Appendix_A_Chewelah_BPA.pdf

Appendix A

Chewelah A to Z Stewardship BPA

Pacific Northwest Region

Colville National Forest

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Appendix A Chewelah A to Z Stewardship BPA, Colville National Forest i

Contents Performance Work Statement

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Scope of Project

2.1 Objectives

3.0 Scope of Services

3.1 Project Manager / National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Specialist

3.2 Writer-editor

3.3 Resource Specialists

3.4 Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst

3.5 Pre- and Post-sale Forester

4.0 Personnel Provided by the USDA Forest Service

4.1 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

4.2 Responsible Official (Three Rivers District Ranger)

4.3 Resource Specialists

5.0 Government Property

6.0 Summary of Tasks and Technical Specifications

6.1 Orientation

6.2 Supporting Analysis and Documentation

6.3 Project Record

6.4 Coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative

6.5 Coordination with the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team

6.6 Approval from the Responsible Official

6.7 Resource Areas of Concern

6.8 Biological Evaluations and Biological Assessments (BE/BAs)

6.9 Background and Support Materials for the Environmental Documents

6.10 Collecting and Incorporating Comments from the Public

6.11 Analysis of the comments received during the comment period

6.12 Draft and Final EA/EIS distribution

6.13 News Media

6.14 Mailing List Management

6.15 Roads Analysis Report

7.0 Documentation

8.0 Documentation Sent to the Forest Service

8.1 Meeting Notes

8.2 Work Plan

8.3 Miscellaneous Public Involvement Documents

8.4 Draft EA/EIS

8.5 Biological Evaluations and Biological Assessments

8.6 Draft Specialist Reports

8.7 Final Specialist's Reports

8.8 Final EA/EIS

8.9 Decision Notice and FONSI or ROD

8.10 Comment Period Responses

8.11 Roads Analysis Report (RAR)

8.12 Project Record

9.0 Authorities

10.0 Contractor Quality Control

11.0 Government Quality Assurance

ii

12.0 SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRE-TREATMENT SERVICES

12.1 Unit Layout

12.2 Unit Boundaries

12.3 Unit Area Determination

12.4 Tree Marking

12.5 Timber Cruising

12.6 Road Construction and Re-Construction

12.7 Property Line Establishment and Maintenance

12.8 Restoration Services

12.9 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans

Region 6 Administrative Review/NEPA Review Checklist – revised February 2019 General Purpose and Need (Need for the proposal) Proposed Action Issues Alternatives Environmental Consequences

General Vegetation/Wildlife/TES Watershed/Aquatic Tribal/Social/Economic/Recreation Roads/Roadless Specifically Required Disclosures Draft Decision Documents

Final Overall Questions Objection Process

Responses to Objection Points Provide support during week of Administrative Review Team review Revision of project record documents based on findings of the review team, and instructions from the Regional Forester

Line Officer Checkpoints

Performance Work Statement

1.0 Introduction

The purpose of this solicitation is to secure professional services in forestry, hydrology, silviculture, soils, fire/fuels, wildlife biology, fisheries biology, heritage, recreation, scenery, transportation, logging systems, writing/editing, GIS applications, and other disciplines as necessary to prepare an environmental analysis and pre- and post-harvest services in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) pertaining to vegetation and access management on the Three Rivers Ranger District.

2.0 Scope of Project

The scope of the solicitation is to develop a project that meets the needs of the planning area, outlined below under objectives. Further, the contractor selected will prepare environmental documents and provide pre- and post-sale services that move the planning area toward the desired condition identified in the environmental analysis. Services could include road construction, reconstruction, maintenance and decommissioning; harvest unit design and layout; timber cruising; mechanical fuel reduction; pre-commercial thinning; and tree planting for the Chewelah A to Z Stewardship project area.

2.1 Objectives

• Provide wood fiber that contributes to the economic and social well-being within Stevens County and the surrounding area.

• Generate revenue to help finance pre- and post-harvest activities identified within the environmental documents.

• Manage timber stands to improve their productivity and move toward the desired conditions as per Colville Forest Plan direction.

• Reduce the risk of severe, stand replacement fire within the Addy, North Fork Chewelah Creek, and South Fork Chewelah Creek watersheds and surrounding area.

• Reduce the severity of insect and disease activity within the Addy, North Fork Chewelah Creek, and South Fork Chewelah Creek watersheds and surrounding area.

• Manage roads and OHV trails as per Colville Forest Plan direction.

• Improve water quality and potential habitat for anadromous and inland fish species.

• Improve security and thermal cover and forage for big game species.

• Evaluate needs of recreational users, and opportunities to improve or create additional recreational infrastructure.

