Contact Procedures Sample Clauses

Contact Procedures. 1) When Farm Bill programs are applied to any of the four Tribal land holdings in Illinois, and NRCS is responsible for the outcome, the District Conservationist shall notify the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, who will notify the State Conservationist. The District Conservationist will also notify the State Tribal Liaison. 2) When brief Conservation Technical Assistance is requested on any of the four Tribal land holdings in Illinois, assistance may be provided without formal tribal consultation. The District Conservationist will notify the State Tribal Liaison of the brief assistance. 3) When American Indian human remains or areas of religious and/or cultural significance may be affected by NRCS-controlled projects, the Cultural Resources Specialist will inform the State Tribal Liaison, the Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, and the State Conservationist. • Build on existing consultative relationships with American Indian Tribes. • Institutionalize consultation and collaboration procedures. • Include, at a minimum, the following specifics in the agreements/protocols: primary contacts; how contacts are made; which lands are covered; when consultation should take place; what practices, programs or activities are covered; timeframes; procedures for settlement of disputes; and procedures for cancellation or amendment of the agreement/protocol. • Initiate consulting on specific/new matters as early as possible in the project of program planning process. • Establish training programs on consultation procedures and protocols in conjunction with Tribes within the State. • Maintain NRCS’ reputation of honesty and integrity in working with Tribes. • Know the Tribes in your service area. • Maintain government-to-government relationship by interacting at appropriate levels of authority or governmental stature. • Focus cultural resources consultation protocols and agreements on pertinent issues for both NRCS and the individual sovereign Tribe. • On tribal lands that cross State Boundaries, State Conservationists are encouraged to work together. To apply these guidelines to States with non-resident tribes, like Illinois, the list may be amended to seek assistance from those States where Illinois tribes now reside: • Know the tribes who have interest in their ancestral lands (refer to Illinois document: “NRCS Area Counties and Tribal Interests”). • State Conservationists with ancestral lands are encouraged to work with the State...