This is a summary of changes to the National Soil Survey Handbook
(NSSH). The official copy of the NSSH is in html format and MSWord files
at <http://soils.usda.gov/technical/handbook/>.

A new style of formatting is introduced with these revised sections. The
following summary points out specific areas where technical content is
significantly revised over that of the previous version.

**[617--Soil Survey Interpretations]{.underline}**

> 617.00(a) Points out that interpretations are also used to assist in
> pre- and post-planning activities for national emergencies.
>
> 617.00(f) Stresses that National interpretations cannot be modified
> for state or regional uses because they are designed exclusively for
> national use across all political boundaries by NRCS and other
> agencies.
>
> 617.01(g) ADDED responsibility statements for the National Technology
> Support Centers, State Soil Scientists, and the NSSC.

617.04(a) Assigns the National Technology Support Centers
representatives as review coordinators, responsible for coordinating and
summarizing all regional feedback, and providing it to the National
Leader, Soil Survey Interpretations, for action.

> Stipulates that the regional soil interpretations coordinating team
> can either be standing or ad hoc committees within the regional
> conference committee structure.
>
> The National Leader for Soil Survey Interpretations arranges for all
> NCSS cooperators to be notified of changes that have been made to an
> interpretation.
>
> 617.09(h)(4) Contains specific instructions for reporting suspected
> errors and/or discrepancies in criteria or constructed interpretation
> logic to the owner of the interpretation, and details of how the
> interpretation owner will review and evaluate the reported error.
>
> 617.11(c)(1) Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) added to the list naming
> protocols for creating a local interpretation from the
> National/Standard.

**[618--Soil Properties and Qualities]{.underline}**

> 618.07 Bulk density, 15 bar: The calculations are corrected. The
> previous calculation was actually for oven dry bulk density, not 15
> bar bulk density, and was therefore in error. Soils that are
> potentially impacted by this change are those with expansive clays.
>
> 618.08 ADDED: Oven dry bulk density plus a calculation for estimating.
>
> 618.27 Flooding Frequency, Duration, and Month: The HTML and MSWord
> files were out of synch; added to MSWord file "*Flooding entries
> reflect the current existing and mapped condition with consideration
> for dams, levees, and other man-induced changes affecting flooding
> frequency and duration*."
>
> 618.32 Horizon Depth to Bottom: Corrections are made to comply with
> 200cm depth of observation--"*Measurement should be estimated to a
> depth of 200 cm for most soils and to a depth at least 25 cm below a
> lithic contact if the contact is above 175 cm*."
>
> 618.36 Hydrologic Group: Revised to contain general discussion only.
> The intent of this general discussion is to briefly explain hydrologic
> groups. For the complete definition and official criteria, users are
> instructed to go to http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/ (U.S.
> Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
> 2007. National Engineering Handbook, Title 210-VI, Part 630, Chapter
> 7, Hydrologic Soil Groups. Washington, DC.)
>
> 618.39 Liquid Limit: Specifies that the liquid limit for organic soil
> material is not defined, and is assigned "null."
>
> 618.45 Plasticity Index: Specifies that the liquid limit for organic
> soil material is not defined, and is assigned "null."

NSSH 618.49 Runoff (Index Surface Runoff)--DELETED. The interpretation
for Runoff (Index

> \(2006\) Surface Runoff), is no longer supported nationally as a
> standard interpretation. In the survey conducted in 2006, very few
> states indicated that they still used or had a need for the
> interpretation. Therefore, the \"UTIL-Comparison of Runoff, stored vs.
> calculated\" Pangaea report in NASIS has been set to Ready for Use
> "No." States are welcome to make a copy of the report if they choose
> to use it as a local interpretation.
>
> 618.56 Soil Erodibility Factors, USLE, RUSLE2: Establishes the use of
> "permeability control sections" for determining the K factor of any
> given mineral soil layer or horizon.