3.0 Scope of Services

The contractors general role as an independent contractor will be to work cooperatively with and under the direction of the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) to prepare environmental documents that meet the standards set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act, 40 CFR §1500-1508, forest service regulations 36 CFR 220 and Forest Service policy (identified in FSH 1909.15). The contractor shall furnish all labor, personnel, supervision, materials, supplies, tools, equipment, computers, transportation, travel, and incidentals to perform all work necessary for completion of the environmental documents and pre-and post-harvest services as described within this solicitation. The required services consist of the following in which one person may hold more than one position, if qualified:

3.1 Project Manager / National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Specialist The contractor shall provide a Project Manager/NEPA Specialist with expertise in managing a team of specialists and the NEPA process. The Project Manager is responsible for:

1. Ensuring contractors interdisciplinary team (IDT) meets scheduled deadlines.

2. Ensuring environmental documents prepared by the contractors IDT are complete and adhere to NEPA regulations, Colville Forest Plan standards, and all applicable Forest Service regulations and policies.

3. Working closely with the Forest Services contracting officer’s representative (COR) to ensure potential roadblocks for meeting deadlines are addressed early on to minimize potential delays.

4. Facilitating public meetings in Colville, WA and surrounding area, prior to and following issuance of the draft environmental documents. The project manager is also required to adhere to applicable administrative review processes, either: 36CFR 215.1-215.7 Notice and Comment (http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/applit/36cfr215.htm) or 36 CFR 218 (http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/applit/36cfr218a.htm) and Forest Service Handbook 1509.12.

5. Identifying and responding to substantive comments received on the draft environmental documents then compiling and editing responses to those comments supplied by the appropriate contractors IDT members.

6. Meeting with Forest Service personnel and U.S. Fish and Wildlife personnel at Level I consultation meetings to discuss the proposals anticipated effects to terrestrial (wildlife and botanical) and aquatic species.

7. Providing the necessary information that will allow the Forest Service to initiate formal ‘government to government’ consultation with the following regional tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Spokane Tribe and Kalispel Tribe.

8. Providing the necessary information for the Forest Service to meet Washington State Historical Society Preservation Office (SHPO) Section 106 standards.

9. Collaborating with interested publics including representatives from the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition (NEWFC).

3.2 Writer-editor

The contractor shall provide a writer-editor who is skilled at preparing complex environmental documents. The writer-editor is responsible for:

1. Organizing, writing, and editing documents and sections of documents required by NEPA regulations.

2. Maintaining a project record that adheres to Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region 6 guidelines.

3. Taking accurate notes of all contractors IDT meetings and public meetings following issuance of the draft environmental documents.

4. Developing and organizing public contact mailing list. This list will be based on the most current mailing list maintained by the Forest Service. The contractor will request the latest mailing list prior to any mailings associated with this project.

http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/applit/36cfr215.htm http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/applit/36cfr218a.htm

3.3 Resource Specialists

The contractor shall provide resource specialists with expertise in preparing Forest Service environmental analysis documents. Experience working in Eastern Washington/North Idaho forests is preferred.

Generally, the makeup of interdisciplinary teams for similar projects on the Colville National Forest includes: an aquatics biologist (emphasis on fisheries), a soils scientist, a terrestrial wildlife biologist, a botanist, a forester, a silviculturist, a fire/fuels specialist, a transportation specialist, a pre-sale forester, GIS specialist, and an archeologist. With the specific nature of this project there will need to be an evaluation of recreation affects and opportunities, rangeland and invasive species effects. The resource specialists are responsible for:

1. Completing all required specialist input for the project record that contains all information required for the needed disclosure of effects (to identified issues) in the environmental documents. Specialists may need to provide a detailed affected environment and environmental consequences section and will focus their discussion on those effects and their significance.

2. Gathering references to support conclusions made through their specialist input, citing the references as appropriate, providing a bibliography of all references used, and providing an electronic copy of all references, or a website location where the reference may be found, cited for inclusion in the project record.

3. Working closely with the contractors IDT, all speciali st input should be evaluated as to whether it is integrated with the other areas of analysis.

4. Providing professional judgment within the specialist input as to the projects compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and policy. These include, but are not limited to, the Colville National Forest’s Forest Plan, the Clean Water Act, Executive Orders 11988 and 11990, Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act. This will include providing rationale and documentation in support of the professional judgment.

5. Identifying, mapping (GIS) and classifying all surveyed areas within the project specific to the individual resource.

6. Providing support during public meetings if needed, reviewing and addressing public comments, providing input for development of additional alternatives, providing support for objections if received for the project, and working closely with local Forest Service personnel to gain knowledge of local conditions an needs for the project.

