2.A002_Appendix A_TechnicalSpecs_GSER IRSC.pdf

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response IRSC Sierra NF, High Sierra RD

Page 1 of 19 Sequoia NF, Hume Lake & Western Divide RDs

Amendment 002 - APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The objective of this project is to provide for the long-term survival of Giant Sequoias by reducing the likelihood and effects of high severity wildfire before it occurs in previously unburned or moderately burned Giant Sequoia groves. Proposed urgent treatments include removal of green and dead surface and ladder fuels from Giant Sequoia Groves to prevent Sequoia trees from torching. Emergency fuels treatments include:

1. Hand cutting and piling of small trees.

2. Mechanical cutting, skidding, and piling of dead and live trees.

3. Mastication of small trees and brush.

4. Mechanical cutting and removal of included forest products.

5. Scraping duff away from the base of large Sequoias.

6. Prescribed burn prep.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Requirements pursuant to all Mechanical Fuels Reduction Items 1, 2, and 3

1. Heavy equipment requirements in Appendix B, C6.41# and C6.42# apply to all Mechanical Fuels Treatment. Seasonal operations restrictions in accordance with Appendix B C6.315# apply.

2. Treatment of stumps is required for all cut conifer trees equal to or greater than 3” DBH according to C6.41#.

3. All skid trails and temporary roads shall be agreed to prior to their construction. Previously developed skid trails and roads shall be used to the maximum extent possible. Trails and roads shall be closed after use using water bars and other stabilizing features as agreed to, including blocking from future use.

4. Mechanical operations shall be accomplished with minimal turning of tracked equipment off of skid trails in order to limit disturbance to topsoil.

5. Whole tree yard all felled and down trees to a landing.

6. The biggest and healthiest trees will be retained, as will a minimum of the 4 largest snags per acre and 4 largest down logs per acre.

7. Prior to starting operations, contractor shall contact USA Alert to mark the areas of GTE and PacBell buried telephone cable, and PG&E buried power cable. All improvements associated with the linear uses, including junction boxes and cable route markers are to be protected.

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Mandatory Items 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b: Cut and Remove Included Timber

Cut and remove from Contract Area all trees and forest products which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Appendix B. All specifications of Appendix B apply to product removal.

Appendix C Road Maintenance requirements are commensurate with use.

1. All pieces greater than 8 inches in large end d.o.b. and 6 feet in length not meeting merchantability specifications should be removed to a landing to be piled.

2. All pieces greater than 6 inches in large end d.o.b. and 4 feet in length that do not get skidded shall be piled within cutting units to the following specifications:

a. Maximum pile height shall not exceed 8 feet. Piles shall be between 6 and 15 feet in diameter.

b. No mechanical piles shall be within 50 feet of ephemeral stream channels or designated meadows edge or within 100 feet of intermittent or perennial drainages or 50 feet within private property.

c. Piles shall be neat, compact, and sufficiently free of dirt.

d. Piles shall be constructed by alternating the butt ends of the logs and tops.

e. Piles shall not be located under the drip line of a residual tree.

f. Contractor shall cut additional trees when needed for pile placement to meet the required distance away from large sequoia trees (described in 2-5 below) and protect the residual stand.

g. In areas where it is not feasible to attain distance limitations specified, Contractor and Forest Service will agree on pile locations.

h. Do not place piles on cultural sites, giant sequoia regeneration, or under identified wildlife trees.

3. For mandatory item 1 material not meeting the utilization specifications will be piled at least 25 feet horizontal distance from the bole of any giant sequoia 30 inches DBH or larger.

4. For mandatory items 2 and 3 materials not meeting the utilization specifications will be piled at least 25 feet horizontal distance from the bole of any giant sequoia 20 DBH or larger. Retained sugar pines greater than 12 feet in height will be limbed up to 7 feet from the ground.

5. For Mandatory Item 1: within 25 feet horizontal distance of any giant sequoia 30 inches DBH or larger cut and pile all live/dead shrubs >18 inches tall and all trees <10 inches DBH.

6. For Mandatory Items 2 and 3: within 25 feet horizontal distance of any giant sequoia 20 inches DBH or larger cut and pile all live/dead shrubs >18 inches tall and all trees <10 inches DBH.

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Optional Items 1e, 2d, and 3d: Removal of TSA Products

Remove from Contract Area all forest products that have been agreed to be included products for removal. All specifications of Appendix B apply to product removal. Appendix C Road Maintenance requirements are commensurate with use.

Item #1 Black Mountain Grove Mechanical Fuels Reduction

Mandatory Item 1d: Mechanical Fuels Treatment

1. All dead trees >10.0” DBH shall be felled and whole tree skidded to an agreed upon landing to be decked/piled for disposal by FS. This material shall be kept separate from Included Product of Items 1a, 1b, and 1c unless Option Item 1e has been awarded for this material.

2. Dead oak and sequoia trees >12.0” DBH should be left standing for wildlife trees.

3. Tops, limbs, chunks, and other woody debris skidded to landings shall be piled with dead trees >10.0” DBH, if not included as TSA. Landing piles shall be in accordance with the slash treatment specifications above.

