MLRA Soil Survey Region 13

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGION 13

October 2007

**STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGION 13**

**Morgantown, WV**

**(January 2007)**

**I. INTRODUCTION**

The purpose of this document is to provide general operating procedures
for soil survey operations in MLRA Soil Survey Region 13 under the
restructured soil survey program. These procedures are to be considered
dynamic in nature and will be revised as needed to reflect decisions
made as we move ahead with our vision for soil survey in the next thirty
years. It is intended to provide more detail on policy and procedures as
set forth in the National Soil Survey Handbook (NSSH) specific to Region
13. This document does not deviate from or replace the guidelines set
forth in the NSSH or other Agency directives related to the Soil Survey;
however, we have found that MLRA Soil Survey Offices need additional
guidance particularly in a time of transition.

**II. BASIC ASSUMPTIONS**

Three basic assumptions are considered to be fundamental for the
restructured soil survey program and have been used to determine roles
and responsibilities and to develop general operating procedures:

> **1.** **Technical soil services** will be provided through the state
> office structure and leadership will be provided by state soil
> scientists. Emphasis will be on providing soil survey products and
> services to the Agency and the public. Each state office should
> develop a state plan for Technical Soil Services.
>
> **2.** **State Conservationists** have the responsibility within their
> states for administrative support of the MLRA Soil Survey Offices.
>
> **3.** **MLRA Soil Survey Office** activities will be coordinated by
> the MLRA Regional Office (MO) under the leadership of the MLRA office
> leader and in partnership with state conservationists, state soil
> scientists, and National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) partners.
> Emphasis will be on producing a regionally and nationally consistent
> soils database, both attribute and spatial, via the Web Soil Survey.

The MLRA Soil Survey Offices are under the organizational structure of
the state conservationist in the state in which the office is located.
They will work across county, state, and other administrative lines to
cover their soil survey areas of responsibility. Offices are located
with Service Centers when possible in order to take advantage of their
infrastructure and support or with partners such as universities, Forest
Service, and National Park Service. Offices are located within the soil
survey area to reduce costs and travel time.

## III. OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT -- OPERATING PROCEDURES

> Successful implementation of the restructured soil survey program will
> require a commitment by state conservationists, NCSS partners, state
> soil scientists, project leaders, and MLRA office staff working
> together. The MO-13 Board of Directors will facilitate open
> communications and provide opportunities for participation in program
> management and operations.

**The MLRA Region 13 Board of Directors** consists of state
conservationists for West Virginia (chair), Virginia, Delaware,
Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. This board has
overall responsibility for the direction of soil survey activities in
the MLRA soil survey region. Specific responsibilities include:

-   Meet annually to provide broad management direction for soil survey
    activities in the MLRA Soil Survey Region.

-   Approve priorities for soil survey activities within the MLRA Soil
    Survey Region based on regional strategic plans which include input
    from NCSS cooperators.

-   Approve Business Plans for the MLRA Soil Survey Region.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Recommend budget allocations for the MLRA Office to the Regional
    Assistant Chief.

-   Recommend staffing plans for the MLRA (MO) Office and MLRA Soil
    Survey Offices to the Regional Assistant Chief.

-   Approve the Soil Survey Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the MO
    Area (Completed).

**Each individual state conservationist is responsible for:**

-   Providing funding support for MLRA soil survey offices in the state.

-   Certifying the quality of soil survey products, and

-   Ensuring the findings and recommendations identified in the MO
    quality assurance reviews are addressed and implemented in a timely
    manner.

**The MLRA Regional Office (MO-13 Office) has responsibility for:**

-   Leadership in production of soil surveys for the Central Appalachian
    Mountains, Plateaus, and Mid-Atlantic Coast.

-   Quality assurance (the process of providing technical standards,
    review, and training to support soil survey quality control) for all
    phases of the soil survey.

-   Developing and maintaining a seamless national soil geospatial
    database.

-   Reviewing data before it is added to the Soil Data Mart and
    published to the Web Soil Survey.

-   Conducting field reviews in the Soil Survey Region to examine a
    catena or group of soils across a broad geographic area to ensure
    consistency of mapping rather than the traditional county field
    review.

-   Providing support for publishing to the Web Soil Survey as areas are
    completed and reviewed.

