The regulations in this part will be implemented under the general supervision and direction of the Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA), or a designee, or the Deputy Administrator, FSA. In the field, the regulations in this part will be implemented by the FSA State and county committees (“State committees” and “county committees,” respectively).

State executive directors, county executive directors, and State and county committees do not have the authority to modify or waive any of the provisions in this part unless specifically authorized by the Deputy Administrator.

The State committee may take any action authorized or required by this part to be taken by the county committee, but which has not been taken by such committee, such as:

Correct or require a county committee to correct any action taken by such county committee that is not in accordance with this part; or

Require a county committee to withhold taking any action that is not in accordance with this part.

No delegation of authority herein to a State or county committee shall preclude the Executive Vice President, CCC, the Administrator, FSA, or a designee, or the Deputy Administrator, from determining any question arising under this part or from reversing or modifying any determination made by a State or county committee.

Data furnished by prospective participants will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing the data is voluntary; however, the failure to provide data could result in program benefits being withheld or denied.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the suitability of land for permanent vegetative or water cover, factors for determining the likelihood of improved water quality, and adequacy of the planned practice to achieve desired objectives will be determined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) or other sources approved by the Deputy Administrator, in accordance with the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) of NRCS or other guidelines deemed appropriate by NRCS. In no case will such determination compel the Deputy Administrator to execute a contract that the Deputy Administrator does not believe will serve the purposes of CRP established by this part. Any approved technical authority will use CRP guidelines established by the Deputy Administrator.

The Deputy Administrator may consult with the Forest Service (FS), a State forestry agency, or other organizations as determined by the Deputy Administrator to be necessary for developing and implementing conservation plans that include tree planting as the appropriate practice or as a component of a practice.

The Deputy Administrator may consult with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to coordinate a related information and education program as deemed appropriate to implement the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

The Deputy Administrator may consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), or State wildlife agencies for such assistance as is determined necessary by the Deputy Administratorto implement the CRP.

Except as agreed by CCC and the participant together, the regulations in this part apply to all contracts approved after July 16, 2015.