4. Woody debris > 4” diameter and > 4’ in length that are not skid to landings shall be grapple piled in accordance with the slash treatment specifications above.

Mechanical Pile Specifications:

5. All landing piles (Items 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d) and grapple piles (Item 1d) shall be neat, compact, and sufficiently free of dirt to allow consumption of the piled debris when burned. Piles shall be constructed by alternating the butt ends of the logs and tops to help provide fine material on either end of the pile, to achieve pile compaction and to help aid in ignition.

6. All piles must be located at least 50 feet away from the bole of any live or dead large Sequoia >30”; outside the drip line of all other residual trees when possible or at least 25’ from boles of live trees >20” DBH.

7. Maximum grapple pile height shall not exceed 8 feet and no maximum height for landing piles.

8. No mechanical piles shall be within 50 feet of ephemeral stream channels or designated meadows edge or within 100 feet of intermittent or perennial drainages or 50 feet within private property.

9. A fire line to mineral soil shall be constructed around each landing pile and shall be a minimum 36 inches width. Fire line will not contain any substantial quantities of dead vegetative material.

10. All grapple piles shall be covered with a durable waterproof paper covering as approved by Forest Service. Piles shall not be less than fifty percent covered, with the covering extending not less than half-way down all sides. Pieces of burnable material shall be placed on top of the durable waterproof covering to keep the covering from blowing off the pile.

11. If Timber Subject to Agreement is awarded and majority of timber products are removed from contract area, the remaining landing slash to be piled shall meet the specifications of Appendix B C6.7#.

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Mandatory Items 2c and 3c: Mastication

1. The contract shall select live leave trees at an average spacing of 30 x 30 feet. Spacing between individual trees may be varied up to 25 percent to select the most desirable leave trees. Leave trees shall be selected based on the following criteria:

a. Masticate all trees up to 9.9” DBH to meet the desired average spacing.

b. Leave healthy, undamaged trees with greater than 30 percent crown to meet spacing requirements. Species preference for leave trees, in order, is sequoia, sugar pine, other pines, all other species.

c. Leave all trees >9.9” DBH.

d. Leave all trees designated for protection by FS.

e. If no desirable leave trees exist at the required spacing interval, leave a live tree with minor damage. If no tree with minor damage exists, leave the largest live tree present.

2. All trees cut shall be completely severed below the live limbs. Stump height shall not exceed 6” above ground level.

3. Cut trees shall be felled away from unit boundaries, roads, telephone lines, power lines, established trails, fence lines, established land corners, and streams. Any trees or slash falling on such areas shall be promptly removed.

4. Masticate surface fuels and small non-sequoia trees up to 9.9-inch DBH, and understory shrubs within cutting unit boundaries where they create dense contiguous surface fuels (18 inches or deeper) across approximately ¼ acre or larger area.

5. Masticate all brush as close to ground or natural obstacles as possible severing the lowest live limbs.

6. All existing and activity slash shall be masticated. The chips shall be spread in the project area and not accumulate to a depth greater than 4 inches.

7. Protection of the leave trees shall be high priority. Residual stand damage will be deemed unacceptable when 4 or more residual leave trees per acre have been damaged.

8. Up to approximately 15 percent of each masticated unit will be left untreated, in small clumps of trees and brush scattered throughout each unit. Approximately 6 to 8 clumps per acre of untreated areas are desired. Clumps should consist of approximately 5 to 8 trees <10.5” DBH.

Clumps SHALL NOT be located within 25’ of large Sequoias >20” DBH and shall not be left as a ladder fuel to trees >20” DBH.

9. Existing water bars, and other drainage structures disturbed by the Contractor shall be restored. Additional erosion control measures shall be completed as directed by FS.

10. Retain the largest snags available on site for an average of 4 of the largest trees per acre, where possible. Preference is to retain snags that contain dead tops, cavities, or evidence of fresh excavations by woodpeckers or other cavity-nesting birds.

11. Cultural sites will be flagged for avoidance with blue and red flagging; no treatments or impacts are permitted to the sites.

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Items 4-8: Hand Fuels Treatments

All cut trees shall have stumps treated in accordance with Appendix B C6.41#. Stumps heights shall not exceed 6” above natural obstacles and be cut flat.

Do not cut the following:

1. Sequoias shall not be cut unless hazardous to contractors’ operation. Forest Service must be contacted prior to cutting operational sequoia trees >12” DBH unless imminent hazards.

2. Sequoia seedlings and large sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact.

3. Any live tree over 20” DBH unless it is a safety hazard.

4. Any live willow, alder, or other riparian dependent species unless the top of the plant is within two feet of the crown of a sequoia.

Mandatory Item 4: Abbott Hand Fuels Treatment:

Mandatory Item 5: Grant Hand Fuels Treatment:

Mandatory Item 8: Indian Basin Hand Fuels Treatment:

1. Ground Fuels Treatment

a. For sequoias > 19.9” DBH, remove up to 1’ of duff for 3’ width away from tree base, while leaving a minimum 6” depth to protect tree roots. Duff shall be scattered outside 3’ from tree base.

b. For sequoias >19.9” DBH with a cat face, scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from cat face.

c. Scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact.

d. All residual live trees >20” DBH with a canopy in contact with a sequoia >19.9” DBH shall have duff scraped to 2’ away from base and duff scattered.

e. Avoid scraping and damaging young giant sequoia regeneration.