3.4 Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst

The contractor shall provide a GIS analyst with expertise in entering data into GIS and preparing maps and reports. The GIS analyst is responsible for:

1. Maintaining a GIS database compatible with ESRI ArcGIS for the project that is capable of analyzing all relevant data as required by each IDT member.

2. Ensuring all GIS files developed for the project are provided back to the Forest Service in a format compatible with ESRI ArcGIS.

3. Ensuring all Forest Service provided GIS files are returned to the Forest Service upon completion of the contract.

3.5 Pre- and Post-sale Forester

The contractor shall provide a pre-sale forester or equivalent with expertise in preparing a logging systems and economics report for NEPA documents. The pre- and post-sale forester is responsible for:

1. Completing specialist input for the project record that contains all information required for full disclosure of effects (to identified issues) in the environmental documents. Specialist will provide a detailed Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences section.

2. Gathering references to support conclusions made in their specialist report, citing the references as appropriate, providing a bibliography of all references used, and providing a copy of all references cited for inclusion in the project record.

3. Working closely with the contractor’s IDT to ensure the logging systems and economic input is integrated with the other aspects of the project.

4. Creating design and layout of project area harvest units. Determining harvest systems, specifications and costs. Locating, mapping (GPS) and marking (flagging, paint, signs or otherwise approved) harvest unit boundaries. Ensuring harvest systems and unit boundaries meet NEPA and Colville NF standards.

5. Designating harvest unit trees. Developing marking guides based on the silvicultural prescription and harvest system. Ensuring tree designations (e.g. LTM, D x D, D x Pre) meet requirements identified in project’s decision document and Colville NF standards (FSM 2430, FSM 2440, and FSH 2409.12).

6. Creating design and layout of project area post-harvest thinning and planting projects. Identifying, locating (GPS) and marking (flagging, tags or otherwise as approved) all sites proposed for thinning and planting.

4.0 Personnel Provided by the USDA Forest Service

4.1 Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

The COR will be the point of contact between the contractor and the Forest Service for the oversight of the contract. The COR is responsible for:

1. Acting as the Forest Service liaison for all contact with the contractor regarding the scope of work.

2. Providing the contractor with any existing data for the project.

3. Monitoring the contractor’s progress on the project.

4. Inspecting the quality of the analysis and specialists input.

5. Reviewing the documentation (specialists reports, NEPA documents, biological analysis and biological effects (BAs/BEs, record of decision (ROD), and roads analysis report (RAR)) to ensure it is concise, complete, and adequate for the decision to be made.

6. Inspecting the contractors analysis and documentation to ensure it complies completely with the requirements of NEPA and CEQ Regulations.

7. Keeping the Forest Services contracting officer (CO) informed of contract compliance.

4.2 Responsible Official (Three Rivers District Ranger)

The responsible official will:

1. Provide clear direction on expectations (leader’s intent) for the level of analysis. This will ensure the IDT is doing only what analysis is necessary to address the issue(s) and is critical to rightsizing the Forest Service’s NEPA process.

2. Encourage communication and facilitate collaborative spirit.

3. Ensure roles and responsibilities of IDT members, both from the selected contractor and on the Colville National Forest, are understood for the Chewelah Project.

4. Task the team with identifying potential vulnerabilities. Discuss risks and take risks while ensuring that the environmental analysis documentation covers what is needed and identify the specific risks of less documentation.

5. Direct timelines for all aspects of project planning including left side surveys, project development, NEPA, project preparation, implementation and monitoring.

6. Make sure that the level of analysis being conducted aligns with the scale and complexity of the project being planned.

7. Review affected environment and environmental consequences of the draft environmental document.

8. Review the draft environmental document prior to printing and distribution;

9. Review comments received on the draft environmental document and contractors recommendations after consideration of these comments;

10. If formal consultation is required, review the contractors biological effects and biological analyses (BEs/BAs) prior to submission to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;

11. Review contractors final roads analysis report (RAR);

12. Review final environmental documents prior to printing and distribution;

13. Review the project record and insure that all Government furnished and project related materials are received by the Forest Service;

14. After consideration of all materials provided, including relevant effects, public input, and consistency with law and regulation, will sign the appropriate decision document.

4.3 Resource Specialists

Forest Service resource specialists that may be assigned to provide oversight of the contractors IDT include: a NEPA coordinator, pre-sale forester, archeologist, soil/water specialist, fisheries biologist, silviculturist, fire/fuels specialist, wildlife biologist, and GIS analyst. Additional specialists may include, but are not limited to: a botanist, range conservationist, road engineer, writer-editor, and recreation specialist.

5.0 Government Property

Title to Government-furnished property shall remain with the Government. The contractor shall use the Government-furnished property only in connection with this contract. This includes use of electronic data.

Upon delivery of government-furnished property to the contractor, the contractor assumes the risk and responsibility for its loss or damage.

