(a) Policy development in water and related land resources is coordinated at the Federal level through the Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment. NRCS provides staff support and representation in these activities as requested.

(b) Within the Department, all interested USDA agencies participate in water policy development through the USDA Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Water Issues Work Group.

(c) NRCS provides appropriate staff support when requested for committees, work groups, and task forces established for interagency coordination of water resources related activities of Federal agencies.

(a) NRCS has a responsibility to represent the Department when needed to assist regional water planning entities and interagency committees which coordinate water resources planning activities.

(b) For the Arkansas-White-Red Basin Interagency Committee (AWRBIAC) and the Pacific Southwest Interagency Committee (PSIAC), the USDA member periodically serves as chairperson and provides an executive secretary. For the Southeast Basin Interagency Committee (SEBIAC), NRCS periodically provides an executive secretary for the chairperson, who is a State government official.

(c) Under the leadership of NRCS, other USDA agencies, principally the Forest Service and Economic Research Service, also participate.

NRCS is designated to represent USDA in assisting the U.S. Commissioners of the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. In carrying out this responsibility, NRCS provides a liaison officer to work with the U.S. Commissioners on policy level matters, as well as providing the USDA representatives on the Federal field committees to assist the Commissioners.

As assigned, an NRCS State Conservationist is the USDA point of contact for governing bodies of interstate compacts and commissions concerned with the conservation, development, and proper use of water, soil, and related resources.

As designated, NRCS represents USDA on special study groups such as for the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program Studies.

As requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and within the limits of available resources, NRCS carries out flood insurance studies of various types under the National Flood Insurance Program (Pub. L. 90-448, 82 Statute, 574 (42 U.S.C. 4012)), as amended. In this activity, NRCS performs detailed technical studies to determine the extent and frequency of flooding. The flood insurance program is administered by FEMA. NRCS is reimbursed by that agency for actual costs incurred in carrying out the studies. Local entities desiring flood insurance coverage should contact the responsible State agency or FEMA and apply in accordance with procedures of that agency.