Part 602 – National Cooperative Soil Survey Conferences

Definition (602.00)

The National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) coordinates technically and operationally at national, regional, and state levels. Its activities relate to the technology for the collection, management, and presentation of information about the properties, patterns, and responses of soils and to other joint concerns, such as training and coordinated research and operations. Workshops, meetings, and conferences are held at each level to discuss and resolve concerns, proposals, and recommendations for the cooperative soil survey.

1. The National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference
   
   The national conference primarily discusses subjects of national concern to NCSS. The Director, Soil Survey Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), calls the conference after consulting with the conference steering committee. Attendees to the conference include national representatives of cooperating agencies and institutions. The director invites other interested foreign and domestic groups and individuals and particularly principal users of soil surveys to participate. NRCS publishes the proceedings of the conference and distributes copies to the cooperators in NCSS. The conference bylaws specify the objectives, membership, and committee responsibilities. Refer to exhibit 602-1 for the bylaws of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.
    
2. NCSS Regional Conferences
   
   The NCSS regional conferences primarily discuss subjects of regional concern. Each region convenes a soil survey conference in even-numbered years. The four regions correspond to the agricultural experiment station regions and are the North Central, Northeastern, Southern, and Western. State and regional soil survey leaders, some national leaders, and other invited persons attend the conference. The conference steering committee publishes the conference proceedings and distributes copies to regional NCSS cooperators and others. The conference bylaws specify the objectives, membership, and committee responsibilities.
    
3. NCSS State Conferences
   
   The NCSS state conferences primarily discuss subjects of state concern. The NRCS state soil scientist annually convenes a state conference. Attendees include cooperators and others who contribute to NCSS activities at the state level and principal users of soil survey information. Working agreements govern activities of NCSS within the state.
    
4. Joint Regional or State Conferences
   
   Joint regional or state conferences between two or more regions or states can be held with the agreement of the participants involved.

Bylaws of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference (Exhibit 602-1)

Article I. Name

Section 1.0 -- The name of the conference is the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) Conference.

Article II. Objectives

Section 1.0 -- The objective of the conference is to contribute to the general human welfare by promoting the use of soil resource information and by developing recommendations for courses of action, including national policies and procedures, related to soil surveys and soil resource information.

Article III. Membership and Participants

Section 1.0 -- The permanent chair of the conference is the Director, Soil Survey Division, NRCS.

Section 2.0 -- Permanent membership of the conference consists of:

Section 2.1.1 -- Members of the steering committee,

Section 2.1.2 -- Two state members appointed by each of the four regional conferences and six NRCS Soil Survey Staff Leaders, to include representatives of National Headquarters, National Soil Survey Center, and Soil Survey Staff representing each of the four NCSS regions, as determined by the Director, Soil Survey Division, NRCS.

Section 2.1.3 -- Individuals designated by the federal agencies listed in appendix A.

Section 3.0 -- Participants of the conference consist of:

Section 3.1.1 -- Permanent members,

Section 3.1.2 -- Individuals invited by the steering committee.

Article IV. Regional Conferences

Section 1.0 -- Regional conferences are organized in the northeast, north-central, southern, and western regions of the United States.

Section 2.0 -- Regional conferences determine their own membership requirements, officers, and number and kind of meetings.

Section 3.0 -- Each regional conference adopts its own purpose, policies, and procedures, provided these are consistent with the bylaws and objectives of the NCSS Conference.

Section 4.0 -- Each regional conference publishes the proceedings of regional meetings.

Article V. Executive Services

Section 1.0 -- The National Headquarters Soil Survey Staff of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides the conference with executive services.

Section 1.1 -- Responsibilities of the NRCS Soil Survey Staff include:

Section 1.1.1 -- Carrying out administrative duties assigned by the steering committee.

Section 1.1.2 -- Distributing draft committee reports to participants.

Section 1.1.3 -- Issuing announcements and invitations.

Section 1.1.4 -- Preparing and distributing the program.

Section 1.1.5 -- Making arrangements for lodging, food, meeting rooms, and local transportation for official functions.

Section 1.1.6 -- Providing a recorder.

Section 1.1.7 -- Assembling and distributing the proceedings.

Section 1.1.8 -- Providing publicity.

Section 1.1.9 -- Maintaining the conference mailing list.

Section 1.1.10 -- Maintaining a record of all conference proceedings; proceedings of regional conference meetings; and a copy of each regional conference’s purpose, policies, and procedures.

Article VI. Steering Committee

Section 1.0 -- The conference always has a steering committee.

Section 1.1 -- The steering committee consists of:

Section 1.1.1 -- The Director, Soil Survey Division, NRCS, who is permanent chair and is responsible for all work of the steering committee.

Section 1.1.2 -- The U.S. Forest Service soil survey leader.

Section 1.1.3 -- The Bureau of Land Management senior soil scientist.

Section 1.1.4 -- Four agricultural experiment station soil survey leaders, one from each respective regional conference. They normally are the state representatives that will be chairs or vice-chairs at the next regional conference.

Section 1.1.5 -- Six NRCS Soil Survey Staff leaders, including representatives of the National Headquarters, National Soil Survey Center, and Soil Survey Staff representing each of the four NCSS regions, as determined by the Director, Soil Survey Division, NRCS.

Section 1.1.6 -- A designated representative of the National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists, Inc., as determined by the society, representing the private sector.

Section 1.1.7 -- A representative of the 1890 College from the vicinity of the next conference recommended by the conference chair.

Section 1.1.8 -- A representative of the Tribal College from the vicinity of the next conference recommended by the conference chair.

Section 1.1.9 -- A representative of the National Association of State Conservation Agencies.

Section 2.0 -- The steering committee selects a vice-chair for a 2-year term. The vice chair acts for the chair in the chair’s absence or disability or as assigned.

Section 3.0 -- The steering committee formulates policy and procedure for the conference.

Section 4.0 -- Responsibilities of the steering committee include:

Section 4.0.1 -- Determining subjects to be discussed.

Section 4.0.2 -- Determining committees to be formed.

Section 4.0.3 -- Selecting committee chairs and obtaining their approval and that of their agency for participation.

Section 4.0.4 -- Assigning charges to the committee chairs.

Section 4.0.5 -- Recommending committee members to committee chairs.

Section 4.0.6 -- Determining which individuals from the United States or other countries with soil science or related professional interest should be invited to participate.

Section 4.0.7 -- Determining the place and date of the conference.

Section 4.0.8 -- Organizing the program and selecting the presiding chairs for the sessions.