2. Vegetation Fuels Treatment:

a. Fall all live and dead cedar, pine, and fir trees that are 1’ in height to 20” DBH; and are within 25’ horizontal distance (bole face to bole face) away from all giant sequoias and sugar pines >

19.9” DBH.

b. All residual live trees >20” DBH with a canopy in contact with a sequoia >19.9” DBH canopy shall have all ladder fuel trees cut (up to 20’ from bole) including cedar, pine, and fir trees up to 20” DBH, all sequoia and oak trees <12” DBH.

c. All hand felled trees will be limbed entirely, tops bucked at 10” diameter for green trees and 15” diameter for dead trees. Tree boles not required to be piled (>9.9” DBH) shall be bucked as needed to move at least 6’ away from sequoia base and shall be left in contact with ground.

d. Cut and pile all surface fuels including trees up to 9.9” DBH and continuous debris and understory shrubs >18” in depth or height where they create a dense continuous surface across approximately ¼ acre or more.

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e. Trees and shrubs shall be cut as low to ground as possible, but no higher than 6 inches above natural obstacles.

f. Existing downed fuels including sequoia logs that are within 6’ from base of sequoias >19.9” DBH and between 3” to 24” diameter shall be bucked and moved at least 6 feet from base.

Slash shall be piled as required.

g. Move all downed boles at least 10’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact. Pile if required, otherwise place in contact with ground.

h. All residual trees not meeting cut specifications (including sequoias <20” DBH) that are within 25’ of all giant sequoias larger than 20” DBH shall be pruned to 7 feet in height. All pruned limbs shall be piled as required.

Mandatory Item 6: Landslide Hand Fuels Treatment

1. Ground Fuels Treatment:

a. For sequoias > 29.9” DBH, remove up to 1’ of duff for 3’ width away from tree base, while leaving a minimum 6” depth to protect tree roots. Duff shall be scattered outside 3’ from tree base.

b. For sequoias >29.9” DBH with a cat face, scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from cat face.

c. Scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact.

d. All residual live trees >20” DBH with a canopy in contact with a sequoia >29.9” DBH shall have duff scraped to 2’ away from base and duff scattered.

e. Avoid scraping and damaging young giant sequoia regeneration.

2. Vegetation Fuels Treatment:

a. Fall all live and dead cedar, pine, and fir trees that are 1’ in height to 20” DBH; and are within 25’ horizontal distance (bole face to bole face) away from all giant sequoias > 29.9” DBH and all sugar pines >19.9” DBH.

b. On slopes > 35%, directionally fall away from all giant sequoias larger than 20” DBH, all live and dead cedar, pine, and fir trees that are 1’ in height to 20” DBH; and are within 75’ horizontal distance (bole face to bole face) on the up-hill side, 50’ horizontal distance on side slopes, and 25’ horizontal distance on down-hill sides of large sequoia base.

c. All residual live trees >20” DBH with a crown in contact with the crown of a sequoia >29.9” DBH or sugar pine >20” DBH, shall have all ladder fuel trees cut (up to 20’ from bole) including cedar, pine, and fir trees up to 20” DBH and all sequoia and oak trees <12” DBH.

d. All hand felled trees will be limbed, tops bucked at 10” diameter for green trees and 15” diameter for dead trees. Tree boles not required to be piled (>10” DBH) shall be bucked as needed to move at least 6’ away from sequoia base and shall be left in contact with ground.

e. Cut and pile all surface fuels including trees up to 9.9” DBH and continuous debris and understory shrubs >18” in depth or height where they create a dense continuous surface across approximately ¼ acre or more.

f. Trees and shrubs shall be cut as low to ground as possible, but no higher than 6 inches above

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g. Existing downed fuels including sequoia logs that are within 6’ from base of sequoias >29.9” DBH and between 3” to 24” diameter shall be bucked and moved at least 6 feet from base.

Slash shall be piled as required.

h. Move all downed boles at least 10’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact. Pile if required, otherwise place in contact with ground.

i. All residual trees not meeting cut specifications (including sequoias <20” DBH) shall be pruned to 7 feet in height that are within 25’ of all giant sequoias larger than 29.9” DBH. All pruned limbs shall be piled as required.

j. Several high stumps were left by recent treatment and are scattered throughout the grove.

Contractor shall cut all previously left high stumps down to 6” in height.

Mandatory Item 7a and Optional Item 7b: Black Mountain Hand Fuels Treatment

a. For sequoias > 29.9” DBH, remove up to 1’ of duff for 5’ width away from tree base, while leaving a minimum 6” depth to protect tree roots. Duff shall be scattered outside 3’ from tree base.

b. For sequoias >29.9” DBH with a cat face, scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from cat face.

c. Scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact.

d. All residual live trees >20” DBH with a canopy in contact with a sequoia >29.9” DBH shall have duff scraped to 2’ away from base and duff scattered.

e. Avoid scraping and damaging young giant sequoia regeneration.