618.68 Texture Class, Texture Modifier, and Terms Used in Lieu of
Texture:

> New criteria differentiates terms used in lieu of texture "highly,"
> "moderately," and "slightly decomposed plant material" from "muck,"
> "peat," and "mucky peat" on the basis of saturation for less than 30
> cumulative days versus 30 or more cumulative days.
>
> New criteria for "mucky" and "peaty" texture modifier to get in synch
> with definitions in Field Indicators of Hydric Soils of the U.S.:\
> Used to modify near surface horizons of mineral soils that are
> saturated with water for 30 or more cumulative days in normal years
> (or are artificially drained). An example is mucky loam. Excluding
> live roots, the horizon has an organic carbon content (by weight) of:

-   5 to \< 12 percent if the mineral fraction contains no clay; or

-   12 to \< 18 percent if the mineral fraction contains 60 percent or
    more clay; or

-   (5 + (clay percentage multiplied by 0.12)) to \< (12 + (clay
    percentage multiplied by 0.10)) if the mineral fraction contains
    less than 60 percent clay.

> ADDED "highly organic" texture modifier for near surface horizons of
> mineral soils that are saturated with water for less than 30
> cumulative days in normal years and are not artificially drained.
> Excluding live roots, the horizon has an organic carbon content (by
> weight) of:

-   5 to \< 20 percent if the mineral fraction contains no clay; or

-   12 to \< 20 percent if the mineral fraction contains 60 percent or
    more clay; or

-   (5 + (clay percentage multiplied by 0.12)) to \< 20 percent if the
    mineral fraction contains less than 60 percent clay.

> ADDED recommendations from ICOMANTH:

-   texture modifiers (i.e., artifactual, very artifactual, extremely
    artifactual)

-   terms used in lieu of texture (artifactual material)

> Woody, grassy, mossy, and herbaceous texture modifiers: ADDED: Along
> with histic epipedons, these terms are to be used with organic
> horizons of any thickness that are saturated with water for 30 or more
> cumulative days in normal years (or are artificially drained),
> including those in Histels and Histosols, except for Folists.
>
> Exhibit 618-5 Potential Frost Action: Footnotes are revised.
>
> Exhibit 618-9 Guide for Estimating Ksat from Soil Properties: DELETED
> advice to "use non-carbonate clay". This advice could not be supported
> in the original intent of Rawls, W.J., and D.L.Brakensiek. 1983. A
> procedure to predict Green and Ampt. infiltration parameters. In
> Advances in infiltration. Proc. of the Nat\'l Conference on Advances
> in Infiltration. Dec. 12-13. Chicago, IL.

[**629--Glossary of Landform and Geologic Terms**]{.underline}

This May, 2007 revision includes the vast majority of changes requested
since the last official update (2002), especially the subaqueous soils
terminology. Questions not resolved at this time will be addressed and
incorporated into future versions.

> 629.02 Definitions
>
> \(a\) Revised reference codes
>
> \(b\) Clarifying comments attached to glossary terms -- revised
> "colloquial."
>
> \(c\) Revised glossary terms: replaced fluviomarine sediments with
> fluviomarine deposits.

