Source: http://www.achp.gov/nrcs.html
Timestamp: 2018-02-21 20:51:10
Document Index: 465841947

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 800', 'art 800', 'art 401', 'art 601', '§800', '§ 470', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 800', 'art 624']

ACHP | Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
As a part of this mission the NRCS engages in cultural resource management with the landowner, state and tribal offices, and local entities. Many NRCS activities constitute undertakings under the definition in 36 CFR § 800.16(y) of the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR Part 800). NRCS works closely through its assistance programs with landowners, state and tribal offices, and industry partners to assess the potential effects of its undertakings on historic properties. The fundamental elements of NRCS cultural resources policy involve protection and enhancement of cultural resources and historic properties in their original location to the fullest practical extent, and mitigation of adverse effects that cannot be avoided through treatment of the historic properties.
Refer to the links below for further guidance and instruction on the agency’s compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
General Manual, Title 420, Part 401, Cultural Resources (Archaeological and Historic Properties)
National Cultural Resources Procedures Handbook, Part 601, Subpart C
For assistance please contact the NRCS’ Federal Preservation Officer:
National Cultural Resources Specialist/FPO
Room 6163-S
202-720-4912 (Office phone)
202-695-0504 (Cell phone)
dana.vaillancourt@wdc.usda.gov
ELECTRONIC 106 SUBMISSION LINK AND INSTRUCTIONS
The ACHP has implemented a voluntary Electronic Section 106 Documentation Submittal System (e106) for use by any federal agency (or officially delegated non-federal entity) when notifying the ACHP of a finding of adverse effect, inviting the ACHP to be a consulting party to resolve adverse effects, or proposing to develop a Programmatic Agreement for complex or multiple undertakings. Use e106 to submit signed PA’s for approval and posting.
Section 106 E-Newsletters
NRCS / ACHP PARTNERSHIP FOR COMPLIANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
Since 2009, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has partnered with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to support dedicated assistance in Section 106 program innovations and greater efficiencies in program implementation. This partnership has facilitated work to develop a new NRCS nationwide program alternative, targeted training, and relevant guidance documents and templates for compliance correspondence.
Beginning in May 2011, the NRCS partnered with the ACHP to support a full time senior staff position at the ACHP to serve as the principal point of contact for handling NRCS program and project review. The position is within the Office of Federal Agency Programs (OFAP) at the ACHP. In addition to assisting NRCS in completing Section 106 review, the ACHP’s liaison works with NRCS headquarters to develop and implement national policy and programs with the potential to affect historic properties. The partnership between NRCS and the ACHP has had many benefits, and has resulted in:
Focused assistance on the development of Prototype Programmatic Agreements for states, Indian tribes and American territories;
Focused assistance on the development of consultation protocols and other agreements documents in accordance with 36 CFR §800.2(c)(2)(ii)(E);
Tracking patterns and trends in Section 106 compliance on NRCS undertakings and the development and implementation of State Level Agreements;
Dedicated assistance in early coordination for Section 106 compliance;
Technical assistance in improving consultation with SHPOs, THPOs, Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations;
Assisting with the development of Tribal Ancestral Lands Consultation guidance in relation to sites of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes;
Guidance on meeting the reasonable and good faith standard as required by the Section 106 regulations;
Guidance on coordinating Section 106 compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act; and
Assistance in meeting Section 106 requirements during emergency and disaster planning.
If the ACHP can be of any assistance to you please contact:
Ms. Kristen J. Bastis
Program Analyst & Liaison to the NRCS
kbastis@achp.gov
202-517-0214
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation signed the Authorization Letter on November 21, 2014 designating the Prototype Programmatic Agreement (PPA) for the use by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Prototype Programmatic Agreements are a type of program alternative that the ACHP can designate to assist federal agencies in their efforts to comply with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. § 470f) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800). Prototype agreements may be used for the same type of program or undertaking in more than one case or area, and typically establish efficiencies and protocols for implementing these undertakings.
In order to assist stakeholders in using the PPA, the ACHP developed a frequently asked questions document. Additional information relevant to this effort is presented below.
ACHP guidance on developing and using a prototype Programmatic Agreement
Since the authorization of the PPA on November 21, 2014, the NRCS has completed PPA’s with 34 states, 1 American territory, and 5 tribes. The NRCS is actively pursuing completion of agreements with all states, territories and Indian tribes where implementation of the PPA will result in benefits to NRCS grant and technical assistance applicants and for the cultural resources involved in the Section 106 review.
A list and a map showing signed NRCS Prototype Programmatic Agreements:
Alabama NRCS & SHPO PPA
Alaska NRCS & SHPO PPA
Arizona NRCS & SHPO PPA
Iowa- NRCS & SHPO PPA
Louisiana NRCS & SHPO & Caddo Nation of Oklahoma PPA
Maryland NRCS & SHPO PPA
Minnesota - NRCS and SHPO PPA
Oregon NRCS & SHPO SPPA
Rhode Island NRCS & SHPO PPA
PARTNERSHIPS AND AGREEMENTS BETWEEN NRCS AND INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIVE HAWAIIN ORGANIZATIONS
The NHPA’s implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800.2(c)(2)(ii)(E) allow an Indian tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization (NHO) to enter into an agreement with an agency official that specifies how they will carry out their consultation responsibilities. These agreements can cover all aspects of tribal participation in the Section 106 process and may grant the Indian tribe or NHO additional rights to participate or concur in agency decisions in the Section 106 process.