Section 4.0.9 -- Assembling in joint session at least once during each conference to conduct business of the conference.

Section 5.0 -- Steering committee work is normally done by correspondence and telephone communication.

Section 6.0 -- Fifty percent of the steering committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Items are passed by a majority of members present or corresponding. The chair does not vote except in the case of a tie vote.

Article VII. Meetings

Section 1.0 -- A meeting of the conference is normally held every 2 years, in odd-numbered years, for the presentation and discussion of committee reports, exchange of ideas, and transaction of business. It consists of committee sessions and general sessions. It also provides opportunity for the discussion of items members may wish to have brought before the conference.

Section 2.0 -- The time and place of meetings are determined by the steering committee.

Section 3.0 -- The steering committee is responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the conference.

Section 4.0 -- The steering committee meets immediately after the conference to summarize recommendations and propose actions to be taken.

Section 5.0 -- Meetings of the steering committee, other than those at the conference, may be called with the approval of the steering committee.

Article VIII. Committees

Section 1.0 -- The committees of the conference are determined by the steering committee. Permanent or standing committees, ad hoc committees, and task force groups are considered to be committees of the conference. The steering committee selects committee chairs.

Section 2.0 -- Committee members are selected by the committee chairs. Committee members are selected after considering steering committee recommendations, regional conference recommendations, individual interests, technical proficiency, and continuity of the work. They are not limited to members of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Section 3.0 -- Each committee commonly conducts its work by correspondence among committee members. Committee chairs provide their committee members with the charges as assigned by the steering committee and procedure for committee operation.

Section 4.0 -- Each committee chair sends copies of a draft committee report to the steering committee prior to the conference.

Section 5.0 -- Each committee reports at the conference.

Article IX. Amendments

Section 1.0 -- The bylaws may be amended by ballot with a majority vote of the permanent members. An amendment is, unless otherwise provided therein, effective immediately upon adoption and remains in effect until changed.

Appendix A

Memorandum of Understandings with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference:

• Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Defense Mapping Agency, U.S. Department of Defense
• Economics and Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Farm Services Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• National Association of State Conservation Agencies
• National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
• National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
• National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists, Inc.
• Office of Territorial Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Tennessee Valley Authority (quasi federal)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior

Bylaws of the Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference (Exhibit 602-2)

(Updated April 2011)

Article I. Name

Section 1.0 -- Conference Name. The name of the conference is the Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. It consists of and represents the area within the state boundaries of the following thirteen western states and U.S. Territory: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Pacific Basin, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Article II. Objectives

Section 2.0 -- Objectives and Purposes. The objectives and purposes of the Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference are to bring together representatives of the western states in the National Cooperative Soil Survey for discussion of technical and scientific questions. Through the actions of committees and conference discussions, experience is summarized and clarified for the benefit of all; new areas are explored; procedures are synthesized; and ideas are exchanged and disseminated. The conference also functions as a clearinghouse for recommendations and proposals received from individual members and state conferences for transmittal to the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. The conference promotes the use of soil resource information by others and develops recommendations for courses of action, including national policies and procedures, that relate to making soil surveys and using soil resource data and information.

Article III. Membership and Participants

Section 3.0 -- Permanent Membership. Permanent membership of the conference consists of:

1. National Leader for Soil Survey Standards who serves as executive secretary for conference steering committee
2. NRCS state soil scientists / MLRA leaders
3. Representatives from western state experiment stations and land grant universities
4. Regional soil scientists from the 7 western U.S. Forest Service regions – Northern Region, Rocky Mountain Region, Southwest Region, Intermountain Region, Pacific Southwest Region, Pacific Northwest Region, and Alaska Region
5. USDI, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) state soil scientist or state soil liaison from 11 western states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon/Washington, Utah, and Wyoming)
6. Representatives from 7 western USDI, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regions – Alaska Region, Navajo Region, Northwest Region, Pacific Region, Rocky Mountain Region, Southwest Region, and Western Region.
7. NCSS representative from the USDI National Park Service (NPS)
8. President-elect or delegated representative from the National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists (NSCSS)
9. A representative from the National Congress of American Indians
10. Program Manager for Land Suitability and Water Quality, USDI, Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
11. A representative from USDI Corps of Engineers (COE)
12. National Forest Service and National Bureau of Land Management representatives
13. FLAG Chapter

Section 3.1 -- Associate Membership. Invitations may be extended to a number of other individuals to participate in committee work or for a specific conference or conferences. A representative from the NRCS National Geospatial Management Center (NGMC) and a representative from the NRCS Information Technology Center (ITC) are associate conference members. Any soil scientist, technical specialist, or other individual of any local, state, or federal agency or interest group whose participation could benefit particular objectives or projects of the conference may be invited to participate. Any permanent member of the conference may invite one additional participant. If a permanent member wishes to invite more than one guest (or associate member), the request should be cleared through the chair or vice-chair of the conference, or the chair of the steering committee. Names of all associate members of a specific conference should be provided to the conference chair.

Article IV. Conference Officers

Section 4.0 -- Conference Officers. A chair, vice-chair, and secretary are elected to serve for a 2-year term. Their tenure runs from the end of a conference to the end of the following conference. Elections are held during the biennial business meeting. Conference officers are from the state hosting the next conference. Officers rotate among the agencies. That is to say, the chair-elect represents an agency different from that of the past chair. Similarly, the vice-chair and secretary are from agencies different from those of their predecessors.

Section 4.0.1 -- Responsibilities of the Chair (specific tasks may be delegated to the vice-chair)

1. Plans and manages the biennial conference.
2. Serves as a steering committee member.
3. Presides at the conference business meeting.
4. Issues conference announcements and invitations.
5. Organizes the conference program.
6. Selects presiding chair for the various sessions.
7. Develops the conference agenda and has copies of the agenda prepared and distributed.
8. Makes necessary arrangements for lodging accommodations for conference participants, for food functions, if any, for meeting rooms (including committee rooms), for a field trip, and for local transport for other official functions.
9. Assembles, reproduces, and distributes the conference proceedings.
10. Provides for appropriate conference publicity.
11. Arranges for conference guest speakers.
12. Presides over the conference business meeting.
13. Serves on the conference steering committee for the following conference.

Section 4.0.2 -- Responsibilities of the Vice-Chair

1. Serves as a steering committee member.
2. Acts for the conference chair in the chair’s absence or disability.
3. Assists the conference chair in carrying out his/her responsibilities and performs other duties as assigned by the conference chair.
4. Compiles and maintains the conference mailing list.

