U.S. Department of the Interior

As a Primary Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) often provides the Natural and Cultural Resources (NCR) Recovery Support Function (RSF) Field Coordinator, as well as Subject Matter Experts from DOI Bureaus and Offices who might be deployed or work remotely to support recovery activities. Before and after a disaster, DOI has only limited resources and legal authorities to support Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Local, State, Tribal, Territorial, and Insular Area governments. As the NCR RSF Primary Agency, DOI:

  • Coordinates with Local, State, Tribal, Territorial, and Insular Area governments and other partners and stakeholders to ensure actions taken during recovery operations consider NCR.
  • Monitors the situation following a declared disaster or emergency and provides technical assistance and subject matter expertise in assessing impacts on NCR.
  • Shares best practices and assists in the development of programmatic approaches to address NCR issues.
  • Provides technical expertise on National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act compliance.
  • Provides subject matter expertise in stabilizing landscapes, restoring watersheds, and project management.
  • Provides feedback to planning and preparedness activities to mitigate future NCR damage.
  • Provides Subject Matter Experts to conduct the damage assessment of the NCR impacted by a disaster.
  • Coordinates and facilitates meetings with NCR RSF partners and stakeholders for data sharing and integration through Headquarters’ remote support or ad hoc deployment of a Field Coordinator to the Joint Field Office (JFO).
  • Provides a Field Coordinator and/or Subject Matter Experts either through remote support or deployment to JFOs to provide technical assistance on NCR recovery issues, identify resources and programs that are available, and develop and implement aRecovery Support Strategy Report.
  • Participates or coordinates assistance, as requested, in the Unified Federal Review and provides staff support for a Unified Federal Review Advisor if FEMA requests additional assistance.
  • Provides consultation, coordination, and technical assistance to American Indians, Alaska Natives, the Native Hawaiian Community, and Pacific Islanders of the Insular Areas to develop policies and procedures to address emergency management issues.

In DOI’s role as a Primary Agency, the following DOI Bureaus and Offices provide assistance, subject to the availability of funds and authorization:

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
  • Fish and Wildlife Service
  • National Park Service
  • Office of Insular Affairs
  • Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
  • U.S. Geological Survey

For more information on assistance that may be provided by these DOI Bureaus and Offices, see the NCR RSF Concept of Operations Plan.

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