Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method TRAINING MANUAL

Standardized Field Protocol (SFP)* (continued)
Guidance: To fill out Part II, it is necessary to conduct a field survey of the assessment area and
the areas immediately adjacent to the assessment area. A standardized protocol is necessary to
insure reproducibility of results as well as defensibility should the assessment be challenged. The
following SFP is the minimum necessary to adequately assess an area. If time allows, a more
detailed field evaluation should be employed.
A SFP is part of a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program which results
in assessments that are conducted in such a way as to insure that they are
comprehensive, repeatable, and defensible.
In addition to a SFP, training and standard scientific precautions are necessary
to insure that staff are capable of producing unbiased sampling of the
assessment area. The field methods should be calibrated on sites whose
ecological functions are known, and duplications conducted where members
of the field team assess the same areas and achieve the same results.
* The SFP is not part of Ch 62-345, but it is presented here as a tool that may be used to assist in field assessments of the project area.