CHAPTER 7. DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT
IC 14-32-7
Chapter 7. Duties of Department
IC 14-32-7-1
Policy of department
Sec. 1. (a) The general assembly recognizes the following:
(1) That the land resource of Indiana, including the principalelements of geology, landscape, and soils, is one (1) of the basicnatural resources of Indiana.
(2) That an ever increasing demand upon the fixed and limitedland resource is resulting from a growing population, with theaccompanying expansions in commercial, industrial,transportation, recreation, and cultural development and thecontinuing need for an adequate agricultural base for theproduction of food and fiber.
(3) That conservation of the land resource is essential to protectand promote the public health, safety, and welfare.
(4) That the task of conservation can only be accomplishedthrough a factual knowledge and understanding of the landresource.
(b) Therefore, it is the policy of the general assembly that the statepromote and participate in the conservation of the land resource ofIndiana by doing the following:
(1) Providing new or expanded means for the securing,development, and furnishing to land use decision makers ofadequate factual knowledge concerning the geology, landscape,and soils of Indiana, including their potentials, limitations, andinterrelationships, in the manner set forth in this chapter.
(2) Strengthening the capabilities of local soil and waterconservation districts.
(3) Expanding the level of small watershed planning for soil andwater conservation measures.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.36.
IC 14-32-7-2
"Geology" defined
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "geology" means the study of thefollowing:
(1) Earth materials, which are minerals, rocks, water, and soil.
(2) The processes that have formed earth materials.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.
IC 14-32-7-3
"Land conservation" defined
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "land conservation" means thewise use of land:
(1) for the satisfaction of human needs; and
(2) based upon knowledge and understanding of the land'scapabilities and limitations.As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.
IC 14-32-7-4
"Landscape" defined
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "landscape" means the aggregateof all factors and features that constitute the total visual andperceptive impact of a given area of the earth's surface upon thehuman senses.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.
IC 14-32-7-5
"Soil" defined
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "soil" means the surface layer ofthe earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of plant life.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25.
IC 14-32-7-6
Division of soil conservation; administration and coordination ofduties and responsibilities of department of agriculture; annualreport
Sec. 6. (a) The division of soil conservation:
(1) shall administer and coordinate the duties andresponsibilities of the Indiana state department of agricultureunder the land resource programs authorized by this chapter;and
(2) in carrying out its duties under subdivision (1), may work incooperation with the following:
(A) Federal and state agencies.
(B) Local governmental agencies involved in land useplanning and zoning.
(C) Any person, firm, institution, or agency, public orprivate, having an interest in land conservation.
(b) The Indiana state department of agriculture may employ thepersonnel and provide facilities and services that are necessary tocarry out the Indiana state department of agriculture's duties andresponsibilities under this chapter.
(c) The Indiana state department of agriculture shall prepare anannual report of the division of soil conservation's expenditures andaccomplishments and that contains a proposed business plan.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.37; P.L.1-2006, SEC.223; P.L.175-2006, SEC.15;P.L.120-2008, SEC.16.
IC 14-32-7-7
Urban geology survey
Sec. 7. (a) As used in this section, "urban geology survey" meansa systematic scientific identification, inventory, and mapping of theearth materials of a given area that sets forth the capabilities,potentials, and limitations of the earth materials for human needs.
(b) The Indiana state department of agriculture shall use the
money appropriated by the general assembly to initiate and carry outa program of urban geology surveys, together with other geologicinvestigations, for Indiana to develop and present the geologic dataand information necessary to a coordinated land conservationprogram that will promote sound land use decisions.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.38; P.L.1-2006, SEC.224; P.L.120-2008, SEC.17.
IC 14-32-7-8
Landscape survey
Sec. 8. (a) As used in this section, "landscape survey" means asystematic scientific identification, inventory, and mapping of thefeatures of the earth's surface that serve to constitute the landscapeof a given area, including key factors such as the following:
(1) Land form.
(2) Vegetation.
(3) Wildlife.