All documents and records generated or used to complete this contract will be made part of the official project record and will remain official Government property to be turned over to the Forest Service upon completion of this contract or upon request by the Forest Service. The contractor may not release the project record to anyone outside the Forest Service. Instructions and specifications for the project record format and filing structure will be provided by the Forest.

Documents and records generated or used to complete this contract may be subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), unless FOIA regulations specifically exempt their release. All FOIA requests from the public for information related to this project will be administered by the COR. Project documents used or developed by the contractor shall be made available to the Forest Service upon request. No documents are to be released by the contractor to anyone outside the Forest Service unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

6.0 Summary of Tasks and Technical Specifications

The contractor shall be responsible for completing the following tasks and meeting the technical specifications herein:

6.1 Orientation

Attend a pre-work conference and at least one field trip with the COR and supporting Forest Service staff to gain familiarity with the project area, environmental conditions, and proposed treatment actions.

6.2 Supporting Analysis and Documentation

All field data, project documents and reports and references sufficient to support the environmental analysis and decision shall be submitted to the Forest Service upon request. Field data, project documents and reports and references shall not be released to outside organizations or agencies without written consent from the Forest Service.

6.3 Project Record

The project record shall include all field data, project documents and reports and references. This information shall be used by the responsible official to help evaluate all the relevant issues, concerns and alternatives and make a reasoned decision. The project record is used to defend the decision under the Forest Services administrative objection processes and in court if the decision is further challenged.

It is essential that the NEPA process for any proposal made by the Forest Service is well documented and organized. Short time frames involved with objections and litigation necessitate a systematically organized, readily accessible record. The contractor shall place all documents generated or used for the development of the environmental documents, and BEs/BAs into a concise and well curated project record. The project record shall use the file folder structure and specifications provided by the Forest.

Documents may occur in all acceptable formats (hard copy paper, digital etc.) and may include: papers, published studies, books, reference maps, written and electronic correspondence, final computer runs, etc.

The Forest Service will maintain these as part of the project record. Forest Service requires planning records to be able to stand on their own during objection or litigation challenges. Should the contractor have numerous large documents such as books that need to go into the planning record, the contractor should provide electronic copies and/or photocopy the portion of the documents used in analyses and photocopy the cover of the documents and Library of Congress page in books.

6.4 Coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative Communicate at least bi-monthly (i.e. every other week) with the COR to coordinate activities, and provide updates of progress and key developments, using phone, e-mail, or site visits. The contractor is responsible for communicating directly with the COR to request specific information required from the Forest Service. Requests for information from the Forest Service will be made in writing or e-mail and include specifications regarding format and content with a not-to-exceed due date for receiving the information. The COR may need to schedule one-on-one meetings with individual specialists in order to clarify information.

6.5 Coordination with the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team Call, e-mail, and meet with the Forest Service frequently between meetings to get feedback, check progress on tasks, and keep everyone informed and involved. The COR will relay requests/info to Forest Service IDT personnel and will inform the contractor when they can contact Forest Service personnel without going through the COR first.

6.6 Approval from the Responsible Official

The contractor shall request signed approval from the responsible official or their delegate for the following documents:

1. Proposed action. Develop a proposed action that responds to an identified need for moving the landscape towards the desired condition.

2. Project scope. Establish the scope of the environmental analysis, including the scope of the actions, alternatives, and effects (40 CFR 1508.25).

3. External engagement strategy and scoping method. Ensure that an appropriate level of scoping occurs (36 CFR 220.4(e)). Ensure that the public is kept informed of the progress of the environmental analysis commensurate with the public interest in the proposed action and through the Schedule of Proposed Actions (36 CFR 220.4(d)).

4. Interdisciplinary approach. Identify a systematic, interdisciplinary approach, with a team, team leader, and formal plan of work, as needed (40 CFR 1501.2(a) and 40 CFR 1502.6).

5. Issues. Identify the issues to be analyzed in depth (40 CFR 1501.7).

6. Preferred alternative. Identify the preferred alternative in an environmental impact statement (EIS)

(40 CFR 1502.14).

7. Analysis of effects. Ensure that the effects analyses address all legal and regulatory requirements and ensure that the levels of accuracy and precision are consistent with the methods and technology used (40 CFR 1502.16 and 40 CFR 1502.24)

8. Environmental document review. Complete the environmental document review before making a decision on the proposal (36 CFR 220.4(c))

9. Consideration of comments. Consider environmental documents, public and agency comments (if any) on those documents, and agency responses to those comments (36 CFR 220.4(c))

10. Project Record. Include environmental documents, comments, and responses in the administrative record (36 CFR 220.4(c))

11. Consideration of alternatives. Consider the alternatives analyzed in environmental document(s) before rendering a decision on the proposal (36 CFR 220.4(c)).

