Proposed Revisions Parts 601 608 610 Background Decision memo signed by Chief on March 27 2012 on regionalizing soil survey Need to have agency directives reflect the new structure General Manual ID: 468511
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "National Soil Survey Handbook" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
National Soil Survey Handbook
Proposed RevisionsParts 601, 608, 610Slide2
Background
Decision memo signed by Chief on March 27, 2012 on regionalizing soil surveyNeed to have agency directives reflect the new structureGeneral Manual
National Soil Survey Handbook
National Ecological Site HandbookSlide3
GENERAL MANUAL
Updated as part of the recent agency-wide reorganizationEvery part of the agency had to review and submit changes to GM-360-404
Subpart D – Role of State Soil Scientist
Subpart G – Soil Survey Offices as an entity
Subpart H – Regional Offices as a subsection of the Soil Science Division
GM-430 will be revised in the futureSlide4
National Ecological Site Handbook
Designed around the MLRA Soil Survey Offices and Soil Survey Regional OfficesOperating procedures will be similar to those in NSSH
First sections were recently open for comment period
Other sections for be released as completedSlide5
Specifics – decision memo
Each State has a State Soil ScientistLeads and coordinates technical soil servicesLeads NCSS efforts and conducts state work planning conferences
Works closely with soil survey offices (and regions) to coordinate state’s needs for:
Soil survey
Additional technical soil services
Other supportSlide6
Specifics – decision memo
State Conservationists provide feedback to regional offices through regional advisory boards (under construction)National level coordination through advisory teams (under construction)
Division renamed Soil
Science
DivisionSlide7
NSSH Update – common to all sections
Terminology revisedSoil Survey Regional Directors – PD classification
Team leader was not correct title, Director was
MO Leader now Regional Director
MO also changed to Soil Survey Region as a result
Board of Advisors – redefinition of role of STC
Feedback mechanism to SSRDs and NHQ
Ecological Site Specialists – to mirror NESH
Other working titles remained sameSlide8
NSSH Part 601 – NCSS Organization
Added ecological sites to NCSS responsibilities of soil survey officesReworded role of SSS (other specifics in 608)Soil Survey Regional Offices
references standard operating procedures vs. region-wide MOU
Added ecological site inventorySlide9
NSSH Part 601 – NCSS Organization
Added technical responsibility for National HeadquartersFOTGscience-related policies and procedures
Implementation strategies
Technical expertise in use of soils information for:
Models including RUSLE2, WEPS, WinPST, WEPP, and EPICSlide10
NSSH Part 601 – NCSS Organization
Added National Geospatial Center of Excellence (NGCE)Formerly National Geospatial Management Center
Functions and responsibility very similar
National Soil Survey Center responsibilities
Added ecological site inventory and
National Ecological Site HandbookSlide11
Nssh part 608 – program management
NHQNew position of Associate Director for Soil OperationsSS Regional Offices
Communicate to STCs via Board of Advisors
Coordinate
activities of the Management Team(s
)
standard operating procedures spell out specifics on business steps, structure, and team member responsibilitiesSlide12
Nssh part 608 – program management
SS Regional Offices (continued)Review and approve project plans
Coordinate mapping goals and progress reporting
Supervise MLRA soil survey leaders
Provide administrative support to soil survey officesSlide13
Nssh part 608 – program management
Board of AdvisorsMade up of State Conservationists
As applicable, representatives from Federal, State, University and other NCSS partners
Provides broad management direction to Soil Survey Regional Director and management teams
Reviews progress and performance for both soil survey and ecological site activitiesSlide14
Nssh part 608 – program management
Board of Advisors (continued)
Feedback to Associate Director for Soil Operations
u
sed for performance reviews
Reviews management team recommendations on project priorities
local needs are in balance with State and National issues
p
rovides alternate adviceSlide15
NSSH part 608 – Management teams
Consist of:Soil Survey Regional DirectorsState Soil Scientists
State Resource Conservationists
Other appropriate state technical leaders
Federal, State, University and other partners as applicableSlide16
NSSH part 608 – Management teams
Develop specific operating procedures which outline structure, chairmanship, and rolesReview and concur with technical team recommendations on project priorities
Assist the Soil Survey Regional Director in administering technical soil services in soil survey officesSlide17
NSSH part 608 – Technical teams
Consist of:MLRA soil survey office staff
Soil survey regional office staff
State Soil Scientists
Resource Soil Scientists
NCSS partners
Other applicable discipline specialists
MLRA Soil Survey Leader serves as chairSlide18
NSSH part 608 – Technical teams
Gathers and consolidates each State’s needs in long-range planDevelops proposed priorities
Assists MLRA SSL to
draft plans
for management team review
Formulates recommendations for regional office approvalSlide19
NSSH part 608 – State offices
Lead staff
State Soil Scientist
State Resource Conservationist
Provide technical
and
ecological site services and develop interpretations
Serve on management teams
Specific role in management team operating proceduresSlide20
NSSH part 608 – Digitizing units
Responsibility moved to soil survey regional officesSee National Bulletin 430-13-7 on specifics and procedures (Issued May 7)Slide21
NSSH part 608 – digital map finishing
Function retained for initial and approved extensive revision soil surveys where MOU requires specific deliverablesStaff located in various offices (soil survey offices and regional offices)
Work coordinated through regional officesSlide22
Nssh part 610 – updating soil surveys
Many references to Part 608 and repeats roles and responsibilitiesSeries of “projects” to address priority needs
Update strategies
MLRA –
Recorrelation
: Added reference to National
Instruction 430-305 Soil Data Join Recorrelation under update
strategies
MLRA field projectsSlide23
Questions?