A10. Mitigation Measures for Resource Impacts .pdf

NEW - Attachment A10. Mitigation Measures for Resource Impacts Solicitation No: 127EAW23R0029 Project Name: GAOA Chantry Flat Recreation Area Improvements

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Biology / Botany

1. All appropriate BMPs shall be implemented to minimize damage to surface soil structure and to reduce potential for erosion and sediment transport to drainages due to project activities. All ground disturbing activities with the potential for erosion must be consistent with FSH 2509.22 – Soil and Water Conservation Practices Handbook and Best Management Practices and in compliance with the Erosion Control Plan developed for the project. All construction will remain within the existing site footprint.

2. Work and parking/staging areas along with ground and vegetation disturbance will be limited to the minimum necessary.

3. All erosion control material must be biodegradable. Wattles wrapped in “photodegradable” plastic are not acceptable as they increase trash and can cause entrapment of small wildlife.

4. All equipment and work areas must contain appropriate spill containment kits to respond to leaks and spills. Personnel must have training on proper response to any type of hazmat situation. All hazmat situations must be reported to the Forest Hazmat Coordinator according to the Forest guidelines.

5. Wildlife encountered during the course of work activities should be avoided or given the opportunity to evacuate the site. Personnel will be reminded that harassing, harming, or feeding wildlife is not permitted. This includes venomous species such as rattlesnakes. If needed, reptile species, including rattlesnakes, can be moved from the project site using non-lethal means such as sticks, shovel handles, buckets or similar containers.

6. If feasible, replacement of the bathroom roof will occur outside the bird nesting season. If the bathroom roof replacement occurs during the bird nesting season (February 15 – September 15), measures will be taken to discourage birds from nesting on/in the bathroom building. These measures may include installation of blocking nets as needed and visual inspections. For bathroom roof replacement that occurs during the nesting period, daily visual inspections are to be conducted for the detection of new nesting activity on/in the building and will focus on the detection of new nesting activity such as placement of vegetation and other materials used for the construction of nests. If the visual inspection results in detection of new nesting material within the initial 24 hours of its placement, removal of this material is acceptable. If a nest with eggs or chicks is discovered, it is to be left undisturbed unless a biologist determines there is suitable habitat adjacent to the bathroom that would allow for successful relocation. Relocation of the nest would be implemented by a qualified biologist.

7. Prior to replacement of the bathroom roof, surveys will be conducted to determine if the bathroom is occupied by roosting bats. If surveys confirm the bathroom is utilized by roosting bats, the FS biologist will determine the strategy for safely evicting the resident bats and if installation of alternate roosting structures is necessary. Efforts will be made to exclude the bats from the buildings only after the seasonal period of occupancy has ceased and will utilize bat safe exclusion techniques designed to prevent entrapment and re-entry of roosting bats. Roof replacement can begin only after it is confirmed the bathroom is not occupied by roosting bats.

8. Sites will be kept clear of garbage and debris including microtrash. All food and garbage must be properly stored and all trash including project-related construction debris will be removed from the jobsite daily.

9. Materials that are in any type of liquid, granular or powder form must be stored in sealed leak-proof containers. These containers will be stored in a manner that prevents access by wildlife.

NEW - Solicitation No: 127EAW23R0029 Project Name: GAOA Chantry Flat Recreation Area Improvements

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10. All parked vehicles/equipment will be kept free of leaks, particularly anti-freeze, since this could be fatal if consumed by wildlife.

11. If excavations are to be left open and unattended for more than 12 hours, they must either be covered or an escape ramp will be constructed to the bottom of the pit with less than a 2 to1 slope to provide an escape route for small wildlife species such as lizards and rodents. To the extent feasible, excavations will not be left open at the end of the day and will be covered after confirming absence of trapped individuals. Prior to commencement of work activity each day, staff will check excavations to make sure no animals are trapped. Before backfilling or permanently closing any excavation, it must be checked to make sure no wildlife is present within the excavated area. If wildlife has become trapped, backfilling cannot begin until the individual has either been removed or exited the excavation.

12. Dumpsters and garbage receptacles at the site will be bear resistant and will be maintained to ensure they are in good working condition. The distribution of dumpsters and garbage receptacles will occur in a manner that promotes their use by the public for disposal of their garbage.

13. To protect tree root systems, activities (including pedestrian use) that would lead to soil compaction or soil disturbance will be avoided within the tree’s drip line.

14. Invasive plant species are known to occur within the project area. To limit the introduction and spread of invasive plant species, tool, vehicle and equipment washing requirements will be implemented. All ground disturbing and vegetation removal tools and equipment (including handheld) must be cleaned prior to entering National Forest System lands. Washing of tools, equipment and vehicles would be done in a manner that will effectively remove seeds and propagules and would not further enhance the spread of invasive plants through improper disposal of rinse water. Washing of equipment and vehicles must include tires/tracks, wheel wells, bumpers, fuel/skid pans and undercarriages. Personnel transport vehicles are exempt from this requirement as long as they have not engaged in off-road travel.

15. If target invasive plants are found within the project area, they will be removed prior to commencement of work.

16. All plant material (e.g., straw, mulch, seeds, etc.) used for erosion control must be certified weed-free. Only weed-free rice straw or rice mulch is allowed.

