manage water resources through water supply forecasts. It also provides hydrometeorological data for regulating reservoir storage and managing

streamflow. The Snow Supply Program is conducted in 11 Western States and Alaska.

Plant Materials Program At 26 plant materials centers across the country, NRCS tests, selects, and ensures the commercial availability of new and improved conservation plants for erosion reduction, wetland restoration, water quality improvement, streambank and riparian area protection, coastal dune stabilization, biomass production, carbon sequestration, and other needs. The Plant Materials Program is a cooperative effort with conservation districts, other Federal and State agencies, commercial businesses, and seed and nursery associations.

River Basin Surveys and Investigations This program involves NRCS with Federal, State, and local agencies in river basin surveys and investigations, flood hazard analysis, and floodplain management assistance. It addresses a variety of natural resource concerns: water quality, water conservation, wetlands protection, agricultural drought, rural development, municipal and industrial water needs, and fish and wildlife habitat.

Public Law 83-566 Small Watersheds Program The Small Watersheds Program helps local sponsoring groups to voluntarily plan and install watershed protection projects on private lands. These projects include flood prevention, water quality improvement, soil erosion and sediment reduction, rural and municipal water supply, irrigation water management, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and wetlands restoration. The Service helps local community groups, government entities, and private landowners working together using an integrated, comprehensive watershed approach to natural resource planning. Public Law 78-534 Flood Prevention Program This program applies to 11 specific flood prevention projects covering about 35 million acres in 11 States. It provides help in flood

prevention, water management, and reduction and erosion sedimentation. It also can help in developing recreational facilities and improving fish and wildlife habitat.

Emergency Watershed Protection Program This program provides emergency assistance to safeguard lives and property in jeopardy due to sudden watershed impairment by natural disasters. Emergency work includes quickly establishing a protective plant cover on denuded land and stream banks; opening dangerously restricted channels; and repairing diversions and levees. An emergency area need not be declared a national disaster area to be eligible for help under this program. Great Plains Conservation Program This program (GPCP) helps bring about long-term solutions to natural resource problems in the 10 Great Plains States. It is aimed at total conservation treatment of entire farms or ranches. Participation in GPCP is voluntary and provides technical assistance and a long-term cost-share contract between the participant and NRCS. The program has been effective in addressing the needs of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and the needs of American Indian farmers and ranchers. In addition to providing significant erosion and sediment reduction benefits, it addresses problems related to water quality, wildlife habitat protection, and other environmental concerns.

Resource Conservation and Development Program This program. (RC&D) is a locally driven program—an opportunity for civic-oriented groups to work together sharing knowledge and resources in solving common problems facing their region. The program offers aid in balancing the environmental, economic, and social needs of an area. A USDA coordinator helps each designated RC&D council plan, develop, and carry out programs for resource conservation, water management, community development, and environmental enhancement. Rural Abandoned Mine Program This program (RAMP) helps protect people and the environment from the adverse

effects of past coal-mining practices and promotes the development of soil and water resources on unreclaimed mine land. It provides technical and financial assistance to land users who voluntarily enter into 5-to-10-year contracts for the reclamation of eligible land and water. Wetlands Reserve Program Under this program, USDA purchases easements from agricultural land owners who voluntarily agree to restore and protect wetlands. Service employees help these owners develop plans to retire critical wetland habitat from crop production. The primary objectives are to preserve and restore wetlands, improve wildlife habitat, and protect migratory waterfowl. Water Bank Program The Service helps landowners protect, improve, or restore wetlands by identifying eligible lands, helping owners develop conservation plans, and implementing necessary land treatments. Through 10-year rental agreements between USDA and landowners, the Water Bank Program protects important nesting, breeding, and feeding areas for migratory waterfowl. Other benefits of the program include water conservation, erosion control, flood control, and landscape beautification.

Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program This voluntary incentive program supports the Nation's

commitment to water quality in the Colorado River, which provides water to more than 18 million people in parts of seven Western States and Mexico. NRCS provides financial and technical

assistance to control salt loading in the Colorado River from both natural and human-caused sources. Among the remedies used are management practices to prevent irrigation-induced erosion. Forestry Incentives Program This program helps to increase the Nation's supply of products from nonindustrial private forest lands. This also ensures more effective use of existing forest lands and, over time, helps to prevent shortages and price increases for forest products. The program shares the cost incurred by landowners for tree planting and timberstand improvement. Farms-For-The-Future Program This program guarantees USDA loans and subsidizes interest on State loans to purchase agricultural land or development rights to preserve vital farmland resources for future generations. The money also can be reinvested by the States to generate earnings for future farmland protection efforts.

