NATIONAL SOIL SURVEY HANDBOOK

Proposed RevisionsParts 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 National Soil Survey Handbook National Ecological Site Handbook

GENERAL MANUAL

Updated as part of the recent agency-wide reorganization

Every 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 future

NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL SITE HANDBOOK Designed around the MLRA Soil Survey

Offices and Soil Survey Regional Offices Operating procedures will be similar to

those in NSSH First sections were recently open for

comment period Other sections for be released as

completed

SPECIFICS – DECISION MEMO

Each State has a State Soil Scientist Leads and coordinates technical soil

services Leads 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 support

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 Division

NSSH UPDATE – COMMON TO ALL SECTIONS

Terminology revised Soil 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 same

NSSH PART 601 – NCSS ORGANIZATION Added ecological sites to NCSS

responsibilities of soil survey offices Reworded role of SSS (other specifics in

608) Soil Survey Regional Offices

references standard operating procedures vs. region-wide MOU

Added ecological site inventory

NSSH PART 601 – NCSS ORGANIZATION Added technical responsibility for

National Headquarters FOTG

science-related policies and procedures Implementation strategies

Technical expertise in use of soils information for:

Models including RUSLE2, WEPS, WinPST, WEPP, and EPIC

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 Handbook

NSSH PART 608 – PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

NHQ New position of Associate Director for Soil

Operations SS 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 responsibilities

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 offices

NSSH PART 608 – PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Board of Advisors Made 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 activities

NSSH PART 608 – PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Board of Advisors (continued) Feedback to Associate Director for Soil

Operations used for performance reviews

Reviews management team recommendations on project priorities

local needs are in balance with State and National issues

provides alternate advice

NSSH PART 608 – MANAGEMENT TEAMS

Consist of: Soil Survey Regional Directors State Soil Scientists State Resource Conservationists Other appropriate state technical leaders Federal, State, University and other

partners as applicable

NSSH PART 608 – MANAGEMENT TEAMS Develop specific operating procedures

which outline structure, chairmanship, and roles

Review and concur with technical team recommendations on project priorities

Assist the Soil Survey Regional Director in administering technical soil services in soil survey offices

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 chair

NSSH PART 608 – TECHNICAL TEAMS

Gathers and consolidates each State’s needs in long-range plan

Develops proposed priorities Assists MLRA SSL to draft plans for

management team review Formulates recommendations for

regional office approval

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 procedures

NSSH PART 608 – DIGITIZING UNITS

Responsibility moved to soil survey regional offices

See National Bulletin 430-13-7 on specifics and procedures (Issued May 7)

NSSH PART 608 – DIGITAL MAP FINISHING Function retained for initial and

approved extensive revision soil surveys where MOU requires specific deliverables

Staff located in various offices (soil survey offices and regional offices)

Work coordinated through regional offices

NSSH PART 610 – UPDATING SOIL SURVEYS

Many references to Part 608 and repeats roles and responsibilities

Series 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 projects

QUESTIONS?