Section 4.0.3 -- Responsibilities of the Secretary

1. Maintains minutes of the conference business meetings and those of other conference meetings as assigned by the conference chair.
2. Obtains copies of all committee reports and papers presented at the conference and makes copies available to all conference members.
3. Compiles the conference proceedings and assists the chair in their duplication and distribution.

Article V. Meetings

Section 5.0 -- Time of Meetings. The conference convenes every 2 years, in even-numbered years. It convenes the third week in June, unless a different date was agreed to by a majority of permanent conference members at the previous conference.

Section 5.1 -- Location of Meetings. The conference is on a rotational basis throughout the region according to the following schedule. (States may trade years to host the conference for good cause and upon approval by a majority vote of the conference members at the business meeting preceding the next conference.)

Article VI. Committees

Section 6.0 -- Kinds and Functions of Committees. The conference has permanent standing, ad hoc, and special task force committees. Duly constituted official committees accomplish most conference work. The kinds of committees and their charges are determined by the steering committee, based on the recommendations of the conference members. Committee members are appointed by the steering committee after first determining the interests of conference members. Each committee makes an official report at the designated time at each biennial conference. Committee reports are duplicated and copies distributed as follows:

1. One copy to each permanent member (whether present or not) and to each participant in the conference.
2. One final copy to the conference secretary for inclusion in the conference proceedings. This copy includes all revisions approved by the conference.

Much of the work of committees is, of necessity, conducted by correspondence during the interval between conferences.

Section 6.1 -- Committee Structure. Each committee has a chair and co-chair. A secretary, or recorder, may be elected by the committee or appointed by the chair, if necessary. Committee chairs are selected by the steering committee or are elected by the conference. Chairs for the standing committees should rotate at the conclusion of each conference and should be the co-chair of the committee. Chairs are recommended by the committees and approved by the steering committee at least 4 months prior to the conference. Term of responsibility starts at the end of one conference and finishes with end of the next. The committee chairs are responsible for prompt submission of their reports to the chair of the steering committee and the chair duplicates and distributes the reports. This should be done prior to the beginning of the conference.

Section 6.1.1 -- Committee Chair Responsibilities. Committee chairs are charged with the responsibility of initiating and carrying forward this work. They provide their committee members with the charges as directed by the steering committee and with additional instructions they deem necessary to complete the committee charge(s). Committee chairs initiate committee work at the earliest possible date to assure completion by the next scheduled conference.

Committee chairs also give a verbal summary of committee actions and recommendations at designated times during the conference.

Section 6.2 -- Permanent Standing Committees. Permanent standing committees are established by the bylaws of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference as contained in the NSSH part 602.00 and exhibit 602-1.

• Soil Survey Standards
• Bylaws
• Research Needs
• Applied Technology

Section 6.2.1 -- Conference Steering Committee. The conference chair also serves as the chair of the conference steering committee. The National Leader for Soil Survey Standards serves as the permanent executive secretary of the steering committee. The steering committee formulates policy on conference membership and participation. Final approval or disapproval of policy changes is by vote, during the biennial business meeting of the conference. The steering committee assures that there is a balance among states and among agencies for each committee so that no one state or agency dominates any single committee. The conference steering committee consists of the following five members:

1. Conference chair
2. Conference vice-chair
3. Conference secretary
4. Executive secretary
5. Past conference chair

Section 6.2.2 -- Responsibilities of the Conference Steering Committee. Conference steering committee responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Meet about 1 year prior to the conference to plan the meeting agenda, establish conference committees, and develop committee charges. (The steering committee chair calls the meeting.)
2. Formulate statements of conference policy.
3. Formulate committee charges as recommended by the conference.
4. Select a committee chair and committee members as recommended by the conference.
5. Review conference activities and develop an executive summary of conference recommendations.
6. Send applicable conference recommendations to the steering committee chair of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.
7. Send applicable conference recommendations to the soil survey leaders of appropriate agencies for consideration and possible implementation.
8. Establish and maintain liaisons between the conference and:
   • The national and other regional conferences
   • State Conservationists of 13 western states and the Pacific Basin
   • West Regional Soil Consortium
   • Directors of the western experiment stations
   • National Congress of American Indians
   • State, regional, and national offices of NRCS, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, American Indian Tribes, and National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists
   • NRCS institutes and centers
   • Other committees or work groups associated with the conference
   • Others as identified by the steering committee
9. Meet immediately after the conference to summarize recommendations and propose actions to be taken.

At least 60 percent of the conference steering committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Items are passed by a majority of members present. The chair does not vote except in the case of a tie vote.

Section 6.3 -- Ad hoc Committees. Ad hoc committees may be established by the steering committee as needed to meet specific needs and/or goals.

Section 6.4 -- Special Task Force Committees. Special task force committees may be established by the steering committee as needed to meet specific needs and/or goals.

Article VII. Conference Advisors

Section 7.0 -- Conference Advisors. Conference advisors are invited to the conference and act in an advisory capacity to assist in items related to agency line and policy. Advisors to the conference are the state conservationist (STC) of the host state, or as selected by the conference, the experiment station director for the host state, or as selected by the conference, and a Forest Service regional forester and a BLM state director as selected by the conference.

Article VIII. Historical Records

Section 8.0 -- Conference Historical Records. The executive secretary of the conference steering committee maintains a permanent, cumulative file of conference programs, correspondence, committee reports, proceedings, bylaws, and other material generated by or related to the conference.

Article IX. Representatives to the National Soil Survey Conferences

Section 9.0 -- The steering committee chair and at least one permanent member selected by the steering committee chair will represent this conference at the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. Representatives will report back to conference.

Section 9.1 -- Each committee of the Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference will have representation at each national committee during the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.

Article X. Amendments

Section 10.0 -- Amendments. Any part of these bylaws may be amended for purposes, policy, and procedures at any time by ballot with a majority vote of the permanent membership or by the present membership during the Western Conference. An amendment is, unless otherwise provided therein, effective immediately upon adoption and remains in effect until changed or deleted.

Bylaws Amended June 2004
Bylaws Amended June 22, 2010
Bylaws Amended April 2011

Bylaws of the Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference (Exhibit 602-3)

(Revised June 2010)

Article I - Name

Section 1.0 -- The name of the conference is the Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.

Article II - Purpose

Section 1.0 -- The purpose of the Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference is to bring together representatives of the National Cooperative Soil Survey in the northeastern states for discussion of technical and scientific questions. Through the actions of committees and conference discussions, experience is summarized and clarified for the benefit of all; new areas are explored; procedures are synthesized; and ideas are exchanged and disseminated. The conference also functions as a clearinghouse for recommendations and proposals received from individual members and state conferences for transmittal to the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.