(4) Physical characteristics.
(5) Visual perception.
(6) Historical and cultural sites.
(b) The Indiana state department of agriculture shall use themoney appropriated by the general assembly to initiate and carry outa program of landscape surveys for Indiana to develop and presentthe surficial landscape data and information necessary to promotewise land use decisions.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.39; P.L.1-2006, SEC.225; P.L.120-2008, SEC.18.
IC 14-32-7-8.5
Soil surveys and geographic information systems
Sec. 8.5. (a) As used in this section, "soil survey" means asystematic scientific identification, inventory, and mapping of thesoils of a given area that sets forth the capabilities, potential, andlimitations of the soils in the satisfaction of human needs.
(b) The Indiana state department of agriculture shall use themoney appropriated by the general assembly to implement andsupplement a program of modern soil surveys and geographicinformation systems (GIS) for Indiana that will, within the shortestpracticable time, provide a modern soil survey and geographicinformation system for each county as an essential tool in landconservation.
As added by P.L.136-1997, SEC.40. Amended by P.L.1-2006,SEC.226; P.L.175-2006, SEC.16; P.L.120-2008, SEC.19.
IC 14-32-7-9
Support and assistance to local soil and water conservationdistricts
Sec. 9. The Indiana state department of agriculture shall providemore support and assistance to the local soil and water conservationdistricts by: (1) granting to the districts the additional money that isappropriated by the general assembly; and
(2) increased coordination and consultative services;
to obtain increased participation by the districts in the developmentof improved local land use practices and decisions.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.41; P.L.1-2006, SEC.227; P.L.120-2008, SEC.20.
IC 14-32-7-10
Appropriations; uses
Sec. 10. The Indiana state department of agriculture shall use themoney appropriated by the general assembly to expand the smallwatershed planning program as carried out in cooperation with theNatural Resources Conservation Service of the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture under 16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq., to reducethe accumulation of approved watershed planning requests andexpedite the realization of the multiple benefits of this soil and waterconservation program.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.228;P.L.120-2008, SEC.21.
IC 14-32-7-11
Coordination and scheduling of urban geology survey program andlandscape survey program
Sec. 11. The Indiana state department of agriculture shallcoordinate and schedule the programs authorized by sections 7through 8 of this chapter to provide, as nearly as practicable, forconcurrent completion and furnishing of the results of each programfor each selected area study unit.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.229;P.L.120-2008, SEC.22.
IC 14-32-7-12
Duties of soil conservation division
Sec. 12. (a) As used in this section, "river" includes streams andthe tributaries of rivers.
(b) The division of soil conservation shall do the following:
(1) Perform all administrative duties required by the rules of theboard.
(2) Provide professional assistance to districts in planning,coordinating, and training for the following:
(A) Adult soil and water conservation education.
(B) Natural resources conservation information programs forelementary and secondary schools.
(C) Supervisors and staff.
(3) Provide professional soil conservation technical assistanceto districts.
(4) Provide nonagricultural soils interpretive and erosioncontrol expertise on a regional basis.
(5) Assist the districts and other federal, state, and local entities
in encouraging and monitoring compliance with those aspectsof the programs that are related to erosion and sedimentreduction.
(6) Administer a cost share program for installation of erosioncontrol structural measures on severely eroding cropland andfor conversion of highly erodible land from crop production topermanent vegetative cover.
(7) Administer a lake and river enhancement program to do thefollowing:
(A) Control sediment and associated nutrient inflow intolakes and rivers.
(B) Accomplish actions that will forestall or reverse theimpact of that inflow and enhance the continued use ofIndiana's lakes and rivers.
(8) Provide professional assistance to districts in conservationneeds assessments, program development, and programevaluation.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.136-1997,SEC.42; P.L.175-2006, SEC.17.
IC 14-32-7-13
Administration
Sec. 13. The Indiana state department of agriculture shalladminister this article subject to the direction of the board.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.25. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.230;P.L.120-2008, SEC.23.