Section 001-551-II - THE PROCESSThis action will present the allocation of responsibilities between the State, the Department of Agriculture (henceforth State) and the Local Lead Agency (henceforth L.L.A.) and the sequence of activities in which those responsibilities are carried out.
A. Upon adoption of these rules, the Commissioner shall send application information to all Soil and Water Conservation Districts. A notice seeking applications from any other public or non-profit organization shall be published in three newspapers of statewide circulation at least 30 days prior to the deadline for applications.B. Organizations seeking designation as a local lead agency shall submit applications (SectionIII-D) by the date announced by the Commissioner.C. The Commissioner shall select a local lead agency and designate the region using the criteria in these rules (Section III, A and(B).D. The State and the LLA shall enter into a contract or memorandum of agreement, whichever is appropriate, specifying responsibilities, work criteria, payment terms and schedules.E. The State shall provide the LLA with a framework for the local assessments so that the assessments provide a basis for decision making. The state does this by: 1. Identifying, defining and describing the factors which need to be considered in evaluating potential and opportunities.2. Evaluating the potential of specified commodities at the state level using the factors identified in (1) above.F. The Local Lead Agency shall complete the regional assessment according to its contract or agreement with the State., A "Regional Assessment" is an analysis of agricultural resources, problems and needs in the designated region using the factors identified by the State. The assessment shall include but not be limited to:
1. The land base currently used or suitable for agricultural production, its nature and extent, use and ownership;2. The market, supply and service infrastructure serving the area;3. The availability and cost of production inputs in the area;4. The local demand for agricultural goods produced In the area; and5. The needs of the agricultural sector in the area perceived to be critical to maintaining or enhancing its economic strength.G. The State shall prepare an analysis of each regional assessments, in the context of the State, New England and the Northeast, identifying commodity/commodities with good economic potential, constraints that limit the realization of that potential, means of overcoming those constraints and the costs of such programs and services.H. The LLA will analyze the State's response, hold public hearings and prepare its final report to be submitted to the Commissioner. The report shall include a list of needs and services In order of priority, the attendees at all the meetings and other information pertinent to the Commissioner in developing programs. The final report shall be approved by the Board of Directors, or its equivalent, of the LLA. To be considered completed, the report shall demonstrate that the LLA has met its obligation under the contract.I. Within one year of completion of all regional assessments, the Commissioner shall initiate implementation of appropriate state programs to respond to regional needs.01-001 C.M.R. ch. 551, § II