Article III - Participants

Section 1.0 -- Permanent participants of the conference are the following:

Section 1.1 -- The NRCS state soil scientist responsible for each of the 13 northeastern states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland (also representing the District of Columbia), Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Section 1.2 -- The experiment station or university soil survey leader(s) of each of the 13 northeastern states.

Section 1.3 -- The National NRCS representative assigned by the NRCS Director of the Soil Survey Division.

Section 1.4 -- NRCS, MLRA Office (MO) 12, 13, and 14 team leaders.

Section 1.5 -- Lead soil scientist from the Eastern Region Technical Center.

Section 1.6 -- A representative from the NRCS National Geospatial Management Center (NGMC).

Section 1.7 -- Three representatives from the soils staff of the USDA Forest Service as follows:

1. One from the Eastern Region, National Forest System
2. One from the Southern Region, National Forest System
3. One from the Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry

Section 1.8 -- A designated representative of the National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists, Inc., as determined by the society representing the private sector.

Section 2.0 -- On the recommendation of the steering committee, the chair of the conference may extend invitations to a number of other individuals to participate in committee work and in the conference. Any soil scientist or other technical specialist whose participation is helpful for particular objectives or projects of the conference may be invited to attend.

Article IV - Organization and Management

Section 1.0 -- Steering Committee. The steering committee assists in the planning and management of biennial meetings, including the formulation of committee memberships and the selection of the committee chair and vice-chair.

Section 1.1 -- Membership. The steering committee consists of the following four members:

1. The National NRCS representative assigned by the NRCS Director of the Soil Survey Division (steering committee chair)
2. The conference chair
3. The conference vice-chair
4. The past conference chair

The steering committee may designate a conference chair and vice-chair if the persons are unable to fulfill their obligations.

Section 1.2 -- Meetings and Communications. A planning meeting is held about 1 year prior to the conference.  Additional meetings may be scheduled by the chair if the need arises. Most of the committee’s communications are in writing. Copies of all correspondence between members of the committee are sent to the chair.

Section 1.3 -- Authority and Responsibilities

Section 1.3.1 -- Conference Participants. The steering committee formulates policy on conference participants, but final approval or disapproval of changes in policy is by consensus of the participants. The steering committee makes recommendations to the conference for extra and special participants in specific conferences.

Section 1.3.2 -- Conference Committees and Committee Chair. The steering committee formulates the conference committee membership and selects the committee chair and chair-elect. The steering committee is responsible for the formulation of committee charges.

Section 1.3.3 -- Conference Policies. The steering committee is responsible for the formulation of statements of conference policy. Final approval of such statements is by consensus of the conference participants.

Section 1.3.4 -- Liaison. The steering committee is responsible for maintaining liaison between the regional conference and—

1. The Northeastern Experiment Station directors;
2. The East Region State Conservationists, NRCS;
3. Director, Soil Survey Division of the Natural Resources Conservation Service;
4. Regional and national offices of the U.S. Forest Service and other Cooperating and participating agencies;
5. The National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference; and
6. The National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists, Inc.

Section 1.4 -- Responsibilities of the steering committee chair are:

Section 1.4.1 -- Call a planning meeting of the steering committee about 1 year in advance of, and if possible, at the place of the conference to plan the agenda.

Section 1.4.2 -- Develop with the steering committee the first and final drafts of the conference’s committees and their charges.

Section 1.4.3 -- Send committee assignments to committee members. The committee assignments are determined by the steering committee at the planning meeting. The proposed chair and vice-chair of each committee are contacted personally by the conference chair or vice-chair and asked if they will serve prior to final assignments. NRCS and National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists, Inc. people are contacted by an NRCS person, and experiment station people are contacted by an experiment station person.

Section 1.4.4 -- Compile and maintain a conference mailing list that can be copied on mailing labels.

Section 1.4.5 -- Serve as a member of the editorial board of the Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Journal.

Section 2.0 -- Conference Chair and Vice-Chair. An experiment station representative and an NRCS state soil scientist alternate as conference chair and vice-chair. This sequence may be altered by the steering committee for special situations. The conference chair and vice-chair serve a 2-year term. The conference chair and vice-chair are chosen following the selection of a place for the next meeting and are from the state where the meeting is to be held.

Section 2.1 -- Responsibilities of the conference chair include the following:

Section 2.1.1 -- Function as chair of the biennial conference.

Section 2.1.2 -- Plan and manage of the biennial conference.

Section 2.1.3 -- Function as a member of the steering committee.

Section 2.1.4 -- Send out a first announcement of the conference about 9 months prior to the conference.

Section 2.1.5 -- Send written invitations to all speakers or panel members and representatives from other regions. These people are contacted before hand by phone or in person by various members of the steering committee.

Section 2.1.6 -- Send out written requests to experiment station representatives to find out if they will be presenting a report at the conference.

Section 2.1.7 -- Notify all speakers, panel members, and experiment station representatives in writing that a brief written summary of their presentation will be requested after the conference is over. This material will be included in the conference’s proceedings.

Section 2.1.8 -- Preside over the conference.

Section 2.1.9 -- Provide for appropriate publicity for the conference.

Section 2.1.10 -- Preside at the business meeting at the conference.

Section 2.1.11 -- Serve as a member of the editorial board of the Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Journal.

Section 2.2 -- Responsibilities of the conference vice-chair include the following:

Section 2.2.1 -- Function as program chair of the biennial conference.

Section 2.2.2 -- Serve as a member of the steering committee.

Section 2.2.3 -- Act for the chair in the chair’s absence or disability.

Section 2.2.4 -- Develop the program agenda of the conference.

Section 2.2.5 -- Make necessary arrangements for lodging accommodations for conference members, for food functions, for meeting rooms, including committee loans, and for local transport on official functions. Notify all persons attending the meeting of the arrangement for the conference (rooms, etc.) and include a copy of the agenda in the last mailing.

Section 2.2.6 -- Compile and distribute the proceedings of the conference.

Section 2.2.7 -- Serve as a member of the editorial board of the Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Journal.

Section 3.0 -- Past Conference Chair. The primary responsibility of the past conference chair is to provide continuity from conference to conference. Additional responsibilities include the following:

Section 3.1 -- Serve as a member of the steering committee.

Section 3.2 -- Assist in planning the conference.

Section 3.3 -- Serve as the editor of the Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Journal. (This responsibility encompasses gathering information with the other editorial board members, printing the Journal, and distributing it.)