-   Conducting quality assurance reviews to:

a\. Ensure that products developed by the MLRA SSO have passed quality
control inspections and meet NCSS standards.

b\. Ensure that progressive correlation is being implemented and
followed by the MLRA SSO staff.

c\. Identify training needs, management and performance issues, and
communicate those needs and concerns to the supervisor.

d\. Provide States with findings, recommendations, and commendations.

-   Providing guidance to soil survey offices on data collection and
    analysis, mapping techniques, map unit design and naming, soil
    classification, legend management, NASIS data population,
    interpretations, soil technologies, quality control procedures,
    progressive soil correlations concepts and techniques, and overall
    management of the soil survey.

-   Quality assurance of all attribute data residing in NASIS, and the
    OSD and Soil Classification (SC) databases.

-   Quality assurance of all OSDs developed or revised in the MLRA
    Region.

-   Maintenance of the OSD and SC databases.

-   Quality assurance of all spatial data developed in the MLRA Region.

-   Leadership for the development of seamless soil survey products
    across political and physiographic boundaries in the MLRA Region as
    defined in part 609.03 of the NSSH.

-   Developing a blanket memorandum of understanding for the entire MLRA
    region that outlines the responsibilities and specifications for
    conducting soil surveys in the region.

-   Providing MLRA specific correlation guidelines on soil temperature
    and moisture regimes and their associated ecological zones and
    vegetation and any other MLRA specific information, and

-   Providing leadership for the coordinated collection of soil survey
    related soil characterization data and investigations in the region.

**The MLRA Soil Survey Office** **has responsibility for:**

-   Managing the survey including quality control (the process of
    providing direction, inspection, and coordination of soil survey
    activities to ensure that soil survey products meet the defined
    standards for content, accuracy, and precision).

-   Conducting the survey, including field data collection,
    investigation, description, classification, correlation, and
    developing and maintaining the soil geographic data for the area of
    responsibility including:

> a\. Ensuring accuracy of line placement with respect to landforms.

b.  Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the soil map unit attribute
    data.

c.  Ensuring that soil series are mapped regionally on appropriate
    parent materials and landforms.

d.  Georeferencing locations of sampled soil profiles and ensuring
    adequate representation of soil series by laboratory data.

e.  Quantifying distribution and extent of designated benchmark soils.

f.  Ensuring that sufficient and appropriate benchmark soils are
    designated to represent the most common soils in the region.

g.  Creating sufficient, high quality block diagrams to represent the
    benchmark soils of the MLRA region, etc. (Optional)

-   Reporting progress for the geographic area of responsibility.

-   Periodically completing a review of new soil survey area data.

-   Developing a long range work plan and investigations plan.

-   Meeting with other soil scientists in the MLRA which includes state
    staff, cooperators, NRCS field staff, resource soil scientists, and
    others.

-   Developing an annual business plan with priorities and resource
    requirements.

-   Attending each state Work Planning Conference (WPC).

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Ensuring that all soil survey products submitted for quality
    assurance review and certification have passed prior quality control
    inspections.

-   Making initial correlation decisions for the survey area using NCSS
    standards and MLRA specific information provided by the MO.

-   Conducting progressive soil correlation during the course of all
    soil survey activities.

-   Ensuring that all changes to map unit names are recorded in NASIS.

-   Ensuring seamless soil survey products across political and
    physiographic boundaries in the survey area as defined in part
    609.03 of the NSSH.

-   Assessing training needs of the SSO staff and requesting training
    from the state soil scientist and MO-13 Office.

-   Preparing agendas, soil descriptions, lab data, maps, and other
    information needed for quality assurance reviews conducted by the
    MO.

-   Ensuring findings and recommendations identified in the MO quality
    assurance reviews are addressed and implemented in a timely manner.

-   Developing soil survey manuscripts that meet the NCSS standards as
    outlined in part 644 of the National Soil Survey Handbook.

-   Developing digital spatial information that meet the NCSS standards
    as outlined in part 647 of the National Soil Survey Handbook, and

-   Ensuring Official Soil Series Descriptions (OSDs) drafted or revised
    by the SSO meet NCSS standards as outlined in part 614 of the NSSH
    and have passed the OSD Checking Program prior to being submitted
    for processing.