12. Alternative selection. Make a decision encompassed within the range of alternatives analyzed in the environmental documents (36 CFR 220.4(c))

13. Monitoring. Provide for monitoring to assure that decisions are carried out in important cases and make sure mitigation measures are implemented.

6.7 Resource Areas of Concern

Issues have not been identified yet. Until scoping is completed by the contractor, the following resource areas will likely need to be analyzed by the contractor. Issues to analyze may change from this list and may include more issues or fewer issues than those included in the following list. The Forest Service responsible official provides final approval of critical issues.

1. Water Quality - The proposal may adversely affect water quality.

a. Net result in road miles including decommissioning.

b. Net result in number of identified road concerns and stream crossing concerns, tied through planned maintenance, repair, and decommissioning.

2. Fisheries Resource - The proposal may adversely affect aquatic habitats for native fishes.

a. Pool frequency.

b. Large woody debris.

c. Fine sediment levels.

d. Channel connectivity.

e. Viability of native fish species.

3. Forest Vegetation

a. Forest stand susceptibility to insects and disease, and stand replacement crown fire.

b. The forest vegetation assessment should also include an assessment on stand structure, species composition, and departure from historic conditions.

c. Acres of forest stands proposed for treatment and the effects of those treatments.

d. Acres of insect and disease high-risk stands receiving treatment to improve these conditions.

4. Fire and Fuels

a. Relative risk of crown fire to private lands, homes, powerlines and other infrastructures.

b. Acres moved towards historic fire regimes, and acres treated by fire condition class and fire regime.

c. Acres of low, moderate and high-fire risk stands proposed for treatments.

5. Wildlife Resource -The proposal may adversely impact abundance, distribution, and structure of terrestrial species habitat (endangered and threatened, Colville National Forest sensitive, and management indicator species) and the continued capability of the watershed to support viable populations.

a. Net result in road miles (open and restricted) including decommissioning (tied to road density related to wildlife habitat requirements).

b. Acres and percent change in suitable habitat for Colville National Forest wildlife management indicator species (MIS).

c. Acres and percent change in suitable habitat for federally listed and Colville National Forest sensitive wildlife species.

6. Roads and Access Management

a. The level of road construction, reconstruction and decommissioning needed to improve aquatic and terrestrial species may impact some Forest users ability to access the area by motorized vehicle.

b. Miles of road reconstruction and decommissioning.

c. Miles of road open to the public.

7. Economics/Socio-Economics - The proposal has potential to influence income and jobs.

a. Income – Direct and indirect jobs related to implementation of project activities.

b. Sale value.

c. Costs and revenues of all proposed project activities.

8. Recreation - Potential to affect recreation activities in the project area.

a. Opportunities to evaluate for new or modification of existing recreation opportunities.

b. This portion will likely focus on the 49N Ski Area, but other potential exists that can be explored.

6.8 Biological Evaluations and Biological Assessments (BE/BAs) Write the BEs/BAs for Section 7 Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The BAs for consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will address effects the proposed selected alternative will have on terrestrial (botanical and wildlife) ESA listed species. The BEs will address the effects the alternatives analyzed in detail will have on sensitive terrestrial (botanical and terrestrial) and aquatic species. The BEs/BAs shall be in accordance with the following:

1. Contracted fisheries biologist, wildlife biologist, and forest vegetation specialist shall be qualified biologists and silviculturist with at least a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences.

2. The contractor shall collect necessary data including interviewing knowledgeable individuals to prepare the BEs/BAs.

3. Unless formal consultation is required the contractor shall submit the BE/BA plus cover letter to the Forest Service.

4. The contractor may talk directly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; however, the COR shall be kept informed of pertinent issues and developments.

5. The action area for impacts analysis shall center on the project area, but may include as much area as required to fully analyze the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the Forest Service preferred alternative (i.e. discussions of impacts in the BAs may include the entire range of a species).

6. The BAs shall contain the standard BA requirements found in FSM 2672.4.

7. The Forest Service will approve the determinations of effect.

Formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be the responsibility of the Forest Service. The BAs will be provided to the Forest Service in a final form and acceptable for submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

6.9 Background and Support Materials for the Environmental

Documents Support materials may be separate documents such as technical reports. Support materials may be included in the environmental documents by reference. Support data may be included in an appendix or placed in the project record. The purpose of background and support materials shall be to provide backup data for the environmental analysis while minimizing the length of the document, reducing the amount of technical information of interest to a limited audience, and/or organizing information so it is available if requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Technical reports, background and support materials, by reference, shall be an extension of the environmental documents. Important conclusions shall be incorporated into the NEPA document along with the cause and effect relationship. An exhaustive description of resource data that is not pertinent to the decision to be made is not appropriate in the environmental documents.