Section 4.0 -- Administrative Advisors. Administrative advisors to the conference consist of the NRCS Regional Assistant Chief, East or their designee, Director of the NSSC, and the chair of the Northeast Agricultural Experiment Station directors or their designated representatives.

Article V - Time And Place Of Meetings

Section 1.0 -- The conference convenes every 2 years, in even-numbered years. The date and location are determined by the steering committee.

Article VI - Conference Committees

Section 1.0 -- Most of the work of the conference is accomplished by duly constituted committees.

Section 2.0 -- Each committee has a chair and chair-elect. A secretary or recorder may be selected by the chair, if necessary. The committee chair and chair-elect are selected by the steering committee.

Section 3.0 -- The kinds of committees and their members are determined by the steering committee. In making their selections, the steering committee considers the expressions of interest filed by conference participants.

Section 4.0 -- Each committee makes an official report at a designated time at each biennial conference. The chairs of the committees are responsible for submitting the required number of committee reports promptly to the vice-chair of the conference. The conference vice-chair is responsible for assembling and distributing the conference proceedings. Suggested distribution is:

Section 4.1 -- One copy to each participant on the mailing list.

Section 4.2 -- One copy to each State Conservationist, NRCS, and experiment station director of the Northeast.

Section 4.3 -- Five copies to the Director of Soil Survey, NRCS, for distribution to National Office staff.

Section 4.4 -- Ten copies to the National Soil Survey Center (NSSC) for distribution to staff in the center.

Section 4.5 -- Two copies to the NRCS Regional Assistant Chief, East and Eastern Region Technical Center.

Section 4.6 -- One copy to each MO 12, 13, and 14 office.

Section 4.7 -- Two copies to the Eastern and Southern Regions of the National Forest System.

Section 4.8 -- One copy to the Agriculture and Ag Food Canada office.

Section 5.0 -- Much of the work of committees is of necessity conducted by correspondence between the times of biennial conferences. Committee chairs are charged with the responsibility of initiating and carrying forward this work.

Article VII - Representatives to the National and Regional Soil Survey Conferences

Section 1.0 -- The experiment station chair or vice-chair attends the national conference the year prior to the regional conference for which they were selected. A second experiment station representative also attends the conference. The second representative is selected by the experiment station representatives at the regional conference.

Section 2.0 -- One NRCS lead soil scientist from the East Region is designated to attend the national conference in addition to the NRCS member of the national conference steering team.

Section 3.0 -- One member of the steering committee represents the Northeast Region at the Southern, North Central, and Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conferences. If none of the members of the steering committee can attend a particular conference, a member of the conference is selected by the steering committee for this duty.

Article VIII - Northeast Soil Taxonomy Committee

Section 1.0 -- Membership of the standing committee is as follows:

1. Chair
2. Chair-elect
3. Three federal representatives
4. Three state representatives

Section 2.0 -- The committee chair is nominated to the steering committee by the Northeast Soil Taxonomy Committee as described in section 3.0. Term of responsibility starts at the end of one conference and finishes with end of the next.

Section 3.0 -- The chair-elect is nominated to the steering committee by the Northeast Soil Taxonomy Committee. Term of responsibility starts at the end of one conference and finishes with the end of the next. The chair-elect for the committee should rotate to the chair at the conclusion of each conference.

Section 4.0 -- The term of membership for the remaining six committee members is three conferences; one-third of the members are replaced each conference. The experiment station representatives nominate new experiment station representatives to the steering committee for the following conference. The federal representatives nominate new federal representatives to the steering committee for the following conference.

Article IX - Northeast Research Needs Committee

Section 1.0 -- This is a standing committee, the purpose of which is to maintain a formal mechanism within the Northeast Region to identify, document, prioritize, and address the critical research and development issues related to soil survey.

Section 2.0 -- Membership of this standing committee is as follows:

The National Leader for Soil Survey Research and Laboratory or his or her designated representative serves as an advisor to the committee.

2.1  Chair
2.2  Chair-elect
2.3  One MO team leader (4-year term)
2.4  One NRCS state soil scientist (2-year term)
2.5  Two experiment station/university representatives (2-year term)
2.6  One NRCS field soil scientist (2-year term)
2.7  Lead soil scientist, Eastern Region Technical Center
2.8  U.S. Forest Service representative (permanent)
2.9  One representative from the National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists, Inc.

Section 3.0 -- The committee chair is nominated to the steering  committee by the Research Needs Committee as described in section 4.0. Term of responsibility starts at the end of one conference and finishes with end of the next.

Section 4.0 -- The chair-elect is nominated to the steering committee by the Research Needs Committee. Term of responsibility starts at the end of one conference and finishes with the end of the next. The chair–elect for the committee should rotate to the chair at the conclusion of each conference.

Section 5.0 -- The state soil scientist and field soil scientist are selected from a different state and MO every 2 years.

Section 6.0 -- The National Leader for Soil Survey Research and Laboratory or as assigned by the NRCS Director of the Soil Survey Division is responsible for selecting the state soil scientist and NRCS field soil scientist.

Section 7.0 -- The experiment station conference chair or vice-chair is responsible for overseeing the selection of the experiment station and university representatives as described in section 2.5 above.

Section 8.0 -- The Northern Forest Research Station research director selects the appropriate U.S. Forest Service representative.

Article X - Northeast New Technologies Standing Committee

Section 1.0 -- Membership of the standing committee is as follows:

1. Chair
2. Chair-elect
3. Three federal representatives
4. Three state representatives

Section 2.0 -- The committee chair is nominated to the steering committee by the New Technologies Committee as described in section 3.0. Term of responsibility starts at the end of one conference and finishes with end of the next.

Section 3.0 -- The chair-elect is nominated to the steering committee by the New Technologies Committee. Term of responsibility starts at the end of one conference and finishes with end of next. The chair–elect for the committee should rotate to the chair at the conclusion of each conference.

Section 4.0 -- The term of membership for the remaining six committee members is three conferences; one-third of the members are replaced each conference. The experiment station representatives nominate new experiment station representatives to the steering committee for the following conference. The federal representatives nominate new federal representatives to the steering committee for the following conference.

Article XI - Silver Spade Award

Section 1.0 -- The award is presented every 2 years at the conference meeting. It is presented to a member of the conference who has contributed outstanding regional and/or national service to soil survey. One or two individuals can be selected for the award every 2 years. The selection committee is made up of past award winners, and the last award recipient acts as chair of the selection committee. If multiple awards were given at the previous meeting, the chair of the selected committee is elected by the committee. The recipients of the award become members of the Silver Spade Club.