The diagram below shows the work flow for production Soil Survey:

![](media/image2.wmf)

**State Soil Scientists have responsibility for:**

***[Leadership in the development of requirements for soil survey
information within the state.]{.underline}*** It is the responsibility
of the MO and SSO to meet those requirements. Other state soil scientist
responsibilities include:

-   Providing administrative and management support and guidance to the
    soil survey offices that are supervised within the state boundary.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Providing leadership for identifying the need for new soil survey
    information and interpretations within the state.

-   Submitting complete manuscripts that have passed a State quality
    control review to the MO.

-   Ensuring findings and recommendations identified in the MO quality
    assurance reviews are addressed and implemented in a timely manner.

-   Leading soil survey application and information delivery for NRCS.
    State soil scientists and their staffs are the "front office" of the
    Soil Survey Program in each state. They insure that the correct
    information is delivered and that the information is understood by
    both internal and external customers. Their role is to synthesize
    all the requirements from NRCS and other federal, state and local
    agencies and the general public, and provide these to the MO leaders
    and MLRA Soil Survey Office staffs who develop this information.

-   Leading the development of new applications and uses of soil survey
    information.

-   Conducting the State Work Planning Conference (WPC). The State WPC
    needs to be robust with technical sessions and all cooperators fully
    represented. Resource soil scientists play a lead role in these
    conferences. The MLRA Soil Survey Office leader and staff
    participate in these conferences to gain understanding of the needs
    and priorities and to present findings of mapping and
    investigations.

-   Developing cooperative agreements with customers to accelerate the
    analysis, retrieval, or collection of any state-specific soils data
    or information. State soil scientists work with MO leaders and MLRA
    Soil Survey Office leaders to ensure that their offices have the
    capacity to meet the requirements of the cooperative agreement
    before the agreement is signed.

-   Leadership of the resource soil scientists in the state and assuring
    that the soil information needs of all MLRAs within the state are
    met.

**IV. GROUPINGS OF MLRAs FOR OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT**

The MLRAs in the region have been divided into seven management areas to
assist in the planning and managing of soil survey operations. The
following is a list of the MLRA groups and states within each group and
the corresponding MLRA Soil Survey Office:

**1. MLRAs 124 and 126 North**

States: Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania

MLRA Soil Survey Office: Marietta, Ohio

**2. MLRAs 124 and 126 South**

States: Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia

MLRA Soil Survey Office: Huntington, WV

**3. MLRA 127**

States: West Virginia and Pennsylvania

MLRA Soil Survey Office: Morgantown, WV

**4. MLRA 147 North**

States: Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey

MLRA Soil Survey Office: Leesport, PA

**5. MLRAs 147 South, 130A, and 128 North**

States: Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee

MLRA Soil Survey Office: Roanoke, VA

**6. MLRA 148**

States: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia

MLRA Soil Survey Office: Frederick, MD

7.  **MLRAs 149A, 153C, and 153D**

States: New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania

MLRA Soil Survey Office: Hammonton, NJ

## V. SOIL SURVEY MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES

For soil survey maintenance guidelines, refer to the National Soil
Survey Handbook, Part 610 -- Updating Soil Surveys. For management
purposes the following guiding principles will be used for planning and
managing soil survey updates in MLRA Soil Survey Region 13.

-   The MO area-wide MOU will be the basic umbrella for updating soil
    surveys (shown as Appendix 1).

-   The MLRA board of directors may select a priority subset(s) within
    an MLRA to update and not update the entire MLRA.

-   Updates of several MLRA subsets may be in progress concurrently.

-   The following options will be used by the MLRA board of directors to
    define boundaries of MLRA subsets for updating:

> 1\. Update by landform to edge of MLRA across
> multi-county/state/region.

2\. Update to edge of MLRA in a county.

3\. Update all of county regardless of MLRA.

> **(Note: Option 1 is the preferred option and will be used unless a
> consensus is reached by the MLRA board of directors to use option 2 or
> 3.)**

**VI. SUPERVISION**

Major Land Resource Area project leaders are supervised by the state
soil scientists in their respective states, and the state
conservationists are reviewing officials for the performance appraisal
worksheets and the performance standards unless deferred to the MO
Office by official request to the director of the Soil Survey Division.

## VII. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR SOIL SURVEY OFFICES

> All administrative support for soil survey offices, including office
> space, equipment, repairs, supplies, and IT support, is the
> responsibility of the state hosting the MLRA Soil Survey staff.