2. Vegetation Fuels Treatment:

a. Fall all live and dead cedar, pine, and fir trees that are 1’ in height to 20” DBH; all sequoia and oak trees <12” DBH; and are within 50’ horizontal distance (bole face to bole face) away from all giant sequoias > 29.9” DBH and all sugar pines >19.9” DBH.

b. All residual live trees >20” DBH with a crown in contact with the crown of a sequoia >29.9” DBH or sugar pine >20” DBH, shall have all ladder fuel trees cut (up to 20’ from bole) including cedar, pine, and fir trees up to 20” DBH and all sequoia and oak trees <12” DBH.

c. On slopes > 35%, directionally fall away from all giant sequoias larger than 20” DBH, all live and dead cedar, pine, and fir trees that are 1’ in height to 20” DBH; and are within 75’ horizontal distance (bole face to bole face) on the up-hill side, 50’ horizontal distance on side slopes, and 25’ horizontal distance on down-hill sides of large sequoia base.

d. All hand felled trees will be limbed, tops bucked at 10” diameter for green trees and 15” diameter for dead trees. Tree boles not required to be piled (>10” diameter green and >15” diameter dead) shall be bucked into minimum 8’ lengths, moved at least 6’ away from sequoia base, and shall be left in contact with ground.

e. Cut and pile all surface fuels including trees up to 9.9” DBH and continuous debris and understory shrubs >18” in depth or height where they create a dense continuous surface across approximately ¼ acre or more.

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f. Trees and shrubs shall be cut as low to ground as possible, but no higher than 6 inches above

g. Existing downed fuels including sequoia logs that are within 6’ from base of sequoias >29.9” DBH and between 3” to 24” diameter shall be bucked and moved at least 6 feet from base.

Slash shall be piled as required.

h. Move all downed boles at least 10’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact. Pile if required, otherwise place in contact with ground.

i. All residual trees not meeting cut specifications (including sequoias <20” DBH) that are within 50’ of all giant sequoias larger than 29.9” DBH shall be pruned to 7 feet in height. All pruned limbs shall be piled as required.

Mandatory Item 7c: Black Mountain Hand Fuels Treatment

a. For sequoias > 29.9” DBH, remove up to 1’ of duff for 5’ width away from tree base, while leaving a minimum 6’ depth to protect tree roots. Duff shall be scattered outside 3’ from tree base.

b. For sequoias >29.9” DBH with a cat face, scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from cat face.

c. Scrape duff to mineral soil at least 5’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact.

d. All residual live trees >20” DBH with a canopy in contact with a sequoia >29.9” DBH shall have duff scraped to 2’ away from base and duff scattered.

e. Avoid scraping and damaging young giant sequoia regeneration.

2. Vegetation Fuels Treatment:

a. Fall and pile all live and dead trees that are 1’ in height to 6.0” DBH within 50’ horizontal distance (bole face to bole face) away from all giant sequoias > 29.9” DBH and all sugar pines

>19.9” DBH.

b. Existing downed fuels including sequoia logs that are within 6’ from base of sequoias >29.9” DBH and between 3” to 24” diameter shall be bucked and moved at least 6 feet from base.

Slash shall be piled as required.

c. Move all downed boles at least 10’ away from all sequoia logs larger than 6’ in length, >30” in diameter and over half intact. Pile if required, otherwise place in contact with ground.

d. All residual trees >12’ in height not meeting cut specifications (including sequoias <20” DBH) shall be pruned to 7’ in height that are within 50’ of all giant sequoias larger than 29.9” DBH.

All pruned limbs shall be piled as required.

Items 4 – 8 Hand Pile Specifications:

1. Pile all green boles >10” diameter on large end, dead boles >15” diameter on large end, tops, and all severed limbs of contractor felled trees.

2. Pile all existing dead and downed fuels within 25’ of large sequoia trees >20” DBH.

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3. Locate piles at minimum 15 feet from the bole of large pine trees and sequoia trees >20” DBH;

stumps >36” diameter; and large sequoia logs >30” diameter, 6’ in length and over half diameter intact.

4. Piles shall be neat, compact, and sufficiently free of dirt.

5. Piles shall be constructed by alternating the butt ends of the logs and tops.

6. Piles shall not be located under the drip line of a residual tree.

7. Piles shall be approximately 6’ in height, no less than 6’ in diameter, and up to 15’ in diameter.

8. Hand piles shall be at least 50 feet from ephemeral stream channels or designated meadows edge or at least 100 feet from intermittent or perennial drainages.

9. Contractor shall cut additional trees when needed for pile placement to meet the required distance away from large sequoia trees >20” DBH and protect the residual stand.

10. In areas where it is not feasible to attain distance limitations as specified above, Contractor and Forest Service will agree on pile locations.

11. All piles shall be covered with a durable waterproof paper covering as approved by Forest Service. Piles shall not be less than fifty percent covered, with the covering extending not less than half-way down all sides. Pieces of burnable material shall be placed on top of the durable waterproof covering to keep the covering from blowing off the pile

12. Do not place piles on cultural sites, giant sequoia regeneration, or under identified wildlife trees.

Mandatory Item 9a McKinley Hand Fuels Treatment

1. Cut conifer trees <16” DBH to an average spacing of 20 x 20 leaving approximately 130 trees per acre.

2. Primary cut trees are suppressed, broken tops, and diseased trees regardless of species.

3. Leave all healthy dominant and codominant trees.

4. Species preference of leave trees: Giant sequoia, sugar pine free of disease, Jeffrey or ponderosa pine, incense cedar, white fir.

