2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 139 - Soil and Water Conservation Districts › Article 1 - General Provisions. › § 139-4 - Powers and duties of Soil and Water Conservation Commission generally.

§ 139-4. Powers and duties of Soil and Water Conservation Commission generally.
(a) through (c) Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1262, s. 38.
(d) In addition to the duties and powers hereinafter conferred upon the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, it shall have the following duties and powers:
(1) To offer such assistance as may be appropriate to the supervisors of soil and water conservation districts, organized as provided hereinafter, in the carrying out of any of their powers and programs.
(2) To keep the supervisors of each of the several districts organized under the provisions of this Chapter informed of the activities and experience of all other districts organized hereunder, and to facilitate an interchange of advice and experience between such districts and cooperation between them.
(3) To coordinate the programs of the several soil and water conservation districts organized hereunder so far as this may be done by advice and consultation.
(4) To secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States and any of its agencies, and of agencies of this State, in the work of such districts.
(5) To disseminate information throughout the State concerning the activities and programs of the soil and water conservation districts organized hereunder, and to encourage the formation of such districts in areas where their organization is desirable.
(6) Upon the filing of a petition signed by all of the district supervisors of any one or more districts requesting a change in the boundary lines of said district or districts, the Commission may change such lines in such manner as in its judgment would best serve the interests of the occupiers of land in the area affected thereby.
(7) To receive, review and approve or disapprove applications for planning assistance under the provisions of Public Law 566 (83rd Congress, as amended), and recommend priorities on such applications.
(8) To supervise and review small watershed work plans pursuant to G.S. 139-41.2 and 139-47.
(9) To create, implement, and supervise the Agriculture Cost Share Program for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control created pursuant to Article 72 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes, the Community Conservation Assistance Program created pursuant to Article 73 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes, the Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program created pursuant to Article 5 of this Chapter, and the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program created pursuant to Article 6 of this Chapter.
(10) To review and approve or disapprove the application of a district supervisor for a grant under the Agriculture Cost Share Program for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, the Community Conservation Assistance Program, or the Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program as provided by G.S. 139-8(b).
(11) To develop and implement a program for the approval of water quality and animal waste management systems technical specialists.
(12) To develop and approve best management practices for the Agriculture Cost Share Program for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control and for use in water quality protection and water use efficiency, availability, and storage programs and to adopt rules that establish criteria governing approval of these best management practices.
(13) To establish a training program required for all district supervisors.
(14) To develop and implement a program for granting job approval authority to Soil and Water Conservation District staff and employees of the Division of Soil and Water Conservation of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to plan, design, and certify the installation of best management practices approved for cost-share funding pursuant to programs identified in G.S. 139-4(d)(9).
(e) A member of the Commission or an organization or unit of local government of which the member is an employee, officer, or elected member of the governing body may apply for and receive a grant under the Agriculture Cost Share Program for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, the Community Conservation Assistance Program, the Agricultural Water Resources Assistance Program, or the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program if:
(1) The member does not vote on the application or attempt to influence the outcome of any action on the application; and
(2) The application is approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture. (1937, c. 393, s. 4; 1947, c. 131, s. 3; 1953, c. 255; 1957, c. 1374, s. 1; 1959, c. 781, s. 5; 1961, c. 746, s. 2; 1965, c. 582, s. 2; c. 932; 1971, c. 396; 1973, c. 1262, s. 38; 1981, c. 326, s. 1; 1995, c. 519, s. 1; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2001-284, s. 1; 2006-78, s. 3; 2011-145, ss. 13.23(c), (d), 13.22A(i), (j); 2012-142, s. 11.6(b); 2012-145, s. 4.3; 2016-113, s. 5(a); 2020-18, s. 7(c); 2021-180, s. 5.9(m), (n).)