About The ICT

Concept

The concept of the Interagency Coordination Tool (ICT) was developed based on the need to streamline and simplify the Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance process for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices. Compliance with the Endangered Species Act was difficult for field staff for a variety of reasons including the lack of a cohesive process, the lack of species information, knowledge of the habitat and life history, and reluctance by State and Federal agencies to share information concerning their status.

The idea of a “black box method” where minimal information could be offered from the inquiring to the receiving agency was developed. This method would allow only non-sensitive information within a predetermined area to be entered into a website. In return, NRCS planners would be provided strategies to avoid and minimize impacts to species or designated habitat without identifying exact locations or other sensitive information about the species. This method also allows agencies to identify specific instances where conservation practices potentially benefit a listed species and thus potentially move it toward delisting.

Function

The ICT provides information based on a number of criteria. First, the user identifies an area of interest and inputs conservation practices and the extents of those practices. The ICT then compares this data to other databases of information which include known locations of species, the potential impacts of practices, habitat suitability and agreed upon avoidance measures and requirements. The tool then provides a printable report to the end user which outlines conservation and avoidance strategy that meets the requirements of NRCS planning policy under the ESA. The information provided to planners is based on an existing programmatic agreement.

The ICT not only solved the privacy and sensitive species information issues, but also saved time and maintenance requirements by allowing one agency to maintain a single copy of geospatial data and security needs within house. It avoids maintenance problems with maps and polygon layers and CEC compatibility issues for computer software.

Evolution

It should be understood that the evolution of this tool will dictate the results to some degree. Every effort has been made to predict frequently encountered situations in which conservation practices would be utilized in various habitats. However, it is impossible to predict every situation. Therefore, the ICT will change and strategies will be revised over time. As with any software, versions 2.0 will be improvements beyond version 1.0 and so forth. This information does not constitute NRCS policy but outlines methodology to comply with NRCS policy in the appropriate General Manual Sections dealing with ESA compliance and NEPA.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know what areas to outline in the ICT?
2. Do I have to enter all practices into the ICT; even the ones NRCS is not funding or putting in a contract?
3. What if my client cannot or does not want to meet the conditions or requirements of the ICT for a practice?
4. How do I count or track benefits that are listed by the ICT?
5. Can I use the ICT for purposes other than conservation planning?
6. Why is the launch ICT button grayed out even after I have logged in?
7. How can I be sure that my client’s planning information is secure?
8. What proof do I need to document ESA compliance?
9. What if I forget my login?
10. What should I use as my user name?
11. Can I remove old reports from my report list?
12. How often is the ICT updated?
13. What should I do if I feel there is an error, problem or I feel the application isn’t working properly?
14. Is the client required to implement management recommendations provided by the ICT?
15. Whom do I contact if I want to coordinate species benefits?
16. I can’t find the area I want to query.
17. How often do I need to run queries in the ICT?
18.Do I need to contact someone if I receive an NLAA determination from the ICT?
19. Why does my report show NLAA and MAA in the printout?
20. What happens if the client refuses to implement one or more avoidance or requirement measure(s)?
21. Why does the ICT require consultation with USFWS even though the practices are restoring sensitive areas or habitat?
22. Can people who are not NRCS clients or program participants (e.g. consultants) request that I investigate an area for the presence of a listed species for them?
23. Under what circumstances is it required that I contact the State Biologist?
24. If I get a determination that my plan could potentially affect a listed species by applying one or more conservation practices, does it mean that there are populations of listed species or critical habitat on my client’s property?
25. What are the minimum computer requirements to run the ICT?
26. Why does the ICT report state that I can only implement a practice in a landuse (existing cropland) and the following strategy gives another landuse (existing pasture/hayland).Which one is correct?
27. I can’t find the conservation practice that I have planned in the list of practices in the ICT?
28. How long does it take to receive notification that my report is ready to view?
29. Who is the ICT State Administrator?

1. How do I know what areas to outline in the ICT?

Planners should outline the area that is considered during the conservation planning process. Usually this is an entire tract or farm (but not necessarily) and typically follows the client’s property boundary. At a minimum the area of interest should contain the areas where conservation practices are planned.

2. Do I have to enter all practices into the ICT; even the ones NRCS is not funding or putting in a contract?

Yes. NRCS policy requires planners to determine the potential affects to federally listed species even those instances where we are not providing financial assistance.