5. Cut all brush/shrubs below lowest live limb.

6. Stump heights shall not exceed 12”.

7. Cut openings as needed to create areas for slash piles.

8. Cut all dead conifer trees up to 20” DBH, leaving only 4 of the largest snags per acre. Do not cut any sequoia snags.

9. Pile all felled dead treetops, limbs, and boles up to 15” diameter.

10. Pile all existing (>3” diameter and 3’ in length) and activity fuels including cut conifers, shrubs, and brush.

11. Piles shall be located outside the drip line or at least 15’ from residual trees and in openings that are naturally occurring or created. Pile size should be adjusted to the size of the opening.

12. Piles shall be:

• constructed in a haystack like fashion with height approximately twice the diameter.

• Piles shall be as compact and as free of dirt as possible.

• The length of the pile shall be approximately equal to its width.

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• Piles shall be covered with a durable waterproof paper covering as approved by Forest

Service. Piles shall not be less than fifty percent covered, with the covering extending not less than half-way down all sides. Pieces of burnable material shall be placed on top of the durable waterproof covering to keep the covering from blowing off the pile

13. Piles shall NOT be:

• located within 15 feet of drainages.

• in Control Areas (CA) or within 15 ft of a control area.

• within 15 ft of unit boundaries.

• within 30 feet from snags.

14. Protruding slash overhanging pile’s edge greater than 6 feet in length, shall be cut off and added to pile.

15. No piling of slash within meadows, streams or within riparian vegetation.

16. Piles shall be kept at least 50 feet away from all streams, meadows, springs, seeps, and other sensitive aquatic areas. Greater distances may be required in certain habitats as determined by the aquatic biologist.

17. Contractor shall notify COR at least two weeks (14 days) prior to starting operations. Contractor shall coordinate implementation with the district aquatic biologist for operations in the Suitable

Yosemite Toad (YT) habitat as shown on the Contract Area Map, which have the following restrictions:

• Piles shall not be constructed in open dry lupine areas with multiple rodent burrows visibly present unless agreed to by district aquatic biologist.

• Piles shall not be located within areas flagged for avoidance by district aquatic biologist.

18. Do not construct piles within 20 feet of decaying stumps that are associated with rodent burrows that provide for protection of summer and overwintering terrestrial habitats or within the YT.

19. Five (5) logs of various decay class can be left per acre. Left logs should be larger than 15” DBH

4b, 5b, 6b, and 9b RX burn Control Hand Line (Mandatory)

As shown on CAMs and identified on the ground, hand line shall be constructed. The unit boundary will be identified with a flag line.

Hand line will be:

1. 4 feet wide

2. Constructed using hand tools

3. Scraped down to mineral soil.

Optional Item 10: Transport of Surplus Timber Products

1. All timber products that are surplus or excess to the local markets are available for subsidized removal by rail.

2. Title Transfer of products will occur prior to debarking (when weight scaled) and being loaded on rail cars.

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3. Pine logs may be transported within ecological bug/pest zones with no required mitigation measures to prevent the transport and spread of forest pests. See Figure 1 in attachment titled “Insect and Disease Risk Potential”.

4. All logs being transferred outside of ecological bug/pest zones shall be debarked. Any number of visually separate and clearly distinct small pieces of bark may remain if they are:

a. less than 3 cm in width (regardless of the length) or

b. greater than 3 cm in width with the total surface area of an individual piece of bark less than

50 square cm and

c. no more than 2 percent of the surface of all logs per railcar load may retain bark, with no single log retaining bark on more than 5 percent of its surface.

SECTION III – CONTROL OF WORK

The Contractor agrees to conduct its operations under this contract and other related business activities in compliance with Federal, State, and local statutes, standards, orders, permits and other regulations.

The Contractor shall meet all State and local environmental quality laws applicable to National Forest system lands.

Work may be done any time during the term of the contract, except under the following conditions:

1. All timing restrictions and Limited Operating Periods (LOPs) are shown in Appendix B C6.315#.

2. When conditions are such that operations shall be restricted or ceased due to increased fire risk.

3. When seasonal operating restrictions for active raptor nests are in effect. All active nest sites and areas of restriction are shown on CAM and listed in the solicitation under Protection Measures Needed for Plants Animals, Cultural Resources, and Cave Resources.

4. If new nests are discovered.

5. When soil moisture conditions create excessive risk of damage to the soil.

6. When snow depth creates a situation where requirements cannot be met and/or work cannot be inspected, as determined by the COR.

7. The government reserves the right to prioritize the order in which Units are treated.

8. If any cultural or archeological sites are discovered during operations of this contract, work will be suspended in the immediate vicinity of the site until a reconnaissance survey is completed by the Forest Archeologist. Areas excluded from treatment shall be deleted from the contract.