**VIII. TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT**

The MO-13 Regional Office (MO) is responsible for providing technical
leadership and technical support for MLRA soil surveys. The MO office
coordinates the technical aspects of the project with other surveys in
the MLRA to ensure consistency across county and state boundaries.
Technical teams, consisting of MLRA soil data quality specialists and
project leaders, are responsible for providing technical leadership for
soil surveys.

**IX. QUALITY CONTROL**

The MLRA project leaders provide quality control by conducting the soil
survey in accordance with procedures outlined in the National Soil
Survey Handbook and Soil Survey Manual. The MLRA project leaders and MO
office staff will work together to ensure consistency in data collection
and to resolve correlation issues.

> **X. QUALITY ASSURANCE**

The MO office provides quality assurance for soil surveys and is
responsible for conducting all quality assurance reviews and preparing
the final correlation memoranda. At a minimum, the MO-13 Regional Office
will complete one quality assurance review for each MLRA Soil Survey
Office in the region each year. Typically, the MLRA senior technical
soil scientist will be the field review team leader. In

MO-13, MLRA team leaders will function as field review team leaders
under the guidance of the MLRA soil data quality specialist. State soil
scientists, NCSS partners, and other appropriate personnel may
participate in field reviews as they choose. Review reports will be
prepared by the review team leader in cooperation with the project
leader. Field review reports are reviewed and signed by the MLRA project
leader, the review team leader, and the MLRA office leader. At the
discretion of the NCSS cooperators in the state(s) where the project
soil survey is located, review reports may also be reviewed and signed
by the state soil scientist and other NCSS partners. Signed review
reports are typically distributed to all NCSS cooperators by the state
office where the soil survey is located, but may be distributed by the
MLRA office if it is preferred by the state. Quality assurance forms are
shown as Appendices 3 and 4.

**XI. WORKLOAD ANALYSIS**

The MLRA office leader will work with the state soil scientists and NCSS
partners to develop a workload analysis for the MLRA region. This
analysis will consider all aspects of bringing the soil surveys in the
region to the same common standard to meet user needs. The workload
analysis will be maintained as a continuously updated document and will
be used to assess staffing and budget needs for the MLRA region.

**XII. SOIL SURVEY PRIORITIES AND PLANS OF OPERATIONS**

The priorities for soil surveys in the MLRA region are determined by the
state conservationists and the NCSS partners. State soil scientists
provide leadership for the annual state soil survey conferences to
discuss soil survey activities, consider the priorities of all partners,
and review state soil survey plans of operations. The MLRA office
develops a business plan for the MLRA region that supports the states'
priorities and the states' plans of operation.

**XIII. SOIL SURVEY SCHEDULE**

The state soil scientist will continue to be responsible for maintenance
of the state soil survey schedule and uploading the data quarterly to
the National Soil Survey Center.

**XIV. SOIL SURVEY MANUSCRIPTS**

Responsibility for final preparation of soil survey manuscripts is at
the MLRA office. Appendix No. 2 discusses responsibilities of the soil
survey project leader, MLRA soil data quality specialist, and the MLRA
publication specialist. In summary, the project leader is responsible
for delivery of technically accurate manuscripts to the MLRA office. A
quality assurance check will be made by an MLRA soil data quality
specialist. The MLRA publication specialist will be responsible for
producing an Internet-ready copy of the manuscript for publication.

**XV. SOIL MAP COMPILATION**

The MLRA office will provide training support to the states and provide
a 10 percent quality assurance check on compilation manuscripts---both
analogue and digital.

## XVI. SOIL DATABASES AND NASIS

> The National Soil Information System (NASIS) integrates soil survey
> information, operations, and management. It divides soil survey data
> into four major categories: 1) map unit records, 2) geographic area
> records, 3) point characteristics, and 4) standards, criteria, and
> guidelines. The system also includes ancillary tools, functions, and
> records to assure the security, integrity, and utility of the soil
> survey data.
>
> The National Soil Information System is the official depository for
> the latest soil survey information. Official changes are maintained by
> the MLRA (MO) office. Distribution of information is through this
> official file via the Soil Data Mart, the Web Soil Survey, and the
> eFOTG.