Article XII - Amendments

Section 1.0 -- Any part of this statement for purposes, policy, and procedures may be amended any time by majority agreement of the conference participants.

Bylaws Adopted January 16, 1976
Bylaws Amended June 25, 1982
Bylaws, Amended June 15, 1984
Bylaws, Amended June 20, 1986
Bylaws, Amended June 17, 1988
Bylaws, Amended June 10, 1994
Bylaws, Amended June 13, 1996
Bylaws, Amended June 22, 2000
Bylaws, Amended May 25, 2006
Bylaws, Amended June 5, 2008
Bylaws, Amended June 10, 2010

Bylaws of the North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference (Exhibit 602-4)

(Revised 2006)

Article I. Name

The name of the conference is the North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference. The letters NCRSSC may be used as the official acronym of the conference.

Article II. Purpose

The purposes of the conference are to bring together North Central States representatives of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) to discuss technical issues and to provide a means of deciding and communicating the goals of the soil survey program. Through the actions of committees and conference discussions, experience is summarized and clarified for the benefit of all; new areas are explored; procedures are proposed; and ideas are exchanged and disseminated. The conference also functions as a clearinghouse for recommendations and proposals received from individual members and state conferences for transmittal to the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference (NCSSC). It also acts on recommendations from the national conference and other regional conferences.

Article III. Membership

Participants of the conference are the National Cooperative Soil Survey soil scientists of federal, state, and university organizations; local units of government; and private organizations of the North Central Region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). The National Leader for Technical Soil Services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Survey Division serves as liaison to the NCRSSC, maintains a membership list for the conference, and provides the list to the incoming chair. If the position of National Leader for Technical Soil Services is vacant, the liaison role is filled as designated by the Director of the Soil Survey Division. All cooperating agencies and organizations are responsible for providing current membership information to the Soil Survey Division liaison. All soil scientists or other technical specialists of any cooperating agency or organization whose participation would be helpful for particular objectives or projects of the conference, including those from the host state, may be members.

Article IV. Meetings

Section 1 -- Time. The conference ordinarily convenes every 2 years, in even-numbered years. Time of year is determined by the conference chair. Additional meetings may be called by request of the steering committee or the conference with the administrative approval of the participating agencies and organizations.

Section 2 -- Host State. The host state is determined two meetings in advance (e.g., the 2006 conference selects the host state for 2010, the 2008 conference selects the host state for 2012, etc.). During the conference, business meeting invitations from the various states are considered and voted upon. A simple majority vote decides the host state. The conference may be held at any suitable location within the host state. The state rotation for NCRSSC is as follows: North Dakota, Kansas, Ohio, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, South Dakota, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

Section 3 -- Separate Meetings. University agricultural experiment station representatives to the North Central Regional Committee No. 3 (NCERA-3) on soil surveys meet during the conference. Concurrently, soil scientists of the other cooperating agencies meet to discuss their issues.

Section 4 -- Basic Structure of Regional Conference. Although the agenda for each conference varies depending upon current issues and items of interest, the following is a basic recommended list of items that could be included in a North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference. This list can be used as an aid for states planning future conference meetings:

1. Welcome by cooperating host state agencies.
2. Reports by cooperating agencies such as NRCS, NCERA-3, Forest Service (FS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and others, if applicable.
3. Reports from major land resource area (MLRA) regional offices (MOs) within the North Central Region. These MOs include: Indianapolis, IN; St. Paul, MN; Salina, KS; Bismarck, ND; Amherst, MA; Morgantown, WV; Little Rock, AR; Temple, TX; and Lexington, KY.
4. 4. Time allotted for breakout sessions for NRCS and NCERA-3 or others, as needed.
5. Time allotted for committees to meet and discuss charges presented to them by the steering committee as well as time allotted for conference attendees to make input to each committee’s activities.
6. Time allotted for committee reports to the conference.
7. Time allotted for a business meeting toward the end of the conference.
8. A half- or full-day field trip to look at soil-related problems or landscapes of interest in the area.

Article V. Steering Committee, Committee Officers, and Committee Chairs

Section 1 -- The conference always has a steering committee. The steering committee shall consist of:

• NRCS state soil scientist of host state
• The university representative for host state
• NRCS and university representative from the next host state
• Past NCRSSC chair and co-chair
• National Leader for Technical Soil Services of Soil Survey Division
• MO leader for the host site
• The chair of the three standing committees

Officers rotate among agencies. That is, the chair must be of a different agency than the past chair. Similarly, the secretary must be of a different agency than the past secretary. At each biennial conference a secretary is elected for the succeeding conference. The secretary (whoever will be the next NCRSSC chair - either the NRCS state soil scientist or university representative) becomes chair when his/her successor is elected. When an officer is unable to complete his/her term of office, the steering committee appoints a successor.

Responsibilities of the steering committee include the following:

• The committee meets once after the business meeting of each conference and may meet at other times if necessary.
• The steering committee assists in the selection of special participants in a specific regional conference.
• The steering committee assists in the formulation of charges to committees.
• The steering committee is responsible for compiling, editing, and distributing the NCRSSC Proceedings to all conference attendees within 120 days after the conference.
• The steering committee forwards action items, recommendations, and resolutions to the National Leader for Technical Soil Services of Soil Survey Division and to the Director of Soil Survey Division.

Section 2 -- Conference Officers.

A. Chair. The chair is from the host state. Responsibilities include the following (specific tasks may be delegated to the secretary):

1. Functions as head of the steering committee.
2. Plans and manages the biennial conference.
3. 3. Determines, in consultation with the steering committee, the kinds of committees; selects the committee chairs and assistant chairs; formulates and transmits charges to committees; and appoints committee members.
4. Issues announcements of and invitations to the conference.
5. Writes the program and has copies prepared and distributed to the members.
6. Makes necessary arrangements for food and lodging accommodations, special food functions, meeting rooms (including committee rooms), and local transport for official functions.
7. Provides appropriate publicity for the conference.
8. Presides at the business meeting of the conference.
9. Makes arrangements for a half- or full-day field trip.

B. Secretary. The secretary is from the state that will host the next biennial conference. The secretary for the succeeding conference (in 2 years) is elected by simple majority vote at the NCRSSC business meeting. Responsibilities of the secretary include the following:

1. Assists in the planning and management of the conference.
2. Assists in the selection of committee chairs and assistant chairs and in the selection of committee members.
3. Assumes responsibility for taking the minutes of all business meetings, collecting final reports from committees, and collecting any papers or presentations given during the conference.
4. Assumes responsibility for forwarding all conference minutes, reports, and papers to the National Leader for Technical Soil Services of Soil Survey Division for the final preparation and distribution of the NCRSSC Proceedings.
5. Updates the conference membership list (given to him/her by the chair upon conclusion of each conference) and provides the list to the National Leader for Technical Soil Services of Soil Survey Division.