6.10 Collecting and Incorporating Comments from the Public

The term "public" includes whoever wants to receive a copy of a Forest Service released document or whoever has expressed an interest in the project during any portion of the project development or analysis. Public comments may range from corrections to grammar and punctuation to discrepancies with technical and scientific information. Depending on the number of people who make comments throughout the process, the task of collecting and incorporating applicable comments may be substantial. The Forest Service as lead agency, and the contractor, must consider comments that may come from the public, local and state government agencies, other Federal agencies, and industry. Depending on the nature of the comments, the changes may need to be extensive to the analysis document. As a result, the contractor may not be able to complete the draft of the document in the timeframes initially agreed upon. Therefore, some slip in the timeline may result in order to complete a document that meets the needs of the responsible official. Potential problems or delays to the timelines shall be communicated to the COR as soon as possible.

6.11 Analysis of the comments received during the comment period The contractor shall compile and analyze comments received on the draft EA/EIS released for a 30-day EA comment period or 45-day comment period for an EIS (36 CFR 215 or 36 CFR 218). The Forest Service will review the list of substantive comments prior to the contractor initiating responses. After completing analysis, review and comment, the Forest Service may provide review and feedback prior to signing off on their completion. After review by the Forest Service, the comment letters will be scanned and, along with the contractors responses (after Forest Service approval), will become an appendix to the decision document. All public comments received shall become part of the project record. If comments on the draft EA/EIS are extensive and require substantial changes to the draft EA/EIS, the Forest Service may require a supplemental draft EA/EIS be prepared and sent out for another 30 or 45-day comment period prior to preparing the final EA/EIS.

6.12 Draft and Final EA/EIS distribution

The contractor will complete, including formatting, a draft and final EA/EIS for public distribution. The contractor will furnish distribution-ready review copies of each draft and final versions to the Forest Service for approval prior to the contractor printing them for distribution. The document is expected to include both black and white, and color reproductions.

6.13 News Media

The contractor is responsible for preparing any information for release to the news media; however, the contractor shall release no information directly or indirectly without prior written approval from the Forest Service. The contractor is not authorized to disseminate information to the public, verbally or in writing without prior written approval from the Forest Service.

6.14 Mailing List Management

The contractor shall provide the Forest Service with a list of members of the public who contact the contractor and desire to receive a copy of the draft or final EA/EIS.

6.15 Roads Analysis Report

The contractor will complete a roads analysis report for the project area that follows the six-step roads analysis procedure outlined in Forest Service Handbook 7709.55, and Misc. Report FS-643. The roads analysis report will be a separate document from the EA/EIS. The roads analysis report must be concise and consistent with the final EA/EIS.

7.0 Documentation

1. Documents produced by the contractor shall be submitted to the Forest Service in Microsoft Word format, using a minimum of 11-point, serif fonts (such as New Times Roman, Book Antigua, or Garamond). Maps within the documents shall be in a bitmap or jpg format. The Contractor is encouraged to e-mail draft and final documents in order to expedite Forest Service reviews. Edits to Microsoft Word documents will be made using the "track changes" feature of Microsoft Word. All documents shall be 508 compliant.

2. The EA/EIS and all associated documents developed for public distribution shall be written in a manner that facilitates public review and understanding.

a. The EA/EIS shall be concise public documents. Rather than the documents consisting entirely of long narratives, use bulleted or numbered statements where appropriate, and display quantitative data in tables or charts, where they may aid in public review and understanding.

b. Use a simple and consistent outline format throughout the document, with clear headings and sub-headings

c. Avoid using Forest Service or bureaucratic jargon or acronyms. Where a technical term is needed, include a brief, simple translation of the term within the context where it is used, to avoid the reader having to rely entirely on the glossary.

d. Translate technical or jargon-filled language into plain, easy to understand language.

e. Technical reports are required to be clear, concise and well-organized.

f. The environmental effects1 analysis shall contain: rationale, professional judgments and scientific studies that support the conclusions, which help shed light on the degree of uncertainty or reliability of effects analysis.

i. Explain the action or cause for each environmental effect.

ii. Describe location, magnitude/intensity, and general duration of environmental effects.

iii. Describe direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects.

iv. Avoid repetition. Focus on differences in effects among fully developed alternatives, so readers may easily contrast and compare alternatives, based on the effects described.

v. Incorporate scientific material by reference, by summarizing and citing appropriate literature. References will be listed as an appendix to the EA/EIS.

3. The EA/EIS shall be site-specific to the location described in section C of the solicitation.

4. The affected environment shall be combined with environmental consequences.

5. The format of the EA/EIS shall follow what is outlined in the regulations (at CFR 220.7 Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice). The Forest Service will provide the templates for the analysis documents. Changes should occur only after input from the deciding official and approved by the COR.

