Alabama Bulletin No. AL190-7-3

Date: January 24, 2007

Subject:  ECS – Cultural Resources

Purpose:  To notify employees about change of state policy.

Expiration Date:  September 30, 2007.

There is a change in the process to document cultural resources actions in the field and to request assistance of the Cultural Resource Specialist.

Since the NRCS adoption of Toolkits/ArcView and Protracts, and the availability of layers of information related to a known location, i.e. topographic maps, STR’s, etc., it is no longer necessary for the field to send hard copies of maps, forms, etc., for cultural resources documentation. Based on our discussion with DC’s, this required a significant amount of time that, with our current technologies, is no longer necessary.

The process you have followed in field reviews of the APE will be the same as in the past; however, you have several options available to report your findings to the Cultural Resource Specialist.

1. You may continue the process of mailing or emailing a cultural resources review form as in the past (no maps required).
2. You can send an email (see example) with the participant’s name, tract number, contract number, percent of APE you covered during field investigation, and whether landowner was aware of any cultural resources on his/her or an adjoining farm.
3. Another option could be a table that shows the participant’s name, program, percent of APE Covered, Landowner’s Awareness of Cultural Resources—Yes/No and post all of your EQIP, WHIP, CRP, etc., applicants (see example). If the contract is not in ProTracts, you should also be sure to show the Program Code in your Toolkits plan to show which practices are cost-shared, i.e. CRP, 319, etc. You should save copies of your conservation plan map, soils map (if produced), topo map (if produced), and others in the Resource Maps folder in the Toolkits plan. You should also save a copy of the Toolkits produced contract in the Contract Report folder and a copy of the conservation plan in the Plan Reports folder of Toolkits.

Note: This change of the cultural resources documentation process; however, does not minimize NRCS’s responsibilities and commitment to avoid impacting cultural resources in compliance with our national, state and tribal laws.

If you have any questions, contact Steve Musser at (334) 887-4503.

/s/

GARY KOBYLSKI
State Conservationist

Attachment:  Examples

Dist: E

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