Section 3 -- Committee Chairs. The conference chair in consultation with the steering committee selects the chair and co-chair for each committee.

Article VI. Committees

Section 1 -- Most of the technical work of the conference is accomplished by constituted committees. The committees of the conference are determined by the steering committee. Some committees are continued from the previous conference. Permanent or standing committees, ad hoc committees, and task force groups are considered to be committees of the conference. The conference has standing committees on standards, research priorities, and new technology. These standing committees communicate with their corresponding standing committee of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.

Section 2 -- The committee chair selects a secretary, or recorder. Committee members are selected after considering steering committee recommendations, national conference recommendations, individual interests, technical proficiency, and continuity of the work. They are not limited to members of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Section 3 -- Each committee commonly conducts its work by correspondence among committee members. Most of the committee’s communications are by correspondence. Copies of all correspondence among members of the steering committee are sent to each member of the committee. Committee chairs provide their committee members with the charges as assigned by the steering committee and procedure for committee operation. Committee chairs are charged with responsibility for initiating and carrying forward this work. Chairs should initiate committee work at the earliest possible date. Each committee meets during the conference and permits other conference attendees to have input into each committee’s activities.

Section 4 -- Each committee chair sends copies of a final committee report to the secretary within the 30 days after the conference.

Section 5 -- The chairs of the three standing committees are expected to participate in the corresponding standing committee of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference and are expected to attend the next national conference. Their role is to ensure that concerns of the regional standing committee are communicated to the corresponding national standing committee and that information from the national committee is communicated back to the regional committee.

Article VII. Representation to the National Soil Survey Conference

Voting members of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference include the National Leader for Technical Soil Services of Soil Survey Division and a NCERA-3 (state) delegate from the current host state for NCRSSC. The NCERA-3 representative also serves on the steering committee for NCSSC. Two additional delegates to NCSSC include one NRCS soil scientist and one NCERA-3 (state) representative (with appropriate administrative approval). The NCRS soil scientist is chosen by simple majority vote during the separate federal session. The second NCERA-3 delegate comes from the next NCRSSC host state and is assigned the task of presenting the NCRSSC report at NCSSC. Both NCERA-3 delegates are chosen by simple majority vote during the separate NCERA-3 session at NCRSSC.

Article VIII. Historical Record

A cumulative file of conference programs is turned over to each incoming conference chairman. A cumulative file is kept at the office of the National Leader for Technical Soil Services of Soil Survey Division.

Article IX. Amendments

The bylaws may be amended at any time by a simple majority vote of the participants attending the biennial business meeting. An amendment is, unless otherwise provided therein, effective immediately upon adoption and remains in effect until changed.

Bylaws of the Southern Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference (Exhibit 602-5)

Article I. NAME

Section 1.0 -- Conference Name. The name of the conference is the Southern Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. The Southern Region corresponds to the Agricultural Experiment Station Southern Region and includes the Caribbean area and the following 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The Southern Region also corresponds to the U. S. Forest Service Region 8 excluding the state of Virginia.

Article II. OBJECTIVES

Section 2.0 -- Objectives and Purpose. The objectives and purpose of the Southern Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference is to bring together representatives of the National Cooperative Soil Survey in the southern states for discussion of technical and scientific questions. Through the actions of committees and conference discussions, experience is summarized and clarified for the benefit of all; new areas are explored; procedures are synthesized; and ideas are exchanged and disseminated. The conference also functions as a clearinghouse for recommendations and proposals received from individual members and state conferences for transmittal to the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. The conference promotes the use of soil resource information by others and develops recommendations for courses of action, including national policies and procedures that relate to making soil surveys and using soil resource data and information.

Article III. MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPANTS

Section 3.0 -- Permanent Membership. Permanent membership of the conference will consist of:

1. National Leader for Soil Survey Interpretations who serves as National Soil Survey Center liaison to the conference.
2. Soil technology specialists from the Central and Eastern National Technology Support Centers.
3. Representatives from southern state experiment stations and 1890 land grant universities and other universities in the Southern Region.
4. Regional soil scientists from U.S. Forest Service Region 8.
5. NRCS state soil scientist/MLRA leaders or representatives from the 12 southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas) and the Caribbean area.
6. Representatives from USDI, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Eastern, Eastern Oklahoma, Southern Plains, and Southwest Regions.
7. Representative from Tennessee Valley Authority.
8. NCSS soils representative from the USDI National Park Service (NPS).
9. President-elect or delegated representative from the National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists (NSCSS).
10. A representative from the National Association of Tribal Historic Prevention Officers (NATHPO).
11. A representative from the USDI Corps of Engineers (COE).

Section 3.1 -- Associate Membership. Invitations may be extended to a number of other individuals to participate in committee work or for a specific conference or conferences. A representative from the NRCS National Geospatial Management Center (NGMC), the National Soil Survey Center’s Geospatial Research Unit (NSSC-GRU), USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and a representative from the NRCS Information Technology Center (ITC) are associate conference members. Any soil scientist, technical specialist, or other individual of any local, state, or federal agency or interest group whose participation could benefit particular objectives or projects of the conference may be invited to participate. Any permanent member of the conference may invite one additional participant. If a permanent member wishes to invite more than one guest (or associate member), the request should be cleared through the chair or vice-chair of the conference, or the chair of the steering committee. Names of all associate members of a specific conference should be provided to the conference chair.

Article IV. CONFERENCE OFFICERS

Section 4.0 -- Conference Officers. A chair and vice-chair of the conference serve for a 2-year term and on a rotating basis. The rotation schedule is listed in Table 1. Their tenure runs from the end of a conference to the end of the following conference. Conference officers are from the state hosting the next conference.

Section 4.0.1 -- Responsibilities of the Chair (specific tasks may be delegated to the vice-chair)

1. Plan and manage the biennial conference.
2. Serve as co-chair of the regional steering committee.
3. Presides at the conference business meeting.
4. Issues conference announcements and invitations.
5. Organizes the conference program.
6. Selects presiding chair for the various sessions.
7. Develops the conference agenda and has copies of the agenda prepared and distributed.
8. Makes necessary arrangements for lodging accommodations for conference participants, for food functions, if any, for meeting rooms (including committee rooms), for a field trip, and for local transport for other official functions.
9. Assembles, reproduces, and distributes the conference proceedings.
10. Provides for appropriate conference publicity.
11. Arranges for conference guest speakers.
12. Presides over the conference business meetings.
13. Serves as 1 of 2 southern conference voting members at the following National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.