SECTION IV – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

For All Work Items:

At any point during the project, the Contractor and/or Project Manager may request (documented through email, text, or hand-written request) an in the field consultation with the Forest Service to inspect work progress, review contract specifications, or clarify issues. The Forest Service shall respond to Contractor’s request within 5 working days, excluding weekends and federal holidays.

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GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

The COR, or a designated inspector (GTM), will make periodic inspections while work is in progress, usually daily at first, as needed to assure work is proceeding satisfactorily. The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are started, when problems are encountered and when contract work needs government oversight.

1. Each unit will be inspected as a separate unit. Unit will not be averaged with other units for acceptance or payment.

2. When units are completed and ready for government inspection, Contractor’s designated Project manager shall request unit inspection in writing, prior to moving out of the general area.

3. The COR, or designated inspector, will determine compliance with contract specifications through informal visual inspections. In the event visual inspection indicates work to be in non-compliance with specifications, prompt corrective action and/or rework shall be required.

Government Inspection Procedures

1. In the event visual inspection indicates work and / or rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications, a series of verification plots shall be installed by the Government to determine compliance with specifications and percent of satisfactory work for treatment of each unit not meeting specification as observed with visual inspection.

2. Government verification plots will consist of a series of 1/20th acre fixed area plots (that will have 4 quadrants of pass or fail) for inspecting along transects to record whether density, basal area, best tree selection, and other requirements are being met and to what extent.

a. Fixed area plot inspection units:

• Mandatory Items 1a-1c, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b for requirements not directly related to the cutting and removing of included product.

• Mandatory and Optional Items 1d, 2c, 3c, 4a-9a.

b. Variable radius plot inspection units:

• Mandatory Items 1a-1c, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b. Refer to Appendix B; C6.36# for inspection procedures for the cutting/designation of merchantable timber trees ONLY.

c. If multiple treatments overlap on a unit each treatment will be verified and paid separately.

Plots within DxP cutting units using variable and fixed radius plots will be kept separate from fuels plots using fixed radius plots, and acceptance of work will be approved for each treatment. Inspection and acceptance for DxP cutting units will follow specifications in Appendix B; C6.36# Acceptance of Work.

3. Each plot will stand alone and not be reflected on the pass or fail of future plots/units.

4. Plots and grid will be distributed so that a representative sample is obtained.

5. The COR or designated inspector will mark the center of each plot on the ground using flagging, stakes, or pin flags. Additional flagging will be hung near the plot center so that it may be seen from a distance. The inspector will include the plot number, their initials and date on the flagging.

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6. Plots will be numbered to correlate with the inspection form and transects on a unit map.

7. The minimum number of verification plots, per treatment unit, shall be as follows:

Unit Acreage Minimum No. of Plots

1 – 9 1 plot per 2 acres

10 – 29 10 plots

30 – 59 1 plot per 4 acres

60 – 99 20 plots

100 1 plot per 5 acres

8. Determination of acceptability of the work performed will be based on Government verification inspections and will be considered conclusive.

9. At each plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings.

10. Work Quality will be calculated as follows:

Number of Pass quadrants -------------------------------------------------- X 100 = % Work Quality Total number of quadrants

11. Work quality for DxP timber cutting will be determined by Appendix B C6.36# and calculated as follows:

Fixed Plot % = Calculation of #10 above.

Variable Radius % = 100 X (# Variable plots Passed/ Total Plots)

(Fixed Plot %) + (Variable Radius %) -------------------------------------------------- X 100 = % Work Quality

Inspection Procedures for Mechanical Fuels Units

Within Mechanical Fuels Units Record plot acceptable or not acceptable on form R5-2400-181.

1. Units shall be inspected once completed or what can be completed in a 30-day period by the contractor, whichever comes first.

2. The following factors shall be inspection criteria:

a. Within fixed plots, ensure all dead trees >12 inches on the stump (>10 inches DBH) have been cut. And woody debris > 4” diameter and >4’ in length have been piled.

Page 14 of 19 Sequoia NF, Hume Lake & Western Divide RDs

b. All live trees in fuels units are undesignated unless marked with blue paint. Discovery by Forest Service of any undesignated tree cut or masticated by contractor will result in a failed plot, unless otherwise agreed upon.

c. Plots may be completed as logging progresses in any unit. Along with walk-through inspections.

d. For boundary plots, a 180-degree sweep is made from a line parallel to the tract boundary. If a sampling plot falls in a corner or where the boundary forms a right angle, then a 90-degree sweep is made starting on a line parallel to one side of the boundary and ending on a line parallel to the boundary line. Evaluation of plot elements for inspected units are as follows:

3. 90% of the overall plots inspected for fuels, specified in each unit, shall meet acceptable inspection criteria.

4. An individual Unit will not be accepted if a visual or plot inspection indicates more than 1/10 of an acre are incompletely cut, unless agreed upon in advance for resource protection or safety. Uncut locations will be revisited and cutting completed unless otherwise agreed.

Inspection Procedures for Mastication Units

Record plot acceptable or not acceptable on form R5-2400-181.

1. Units shall be inspected once completed or what can be completed in a 30-day period by the contractor, whichever comes first.

2. The following factors shall be inspection criteria:

a. Within fixed plots, measure biomass tree (< 9.9 inches DBH green conifers) spacing.