The NRCS is actively pursuing development of these agreements with Indian tribes and NHOs. Known benefits to both parties include increased communication, transparency, efficiency, and understanding between Indian Tribes, NHO’s and the NRCS. This increase in understanding and these agreements serve as a basis for additional partnerships.
Tribal Ancestral Lands Consultation (TALC) Workgroup
The NRCS strives to educate its staff and promote the identification and preservation of historic properties of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes regardless of their location. The Tribal Ancestral Lands Consultation (TALC) workgroup composed of NRCS staff, Indian tribes, the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) and the ACHP was created to produce training and guidance for NRCS staff to assist them in working more effectively with Indian tribes.
Taking into account an undertaking’s effect on sites of religious and cultural significance can be a particularly challenging task when a tribe has relocated or has been removed from their ancestral lands. In many cases these tribes are located several states away from where they originally resided.
The TALC workgroup developed several products for NRCS staff that will aid them as they work with tribal partners to identify sites of religious and cultural significance within an Indian tribe’s ancestral lands. These documents are being finalized for release.
A Handbook that reviews current consultation requirements regarding sites of religious and cultural significance on ancestral, aboriginal, or ceded lands. Relevant statutes, regulations, NRCS policy, and other provisions will be identified and explained.
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list. These FAQs will explore some of the more common questions associated with this process in more depth for the NRCS staff.
A Tribal Contacts attachment. This guide will list several resources available for NRCS staff as they look to contact Indian tribes around the nation.
An Affiliated Tribes guide. This attachment lists several resources available to NRCS staff that can assist them in identifying which tribes to contact. Current databases, websites, and suggestions are included to guide NRCS staff.
Native American Tribal Historic Preservation Office (NATHPO) Conference During the 2016 annual NATHPO meeting, NRCS staff presented the results of the TALC workgroup and requested feedback on the products. NRCS staff was available throughout the conference to meet with Indian tribes, discuss concerns, and serve as a sounding board for future collaboration opportunities. The feedback was integrated into the documents.
TALC Products presented at the 2016 NATHPO conference:
Tribal Ancestral Lands Consultation: Guidance for Natural Resource Conservation Service employees
Presentation for the 2016 NATHPO Conference
NRCS Tribal Liaison Program
NRCS has been working with Indian Country for a quarter century. In 1980, NRCS opened their doors to tribal partners, providing programs and technical services. Currently the NRCS has 45 full-time and 30 part-time field offices on Indian lands and approximately 220 NRCS tribal liaisons serving 567 federally recognized tribes. To date, the Secretary of Agriculture has entered into mutual agreements with 31 Tribal Conservation Districts, including one in Alaska.
The commitment NRCS has to Indian country, and the volume of field offices and tribal liaisons staffed by the NRCS, provides a great opportunity for tribal values and cultural resource management to interact. In addition to the invaluable assistance tribal liaisons play in assisting NRCS Cultural Resource personnel, the liaisons are regularly engaging Indian tribes in the pursuit of providing grant funds and technical assistance to tribal members. For more information on NRCS Tribal Liaisons see the information below.
Tribal Assistance - NRCS website
The NRCS has various policy and procedural reference and guidance in place to consider cultural resources affected by emergency work in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program or as lead agency in accordance with the Unified Federal Environmental and Historic Preservation Review (UFR) Process for Disaster Recovery Projects. Preservation of human life and property shall be the primary concern and focus of the emergency measures while taking into account the effects on cultural resources to the fullest extent practicable.
Where FEMA or its designee is the lead, NRCS (USDA) works under the Memorandum of Understanding Establishing the Unified Federal Environmental and Historic Preservation Review (UFR) Process for Disaster Recovery Projects. If the NRCS State office has not developed specific procedures for responding to exigencies, the NRCS can:
Follow the UFR Guidance for Environmental and Historic Preservation Practitioners (July 29, 2014) issued by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Service (DHS, FEMA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP);
Unless specific procedures have been established for responding to disasters and emergencies, the NRCS follows 36 CFR Part 800 and its policies and procedures to comply with Section 106. For further guidance please see the ACHP’s guidance, Role of Section 106 in Disaster Response - Frequently Asked Questions.
NRCS shall notify the SHPO/NHO/Indian tribe immediately or within 48 hours of the emergency determination, following the NRCS’ Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) final rule (see Section 216, P.L. 81-516 Final Rule, 7 CFR Part 624 (April 2005).
As an agency the NRCS has several programs that address emergency response. Frequently, Section 106 undertakings associated with disasters or emergencies involve NRCS grant and/or assistance. Refer to these links for additional information.
Emergency Watershed Protection Program Questions and Answers
ACHP TOOLS AND GUIDANCE
e106 system
Citizen's Guide in Spanish (Guia del Ciudadano en espanol)
NEPA and NHPA- A Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106
Reasonable and Good Faith Identification Standard Guidance
Information on Program Alternatives