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8. Rural Electrification Administration

Contact the county extension agent, the county agricultural stabilization and conservation committee, and rural electric and telephone cooperatives to locate nearest REA representative.

9. Soil Conservation Service

Locally, contact soil-conservation district officials and Soil Conservation Service work units or area offices. At the State level contact Soil Conservation Service State offices.

10. Agricultural Conservation Programs Service

In the field administration of this program the facilities of the county and State agricultural stabilization and conservation committees are utilized. Contact the Chief, Agricultural Conservation Programs Service, room 3741, South Building, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington 25, D. C.

B. DIRECTORY OF REGIONAL OFFICES OF FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATION

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NOTE. For more detailed information consult the Directory of Organization and Field Activities of the Department of Agriculture, the U. S. Government Organization Manual, or the Official Register of the United States.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING RESPONSIBILITIES IN DISASTER OPERATIONS

Act of September 30, 1950 (64 Stat. 1109, as amended; 42 U. S. C. 1855 ff.) Section 1. Purpose

The purpose of this memorandum is to:

(a) Arrange for development of suitable plans and preparations to insure maximum utilization of resources of the Department of the Interior in disasters;

(b) Describe responsibilities of FCDA in the coordination of Federal assistance in disaster and in plans and preparations therefor;

(c) Outline procedures for providing assistance by the Department under authorization from FCDA pursuant to Executive Order No. 10427 and the act of September 30, 1950 (64 Stat. 1109, as amended; 42 U. S. C. 1855 ff.), and for reimbursement of authorized expenses incurred in connection with providing such assistance; and

(d) Describe responsibilities and functions of the Department of the Interior for providing assistance to States, local governing bodies, and individuals in the alleviation of damage, hardship, or suffering attending disasters.

Section 2. Planning for disaster assistance

(a) Section 2 of Executive Order No. 10427 stipulates that Federal agencies shall make suitable plans and preparations in anticipation of their responsibilities in the event of a major disaster.

(b) Plans and procedures will be developed jointly by the Department of the Interior and the Federal Civil Defense Administration to:

(1) provide for the interchange of information regarding existing or threatened disasters;

(2) provide for continuing liaison between the Department and FCDA, both at the headquarters offices and in the field, with respect to disaster assistance activities;

(3) arrange an orderly means for coordination of the Department's disaster activities with those of other agencies by FCDA;

(4) provide for the delegation of authority by FCDA to the Department to provide disaster assistance and to utilize in connection therewith the necessary available resources of the Department;

(5) arrange for the orderly and prompt utilization of the Department's available personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, and other resources when required by FCDA in providing disaster assistance; and

(6) insure that accurate and complete information relative to disasters reaches the public promptly.

Section 3. Coordination

(a) The FCDA has been delegated a twofold coordinating responsibility: (1) The coordination, on behalf of the President, of the activities of Federal agencies in providing disaster assistance whether such activities be performed pursuant to authority delegated by the FCDA or within the existing policies, regulations, or stautory authority of a Federal agency subject to the limitations in paragraph (b) of this section; and (2) the coordination, on behalf of the President, of the development of suitable plans and preparations by Federal agencies in anticipation of their responsibilities in the event of a major disaster. (b) Responsibility for coordination of Federal assistance within the various regions of FCDA has been delegated to the regional administrators by the Administrator.

(c) FCDA's coordination of Federal disaster assistance will consist of determining the total assistance needed and facilitating agreement of necessary action to be taken by various agencies to meet the overall problems involved. It will make necessary decisions regarding assistance to be furnished in cases where two or more Federal agencies have conflicting or overlapping interests or authorities. In major disasters the FCDA will determine the Federal financial contribution for disaster relief and will, when necessary, request and authorize the Secretary of the Interior or his designee, to utiliize its available personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, and other resources in accordance with the authority contained in the act of September 30, 1950.

(d) The FCDA will not supervise or direct the disaster operations of the Department of the Interior.

(e) When necessary assistance is immediately required and such assistance can be provided within the existing policies, regulations, or statutory authority of the Department, the appropriate officials of the Department will act promptly and notify the appropriate FCDA regional administrator of action taken at the earliest opportunity. When the exigency of the situation permits, the appropriate FCDA regional administrator will be notified of the request for assistance prior to taking action to provide such assistance even though the necessary assistance can be supplied within the existing policies, regulations, or statutory authority of the Department. The requirements of this paragraph do not extend to activities of the Department in emergency situations which do not approach the disaster conditions which are the concern of the FCDA.

(f) Suitable plans and preparations for providing assistance, in major disasters, involving the utilization of personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, and other resources of the Department shall be developed jointly by designated officials of FCDA and the Department of the Interior.

Section 4. Disaster assistance authorized by FCDA

(a) The heads of the bureaus of the Department of the Interior will be delegated authority, with power to redelegate, to utilize personel, supplies, equipment, facilities, and other resources in providing disaser assistance upon request and authorization of the FCDA.