Spacing shall be within plus or minus 5 feet of the desired average of 30 foot spacing of a live conifer tree that has a larger diameter than it; and the larger tree is not designated for cutting. For biomass trees cut stump diameter should be <11.9 inches.

b. Inspect retention trees for adherence to species preference, spacing, and prescriptive criteria as described in C2.355#. Health and vigor will not be an inspection criteria.

This item shall be considered pass or fail on each plot.

c. All trees 12.0 inches stump diameter (10.0 inches DBH) or greater in Individual Tree mark units are undesignated unless marked with Blue paint as described in C2.35#.

Discovery by Forest Service of any undesignated tree cut or masticated greater than

12.0 inches stump diameter (10.0 inches DBH) by contractor will result in a failed plot.

d. Plots may be completed as operations progress in any unit. Along with walk-through inspections.

e. For boundary plots, a 180-degree sweep is made from a line parallel to the tract boundary. If a sampling plot falls in a corner or where the boundary forms a right angle, then a 90-degree sweep is made starting on a line parallel to one side of the boundary and ending on a line parallel to the boundary line. Evaluation of plot elements for inspected units are as follows:

3. 90% of the overall plots inspected for biomass species retention and tree spacing, specified in each unit, shall meet acceptable inspection criteria.

4. An individual Unit will not be accepted if a visual or plot inspection indicates more than 1/10 of an acre are incompletely cut, unless agreed upon in advance for resource protection or safety. Uncut locations will be revisited and cutting completed unless otherwise agreed. An

Page 15 of 19 Sequoia NF, Hume Lake & Western Divide RDs area will be considered incompletely cut if average spacing of ponderosa pine/jeffrey pine, incense-cedar, white/red fir, sugar pine, and giant sequoia trees <9.9 inches DBH is less than 20 feet.

5. If inspection results show unsatisfactory compliance with the requirements of C2.355#, Contractor will be allowed 5 working days to correct unsatisfactory work, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Inspection Procedures for Hand Piling Units

Within hand piling units Record plot acceptable or not acceptable on form R5-2400-181.

1. Units shall be inspected once completed or what can be completed in a 30-day period by the contractor, whichever comes first.

2. The following factors shall be inspection criteria:

a. Each tree will stand alone and not be reflected on the pass or fail of future trees/units.

b. That 90% of surface and fuel reduction treatment criteria is met, ladder and ground fuels have been treated accordingly, and piles meet the intended guidelines unless otherwise agreed upon.

3. If inspection results show unsatisfactory compliance with the requirements in appendix A, Contractor will be allowed 5 working days to correct unsatisfactory work, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Table 1 – Minimum Acceptable Quality Levels (AQL) of Work

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

1 - 3 Cut and Remove Included Timber MANDATORY ACRE 90%

1 - 3 Removal of TSA Product OPTIONAL TONS N/A

1d Mechanical Fuels Treatment MANDATORY ACRE 90%

2c, 3c Mastication MANDATORY ACRE 90%

4 -9 Hand Fuels Treatment MANDATORY ACRE 90%

10 Transport of Surplus Timber Products OPTIONAL Tons N/A

Unsatisfactory Performance

1. If the work quality falls below the minimum AQL, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing, and order him to improve the quality of subsequent tree cutting.

2. If after rework has been performed and reinspected, and work quality still falls below minimum AQL percent, payment will either be made at a reduced rate, or not at all, as determined in SECTION V below.

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the minimum acceptable standard will be considered reason for contract termination for cause.

Reinspection Upon Contractor Request

1. If Government inspection results are unacceptable to the Contractor, a reinspection may be requested, in writing, within 5 business days after receipt of notice of said inspection results. The same inspection procedure will be used; however, the inspection pattern will be shifted so that

Page 16 of 19 Sequoia NF, Hume Lake & Western Divide RDs new inspection plots will not overlap previously inspected plots.

2. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – indicate a variance of more than 5 percent from the first inspection, the results of the second inspection will be used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Government will bear the cost of reinspection.

3. If reinspection results – rounded up to the nearest whole percent – are within 5 percent of the first inspection, plots from the initial inspection and the reinspection will be combined and used to calculate work quality and payment, and the Contractor shall bear the cost of reinspection.

SECTION V – PAYMENT METHODS

Method of Measurement for Acreages

Acreages were determined by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or digitized using Geographical

Information System (GIS) mapping. The acreage for each work item will be rounded to the nearest acre and is final unless:

a. The contract is modified or,

b. The Government makes a determination to remeasure or,

c. The Contractor exercises his/her option under the following Remeasurement provisions:

Remeasurement

1. The Contractor may request, in writing, remeasurement of any units under this contract if he/she feels that acreage stated on the project maps is incorrect. The remeasurement must be within the existing perimeter of the respective unit. No variance of the unit perimeters as laid out on the ground for this contract will be allowed. All requests for remeasurement must be made prior to payment for each completed unit. Remeasurement will be performed by the Government.