6. The draft DN/FONSI or ROD will be written in coordination with the Forest Service personnel; with the Three Rivers District Ranger specifically writing the rationale for the decision.

1 The term "environmental effect" is synonymous with "environmental impact". The analysis of environmental effects shall be conducted in the context of impacts on the "human environment" as described in 40 CFR § 1508.14.

8.0 Documentation Sent to the Forest Service

Project documents shall be addressed as follows:

USDA-Forest Service Republic Ranger District Attn: Lisa Larsen 650 East Delaware Ave.

Republic, WA 99166 Voice: (509) 775-7454 E-mail: lisa.larsen@usda.gov

Delivered documents shall be in the form of paper copies, facsimiles, and/or electronic copies as specified. Electronic word processing documents shall be Microsoft Word. Where multiple copies are indicated, it will be understood these are to be paper copies. Elsewhere where copy media is unspecified by the Forest Service, it will be the option of the contractor to provide the materials by either paper copy or electronic copy. For enhanced communication and to minimize time constraints, it is anticipated and desired that many transmittals will be via electronic mail.

If consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required the Forest Service will review all materials and send to US Fish and Wildlife Service. Generally, one review will be sufficient prior to accepting materials. However, based upon the amount or complexity of the Forest Services revision comments, the Forest Service shall have the option of reviewing drafts until they are revised to the Forest Services satisfaction .

All EIS documents shall be published to the standards outlined within the Federal Register Drafting Handbook. Mailings shall be by United Parcel Service (UPS) or Federal Express (Fed Ex).

All GIS data developed by the contractor shall meet Forest Service accuracy standards for geographic data and shall be provided electronically to the Forest Service. Forest Service uses ESRI Arc GIS version 10.

8.1 Meeting Notes

The contractor shall provide a copy of meeting notes (both internal with Forest Service personnel and external with the members of the public) within 5 working days following each meeting during the lifetime of the project. The notes do not become "official" until the Forest Service has an opportunity to review them. Generally, the review will be 5 days or less from time of receipt. Once "official", the notes shall be placed in the project record.

8.2 Work Plan

Within 30 days of issuance of the task order, the contractor shall submit a work plan. The work plan shall be a comprehensive plan and schedule for completion of all aspects of the task order. The work plan shall account for all the tasks within the scope of the task order, deliverables listed, preparation time, and review time for each draft by the Forest Service. The work plan shall include an assessment of the existing data, preliminary identification of additional data needs for the EA/EIS, BEs/BAs, and RAR, and preliminary identification of specific technical reports required for the environmental assessment.

8.3 Miscellaneous Public Involvement Documents

The contractor shall be prepared to develop presentation components for public meetings, workshops, newsletters, small group presentations, field trips, news releases, mailings, paid newspaper advertisements, radio announcements, Federal Register notices, brochures/booklets/pamphlets, public meeting transcripts, and informal contacts. Any such documents produced by the contractor shall be provided to the Forest Service for review prior to their release or use. The contractor shall provide the Forest Service with copies of all final public involvement documents upon their release or execution.

8.4 Draft EA/EIS

The contractor shall develop and provide one electronic copy and one hard copy of the draft EA/EIS for internal review by the Forest Service COR, specialists, and the responsible official or their delegated official. The draft EA/EIS shall follow the template provided by the Forest Service, and it shall be complete. Any graphics within the document shall be inserted as a bitmap or jpg format. The maps shall also be provided as separate PDF files. Support materials shall be arranged in appendices or separate reports and files that are in the project record. Information needed to immediately interpret or understand the EA/EIS shall be contained in an appendix. Specialist reports shall be stand-alone documents, included in the EA/EIS by reference. Relevant information from these reports should be integrated in the EA/EIS.

8.5 Biological Evaluations and Biological Assessments

The contractor shall write the biological assessments (BAs) for Section 7 Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the biological evaluations (BEs) for sensitive species. The BAs shall be based on the preferred alternative and the BEs shall be based on the alternatives analyzed in detail.

8.6 Draft Specialist Reports

Resources tied to potentially significant issues may require separate specialist reports. These reports shall be written to meet requirements identified in 40 CFR §1500-1508, 36 CFR 220, FSM and FSH. Upon request, one copy of each shall be submitted prior to submission of the draft EA/EIS and final EA/EIS.

Concurrence on the analysis methods and conclusions within the draft reports by the Forest Service shall be a prerequisite prior to the contractor submitting the draft EA/EIS and the final EA/EIS for Forest Service review.

