(a)

1. (1)

   1. (A) The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission shall establish by rule and operate a system of fees or special charges to defray a portion of the expense of providing research services to users of the natural heritage data system.
   2. (B) Arkansas Code § 15-20-317.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Any and all moneys so collected shall be:

(i) Used solely for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of Arkansas Code § 15-20-308 (Arkansas Code § 15-20-318); and

1. (ii) Placed in an account created specifically for the continuing operation of the natural heritage data system.

   1. (B) Arkansas Code § 15-20-319.

(b) The fee schedule adopted by the commission is as follows: FEES FOR DATA RESEARCH

1. (c)
2. (1) Notwithstanding the schedule of fees detailed above, the Director of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission is authorized to enter into fixed-price contracts to provide services that go beyond retrieval of data already on hand.
3. (2) In such cases the fee will be determined through negotiation.

4. (3) The director is authorized also to negotiate agreements to supply data/information in exchange for data/information.

   1. (d)
5. (1) When requested, the commission’s staff will provide an estimate of cost prior to initiating research services.

6. (2)

   1. (A) Prepayment is not required.
   2. (B) Invoices normally are sent with the data for which the charge is made.

(e)

1. (1) Prospective users of the commission’s data services should send requests to the attention of the commission’s data manager/environmental review coordinator.

2. (2) Submissions may be made:

   1. (A) Through the United States mail; or
   2. (B) By email.

3. (3) Requests should:

   1. (A) State how the information will be used; and

   2. (B) Include project boundaries either:

      1. (i) Depicted on a United States Geological Survey topographic map; or
      2. (ii) Provided as a geographic information system layer.
4. (4) Location coordinates or a legal description (township/range/section) may be submitted if mapped boundaries are unavailable.
5. (5) Typically, a two-week turn-around period is required, but larger jobs may take longer.