3. What if my client cannot or does not want to meet the conditions or requirements of the ICT for a practice?

The planner has a couple of options. First, if any of the required strategies listed cannot be implemented, or the strategy specifically requires coordination or consultation with USFWS, the proposed practice is determined as May Adversely Affect (MAA) and will require consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If you feel that there may be extenuating circumstances or that the results are in error, you may contact the State Biologist for further guidance. A second alternative is to develop planning alternatives that avoid practices having an adverse impact to identified species and resubmit the query. For example, instead of constructing a pond for livestock water, perhaps a well or spring development may solve the resource concern and have less or no adverse impacts on listed species.

4. How do I count or track benefits that are listed by the ICT?

As of now, benefits to listed species or eagles are not tracked and/or accumulated within the system.Most practices have the potential to be beneficial depending upon how they are implemented. Current versions of the ICT do not contain this functionality. It is left to the end user to determine the beneficial aspect of each practice. Future versions of the ICT will hopefully provide more functionality in this regard.

5. Can I use the ICT for purposes other than conservation planning?

The ICT was developed specifically for NRCS conservation planning. It should not be used for other purposes or by other agencies due to relevance and privacy issues. However, it may provide useful information as a preliminary planning tool to determine where conservation strategies could be more beneficial to listed species on a landscape level. In addition, using the ICT for ranking Farm Bill program applications to determine if plans/contracts would or could benefit listed species is highly encouraged.

6. Why is the launch ICT button grayed out even after I have logged in?

The Launch ICT button is grayed out when you have submitted a report and are awaiting the results from that report. It will not run concurrent reports for a single user at this time.

7. How can I be sure that my client’s planning information is secure?

The ICT does not gather, store and transmit any private information. This tool simply compares geospatial polygons with predetermined areas against predetermined criteria through a programmatic agreement. The report generated is not subject to Freedom of Information Act and is not releasable to third parties without prior written approval from the landowner.Refer to section 1619 of the Farm Bill or the privacy sections in the ICT Handbook.

8. What proof do I need to document ESA compliance?

NRCS in West Virginia has entered into a programmatic agreement with the USFWS Elkins Field Office which allows the report generated by the ICT to stand as documentation of compliance with ESA in WV.Until West Virginia NRCS policy can be supplemented in the General Manual, planners should attach a copy of the report printout from the ICT to the CPA-52 (or store it electronically as appropriate).If practices or practice quantities change (significant quantities) planners should resubmit the query.

9. What if I forget my login?

Click the “forgot my login” button, in the ICT homepage, enter your user name and a new password will be emailed to you.Users should then login and change the password.

10. What should I use as my user name?

For consistency, NRCS employees should utilize their first and last name together(e.g. JohnDoe)

11. Can I remove old reports from my report list?

Not at this time.Future versions of the ICT may allow editing by administrators to remove or otherwise organize reports once they are printed; or other report management tools may be added.

12. How often is the ICT updated?

The ICT is updated at least annually through agreement with all agencies.At that time revisions to practices, required strategies and recommendations are also reviewed.NRCS conservation practices may be updated more frequently than annually.Therefore, there may be a period of time where newer practices appear in the Field Office Technical Guide but do not appear in the ICT.The administrator will strive to make this time gap as short as possible.If significant changes occur during the year this schedule may be accelerated.

13. What should I do if I feel there is an error, problem or I feel the application isn’t working properly?

Ensure that you have entered the correct planning data and located the correct position within the map.Resubmit your query and review the results.If you still feel either there is an error in the program or the results contact (via email) the State Administrator and provide a copy of the report with a detailed description of the issue.

14. Is the client required to implement management recommendations provided by the ICT?

No.Management recommendations (found in Section III of the report) are provided as general information that if implemented would provide additional benefits to the species.

15. Whom do I contact if I want to coordinate species benefits?

The protocol for version 1.0 of the ICT will be to contact the NRCS State Biologist.Protocol for direct contact from the field and area offices will be standardized at a later date and subsequent version of the program. Coordination of benefits (unless in conjunction with consultation) should be a very low priority for field offices until the ICT has more fully evolved.

16. I can’t find the area I want to query.

There are several ways to locate areas of interest within the tool.If a physical address is known, the user can simply type the address into the address bar located at the top of the map screen and the tool will zoom to the address.The second option is to use the scale tool on the left-hand side of the map.Click “Zoom”.This allows the user to select areas by city, county, state, etc.