+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| **NSSH Amendment 12   |                   |                          |
| Part 629 Glossary of  |                   |                          |
| Landform and Geologic |                   |                          |
| Terms**               |                   |                          |
|                       |                   |                          |
| **Summary List of     |                   |                          |
| Revised Terms**       |                   |                          |
+=======================+===================+==========================+
| **New terms**         | **Existing terms  | **Existing terms --**    |
|                       | -- Insertions     |                          |
|                       | made**            | **Deletions made**       |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| annular drainage      | aggradation       | anthropogenic feature    |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| artificial drainage   | alluvial cone     | backswamp deposit        |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| back-barrier beach    | anthropogenic     | bajada                   |
|                       | feature           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| barrier cove          | aquiclude         | arrier beach             |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| bay bottom            | backswamp deposit | barrier flat             |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| centripetal drainage  | bajada            | barrier island           |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| circular gilgai       | arrier beach      | beach                    |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| coastal marl          | barrier flat      | beach sands              |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| colluvial apron       | barrier island    | beach sands              |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| cone karst            | beach             | break                    |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| coral island          | beach sands       | cove                     |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| deflation flat        | block field       | creep                    |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| deranged drainage     | block glide       | cuesta valley            |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| diatreme              | break             | cutter \[karst\]         |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| drainhead complex     | cliff             | dendritic drainage       |
|                       |                   | pattern                  |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| dredged channel       | climbing dune     | deposit                  |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| dredge spoils         | cove              | desert pavement          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| dredge spoil bank     | creep             | dune field               |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| dune traces           | cuesta            | earth pillar             |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| erosional outlier     | cuesta valley     | estuarine deposit        |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| erosional pavement    | cutter \[karst\]  | flute                    |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| estuarine subaqueous  | dendritic         | fluviomarine terrace     |
| soils                 | drainage pattern  |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| everglades            | deposit           | glacier outburst flood   |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| fault block           | dip               | glaciomarine deposit     |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| fault-block mountains | drainage pattern  | hogback                  |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| fenster               | dune field        | igneous rock             |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| filled marshland      | earth pillar      | lagoon                   |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| flatwoods             | estuarine deposit | lake                     |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| flood-tidal delta     | estuary           | lowland                  |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| fluviomarine bottom   | flowtill          | marine deposit           |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| fluviomarine deposit  | flute             | marl                     |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| freshwater marl       | fluviokarst       | paha                     |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| glacial groove        | fluviomarine      | pediment                 |
|                       | terrace           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| glaciokarst           | glacier outburst  | polje                    |
|                       | flood             |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| **New terms**         | **Existing terms  | **Existing terms --**    |
|                       | -- Insertions     |                          |
|                       | made**            | **Deletions made**       |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| granitoid             | graben            | pyroclastic              |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| grady pond            | gut               | radial drainage pattern  |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| half graben           | hogback           | radial drainage pattern  |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| homoclinal ridge      | homoclinal        | reef                     |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| homocline             | igneous rock      | seep                     |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| inlet                 | island            | shoal                    |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| intertidal            | karst             | shore complex            |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| karst drainage        | karst tower       | spoil bank               |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| karstic marine        | lagoon            | spoil pile               |
| terrace               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| karst lake            | lake              | strike valley            |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| lagoonal deposit      | landform          | subaqueous               |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| lava                  | landslide         | submerged - upland tidal |
|                       |                   | marsh                    |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| mainland cove         | lava flow         | talus cone               |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| mangrove swamp        | lowland           | tidal flat               |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| marine lake \[water\] | marine deposit    | tidal marsh              |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| mine spoil, coal      | marl              | tilted fault block       |
| extraction            |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| pinnate drainage      | mud flat          |                          |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| playette              | neck              |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| point bar \[coastal\] | outwash fan       |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| road cut              | outwash plain     |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| sandur                | paha              |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| rectangular drainage  | parallel drainage |                          |
| pattern               | pattern           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| relict-tidal inlet    | park              |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| semi-open depression  | parna             |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| slick rock            | pavement karst    |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| slickensides          | pediment          |                          |
| \[pedogenic\]         |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| slickensides          | porcellanite      |                          |
| \[geogenic\]          |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| solution chimney      | pyroclastic       |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| solution pipe         | radial drainage   |                          |
|                       | pattern           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| solution platform     | radial drainage   |                          |
|                       | pattern           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| strike \[structural   | reef              |                          |
| geol.\]               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| subaqueous landscapes | residuum          |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| subaqueous soils      | sand flow         |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| submerged             | seep              |                          |
| back-barrier beach    |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| thermokarst drainage  | shoal             |                          |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| tidal inlet           | shore complex     |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| toreva block          | sinkhole karst    |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| trellis drainage      | slope wash        |                          |
| pattern               |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| tripoli               | solution corridor |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| valley floor remnant  | solution fissure  |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| volcanic breccia      | spoil bank        |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| washover-fan apron    | spoil pile        |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| washover-fan flat     | strath terrace    |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| washover-fan slope    | strike valley     |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| window \[tectonic\]   | submerged -       |                          |
|                       | -upland tidal     |                          |
|                       | marsh             |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| wind-tidal flat       | tableland         |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| zibar                 | talus cone        |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       |                   |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | **Existing terms  |                          |
|                       | -- Insertions     |                          |
|                       | made**            |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | tidal flat        |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | tidal marsh       |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | till              |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | till-floored lake |                          |
|                       | plain             |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | valley-border     |                          |
|                       | surfaces          |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | volcano           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | washover fan      |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | wave-built        |                          |
|                       | terrace           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | wave-cut platform |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | welded tuff       |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
|                       | yardang           |                          |
+-----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+

> 629.03 References were added/revised
>
> Exhibit 629-1 Revised the lists of landscape, landform, microfeature,
> and anthropogenic feature terms to accommodate revisions in the
> glossary
>
> Exhibit 629-2 Revised materials or material-related, structure, or
> morphological-feature terms to accommodate revisions in the glossary
>
> Exhibit 629-3 Revised the list of genesis - process terms and geologic
> time terms to accommodate revisions in the glossary
>
> Exhibit 629-6 Revised pyroclastic terms

**[644--Delivering Soil Survey Information, Information
Systems]{.underline}**

> 644.01(b) ADDED: \[The Soil Data Mart\] is the official source for
> soil information delivered through various applications such as the
> data mart, Web Soil Survey, and field office technical guides.