For further information, contact the Office of Public Affairs, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013. Phone, 202-720-3210.

Director, Northeast Training Center Director, Southwest Training Center Director, Westerm Training Center Director, Southeast Training Center Director, National Capital Training Center Director, Midwest Training Center Director, Career Development Programs Registrar

The Graduate School, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is a continuing education school offering career-related training to adults. It is self-supporting and does not receive direct appropriated funds from Congress or the Department of Agriculture. Fees charged individuals. and Government agencies are nominal. Courses are planned with the assistance of Government professionals and specialists.

The faculty is mostly part-time and is drawn from throughout Government and the community at large. They are selected because of their professional and specialized knowledge and experience and thus bring a practicality and experience to their classrooms. Faculty holding regular Government positions take annual leave or leave without pay when teaching during their normal work hours.

The school does not grant degrees but does provide planned sequences of courses leading to certificates of accomplishment in a number of

occupational and career fields important

FRANK BAUER
TONY GUTIERREZ
MAUREEN HETZEL
DAVID HITT
NANCY RANDA
CYNTHIA RUDMANN
LEW TAYLOR
CAROLYN NELSON

to government. Training areas include management, auditing, computer science, communications, foreign language, procurement, financial management, and others.

The Graduate School's objective is to improve Government services by providing needed continuing education and training opportunities for Government employees and agencies.

The Graduate School, administered by a Director and governed by a General Administration Board appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, was established by the Secretary of Agriculture on September 2, 1921, pursuant to act of May 15, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 2201); joint resolution of April 12, 1892 (27 Stat. 395); and the Deficiencies Appropriation Act of March 3, 1901 (20 U.S.C. 91).

In July 1995, through a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Agriculture, the Graduate School acquired many of the training offices formerly operated by the Office of Personnel Management.

Sources of Information

Consumer Activities Educational, organizational, and financial assistance is offered to consumers and their families in such fields as rural housing and farm operating programs, improved nutrition, family living and recreation, food stamp, school lunch, donated foods, and other food programs. Contact the Office of Public Affairs, Department of

Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.
Phone, 202-720-2791.
Contracts and Small Business Activities
Contact the Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization,
Department of Agriculture, Washington,
DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-7117.
Employment Most jobs in the
Department are in the competitive
service and are filled by applicants who

have established eligibility under an appropriate examination administered by the Office of Personnel Management or Department Special Examining Units.

General employment inquiries may be sent to the Recruitment and Employment Division, Office of Personnel, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-5626.

Persons interested in employment in the Food and Nutrition Service should contact the Regional Offices located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, and Robbinsville, NJ, or the national headquarters in Alexandria, VA. Phone, 703-305-2351 Persons interested in employment in the Office of the Inspector General should contact the USDA Office of Personnel, Room 31-W, Administration Building, Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-5781.

In addition, all Forest Service field offices (addresses indicated in the preceding text) accept employment applications.

Environment Educational, organizational, technical, and financial assistance is offered to local citizens, organizations, and communities in such fields as watershed protection, flood prevention, soil and water conservation practices to reduce erosion and sedimentation, community water and waste disposal systems, safe use of pesticides, and the development of pesticide alternatives.

Contact the nearest county extension agent or USDA office, or write to the Office of Public Affairs, Department of

Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-2791.

Films Motion pictures on a variety of agricultural subjects are available for loan through various State Extension Service film libraries. Contact the Video and Teleconference Division, Office of Public Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, for a listing of cooperating film libraries. Phone, 202-720-6072.

Color filmstrips and slide sets on a variety of subjects are available for purchase. For a listing of titles and prices, contact the Photography Division, Office of Public Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-6633.

Whistleblower Hotline Persons wishing to register complaints of alleged improprieties concerning the Department should contact one of the Regional Offices or the Inspector General's Whistleblower hotline. Phone, 800-4249121 (toll-free, outside Washington, DC); 202-690-1622 (within the Washington, DC, metropolitan area); or 202-6901202 (TDD).

Reading Rooms Located at each USDA agency at addresses indicated in the preceding text.

Speakers Contact the nearest Department of Agriculture office or county Extension agent. In the District of Columbia, contact the Office of Public Liaison, Office of Public Affairs,

Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Phone, 202-720-2798.