Governance Documents
- NSRC 2022 Charter (PDF). The NSRC charter describes governance and operational principles for the NSRC.
- NSRC Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement (PDF). This document describes the roles, processes, and guidelines designed to ensure a fair and transparent research competition process and to protect the confidentiality of research proposal contents and reviewer identities.
Executive Committee
An Executive Committee governs the NSRC collaboratively. Four state institutional directors and one regional director are responsible for finalizing the roster of research projects for funding. The listing of directors and managers can be found on the Contacts page.
External Advisory Committee
The NSRC External Advisory Committee (EAC) is composed of up to 17 members selected to be representative of the communities, businesses, industries, and agencies in the Northern Forest Region that contribute to and benefit from knowledge generated by research funded via the NSRC. The members of the EAC shall collectively represent the perspectives of all four collaborator states. The primary role of the EAC will be to advise the NSRC Executive Committee about the specific research needs for each annual request for proposals (RFP). In 2020, the NSRC invited Tribal consultants to comment on research-related priorities of Tribal Nations and communities of Indigenous Peoples in the Northern Forest. In 2021, Tribal consultants participated on the EAC.
- Current EAC Member Listing
- 2021 EAC Report (PDF)
- 2020 EAC Report and Member Listing (PDF)
- 2020 Tribal Consultants Report (PDF)
Congressional Authorization
The congressional authorization for the Northeastern States Research Cooperative was passed as part of Public Law 105-185, Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 section 1642 (d) (3) as amended in 2003:
"At the request of the Governor of the State of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, or Vermont, the Secretary may cooperate with the northeastern States of New Hampshire, New York, Maine, and Vermont, land-grant colleges and universities of those States, natural resources and forestry schools of those States, other Federal agencies, and other interested persons in those States to coordinate and improve ecological and economic research relating to agriculture research, extension, and education, including —
(A) research on ecosystem health, forest management, product development, economics, and related fields;
(B)research to assist those States and landowners in those States to achieve sustainable forest management;
(C)technology transfer to the wood products industry of technologies that promote efficient processing, pollution prevention, and energy conservation;
(D)dissemination of existing and new information to landowners, public and private resource managers, State forest citizen advisory committees, and the general public through professional associations, publications, and other information clearinghouse activities; and
(E)analysis of strategies for the protection of areas of outstanding ecological significance or high biological diversity, and strategies for the provision of important recreational opportunities and traditional uses, including strategies for areas identified through State land conservation planning processes."
Policies
USDA Nondiscrimination and Whistleblower Protection
All NSRC collaborators and researchers shall abide by all applicable nondiscrimination obligations, including particularly the requirements of the United States Forest Service. These regulations prohibit discrimination against (1) qualified protected veterans, and (2) qualified individuals on the basis of disability. These regulations also require affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. Additionally, collaborators will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
Additionally, all NSRC collaborators and researchers shall comply with the Federal Pilot Program for Enhancement of Whistleblower Protection.
USDA Civil Rights Requirements
All NSRC partners must comply with USDA Forest Service civil rights requirements as described in this pamphlet (PDF).
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, NSRC is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.