(b) The additional cost to the Department of the Interior of assistance requested and authorized by FCDA to be furnished under the provisions of section 3 of the act of September 30, 1950, will be reimbursed by FCDA. Such reimbursement will generally be from a specific allotment from the funds made available to the President under the act of September 30, 1950, and will cover expenses incurred by the Department in furnishing the assistance in addition to the normal day-to-day operating expenses of the Department. Additional expenses may include, but are not necessarily limited to, salaries of additional personnel; overtime pay of all personnel; per diem and travel expenses of employees; cost of materials, equipment, and supplies; equipment storage costs, packing, and crating; and, in certain cases, replacing major items of equipment lost or damaged beyond economical repair.

(c) All requests for reimbursement will be fully documented so as to permit accurate and sufficient audit. The records of the Department pertinent to assistance activities performed under authorization received from FCDA will be open for examination by the FCDA or its authorized representatives. Section 5. Additional disaster and emergency relief responsibilities and functions of the Department of the Interior

In addition to disaster assistance that may be authorized by the FCDA, the Department of the Interior has authority with respect to its regular operations that provides for relief assistance in cases of emergency or disaster. These are: (a) With respect to the Department's operations, pursuant to section 103 of Public Law 172, 83d Congress (67 Stat. 275), the Secretary of the Interior may authorize the expenditure or transfer (within each bureau or office) of any appropriation in the Interior Department Appropriation Act, 1954, for the emergency reconstruction, replacement, or repair of buildings, utilities, or other facilities or equipment damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, storm, or other unavoidable cause, provided that no funds shall be made available under this authority until funds specifically made available to the Department of the Interior for emergencies shall have been exhausted.

(b) Pursuant to section 104 of Public Law 172, 83d Congress (67 Stat. 275), the Secretary may authorize the expenditure or transfer (within each bureau or office) of any appropriation in the Interior Department Appropriation Act, 1954, in addition to the amounts included in the budget programs of the several agencies, for the suppression or emergency prevention of forest or range fires on or threatening lands under jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior. (c) The Bureau of Indian Affairs is authorized, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior (23 U. S. C. 13) to direct, supervise, and expend such moneys as Congress may appropriate, for the benefit, care, and assistance of the Indians throughout the United States.

(d) The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Mines, is authorized (30 U. S. C. 4K (d)) to expend funds made available to him for the protection or advancement of health or safety in coal mines, and for the prevention or relief of accidents or occupational diseases therein.

(e) In order to facilitate the administration of the national park system and miscellaneous areas administered in connection therewith, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized (Public Law 230, 83d Cong.) to use applicable appropriations for the aforesaid system and miscellaneous areas for the following purposes:

(1) The rendering of emergency rescue, fire fighting, and cooperative assistance to nearby law-enforcement and fire-prevention agencies and for related purposes outside of the national park system and miscellaneous areas.

(2) The erection and maintenance of fire-protection facilities, water lines, telephone lines, electric lines, and other utility facilities adjacent to any area of the national park system and miscellaneous areas, where necessary, to provide service in such area.

Section 1 (a) of Public Law 633, 79th Congress (16 U. S. C. 17j-2) authorized protection of certain lands and maintenance of certain roads lying outside the boundaries of various areas administered by the National Park Service. Protection and maintenance of these lands and roads implies that the Park Service may meet emergencies when they arise.

The National Park Service is authorized (16 U. S. C. 8a, 8b, and 8d) to construct, reconstruct, and improve national park and monument approach roads, and to maintain them. Emergency measures could be taken on these roads.

FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATION,
VAL PETERSON, Administrator.

March 19, 1954.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
DOUGLAS MCKAY, Secretary.

March 19, 1954.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN TREASURY DEPARTMENT AND FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING RESPONSIBILITIES IN DISASTER OPERATIONS

In recognition of the responsibilities and functions of the Treasury Department and its organization units, and those delegated to the Federal Civil Defense 69096-56-pt. 19

Administration by Executive Order No. 10427, under authority of Public Law 875, 81st Congress, this statement of understanding of responsibilities of the two agencies for assistance in disasters is deemed advisable.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this memorandum is to

(1) arrange for development of suitable plans and preparations to insure maximum utilization of resources of Treasury Department in disasters; (2) describe responsibilities of FCDA in the coordination of Federal assistance in disasters and in plans and preparations therefor;

(3) outline procedures for assistance by Treasury Department when authorized by FCDA pursuant to Executive Order No. 10427, and Public Law 875 and for reimbursement of authorized additional expenses incurred therefor; and

(4) provide adequate information and guidance to the field personnel of both agencies on the provisions of Public Law 875 and Executive Order No. 10427.

II. DISASTER CAPABILITIES OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT

Section 1 (a) of Executive Order 10427 delegates authority to the Federal Civil Defense Administrator to direct Federal agencies to provide assistance in major disasters. In order to properly administer such authority it is necessary that the FCDA be advised of the resources of the Treasury Department available for utilization under the authority of section 3 of Public Law 875.