## XVII. MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING

**A. MO-13-Wide Memorandum of Understanding**

> 1\. The MO-13 MOU was certified on June 4, 2004 and is shown as
> Appendix No. 1.
>
> 2\. Each MLRA Soil Survey Office will develop annual and long-range
> plans for ongoing operations. These will serve as supplements to the
> MOU.

**APPENDIX NO. 1**

(Copy of MO-13 MOU to be inserted here.)

**APPENDIX NO. 2**

**SOIL SURVEY PUBLICATION PROCEDURES**

**MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGION NO. 13**

### **Types of Soil Survey Report Delivery** 

#### A. Web Soil Survey

> The Web Soil Survey is the primary delivery mechanism for detailed
> soil survey information. This Web application includes several
> functions to deliver soil survey information. It includes Web-based
> soil survey with user determined text and maps of areas of interest.
> The system is dynamic and allows for corrections and enhancements to
> the information provided. Although the information in the current
> version is for detailed soil survey information, plans are established
> to include general soil information and point data. **The MO-13 Office
> assumes that each project will be a Web-based product unless notified
> otherwise.** For publication in a paper format which will require more
> than 50 copies of the text, the state conservationist must gain
> approval in advance from the Soil Survey Division Director. This
> approval is required to obligate limited funds for printing.

#### B. Soil Data Mart

> The Soil Data Mart is an applications database of official detailed
> soil survey information and the general spatial and tabular data of
> the Digital General Soil Map of the U.S. and Major Land Resource Area
> map. All data placed on this database has been certified for use by
> the state conservationist. This database allows the user to download
> tabular and spatial soil data and to view the tabular data as reports
> for individual survey areas. Downloading and viewing of the tabular
> data can be tailored to individual selections. This database is the
> source of information for complete soil survey publications,
> electronic field office technical guides, and Web Soil Survey. The
> site is
> [http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov](http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/).
> Point data as pedon descriptions and laboratory data will be included
> in this database in the future.

#### C. National Soil Characterization Data Web Application

> The National Soil Characterization Data is an applications database
> that provides analytical data for pedons of U.S. and foreign soils
> from the Soil Survey Laboratory (SSL), National Soil Survey Center.
> Standard morphological pedon descriptions are available for most of
> these pedons. The data are available online at
> <http://ssldata.nrcs.usda.gov/>. This data is point data.

#### D. Soil Geochemical Spatial Web Application Website

> The Soil Geochemical Spatial Web Application Website is an
> ArcView-driven Web application. The geographic display consists of two
> major sets of geochemistry data:

-   [Current geochemical data]{.underline}. These data are displayed in
    four geographic layers: Site Info, Major Elements, Trace Elements,
    and Selected Characterization Data.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   [Holmgren Dataset]{.underline}. This data was produced by the Soil
    Survey Laboratory during the 1970's and 1980's for a project
    documenting the content of selected trace elements in agricultural
    soils of the U.S. This database is available at:
    <http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geochemistry/index.html>.

### **Policy and Responsibilities** 

Title 7, CFR Subpart B, paragraph 611.11 directs the NRCS to disseminate
soil survey information to the public through electronic accessible maps
and reports, electronic access to data files, or printed documents. To
the extent limited by commonly accepted technology, soil survey
information is disseminated in electronic form. The NRCS is to make soil
survey information available as soon as is practical following field
work or other soil survey activity that provides new soil survey
information.

#### A. Official Data

> The official information source for Web Soil Survey and complete soil
> survey publications is the Soil Data Mart, a part of the National Soil
> Information System. This system provides for the collection, storage,
> manipulation, and dissemination of detailed and general soil survey
> information. The system includes certified tabular and spatial data at
> various scales.

#### B. Soil Survey Information

> Soil survey information is published and issued to users soon after
> the completion of the fieldwork. The goal is to distribute and
> maintain accurate and complete information on the current condition of
> the soils of the United States in a seamless sequence of spatial and
> tabular data. Initial detailed soil survey information is to be posted
> within 1 year after mapping is complete.

#### C. Interpretations

> The interpretations are generated from soil property data and approved
> interpretation criteria. Interpretations used in disseminating soil
> survey information are extracted directly from information hosted on
> the Soil Data Mart. The interpretation results are not modified nor
> adjusted individually in any way from those generated by the criteria.

#### D. MLRA Soil Survey Office Responsibilities

-   Creation and maintenance of fully-populated soil survey databases
    with the properties to generate tables of soil survey information
    and interpretations for all soil surveys in their assigned area.

