Roles and Responsibilities of the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee to The

Roles and Responsibilities of the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee to the State Technical Advisory Committee

Background: In August, 2010, by recommendation from the State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), the State Conservationist determined a need for a subcommittee to provide input on the development and adoption of conservation practice standards (CPS) and specifications.

Purpose: NRCS National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP) provides guidance for applying conservation technology on the land and sets the minimum benchmarks for design and application. The primary purpose of the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee (Subcommittee) to the State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) is to provide input toward the review of NRCS NCHP and associated field office technical guide materials in the development of NRCS Practice Standards. This document sets forth the applicable policies, membership, roles, responsibilities, protocols and sideboards for operation of the Subcommittee.

Policy: NRCS General Manual Title 450, Part 401, Technical Guides, states policy for establishing, changing, and maintaining Field Office Technical Guides (FOTG) and activities of supporting committees.

The National Handbook of Conservation Practices contains updated or new national conservation practice standards. NRCS conservation practice standards provide guidance for applying conservation technology on the land and set the minimum acceptable level for application of the technology. NRCS issues National conservation practice standards in NHCP. Each state determines which National conservation practice standards are applicable in their state. States add the technical detail needed to effectively use the standards at the Field Office level, and issue them as state conservation practice standards.

Section IV of the Field Office Technical Guide contains State conservation practice standards (specifications).

Organizational Structures: The STAC and its Subcommittees serve at the behest of the State Conservationist.

The NRCS Washington State Technical Guide Committee assists in the development and maintenance of the FOTG, which contains NHCP, Washington State Practice Standards, state specifications and associated FOTG materials. This Committee is responsible for the review, approval and distribution of State-developed, State-supplemented, or field-supplemented FOTG materials and for quality assurance activities to ensure the completeness and correctness of the FOTG materials. The Committee will work closely with the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee.

The State Technical Guide Committee consists of:  State Resource Conservationist (Chair)  State Conservation Engineer  State Soil Scientist  Area Resource Conservationists (from each of the 3 Areas)  Area Engineers (from each of the 3 Areas)  Advisors (Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, FOTG Content Administrator, FOTG Content Manager, GIS/Cartographer)

The Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee is a subcommittee of the STAC. The Subcommittee will have a small standing membership, and will convene additional assistance on an ad hoc basis, depending on the subject matter of the material to be developed or reviewed. The Washington State Conservation Commission and the STAC will assist in recruiting and securing members. The standing Subcommittee will consist of a minimum of:

 One federal agency representative  One state agency representative (preferably from Departments of Ecology or Agriculture)  One technically-qualified member from a natural resources, environmental, or grower group

Responsibilities: The Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee to the State Technical Advisory Committee will be responsible for providing input by way of review and comments to NRCS NHCP, Washington State Practice Standards, specifications, and associated FOTG materials. The Subcommittee will also provide advice on appropriate ad hoc technically-qualified members.

Review and Comment Opportunities: There are several opportunities when NRCS seeks input on its standards and specifications:

1. During development of a new or review/revision of an existing national standard 2. When the national standard is released in draft form for public comment 3. When the final national standard is reviewed at the state level to determine if state- specific amendments need to be incorporated 4. During development of an interim practices

Development of a new NHCP or revision of an existing NHCP:  The NRCS National Technical Guide Committee notifies Washington State Technical Guide Committee of the availability of a NHCP for internal review and comment. Typically, there is a 30-day comment period.  Washington State Technical Guide Committee may ask for input from the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee during this opportunity.  An ad hoc group of experts pertinent to the NHCP being reviewed may be convened.  State Technical Guide Committee will have final determination of comments to be forwarded to the National Technical Guide Committee. Public Comment Period:  The National Technical Guide Committee publishes a notice in the Federal Register of the availability for review and comment on all additions or revisions to the NHCP  There is typically a 30-day comment period  Any member of the public or any entity can comment during this period. Many agencies form an ad hoc group to address important standards and provide formal comments.  Washington NRCS will inform the STAC and the Subcommittee of these opportunities and may convene an information conference to discuss important standards.

