Proposed Revisions Parts 601, 608, 610

 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

 Updated as part of the recent agency-wide reorganization  Every part of the agency had to review and submit changes to GM  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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 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

 Responsibility moved to soil survey regional offices  See National Bulletin on specifics and procedures (Issued May 7)

 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

 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 Soil Data Join Recorrelation under update strategies  MLRA field projects