-   Soil mapping for digitized and certified detailed soil spatial data.

-   Primary authorship and preparation of the soil survey manuscripts
    for complete soil survey publications.

-   Developing technically correct, consistent, complete, current,
    organized, clear, and concise soil survey manuscripts.

-   Responding to the customer needs and expectations defined in the
    memorandum of understanding.

-   Meeting NCSS standards.

-   Preparing illustrations and photographs.

-   Requesting the assistance of staff specialists for both soils and
    other disciplines, as needed.

-   Ensuring the accuracy of the information and data in the soil survey
    manuscript, and

-   Developing schedules and meeting established dates.

#### E. MO-13 Office Responsibilities

-   Ensuring that detailed and general soil survey products and
    information conform to NCSS standards.

-   Providing support and leadership to the MLRA Soil Survey Office in
    describing soil properties and making estimations used as data
    elements.

-   Providing support and leadership to the MLRA Soil Survey Office in
    preparing soil survey manuscripts and maps and the processes
    involved such as map compilation and digitizing.

-   Ensuring that soil survey products and information are technically
    correct, consistent, complete, current, and organized in a clear and
    concise manner.

-   Ensuring that soil survey information reflects current local
    conditions and needs.

-   Providing training to authors.

-   Recommending the action needed to correct an error in a database.

-   Monitoring the key dates in the Soil Survey Schedule and assisting
    the soil survey office in keeping the soil survey on schedule.

-   Ensuring multidiscipline and cooperator input to soil survey
    information preparation and review.

-   Editing, formatting, proofreading, and preparing text and tables for
    soil survey manuscripts, and

-   Ensuring conformity of publications to the Government Printing
    Office Style Manual.

#### F. State Soil Scientist Responsibilities

-   Refreshing detailed soil survey information in the Soil Data Mart.

-   Populating and maintaining general soil information in the Soil Data
    Mart and submitting to the national coordinator for the Digital
    General Soil Map of the United States.

-   Developing criteria for local or state interpretations, as needed.

-   Selecting the appropriate tables of detailed soil information for
    use within the Soil Data Mart.

-   Certifying official data and the downloading of soil survey
    information into the Soil Data Mart.

-   Developing a program to ensure equitable distribution of soil survey
    information and products, and

-   Populating the electronic field office technical guide (eFOTG) with
    soil survey information from the Soil Data Mart.

### **Development of a Complete Soil Survey Publication** 

#### A. Planning

-   The memorandum of understanding for the soil survey area is the
    guidance document for soil surveys from design to delivery. It must
    be specific, and signers must commit to its contents.

-   The work load analysis identifies the tasks and the time frame to
    complete each task. The National Soil Survey Handbook [Part
    608.05](http://soils.usda.gov/technical/handbook/contents/part608.html#05)
    provides more information. [Part
    608.09](http://soils.usda.gov/technical/handbook/contents/part608.html#09)
    provides information on scheduling.

-   During the initial field review, the project office and the MLRA
    office assign each section of the manuscript to an author. They also
    identify dates for completion.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   The layout and design of a "complete soil survey publication" are
    standardized to provide a consistent corporate look and meet
    government standards. Flexibility is available to authors in the
    presentation of this soil survey information as outlined in [Exhibit
    644-1](http://soils.usda.gov/technical/handbook/contents/part644.html#ex1%23ex1)
    in the National Soil Survey Handbook with required and optional
    sections. The content should meet the identified needs of the
    intended users as referenced in the memorandum of understanding.

#### B. Quality Control and Assurance

-   Progressive correlation and certification resolve soil survey needs
    and problems throughout the course of the soil survey project. The
    MLRA office assists the soil survey office during manuscript
    preparation to assure the timely completion of the manuscript and
    database, and their conformance to standards.

-   The author(s) and the MLRA Project Office control the technical
    quality of a soil survey manuscript. Technical specialists in such
    fields as pasture management, forestland, wildlife, and engineering
    assist.

-   The MLRA office and technical specialists review the soil survey
    manuscript and database for technical accuracy and adherence to
    standards. Quality control occurs during each stage in the project.
    The editor and soil scientists on the MLRA office staff control the
    quality of the text and maps. The MO-13 office certifies the soil
    survey legend, descriptions, database, mapping, and manuscript
    during quality assurance reviews.