17. All fill material (soil, sand, gravel, rock) must be from an ANF approved material site.

18. Post-project monitoring and removal of invasive plants within the project impacted area is required. The intent is to focus on occurrences of new species or an expansion of existing species that can be attributed to project activities. Post-project monitoring for invasive plants will be conducted by a qualified botanist on an annual basis for two years. If no new species are detected and there is no documented expansion of existing species that can be attributed to project activities, the requirement to monitor and remove weeds ends after two growing seasons post-project. If the botanist detects target invasive plant species within project disturbance areas during the first two years post-project implementation, the Forest botanist will determine what invasive plant removal/treatments are necessary. Treatments will be completed within that growing season and follow the requirements listed in the Plan for Invasive Plants, Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Environmental Assessment (2016). Monitoring and treatment will be implemented until the Forest botanist has determined that eradication of target invasive species has been accomplished.

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Heritage

1. If archaeological resources and/or historic properties are inadvertently discovered or affected during project activities, all work shall cease within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of the find, and the ANF Heritage Program Manager shall be notified. They will evaluate the significance of the resource, whether or not the resource has been affected and recommend the appropriate action.

2. The Chantry flush bathroom building was built in 1936 and is assumed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for the purposes of this undertaking. By applying the Standard Protection Measures of the Region 5 Programmatic Agreement for Compliance with Section 106 as outlined below and documented in Section 106 Compliance document 23LAG04PISPW, the buildings significant NRHP values will be preserved, and no historic properties will be affected.

a. (R5 PA: (E) 3.3(a) (1)) Repair of structure elements in kind – Repair or replace siding, trim, or hardware, in-kind to match historic material, design, and color.

b. (R5 PA: (E) 3.3(a) (9)) Replacement of roofs in kind – Repair or replace roof or parts of roof that are deteriorated in-kind, or with matching historic material and design. In areas of high fire danger, fire retardant roofing is allowed. If fire retardant materials are used, the materials must match the original roofing color and be as compatible with the design and character of the building as possible. Adequate anchorage for roofing material to guard against wind damage and moisture penetration shall be provided.

c. (R5 PA: (E) 3.3(b) (1)) Repair of structure elements in kind – Paint interior or exterior surfaces with new paint that matches the existing or historic color. If the existing paint color is not desirable and the historic color is not known, the color should be in keeping with historic color schemes for nearby or similar structures. Damaged or deteriorated paint may be removed to the next sound layer by hand-scraping or hand-sanding. Use of abrasive methods, such as sandblasting, is not covered by this treatment.

Silviculture

a. Hazard/Parking Lot Tree Removal: All conifer stumps if not removed need to have CELLUTREAT put on the stump within 4 hours of cutting

Hydrology

1. Ground disturbance will be limited to the minimum necessary for activities. All project activities including vehicle traffic and staging will be confined to the smallest area possible. All vehicles, tools and equipment will be restricted to existing access roads, trails, or disturbed areas to the maximum extent feasible.

2. Best Management Practices (BMPs)

a. All ground disturbing activities with the potential for erosion must be consistent with

FSH 2509.22 - Soil and Water Conservation Practices Handbook and Best Management Practices. During the project life, ensure all BMPs are implemented, functioning, and effective.

b. All appropriate BMPs shall be implemented to minimize damage to surface soil structure and reduce potential for erosion and sediment transport to drainages from project activities. The following BMP’s will prevent long term negative impacts to the soils and integrity of the watersheds. Therefore, an erosion control action plan will not be required for this scope of work if project work remains within the scope of the BMPs checklist above.

3. Region 5 BMPs under 12.21-Road Management BMPs: 2.13: Erosion Control Plans (roads and other activities)

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a. During the project equipment will not go off road during rain events producing overland runoff.

b. Equipment will be staged on the road during rain events.

c. Watershed staff will be notified prior to commencing operations into wet weather conditions.

4. National BMPs: Veg-2. Erosion Prevention and Control

a. Operate equipment when soil compaction, displacement, erosion, and sediment runoff would be minimized (dry).

b. Avoid ground equipment operations on unstable, wet, or easily compacted soils.

c. Road-10. Equipment Refueling and Servicing

d. c. Report spills and initiate suitable cleanup action in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations.

e. Refuel and service equipment only in designated areas of containment.

f. Clean up and remove spilled materials, residues, and any other hazardous materials from NFS land according to specified requirements in appropriate guiding document.

5. Fuel vehicles and equipment in a protected area with barriers to prevent leaks from entering drainage systems or with a pan with a lip below the fueling area to catch spills.

6. Crews must have appropriate spill containment kits to respond to leaks and spills. Personnel must have training on proper response to any type of hazmat situation. All hazmat situations must be reported to the Forest Hazmat Coordinator according to the Forest guidelines.

7. Soil Management Design Features:

a. Temporary Erosion Control

a. Erosion control or soil stabilization measures will be implemented while soil disturbing work is active. Preserve existing vegetation where feasible. Limit disturbance, especially on large or steep grades and where soil exposure to rainfall and wind can cause loss if unprotected.

b. Vehicles will only be parked in designated parking areas and on flat dry stable ground.

b. Sediment Control

c. A sediment control plan must also include provisions to temporarily stabilize access points such that soil, sediment and other materials are not tracked out.

d. Consolidate and maintain position of heavy equipment.

e. Do not move machinery on wet soils.

f. Stage machinery on flat ground with high soil strength. For example, established access road.