There is attached hereto as appendix A a statement of the resources and services of the Treasury Department that might be utilized in disaster situations and which are not customarily utilized in such situations under existing authority or practice.

III. PLANNING FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Departmental planning

Section 2 of Executive Order 10427 requires Federal agencies to make suitable plans and preparations in anticipation of their responsibilities in the event of a major disaster and the coordination of such plans and preparations by FCDA. Mutual effort by the Treasury Department and FCDA will be directed toward developing at the departmental level:

(1) procedure for an interchange of information regarding disaster conditions between Treasury Department and FCDA;

(2) provision for continuing liaison on disaster matters;

(3) a policy to insure that accurate and complete information relative to the disasters reaches the public promptly;

(4) an orderly means for coordination of any Treasury Department disaster activities with those of other agencies by FCDA; and

(5) provision for the delegation of authority by FCDA to Treasury Department when required.

Field planning

Treasury Department will authorize its several field offices to collaborate with the regional offices of FCDA and prepare plans and procedures, by virtue of which the utilization of the Treasury Department resources in disaster situations occurring within their respective geographical or functional areas of responsibility, will be provided. Such plans and procedures will be on a basis comparable to those outlined for the departmental level and copies thereof will be transmitted to appropriate headquarters offices of each agency for coordination on a nationwide basis. Such plans should include, but not be limited to:

(1) arrangements for an interchange of information between the Treasury Department and FCDA; (2) general inventories of manpower, equipment, and material available to Treasury Department and usable in disasters;

(3) exchange of directories of key personnel of Treasury Department and FCDA with both business and home telephone numbers;

(4) exchange of statements of geographical and functional areas of responsibility; and

(5) preparation of operating procedures specific enough to insure adequate operation but flexible enough to cover varying types of disasters.

IV. COORDINATING RESPONSIBILITY OF FCDA

For Federal assistance in disasters

Federal Civil Defense Administration's coordination of the Treasury Department action in major disasters will consist of evaluation of requests for assistance received, delegation of authority for necessary action to the Treasury Department in conformity with total assistance required and evaluation of action resulting from such delegation. It will make necessary decisions regarding assistance to be furnished in cases where Federal agencies other than the Treasury Department have interest, authority, or capabilities. FCDA will not supervise or direct the operations of the various Federal agencies. Responsibility for coordination of Federal assistance within the various regions of FCDA has been delegated to the regional administrators by the Administrator.

Planning coordination

The Federal Civil Defense Administrator is directed by the President to coordinate the provision of suitable plans and preparations for disaster assistance by all Federal agencies having responsibilities or capabilities in this field. Staff personnel of FCDA at the departmental level are working with the representatives of Treasury Department on those plans and preparations. Each regional administrator, FCDA, will work with field personnel of Treasury Department on similar plans for Treasury Department's field organizational units.

V. DISASTER ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED BY FCDA UNDER PUBLIC LAW 875

Providing such assistance

When the President has determined that a major disaster exists, the Federal Civil Defense Administrator is authorized, within the scope of the President's determination, to direct Federal agencies to provide assistance in conformity with section 3 of Public Law 875. The Administrator has delegated this authority to each FCDA regional administrator for his region.

Upon written request and authorization of a regional administrator of FCDA, field offices of Treasury Department are authorized to furnish personnel, equipment, or other resources of their organization in conformity with the provisions outlined therein.

Reimbursement for such assistance

The additional cost to the Department in furnishing assistance requested and authorized by FCDA under the provisions of section 3 of Public Law 875 may be subject to reimbursement. Such reimbursement will generally be from a specific allotment of funds available to the President under Public Law 875 and will cover expenses incurred by the Department in furnishing assistance which is over and above the normal day-to-day operating expenses of the Department. These additional expenses may include, but are not necessarily limited to, pay of additional personnel; overtime pay of all personnel; per diem expenses and transportation of personnel; materials and supplies; costs of operating equipment and processing equipment in and out of storage; packing and crating; costs of materials, equipment, and supplies furnished and not returned; and, in certain cases, replacing major items of equipment lost or damaged beyond economical repair.

Requests for reimbursement must be fully documented. Records of the Department pertinent thereto will be open for examination by authorized FCDA representatives.

Reimbursement will not be requested for any obligation incurred prior to the Presidential declaration of the existence of a major disaster. It is further understood that expenses of the Department incident to predisaster planning and expenses of operation in disasters other than major disasters are not reimbursable from Public Law 875 funds.

VI. ADVICE TO FIELD OFFICES

This joint agreement will be circulated within the Treasury Department and FCDA at both departmental and field level and to State governors and State and local civil-defense offices.

Whenever there is a question of interpretation of this agreement or any other question not resolved at field level, the question should be referred by the field personnel to their respective departmental heads for decision.

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