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OPERATIONAL AGREEMENT <br />Between the <br />UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE <br />and <br />DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVXSION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION <br />and <br />THE ORANGE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT <br />and <br />ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA <br />For their Cooperation in the <br />Conservation of Natural Resources <br />BACKGROUND STATEMENT AND PURPOSE <br />THIS AGREEMENT is between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS), an agency of the United States <br />Department of Agriculture (USDA), the DENR-Division of Soil and Water Conservation (DSWC) an agency of the State of <br />North Carolina, the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District, and Orange County collectively referred to as t11e parties, to <br />clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the parties. <br />The purpose of this agreement is to supplement the Cooperative Working Agreement between the USDA-Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Carolina,Soil and Water <br />Conservation Commission, and Orange Soil and Water Conservation District. This operational agreement documents those <br />areas of common interest of the federal, state and local partnership in natural resources conservation. <br />The parties mutually agree to provide leadership in natural resources conservation. The parties pledge to work together by <br />advancing and practicing teamwork, including input in the decision making process; communicating, coordinating, and <br />cooperating; promoting mutual respect, and sharing leadership, ownership, credit and responsibility. <br />AUTHORITTES, STATUTES, LAWS <br />NRCS is authorized to cooperate and furnish assistance to the parties in the conservation of natural resources as referenced in <br />the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, 16 U.S.C. 590; The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, <br />Public Law 103-354; and Secretary's Memorandum No. 1010-1, Reorganization of the Department of Agriculture, dated <br />October 20, 1994. <br />DSWC is authorized to enter into this agreement by North Carolina General Statutes § 139 and § 143B-294 - § 143B-297. <br />The District authority is defined in Soil Conservation Districts Law, General Statutes of North Carolina § 139-1 - § 139-47. <br />The county is authorized to enter into this agreement by North Carolina General Statute § 153A-11 and § 160A-461 - § 160A- <br />464. <br />ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: <br />CONSERVATTON PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION <br />The parties recognize the natural resources conservation program as a unique blend of voluntary conservation initiatives and <br />federal, state, and local mandates. Together these address a variety of natural resource, environmental, and educational issues. <br />The parties agree to jointly commit their program authorities and fuiancial and human resources to cooperatively implement a <br />