-   The National Cartography and Geospatial Center controls the quality
    of printing the CD-ROMS.

#### C. Ordering Copies

> 1\. The state conservationist submits a consolidated state order for
> CD-ROMs or print copies of surveys and map copies on form NRCS-SOI-7
> to the National Cartography and Geospatial Center about 3 months
> before manuscript completion. [Exhibit
> 644-2](http://soils.usda.gov/technical/handbook/contents/part644.html#ex2%23ex2)
> in the National Soil Survey Handbook is an example of the form.
> Include the shipping addresses of those locations receiving copies.

-   The state conservationist coordinates with the cooperating agencies
    and libraries, institutions, and officials of interested agencies.
    Up to 1000 CD-ROMs and 500 sets of maps can be ordered.

-   Each cooperating agency is entitled to 50 copies of the published
    soil survey on CD-ROM at no cost.

-   The National Cartography and Geospatial Center adds the number of
    copies needed for depository libraries and national staffs.

-   Under special situations, where printed and bound copies are
    required, the state conservationist will indicate on the NRCS-SOI-7
    the copies to be printed on paper and the number of CD-ROMs.

-   Prior to final publication the state conservationist checks the
    submitted form NRCS-SOI-7 to ensure that it still is current. The
    state conservationist notifies the National Cartography and
    Geospatial Center of any change in the number of copies ordered. The
    revised form NRCS-SOI-7 must be received before the survey is sent
    for printing the CD-ROMS.

#### D. Printing Requirements and Options for Soil Surveys

> 1\. Soil survey publications are issued only as electronic copies of
> text and maps on CD-ROMs, however, maps may be available as flat maps
> where printing from electronic media is not feasible. Exception is
> only by special approval by the Director of Soil Survey.
>
> 2\. All surveys must be sent to the National Cartography and
> Geospatial Center for printing original CD-ROMs and electronic files.
> States and cooperators can produce copies of issued CD-ROMs as needed.
>
> 3\. The National Cartography and Geospatial Center maintains the
> printing materials for maps. The State ensures that other printing
> materials, such as photographs, are stored for future use.
>
> 4\. Electronic files can be provided to cooperators and others, who
> can then produce additional copies of the survey for distribution or
> sale to the public.

**Development, Distribution, and Amendment Policy for the Correlation
Document**

All changes to legends, map units, or taxons for a soil survey area,
either initial or update, must be documented and recorded in NASIS.
Recording changes to legends, map units, or taxons in NASIS will ensure
portions of the correlation document can be generated directly from
NASIS.

For initial soil surveys, a traditional correlation document will be
produced and distributed per the following guidelines:

> 1\) The state conservationist and the MO team leader sign the final
> correlation document. Their signatures certify that the soil survey is
> complete and accurate.
>
> 2\) The state conservationist distributes copies of the signed
> classification and correlation document and of any subsequent
> amendments to the document as follows:

-   One copy to the MO of responsibility for the survey area.

-   One copy to each MO that has responsibility for soil series used in
    the survey area.

-   One copy to each state that adjoins the survey area.

-   One copy to the Director, National Cartography and Geospatial
    Center.

-   One copy to the Director, national Soil Survey Center.

-   Distribution to NRCS staff within the issuing state is made at the
    discretion of the state conservationist.

> 3\) The final correlation document is archived in NASIS.
>
> 4\) Prior to SSURGO certification, the archived final correlation
> document can be amended and hard copies redistributed for an initial
> soil survey area. Amendments to the final correlation document receive
> the same signatures and distribution as the original document.
>
> 5\) Once a survey is SSURGO certified, and is deemed to be in update
> status, the correlation document is archived in NASIS and is no longer
> amended or redistributed.

For update surveys all changes to legends, map units, or taxons must be
documented and recorded in NASIS. However, the archived correlation
document will not be amended and redistributed each time a change occurs
as part of update activities. In lieu of amending and redistributing a
hard copy of the correlation document, a report will be generated from
NASIS that lists and identifies all changes to legends, map units, and
taxons. This report can be printed and distributed as the MO or State
deems necessary. A formal correlation document may be prepared and
distributed for an MLRA soil survey, or for a special project, or to
satisfy an agreement item with a customer.

Appendix 3 and 4 are QA forms for MO staff to be inserted here.