230.3—National program administration.
(a)
The Chief shall develop and oversee all Program policy and procedure and monitor the implementation of such policy and procedure over the life of the Program.
(b)
The Chief shall annually distribute among the States such cost-share funds as may be available for the Program after addressing the public benefit incidental to such distribution and after giving appropriate consideration to the following: The total acreage of nonindustrial private forest land in each State, the potential productivity of such land, the number of owners eligible for cost sharing in each State, the need for reforestation in each State, the opportunities to enhance nontimber resources on such forest lands, and the anticipated demand for timber and nontimber resources in each State. In making distributions under this paragraph, the Chief shall consult with a group of not less than five State Foresters selected by a majority of the State foresters.
(c)
Tree planting, tree maintenance, and tree improvement are national priorities for cost-share practices under the Programs. In addition to these practices, the Chief, in consultation with the State Foresters, may develop other national priorities for practices to be cost shared under the Program and shall communicate such priorities to guide administration of the Program.
(d)
The Chief shall review and determine approval of State plans, including any revisions of such plans.
(e)
The Chief, in consultation with the State Foresters, shall annually reevaluate and set the percentage of Program funding to be made available for landowner forest stewardship plan development ( § 230.7(a)(1) of this sub-part).
(f)
The Chief may enter into such agreements with any other USDA agency as are necessary to administer the Program. These agreements may include provisions authorizing the collection of Program participant information, the management of accounting ledgers, and the disbursement of payment to participants.
(g)
The Chief shall retain final authority to resolve all issues which may arise in the administration of the Program.