Practice Specifications: Practice Specifications are State-developed, site-specific guides that establish the technical details and workmanship required to install the conservation practice in accordance with the requirements of the Washington State Practice Standards.  Specifications are developed by the State in consideration of the wide variations in soils, climate, and topography present within the State and include items that are necessary and appropriate when the practice is applied to site-specific locations.  Information in the Washington State Practice Standards is the basis for the development of the specification.  Specification requirements may not conflict with the requirements of the Washington State Practice Standard.  Specifications are to meet the requirements of Federal, State, or local ordinances or regulations.  Specifications are NOT part of the Washington Practice Standards, but are separate documents.  The State Conservationist will convene the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee to assist the agency in developing specifications.  The State Conservationist will approve State-developed specifications in consultation with the STAC and the Subcommittee.  Not all WA State Practice Standards are well suited for generalized specifications. In many cases site specific plans and specifications are developed in accordance with the State Practice Standard.

Interim Practices: Interim Practices serve as mechanisms to field test new technologies that address resource concerns not already addressed by an existing national standard.  The State Conservationist will convene the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee to assist the State Technical Guide Committee in developing and interim practice.  The State Conservationist, in consultation with Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee, the State Technical Guide Committee, and the National Discipline Leader, approves interim practice requests.  Written requests are made to Chair of the National Conservation Practice Standard Subcommittee, who either accepts or denies request.  Interim practices are evaluated for a 3-year period. Practices installed under interim practice standard criteria are required to monitored and evaluated (M&E). The M&E results are used to make revisions to State Interim Standards  Final reports will be prepared by the State Technical Guide Committee in consultation with the Washington State Practice Standard Subcommittee and submitted with a recommendation to either make the interim a national standard, incorporate technology learned into an existing national standard, or discontinue use.

The attachment provides additional guidance on review, development, and recommendations on Practice Standards and specifications. Attachment

Conservation Practice Standards: By Policy (NRCS General Manual Title 450, Part 401) NHCP establish the minimum acceptable level of quality that is required to plan, design, install, operate, and maintain conservation practices. Typically, standards can be used within a State without modification, but can be re- written to include additional requirements to meet State or local needs. Because of wide variations in soils, climate, and topography, States may need to add special provisions or provide additional details in the NHCP. State laws and local ordinances or regulations may dictate more stringent criteria.

Each NHCP has the following required and optional sections. If not specified below, sections of the Standard may be modified as needed.  Practice Name (required and may not be changed)  Practice Code (required and may not be changed)  Unit of Measurement (required and may not be changed)  Definition (required and may not be changed)  Purpose(s), including the resource concern(s) to be addressed (required) o States may add a new Purpose by requesting a variance, which requires identifying resource concerns to be addressed and development of additional criteria to meet the new Purpose. o States may delete any Purpose that addresses a resource concern that has not been identified in the State.  Conditions where practice applies (required)  Criteria supporting each purpose (required)  Considerations for practice planning, design, and installation (optional)  Minimum requirements for plans & specifications (optional)  Minimum requirements for O&M (optional)  References supporting the technology in the practice (required) States must obtain a variance for any change to a NHCP that results in less stringent criteria or requirements.

State-Developed Documents for each Washington State Practice Standard:  Practice Specification Guide Sheets o Establish and list terms and conditions, and show how the practice standard will be made site-specific.  Job Sheets (non-engineering practices) o Provide site-specific location and installation information developed from Specification Guide Sheets. Provided to the client.  Practice Documentation Requirements o Lists minimum documentation needed for certification of practice completion.  Statement of Work o Provide the minimal requirements to design, install, and certify completion of conservation practices and other technical services. Mostly for TSPs.  Worksheets o When developed, are a series of requirements, check lists, or forms to ensure all aspects of the practice are considered and included during planning and installation.  Fact Sheets (mainly for engineering practices) o Provides an overall explanation of the practice and the technology it delivers, but not the details on practice installation.  Operation and Maintenance (O&M) documents o Provide guidance for proper O&M of the practice and are usually provided to the client.  Additional documents o Instructions, technical notes that standard-specific, tools, etc.  Conservation Practice Physical Effects (CPPE) o Provide user with indicators of the impact that the practice may have on the natural and cultural resources. Housed in Section V FOTG.