2. If re-measurement indicates that a variance of ten percent or less exists on units of 1 to 5 acres, five percent or less exists on units of more than five but less than 20 acres, or if three percent or less exists on units of 20 acres or larger, the Contractor shall pay for the actual costs of the remeasurement. Under this condition, payment will be made on the acreage stated on the project maps. If the remeasurement indicates the actual acreage varies by more than the above factors from that stated on the project maps, the payment will be made on the remeasured acreage and the Forest Service will pay for the cost of the remeasurement.

Acceptance and Payment

1. Percentages as calculated herein shall be rounded to the nearest whole percent.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 1-9

1. If informal visual inspection indicates acceptable work quality, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

2. In the event that formal inspections are used, the rate of payment to the Contractor will be calculated as follows:

Page 17 of 19 Sequoia NF, Hume Lake & Western Divide RDs

a. For work quality of 90 percent or higher, the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

b. For work quality from 85 to 89 percent after rework, the Contractor will be paid the total multiplied by the bid rate.

c. For work quality 84 percent and less after rework, no payment made to the Contractor.

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL): Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all specifications corresponding to the appropriate task(s); refer to the Performance Requirements Summary in Section E.4 of the contract. A minimum AQL is required for all service work – hand or mechanical. The minimum AQL will receive a satisfactory performance rating.

BIOMASS TREES: Any conifer material 2 feet in height to 4.9 inches DBH.

BOLE SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet from the edge of one leave tree bole to another leave tree bole, measured from the outside bark of each tree.

CIRCULAR PLOT: A sample plot within a thinning unit that is used to determine the number of desirable trees and other contract specifications.

COARSE WOODY DEBRIS: Woody material left on the ground to meet wildlife habitat requirements.

CROWN RATIO: The ratio of live crown length (tip of leader to base of the crown) to total tree length/height.

CROWN SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet between the dripline of a live crown to another live crown.

CLEARCUT: A cutting prescription in which all trees within a boundary are designated to be cut.

CROWN RATIO: The ratio of live crown length (tip of leader to base of the crown) to total tree length/height.

CROWN SPACING: The horizontal distance in feet between the dripline of a live crown to another live crown.

CUT TREES: Trees that do not possess the characteristics of desirable leave trees and are required to be cut. As described by the contract or otherwise marked to be cut.

CUTTING UNIT: See Treatment Unit definition

DAMAGED TREES: Trees damaged beyond recovery. A tree that is larger than 2 feet in height, and has the top knocked out, is leaning more than 10 degrees, has less than one half of its original limbs, or has approximately 50% of bark removed from the circumference of the bole.

DBH: Diameter at breast height, measured at a point of 4.5 feet above the ground level on the uphill side of the tree.

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

DEAD/DYING TREES: Trees with the crown foliage changing from green to red, yellow, or needleless. Any tree that has pitch tubes indicating Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

Page 18 of 19 Sequoia NF, Hume Lake & Western Divide RDs

DESIGNATION BY SPECIES AND DIAMETER (DXSD): A cutting prescription in which species and diameter are used to determine which trees will be left and which will be cut.

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

HANG-UP TREE: Any cut tree suspended above ground level.

HEALTHY REGENERATION: Young, healthy, dwarf mistletoe free conifers, less than 4.9 inches in diameter, free of defect or characteristics listed in Section II, 2.2.2.

LADDER FUEL: Fuels which provide vertical continuity between strata, thereby allowing fire to carry from surface fuels into the crowns of trees or shrubs with relative ease. They help initiate and assure the continuation of crowning.

LEAVE TREE: Trees that possess desirable characteristics and that serve to create the basis for designated spacing requirements or are otherwise designated to be left.

NON-SAWTIMBER TREE: For all conifer species, minimum diameter of 5 inches DBH to minimum diameter by species identified in Appendix B, Division A.

OVERSTORY REMOVAL: A cutting prescription where all trees greater than a specified size are cut. Trees less than the specified size are protected.

PAYMENT UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY (PRS): Identifies the key service outputs of the contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

PILING: Material moved to an agreed upon location shall be piled for future treatment by Forest Service.

PROGRESSION OF WORK: Work conducted in a progressive, workmanlike and orderly manner by the Contractor.

RESERVE CLUMPS: Groups of trees within a treatment area that are protected from cutting, may also include Individual Reserve trees.

SAWTIMBER TREE: Included timber meeting sawlog size specifications as defined in Appendix B, Division A.2.

SLASH: Woody material existing or created that has accumulated on the forest floor. Woody material includes logs, pieces of logs, tops, and branches.

UNIT: See Treatment Unit.

TEMPORARY ROADS: Non-permanent roads that are constructed by Contractor for the purpose of treatment unit access.

TREATMENT UNIT: An individual area on the ground in which activities will be performed and which may appear as a separate pay item in the Schedule of Items.

UNSATISFACTORY WORK: If work quality falls below the AQL, the COR will issue a work order or notice of noncompliance to the Contractor in writing. Untreated or unsatisfactory treated areas shall be reworked to obtain satisfactory work quality.

WHOLE TREE YARDING: Whole tree logging includes cutting tree and removing the entire tree, including tops and branches, to the landing.

Page 19 of 19 Sequoia NF, Hume Lake & Western Divide RDs

WILDLIFE TREE: Standing tree marked to be reserved as a wildlife tree. Used by birds and small mammals for shelter, nesting, perching, etc.