644.02(a) **Official data** is REPLACED with **Official soil survey
information** and emphasizes that the official source of soil
information is the Soil Data Mart, a part of the National Soil
Information System.

> (a)(2) Policy statement added: Initial detailed soil survey
> information is to be posted [when the spatial data is certified, the
> NASIS data is certified and both databases are ready to send to the
> Soil Data Warehouse]{.underline}; this is to occur not more than 1
> year after mapping is complete.
>
> (c)(1) ADDED: MLRA Soil Survey Office responsibilities.
>
> 644.06(c) Approval by the Director of Soil Survey is required for
> situations in which printed and bound copies are needed.
>
> 644.06(b) Includes the Web as an electronic source of soil survey
> information, and the printing of paper copies of the text requires
> special approval by the Director of Soil Survey.
>
> Exhibit 644-1 ADDED footnote: "As we have progressed to automated
> development and delivery of soil survey information, taxonomic
> descriptions (series or higher taxa) are not required for a manuscript
> to meet minimum standards. Please note that you are not prohibited
> from publishing these descriptions, including the option to use the
> OSD. The MLRA regional office leader in the region may have additional
> insight and suggestions about this."

Exhibit 644-4 DELETED: Purchase Agreement for which the Natural
Resources Conservation Service agrees to furnish hard copies of the
published soil survey, complete with maps.

**[647--Soil Map Development]{.underline}**

647.00(c) Digital data capture: Introduces instruction to field map
solely with electronic media and on-screen digitizing as much as
possible, which prevents having to compile to orthophotography and hand-
or scan-digitize.

> Responsibilities added or modified for the MLRA soil survey offices
> and state offices.
>
> 647.02(a) Imagery: New instructions to use the on-line NCGC Ordering
> System at <http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/ncgcos> to acquire imagery and
> assorted products from the National Cartography and Geospatial Center.
> The ordering system was developed to streamline the process of
> ordering products and services from NCGC. The NCGC Ordering System
> replaces the Carto-19. Items such as imagery and orthophotography, map
> compilation materials, publication of soil survey products, SSURGO and
> digital map finishing standards, and status graphics are available
> through the on-line ordering system.

647.07(d) Permanent water and miscellaneous water will conform to soil
map unit labels (i.e., alpha, numeric, or alphanumeric).

> \(e\) Special Labels: Label areas not yet mapped or digitized as part
> of a progressive survey **NOTCOM**, for not completed.
>
> \(h\) Digitizing Specifications--Tabular Attribute Data. Removed all
> the references to the NASIS tables.

Exhibits DELETED Exhibits 647-5 thru 11.

**[651-Advance Soil Survey Information]{.underline}**

651.00(a) Defines advance soil survey information as information that
has been gathered but is not yet published to the Soil Data Mart. The
purpose of providing advance soil survey information is to furnish users
with soil maps, interpretations, and other data prior to final
correlation of the data.

\(b\) Policy statement added from NRCS General Manual, GM
430Part402.5(D): Soil data posted to the Soil Data Mart is official soil
information that has been certified for use by the State Soil Scientist
in participation with the State Technical Guide Committee for USDA
programs.

\(c\) Interim reports are obsolete with the advent of the Soil Data Mart
and Web Soil Survey.

651.04 Statements added to help ensure that advance soil survey field
sheets and digitized soil map are legible and consistent with adjoining
areas, and accompanied with an identification legend, a feature and
special symbols legend, and supporting explanatory material.

651.05(b) Labeling of Advance Soil Survey Information: A statement must
specify that, although advance soil survey information may be correct,
it is not official NRCS soil information. Only soil information posted
to the Soil Data Mart is official NRCS information.