17. How often do I need to run queries in the ICT?

Queries in the ICT should be run at least one time during the conservation planning process when the planner is relatively certain about practice selection and approximate quantities.If quantities significantly change or practice selection is different from those agreed upon with the client,the query should be run again prior to implementation.

18.Do I need to contact someone if I receive an NLAA determination from the ICT?

No.Unless one or more of the alternatives provided by the ICT cannot be implemented or the avoidance measure specifically requires consultation, inspection of the area or notification of the State Biologist.

19. Why does my report show NLAA and MAA in the printout?

The statement in the final determination of effect section provides a determination of effect based on the practices entered and contingent upon the implementation of avoidance strategies.If those avoidance strategies cannot be implemented the final effect determination then becomes MAA.

20. What happens if the client refuses to implement one or more avoidance or requirement measure(s)?

The required strategies listed in Section II of the report were agreed upon measures by NRCS and the USFWS through a programmatic agreement.One solution could be to try alternative practices to avoid any impacts and thus avoid any alternative strategies.Planners and clients should be aware that national NRCS policy states that if a client refuses to implement any of the required strategies, no further technical or financial assistance will be provided by NRCS.Refer to the ICT Handbook regarding the procedure to initiate consultation for more information.

21. Why does the ICT require consultation with USFWS even though the practices are restoring sensitive areas or habitat?

Some NRCS conservation practices have the ability to restore and enhance the habitat for listed species dramatically.However, some of these practices may need to be implemented with special considerations given to the method in which they are applied.Otherwise these same practices may be detrimental to the species or habitat. It would not be practical to incorporate all the varying conditions and strategies into the ICT. As such, some practices require that you contact USFWS through the State Biologist to ensure that proper methods are utilized.

22. Can people who are not NRCS clients or program participants (e.g. consultants) request that I investigate an area for the presence of a listed species for them?

No.The ICT is designed for NRCS conservation planning compliance with the Endangered Species Act.Results produced by the ICT may not be accurate for other activities.

23. Under what circumstances is it required that I contact the State Biologist?

There are four possible instances where the planner would need to contact the State Biologist prior to implementation: 1) if the required strategy provided by the ICT (found in Section II of the report) specifically requires it; 2) if one or more of the required strategies could not be implemented and consultation is required; 3) coordination of benefits or inspection is necessary prior to implementation; or 4) protected resources are encountered during practice implementation.

24. If I get a determination that my plan could potentially affect a listed species by applying one or more conservation practices, does it mean that there are populations of listed species or critical habitat on my client’s property?

Not necessarily.The ICT makes a determination based on statistical probability that the habitat is favorable to support a particular species based on a number of factors including the proximity of known populations, suitable habitat, habitat type and extent of the practice, among other factors.

25. What are the minimum computer requirements to run the ICT?

The ICT requires an internet connection, a valid email address and an internet browser.It is configured to support Microsoft Internet Explorer version 8.0 and higher. Other browsers or earlier versions of Internet Explorer may not function properly.To view ICT reports Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.

26. Why does the ICT report state that I can only implement a practice in a landuse (existing cropland) and the following strategy gives another landuse (existing pasture/hayland).Which one is correct?

This refers to the existing landuses to which the practice may be applied.In this case the practice may be applied to any of the existing landuses shown.Therefore if the practice is being implemented in any one of those existing landuses, the strategies are considered able to be implemented.This particular avoidance measure(s) are ensuring clients do not create new agricultural lands to implement the practice.

27. I can’t find the conservation practice that I have planned in the list of practices in the ICT?

Ensure that the practice is still an active WV NRCS conservation practice and has not been removed from the WV Field Office Technical Guide.Ensure that the name of the practice has not been changed.Practices are listed alphabetically in the ICT. New practice standards that are listed in the Field Office Technical Guide may not appear instantaneously in the ICT.Practices within the ICT are updated at least annually. The administrator will strive to make this time gap as short as possible.If this is encountered, contact the State Biologist to determine an interim effect determination for new practices.

28. How long does it take to receive notification that my report is ready to view?

The length of time required to receive notification that your query is complete is relatively short (usually within five minutes).However, this time varies depending upon the complexity of the plan, the number of potential habitats, the number of ongoing requests, etc.If a user has not received a report within 24 hours contact the State Administrator for assistance.

29. Who is the ICT State Administrator?

The NRCS ICT State Administrator is Kyle Aldinger. Contact at kyle.aldinger@usda.gov.