Consultation Protocol Signed Between NRCS and Maine Tribe

Maine NRCS and the Penobscot Indian Nation (PIN) recently signed a Consultation Protocol with procedures for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Consultation Protocol is the first such historic preservation agreement NRCS has made with a Tribe in Maine.

l. to r. Carla Fearon, Director, Boys and Girls Club, Penobscot Indian Nation (PIN); Leroy Nicola, Tribal Council Member, PIN; Dennis Pehrson, Tribal Council Member, PIN; James Sappier, Chief, PIN; Joyce Swartzendruber, State Conservationist, NRCS; John Banks, Natural Resources Director, PIN; Dan Schmidt, District Conservationist, NRCS; Gary Shaffer, Archaeologist, NRCS

Maine State Conservationist Joyce Swartzendruber and staff members met recently at the Penobscot Indian Nation –- a federally-recognized tribe in Maine -- to formalize the Protocol with newly-elected Chief, Jim Sappier.

The purpose of the Protocol is to protect historic properties by outlining the procedures by which NRCS consults with the Penobscot Indian Nation for its undertakings on Penobscot lands in Maine. Additionally, the Protocol also helps to avoid unnecessary delays in providing customers with natural resource assistance by exempting from review certain conservation practices that are unlikely to affect historic properties. The Protocol also identifies parts of Maine, off Tribal lands, where the Penobscot Indian Nation will be consulted on NRCS projects concerning their effects on land of traditional religious and cultural significance.

Visit the NRCS Maine Web site.

During the meeting, Joyce Swartzendruber presented Chief Sappier with a signed, framed copy of the 2004 Native American Month poster, created by a member of the Penobscot Indian Nation.
Your contact is Elaine Tremble, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 207-990-9569, or elaine.tremble@me.usda.gov.