Cultural Monitoring Consultations

The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) was formed under the guidelines of California Senate Bill 18 April 26, 2006, as a State Recognized Tribal Government, by the California Native American Heritage Commission. NCTC is located in San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara County CA. We are organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and dedicated to the preservation of the Chumash Culture, Heritage, and Sacred Sites.

NCTC is committed to meaningful consulting with local governments, federal and state agencies and consulting with the development community. NCTC is at the forefront of addressing environmental issues, climate change mitigation, and simultaneously supporting tribal community well-being.

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The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC), offers complete Native American consultations. These include any proposed building project, proposed project site investigations, proposed project design consultation, utilities and road placement consultation. NCTC applies Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to facilitate indigenous land restoration, including habitat restoration and permaculture.

NCTC works collaboratively on projects throughout the permitting process, including letters of consultation and support that incorporate NCTC’s values of cultural sensitivity and environmental resource protection. NCTC offers on-site comprehensive cultural resource training for construction project teams.

Please contact us before starting your plan for development in San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara Counties.

Photo Credit: Ann Kunke

NCTC Statement of Qualifications

There are two types of consultations we provide:

1. Pre-Development Consultations

Design your projects with cultural sensitivity ahead of time to save time, money, and resources. This pre-planning and development consultation is a voluntary process to streamline building and anticipate potential cultural resource obstacles. An early consultation process can help inform project design in order to avoid disturbing potential cultural resources.

2. AB-52 & Section 106 Tribal Monitoring Consultations

California Assembly Bill 52 (AB-52) was passed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to strengthen the protection of tribal cultural resources. AB 52 requires public agencies to consult with tribes during the CEQA process. NCTC is qualified to conduct these tribal consultations in compliance with CEQA.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 requires a consultation process to consider how development projects impact cultural and historical resources. NCTC is qualified to conduct tribal consultations in compliance with NHPA Section 106.

How to request a consultation?

IS THE PROJECT IN SAN LUIS OBISPO OR NORTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY?

Yes

DOES THE PROJECT INCLUDE GROUND DISTURBANCE?

Yes

Send consultation request to NCTC.

Click here to email us.

NCTC accepts these consultation requests on an individual basis.

Click here to email us.

NCTC defers to local tribes:

Click here to contact NAHC to find the tribe local to your project.

Contact us at info@northernchumash.org and ernest@northernchumash.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6533, Los Osos, CA 93412

What is the consultation process?

Phase I

California Native American Northern Chumash (CNANC), Phase I inventory survey is conducted where the results of background research suggest that CNANC resources may be present in the project area. A pedestrian survey is conducted (sometimes in tandem with limited subsurface probes) to identify CNANC resources and the results of the survey are used to recommend further investigations or mitigation measures, if necessary. If a survey is negative, for impacts to spiritual and cultural resources, often no further cultural resources work is required. If a survey is positive, then further work, such as design consultation and engineering adjustments, and construction monitoring, may be required.

Phase II

Often a Phase II of work follows a positive Phase I survey to pinpoint resources for their site research potential and historical significance. Testing provides the detailed information necessary to plan mitigation measures to protect a site and to assist applicant in their goals.

Phase III

Phase III data recovery is the last method that is used, and is often not necessary due to design adjustments, and avoidance of the resources.

NCTC’s Cultural Resource Services

CNANC Monitoring

NCTC provides flexible CNANC monitoring services during construction to identify potentially significant finds. Our Native American staff monitors/consultants are experienced in working with construction crews, and are familiar with all state safety regulations.

Preparation & Review of Environmental Documents

NCTC staff can prepare cultural resource-related information for the most common types of environmental documents required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) as well as other statutes. This includes CEQA Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements (EA/EIS), Section 106 technical reports, and compliance documentation necessary under federal, state, and local regulations.

National Register of Historic Places Significance Evaluations

NCTC is experienced in evaluating cultural resources as part of the Section 106 review and consultation process. Evaluation involves research, development of a historic context, and application of eligibility criteria to determine if a resource is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Eligible resources, known as historic properties, must be taken into consideration when a project is undertaken, funded, or permitted by a federal agency. Mitigation measures will be required if impacts to historic properties cannot be avoided.

CNANC Mitigation & Consultation Support

Working under applicable federal, state, and local requirements, NCTC will design a detailed plan for mitigating adverse effects to significant cultural resources, and provide support for consultation with agencies and Native American tribes. If data recovery excavations are required, the plan will include a research design outlining how a specific site or group of sites will be investigated and the specific research questions to be addressed.

Archival Research, Records Searches & Oral History Documentation

Archival research includes thorough investigation of libraries, archives, and government data files to collect, summarize, and interpret historic records containing information relevant to a particular project area. Oral history involves finding and interviewing individuals who possess knowledge and experience that is relevant to a particular location or time period. NCTC has extensive experience in conducting oral histories and are recognized for providing high quality research services to our clients.