Arizona State Technical Committee Meeting October 15 th, 2014 Steve Smarik State Resource Conservationist

Background 2 Keisha Tatem, State Conservationist received notice from SHPO on June 16, 2014 stating NRCS was non- compliant with Sect. 106 of NHPA Letter cited use of ASLD Range Resource Area Managers to complete CR investigation was inadequate Letter incorrectly assumed this was due to “unresolved issues” with the Arizona State Museum over fees Recommended NRCS archaeologist conduct all CR investigations on State Land or pay private firms to complete surveys and reports

Background 3 Keisha Tatem responded that NRCS/ASLD have been operating according to NRCS’s long-standing agreement with SHPO (2002) If the existing agreement is not adequate, Keisha Tatem requested an amendment SHPO reiterated in a response that NRCS was still out of compliance because we were not obtaining ASLD reports and consulting with them And further, NRCS may not use CR investigations where ASLD RRAMs were involved until they are operating under supervision of a AAA permitted specialist in the field

Background 4 Key staff from NRCS and SHPO met to discuss this and other issues The need to write an amendment or a completely new agreement between NRCS and SHPO was recognized Also called into question was our coordination with other federal agencies in regards to CR management Discussion ensued over agricultural infrastructure over 50 years old, including old farm and ranch roads, concrete lined ditches, windmills, corrals, wells, etc.

The Facts 5 NRCS cannot move forward with CR surveys on State Lands until we resolve a fee issue with Arizona State Museum NRCS is not in a fiscal position to pay for private consulting firms Currently, there is $2.1 million in planned practices on State Lands 2300 acres of conservation practices, 58 miles of linear practices, and 130 spot practices to be installed by the end of 2015

The Facts 6 Currently, approximately $1 million in planned practices on federal lands Includes 2300 acres of conservation practices, 25 miles of linear practices, and 85 spot practices

Moving Forward 7 NRCS will consider doing surveys on State Land and is requesting waiver of fees from the State Museum NRCS will accept surveys and reports conducted by AAA permitted consulting companies paid by the program participant NRCS will look for help from adjacent states to address CR workload

Moving Forward 8 NRCS will continue to work with our partnering agencies to look for solutions NRCS will revise our programmatic agreement with the SHPO to maintain compliance with NHPA NRCS will revise our Cultural Resources Procedural Handbook NRCS will continue to work with SHPO to look for exemptions or statements of no adverse affect to 50-year old ag infrastructure

Moving Forward 9 Allow contracts to move forward where: “Exempt” practices are installed Exempt practices include- fences installed with no mechanical equipment, brush management using Agri-Ax, other non-ground disturbing practices. Where ASLD reporting to SHPO was under the direction of AAA permitted CRS.