

GENERAL MANUAL

260- INF

AMENDMENT ID3

SUBJECT: INF-- Public Information

[Purpose]{.underline}: To transmit amendment ID3 to Part 400

[Effective Date]{.underline}: Upon receipt

This amendment provides further information to the national policy on
public information and replaces amendment ID2, Part 400.

**[Filing Instructions:]{.underline}** GM 260, Part 400

Remove and destroy Idaho General Manual Amendment ID2, Part 400, Subpart
C, Idaho Public Information, pages ID400-4-(1) through ID400-4-(4)
(green pages).

Insert Idaho Amendment ID3, Part 400, Subpart C, Idaho Public
Information, pages ID400-4(1) through ID 400-4-(4) (green pages) behind
General Manual, Title 260, Part 400, Subpart B.

# RICHARD SIMS

State Conservationist

DIST: GM

Attachment

Subpart C - Idaho Public Information Policy

PART 400 - PUBLIC INFORMATION POLICY

SUBPART C - IDAHO PUBLIC INFORMATION POLICY

> ID400.22

ID400.20 Purpose

This subpart provides policy on public information for all NRCS offices
in Idaho. Procedure is contained in the Idaho Information Handbook which
is designated as an official handbook in our directives system.

ID400.21 News Releases and Feature Stories

> \(a\) [Clearance at field office level]{.underline}. District
> conservationists are responsible for ensuring that news releases and
> feature stories for local media use are technically accurate and
> conform to NRCS policy. Release of items to local media should be made
> by the district conservationist. When such items pertain to activities
> of the soil conservation district and/or an individual farmer or
> rancher, the release will be reviewed by them before being given to
> the media.
>
> \(b\) [Clearance at state and area office level]{.underline}. News
> releases and feature stories written by technical or program
> specialists in the state and area offices will be reviewed, cleared,
> and released through the public affairs specialist. Clearance
> procedures are contained in the Idaho Information Handbook, Part 680,
> Subpart B.

ID400.22 Manuscripts for Publication or Speeches

NRCS employees are encouraged to write for publication and to speak at
meetings about NRCS and its programs. Because the public accepts what
NRCS employees say as official statements of NRCS, clearance of
manuscripts is required to ensure that NRCS policies are presented
correctly and that information is technically accurate.

Talks before local groups can be cleared by the district
conservationist.

> ID400-C-4(1)

(260-GM, Amendment ID3, February 2007)

Part 400 - Public Information Policy

ID400.22

For all other manuscripts, including talks for other than local
audiences, technical and professional papers, and joint publications
with other agencies or organizations, the employee and the supervisor
are to follow the clearance procedures in the Idaho Information
Handbook, Part 680, Subpart C.

ID400.23 Publications Control

The state conservationist is designated as publications control officer
for Idaho. Proposals for an NRCS publication intended for any public
distribution will be sent to the state conservationist for review and to
determine the specific need and purpose for it before a manuscript is
written. Procedure is contained in the Idaho Information Handbook, Part
680, Subpart D.

ID400.24 Photographic Files

State, area and field offices will maintain indexed subject files of
black and white photographic prints, color slides, and digital images
needed for public information purposes. These visuals should be
available and of maximum benefit to NRCS personnel and the media. The
public affairs specialist will review prints and slides made by field
personnel for possible inclusion in the state office files. Procedure is
contained in the Idaho Information Handbook, Part 680, Subpart E,
ID680.43.

ID400.25 Film Supply

Field photographers will request film supplies directly from the public
affairs specialist. Film will be furnished for NRCS-owned and
non-NRCS-owned cameras furnished under cooperative arrangement. Film
available will include black and white and color slide film in sizes
35mm, 120, and 4x5. Only black and white film is authorized for
Polaroid. Also available are memory cards for digital equipment.

ID400.26 Film Processing

> \(a\) All exposed black and white and color slide film will be sent to
> the public affairs specialist for processing.

(b) Black and white film needed for immediate press release can be
    processed locally.

> ID400-C-4(2)

(260-GM, Amendment ID3, February 2007)

Subpart C - Idaho Public Information Policy

> ID400.28(b)
>
> \(c\) Orders for prints, enlargements, and slide duplicates will be
> sent to the public affairs specialist for review and ordering. Large
> quantities, unusually large sizes, etc. must he justified.

\(d\) Prepaid film processing mailers will not be purchased.

ID400.27 Audiovisual Equipment

> \(a\) [Basic equipment for field offices]{.underline}. The basic
> audiovisual equipment authorized for purchase for each field office
> includes a digital camera, computer projector, memory card, slide
> projector, tape recorder/programmer, and projection screen.
>
> \(b\) [Basic equipment for area and RC&D offices]{.underline}. The
> basic audio-visual equipment authorized for purchase for each area and
> RC&D office includes a digital camera, computer projector, memory
> card, slide projector, tape recorder/programmer, projection screen and
> overhead projector.
>
> \(c\) Standard photographic accessories may also be purchased when
> requested and justified, including light meters, tripods, filters,
> lenses, flash units, and related items.

\(d\) No instamatic or pocket instamatic cameras using 110 or 126 film
will be purchased.

> \(e\) Requisitions for purchase of audiovisual equipment for use by
> personnel in Idaho will be routed through the public affairs
> specialist for approval and help in selecting equipment that does the
> best job at the lowest cost.

ID400.28 Publications Ordering

> \(a\) Single copies or quantities of NRCS and USDA publications will
> be requested through the public affairs specialist or Landcare.
>
> \(b\) Single copies of other than NRCS or USDA publications may be
> requested directly from the source. [Quantities]{.underline} of other
> than NRCS or USDA publications will be requested through the public
> affairs specialist.
>
> ID400-C-4(3)

(260-GM, Amendment ID3, February 2007)

Part 400 - Public Information Policy

ID400.29 Organizational Relations

> \(a\) As time permits, NRCS employees will assist groups,
> institutions, and agencies that request technical information and
> guidance on soil, water, and related resource conservation.
>
> \(b\) Work with state organizations, state chapters of national
> organizations, and leaders of national organizations will be made
> known to the state conservationist.

ID400.30 Conservation Education

Support for conservation education activities is a part of all NRCS
programs. As defined by NRCS, conservation education includes
instruction about and concern for the whole range of renewable natural
resources and the inter-relationships among them.

Instructional methods and curriculum development are the responsibility
of professional educators. NRCS help for conservation education efforts
is based on knowledge in the technical field of natural resource
conservation.

NRCS employees will assist local, state, and national conservation
education programs by providing technical services, supplying background
information on use and management of natural resources, developing
interpretive materials for school use, and serving on or advising
conservation education committees of schools and organizations.

0

> ID400-C-4(4)

(260-GM, Amendment ID3, February 2007)