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Cultural Resources Guidelines and Policy Development Services

Laws requiring the identification and preservation of cultural resources are constantly changing. To help agencies follow all legal regulations before approving a new project, the Cultural Resources Department at ECORP Consulting provides Cultural Resources Guidelines and Policy Development Services.

The preparation of cultural resources protocols requires far more than just a solid archaeological background – it requires expertise in cultural resources laws and regulations, planning law, and CEQA, which is a unique skill set not common among archaeological consultants. However, ECORP has the experience preparing guidelines and protocols for cultural resources, tribal consultation, and monitoring for jurisdictions across the state.

Management Plans, Resource Guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures for Project Proponents

Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and local regulations can benefit from the preparation of Cultural Resources Management Plans (CRMP) and Historic Preservation Plans (HPP).

These plans are designed to: 

ECORP drafts Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure that project proponents and lead agencies remain in compliance with CEQA, NEPA, and other relevant laws. This includes protecting cultural resources at a project site but extends to all other environmental resources as well including biological resourcesair qualitywater qualitynoise and groundbourne vibrations, and others.

SOPs drafted by ECORP are designed to protect, monitor, and mitigate damage to all cultural and environmental resources as required by CEQA/NEPA.

Construction monitoring for sensitive species protection in compliance with CEQA
Construction monitoring for sensitive species protection in compliance with CEQA.

Cultural Resources Guidelines and Policy Development Services for Government Agencies

Additionally, ECORP works with government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels and help draft standard operating procedures and agency-approved guidelines for implementing state and local laws and regulations.

For example, the City of Carlsbad retained ECORP to update its existing and outdated cultural resources guidelines to comply with more recent changes to state law and City policy. The update was developed by ECORP, in consultation with City staff, tribes, and the public to:

Merit Award by the California Association of Environmental Professionals for Environmental Resource Document awarded to ECORP in 2018
ECORP was awarded Merit Award by the California Association of Environmental Professionals for Environmental Resource Document in 2018 for the completion of the Carlsbad Tribal, Cultural, and Paleontological Resources Guidelines.

The Guidelines were awarded a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Planning Document for a Plan, Policy or Ordinance from the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Environmental Professionals in 2017. The Guidelines were further recognized with a Merit Award by the California Association of Environmental Professionals for Environmental Resource Document in 2018.

Drafting and Updating Municipal Codes

At the local level, we draft or update municipal codes for county and city governments to help manage cultural resources within the municipality. This is necessary when state laws change over time, resulting in a conflict between a municipal code and state law. ECORP assists agencies in reviewing their existing municipal code and providing updated language for approval regarding:

Native American Tribal consultation meeting completed in accordance with California Senate Bill 18
Native American Tribal consultation meeting completed in accordance with California Senate Bill 18.

National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 Compliance

ECORP architectural historian performing an evaluation of historically significant elements of the built environment
ECORP architectural historian performing an evaluation of historically significant elements of the built environment.

Of the many outcomes of Section 106 consultation, federal agencies may be required to develop and execute agreements, such as:

The development and negotiation of MOAs and PAs requires a sophisticated knowledge of laws, coupled with extensive experience in Cultural Resources Management (CRM) which is uncommon among CRM firms. ECORP’s Cultural Resources Department, however, includes a team of skilled archaeologists, architectural historians, and cultural resources consultants who have successfully developed, negotiated, and filed MOAs, PAs, and HPMPs for projects across California.

Contact ECORP For Cultural Resources Guidelines and Policy Development Services

To learn more about how ECORP can help you to comply with all the required cultural resources guidelines, contact ECORP Consulting today