Section 4.0.2 -- Responsibilities of the Vice-Chair.

1. Serves as a steering committee member.
2. Acts for the conference chair in the chair’s absence or disability.
3. Assists the conference chair in carrying out his/her responsibilities, and performs other duties as assigned by the conference chair.
4. Compiles and maintains the conference mailing list.
5. Serves as conference secretary:
   • Maintains conference business meetings minutes and other conference meetings minutes as assigned by the conference chair.
   • Obtains copies of all committee reports and papers presented at the conference and makes copies available to all conference members.
   • Compiles the conference proceedings and assists the chair in their duplication and distribution.
6. Serves as 1 or 2 southern conference voting members at the following National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.

Article V. MEETINGS

Section 5.0 -- Time of Meetings. The conference convenes every 2 years, in even numbered years. It convenes in either May or June, unless a different date was agreed to by a majority of permanent conference members at the previous conference.

Section 5.1 -- Location of Meetings. The conference is on a rotational basis throughout the region according to Table 1. (States may trade years to host the conference for good cause and upon approval by a majority vote of the conference members at the business meeting preceding the next conference.)

Article VI. COMMITTEES

Section 6.0 -- Kinds and Functions of Committees. The conference has permanent standing and ad hoc committees. Duly constituted official committees accomplish most conference work. The kinds of committees and their charges are determined by the steering committee and recommendations from the conference members. Each committee shall make an official report at the designated time at each biennial conference. Committee reports shall be copied and distributed as follows:

1. One copy to each permanent member (whether present or not) and to each participant in the conference.
2. One final copy to the conference vice-chair for inclusion in the conference proceedings. This copy includes all revisions approved by the conference. Much of the work of committees is, of necessity, conducted by correspondence and teleconferences during the interval between conferences.

Section 6.1 -- Committee Structure. Each committee has co-chairs, one from NRCS and the other an NCSS cooperator.

Section 6.1.1 -- Committee Co-Chair Responsibilities. Committee co-chairs are charged with the responsibility of initiating and carrying forward assigned work. They shall provide their committee members with the charges as directed by the steering committee and with additional instructions they deem necessary to complete the committee charge(s). Committee co-chairs should initiate committee work at the earliest possible date to assure completion by the next scheduled conference. Committee co-chairs are responsible for prompt submission of their reports to the co-chairs of the steering committee who will duplicate and distribute committee reports in the conference proceedings.

Committee co-chairs shall also give a report of committee actions/recommendations at designated times during the conference.

Section 6.2 -- Conference Steering Committee. The conference steering committee is co-chaired by the soil technology specialist from the designated National Technology Support Center (NTSC) (see Table 1) and the liaison from the NRCS National Soil Survey Center. The steering committee formulates policy on conference membership and participation. Final approval or disapproval of policy changes is by vote, during the biennial business meeting of the conference. The steering committee will assure that there is a balance among states and agencies on each committee – that is to say that no one state or agency will dominate any single committee. The conference steering committee shall consist of the following seven members:

1. Co-chair: soil technology specialist from the designated NTSC
2. Co-chair: liaison from the National Soil Survey Center
3. The soil technology specialist from the NTSC not acting as co-chair
4. Current conference chair
5. Current conference vice-chair
6. Past conference chair
7. Current MLRA representative

Section 6.2.1 -- Responsibilities of the Conference Steering Committee. Conference steering committee responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Steering committee co-chairs will call a meeting of the committee about 1 year prior to the conference.
2. Steering committee will plan the meeting agenda, develop charges for permanent standing committees, and formulate statements of conference policy.
3. Select committee co-chairs and establishes ad hoc committees at least 4 months prior to the conference.
4. Review conference activities and develop an executive summary of conference recommendations.
5. Send applicable conference recommendations to the steering committee chair of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.
6. Send applicable conference recommendations to the soil survey leaders of appropriate agencies for consideration and possible implementation.
7. Establish and maintain liaisons between the conference and—
   • The national and other regional conferences
   • State conservationists of 12 southern states and the Caribbean Area
   • Directors of the southern experiment stations
   • National Congress of American Indians
   • State, regional, and national offices of NRCS, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, American Indian Tribes, and National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists
   • NRCS centers
   • Other committees or work groups associated with the conference
   • Others as identified by the steering committee
8. Shall meet immediately after the conference to summarize recommendations and propose actions to be taken.

Participation by 50 percent or more of the conference steering committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Items shall be passed by a majority of members present. The co-chairs do not vote except in the case of a tie vote.

Section 6.3 -- Permanent Standing Committees. Permanent standing committees are established by the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference bylaws as contained in the NSSH Part 602.00 and Exhibit 602-1.

1. Soil taxonomy and standards
2. Research priorities
3. New technology
4. Soil interpretation criteria review

Section 6.3.1 -- Soil Taxonomy and Standards Co-committee. The Soil Taxonomy and Standards Co-committee is comprised of the respective MO leaders from MO-9, MO-14, MO-15, MO-16, and MO-18. The NRCS co-chair will be one of these MO leaders on a rotating basis according to Table 1 located in Section 5.1. The university co-chair will be selected by the university members and will serve according to the university’s desired rotation schedule.

Section 6.4 -- Ad Hoc Committees. Ad hoc committees may be established by the steering committee as needed to meet specific needs and/or goals as related to the standing committees.

Article VII. CONFERENCE ADVISORS

Section 7.0 -- Conference Advisors. Conference advisors are invited to the conference and shall act in an advisory capacity to assist in items related to agency line and policy. Advisors to the conference are the state conservationist (STC) of the host state, or as selected by the conference, the experiment station director for the host state, or as selected by the conference, and a Forest Service regional forester.

Article VIII. HISTORICAL RECORDS

Section 8.0 -- Conference Historical Records. The National Soil Survey Center liaison will maintain a permanent, cumulative file of conference programs, correspondence, committee reports, proceedings, bylaws and other material generated by or related to the conference.

Article IX. AMENDMENTS

Section 9.0 -- Amendments. Any part of these bylaws may be amended for purposes, policy and procedures at any time by ballot with a majority vote of the permanent membership. Participation by 50 percent or more of the conference permanent membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The co-chairs do not vote except in the case of a tie vote. An amendment shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be effective immediately upon adoption and shall remain in effect until changed or deleted.

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