B08_Attachment_1_SOW.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS – GREAT PLAINS REGIONAL OFFICE

DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

REVIEW OF EXISTING GRAZING & AGRICULTURAL LEASING PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

1. PURPOSE – EXISITING GRAZING PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Great Plains Regional Office (GPRO), Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources Management (DECRM), requires contractor support to review existing Grazing and Agricultural Leasing Programmatic Environmental Assessments (PEAs).

The purpose of this review is to assist BIA DECRM in determining whether new information or changed circumstances affect the original programmatic environmental reviews and whether supplementation may be warranted.

The review shall consider the December 18, 2014, Memorandum for Heads of Federal Departments and Agencies, Effective Use of Programmatic NEPA Reviews, and applicable current Department of the Interior and BIA NEPA requirements.

2. PEAs TO BE REVIEWED The Contractor shall review a total of twenty-two (22) existing PEAs, consisting of:

Grazing PEAs – Seven (7) The seven Grazing PEAs were completed in 2018 for:

· Cheyenne River

· Crow Creek

· Fort Berthold

· Lower Brule

· Pine Ridge

· Standing Rock

· Rosebud

Agricultural Leasing PEAs – Fifteen (15) The fifteen Agricultural Leasing PEAs were completed in 2019 and 2020 for:

· Rosebud

· Lake Traverse

· Standing Rock

· Pine Ridge

· Fort Totten

· Yankton

· Winnebago

· Omaha

· Santee

· Fort Berthold

· Cheyenne River

· Crow Creek

· Turtle Mountain

· Lower Brule

· Flandreau

3. SCOPE OF WORK

For each PEA, the Contractor shall:

1. Review the Purpose and Need and Alternatives sections and compare them with current grazing or agricultural leasing activities, applicable Tribal resolutions, Tribal-specific Agricultural Resource Management Plans (ARMPs), and updated information obtained from BIA Agency offices.

2. Coordinate with applicable BIA Agency offices to determine whether updated grazing, agricultural leasing, land management, or resource information is available.

3. Review new information identified by BIA and compare it with the Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences sections of each PEA.

4. Evaluate whether new information or changed circumstances affect the accuracy of previously analyzed direct, indirect, or cumulative impacts.

5. Evaluate whether the feasibility of the alternatives or the comparative analysis of alternatives has changed.

6. Review applicable updated information, which may include:

· Threatened and endangered species;

· Invasive species;

· Soils;

· Wetlands;

· Vegetation and rangeland conditions;

· Wildlife;

· Surface water and groundwater;

· Socioeconomic conditions;

· Agricultural and grazing practices;

· Land-use conditions;

· Management measures; and

· Other relevant environmental information.

7. Coordinate with BIA DECRM, Natural Resources, Realty, and applicable BIA Agencies as necessary to complete the reviews.

8. Prepare a written findings memorandum for each PEA summarizing the review and providing a recommendation regarding whether a supplement may be warranted.

3. SUPPLEMENTAL NEPA ANALYSIS

This SOW does not include preparation of a supplemental PEA or other supplemental NEPA document.

If the review determines that a supplement may be warranted, the Contractor shall identify the basis for that determination. Any subsequent preparation of a supplement shall require a separate scope of work and authorization by BIA.

If BIA determines that a supplement is necessary, the Contractor may provide a separate Scope of Work for consideration. Any supplemental NEPA work shall require separate authorization and funding.

4. DRAFT REVIEW AND COMMENT PROCESS

Draft findings memoranda shall be provided to:

BIA DECRM, Great Plains Regional Office;

BIA Natural Resources/Realty;

Applicable BIA Agencies; and Other BIA offices identified by DECRM.

BIA will have 15 calendar days to review and provide comments. The Contractor shall review comments, make appropriate revisions, and coordinate with BIA to finalize the documents.

5. DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide:

· Twenty-two (22) draft review memoranda;

· Twenty-two (22) final review memoranda;

· Memorandum(s) for inclusion in the Administrative Record when the analysis determines that a supplement is not needed; and

· An electronic Administrative Record containing documents and materials relied upon during the reviews.

Final memoranda shall be provided in searchable PDF and editable Microsoft Word formats.

For applicable final Administrative Record memoranda, the Contractor shall provide five (5) hard copies and one (1) electronic copy.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The Contractor shall begin work upon contract award.

All twenty-two (22) PEA reviews and final deliverables shall be completed by September 30, 2027, unless additional time is fully justified and approved by BIA.

A kickoff conference call with BIA DECRM shall be conducted prior to beginning substantive project activities.

7. BIA RESPONSIBILITIES

BIA will provide existing PEAs, supporting documentation, current grazing information, Tribal resolutions, Agricultural Resource Management Plans, and other relevant information.

BIA will retain responsibility for all Federal NEPA determinations, decisions, approvals, and signatures.

8. POINT OF CONTACT

Christie Bradford Environmental Protection Specialist Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources Management Bureau of Indian Affairs – Great Plains Regional Office 801 Mt. Rushmore Road, Suite 200 Rapid City, SD 57701 christie.bradford@bia.gov 605-226-7656 / 605-216-5093