8.7 Final Specialist's Reports

The contractor shall revise the specialist reports to incorporate comments/issues from the public and the internal scoping/comment process and include a final, signed and dated original in the project record, prior to the release of the draft EA/EIS for the comment period. If changes are made between the comment period and final EA/EIS, a supplement to the specialist report shall be included with the original report in the project record.

8.8 Final EA/EIS

The contractor shall revise the draft EA/EIS based on Forest Service and public comments, and prepare and provide one electronic copy and one hard copy of the final EA/EIS for internal review by the Forest Service COR, specialists, and the responsible official or their delegated official. Forest Service personnel will have 2 weeks (10 working days, excluding holidays) to review the document and provide feedback.

The contractor will have 2 weeks to incorporate Forest Service edits. The final EA/EIS shall follow the outline developed above by the Forest Service. Graphics within the document shall be inserted as bitmap or jpg format and provided as separate PDF files.

8.9 Decision Notice and FONSI or ROD

The draft and final DN/FONSI or ROD will be written in coordination with the Forest Service personnel;

with the Three Rivers District Ranger specifically writing the rationale for the decision. The decision document will follow the provided template and reference specifically to the final EA or final EIS with page numbers and information relevant to a decision document for this type of project.

8.10 Comment Period Responses

The Forest Service shall receive the comment letters and provide the contractor a copy of the comment letters with a draft copy for review of all comment period response document(s) received on the draft EA/EIS. The Forest Service shall review, edit, and return the draft within 10 working days of submittal.

The contractor shall provide all public comments, received by the contractor, during the comment period to the Forest Service within 10 working days following the end of the comment period. Any additional public comments received outside of the comment period by the contractor shall be provided to the Forest Service COR within five working days of receipt.

If comments on the draft EA/EIS are extensive and require substantial changes to the content or analysis contained in the draft EA/EIS, the Forest Service may require the contractor to issue a supplement to the draft EA/EIS, or a revised EA/EIS, for further public comment prior to preparing the final EA/EIS. In the event of such an occurrence, the Forest Service may issue a modification to allow additional contract time.

8.11 Roads Analysis Report (RAR)

The contractor shall submit a draft RAR with submission of the EA/EIS and a final RAR with submission of the final EA/EIS for Forest Service review.

8.12 Project Record

The contractor shall submit an electronic copy of the original project record at the completion of the contract.

9.0 Authorities

1. The NEPA requires that an interdisciplinary approach be used in planning and decision making for actions that may have an impact on the human environment.

2. Responsible Official: The Three Rivers District Ranger is authorized to make the final decision about what specific management actions to take, if any, on this project.

3. The CEQ regulations for the NEPA process specified in 40 CFR §1500-1508, forest service NEPA regulations 36 CFR 220, and FSH 1909.15 shall be followed in order to meet the terms of this contract.

4. The Six-Step Roads Analysis Procedure outlined in Forest Service Misc. Report 643 shall be followed in order to meet the terms of this contract.

Unscheduled Meetings: Forest Service personnel will be available to the contractor for consultation and participation in unscheduled meetings as mutually agreed upon by both parties.

10.0 Contractor Quality Control

The contractor, not the Government, is responsible for management and quality control actions to meet the terms of this contract. The role of the Government is quality assurance to ensure contract standards are met.

Records of quality inspections shall be kept and made available to the Government throughout the performance period and for the period after contract completion until final settlement of any claims under this contract.

A description of the site specific quality control inspection plan shall be provided within thirty (30) days of contract award. The plan shall include: (1) control procedures for security of Government-provided items such as keys, and lock combinations; (2) location of the inspection documents; (3) corrective or preventive actions that will be taken to meet quality standards; and (4) a customer comments feedback system.

11.0 Government Quality Assurance

Quality assurance will be performed by the Government during the contract at regular intervals. Methods may include visual survey and review of contractor quality control documents. Unacceptable work shall require rework at no cost to the Government. All work shall meet all the standards listed in Sections 1-9 above.

Task Metric Type Performance Standard

Performance Indicator

Surveillance Method

All reports and other deliverables Quality

Reports and other deliverables are correct when submitted.

Documents are complete and accurate 100% of the time.

COR or inspector reviews reports for completion and accuracy.

All reports and other deliverables Timely

Reports submitted no later than the due dates

Documents are submitted timely

100% of the time.

COR or inspector accepts reports and documents date and time received.

12.0 SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRE-TREATMENT SERVICES

The end result is to ensure that proposed activity (or treatment) units adhere to the purpose and need, project objectives and site-specific silviculture, fuels reduction, harvest plan and resource protection requirements as stated within the Chewelah A to Z Stewardship Environmental Analysis, Decision and related maps and documents.

12.1 Unit Layout

1. Each harvest unit shall be mapped and documented with the following information: Project and…