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Automating Federal Environmental Compliance Activities

Automating Federal Environmental Compliance Activities. Bruce Nielsen – GIS Specialist Stephen Ball, PhD – Cultural Resources Specialist David Stratman - Biologist. National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Who are we? Present in all 92 Indiana counties

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Automating Federal Environmental Compliance Activities

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  1. Automating Federal Environmental Compliance Activities Bruce Nielsen – GIS Specialist Stephen Ball, PhD – Cultural Resources Specialist David Stratman - Biologist

  2. National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) • Who are we? • Present in all 92 Indiana counties • Disburses $35-40 million annually in Indiana • What do we do? • Subsidize conservation practices on private agricultural lands

  3. What Conservation Practices? • Soil • Water Quality • Wildlife

  4. Soil

  5. Water Quality and Wildlife

  6. Linton Beehunter Marsh 483 ha 1,193 ac Goose Pond 2,406 ha (5,945 ac)

  7. Many NRCS practices require excavation which can potentially impact environmental and cultural resources

  8. National Historic Preservation and Environmental Laws • National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) • National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) • We don’t own the land • We don’t construct the practice • BUT we are responsible for ensuring the practices are compliant with federal law

  9. The Problem • Thousands of practices are planned and subsidized by the Indiana NRCS annually • They need to be reviewed to ensure they do not negatively impact Threatened and Endangered (T & E) Species or Historic sites • Both processes require access to restricted datasets requiring professional qualifications

  10. T & E Species database is maintained by US Fish & Wildlife • Restricted locational information • Database of historic and prehistoric sites is maintained by Indiana DHPA • Access is restricted to professionals (archaeologist/historians) with advanced degrees

  11. The Bottleneck • Biologists and Archaeologists employed by the Indiana NRCS • ONE Biologist • ONE Archaeologist

  12. Evolution of Compliance Tools • Printed map • Insecure • Labor intensive • Static • Limited extent • Subject tointerpretation

  13. Evolution of Compliance Tools • Printed Map • Data & ArcMap Layer File • More (but not) secure • Less labor intensive • Subject tointerpretation

  14. Does Hiding Data Make Sense? • Google Street View

  15. Does Hiding Data Make Sense? • Drinking Water Protection Areas Source: http://www.in.gov/indot/3160.htm Source: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/Environment/LandQuality/Pages/wellhead.aspx

  16. Does Hiding Data Make Sense?Yes, When: • Required by law or contract • Publishing the data will compromise it’s value • The location is immaterial to the user

  17. Evolution of Compliance Tools • Printed Map • Data & ArcMap Layer File • Compliance Tools • Most Secure • Lowest Maintenance • No interpretation

  18. Compliance Tools • Utilize ArcSDE technology • Single data source • Rapid access across WAN & VPN • Provide info related to environmental compliance and program eligibility • Don’t require human interpretation of data

  19. Compliance Tools • Utilize Sensitive Datasets • Cultural Resource sites • Threatened & Endangered Species locations • Protect Sensitive Datasets from accidental release

  20. Demonstration

  21. Future Enhancements

  22. Questions?

  23. Thank you for attending USDA is an equal opportunity employer

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