Amendment_0002_ Attachment_Site Visit Technical Notes_Questions and Answers.pdf

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

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Subject: Date: February 17th, 2022 Agreements – Site Showing Technical Notes for Lakeview Watershed Site 1 Seepage Repair Solicitation No. 12FPC322B0003

To: Stephen Case, Contracting Specialist, USDA-FPAC

(submitted by email attachment)

A site showing was held on the subject site on February 15th, 2022. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was represented by Shane W. Ice, P.E., Project Engineer and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and Michelle Linear, Watershed Construction Inspector.

NRCS is to provide quality assurance inspection and construction oversight for this project. Stephen Case, Contracting Specialist – FPAC participated via conference call.

This site is sponsored by the Donley County Commissioner’s Court and Donley County SWCD under agreements with the NRCS of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The site showing began with a meeting at the Donley County Agri-Life Extension Office,4430 Hwy 70 North, Clarendon, TX; followed by a visit to the site. The following was reviewed and submitted to the CO to be added by amendment to the Invitation for Bids (IFB).

Please provide the following information by amendment to the information for bidders.

CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS

The items listed below are changes/corrections to the information for bidders. Please make these pen and ink changes to your bid documents.

CHANGES TO THE BID SCHEDULE

Incorrect bid schedule is included in the original solicitation posting. Correct bid schedule to be included in an Addendum. PLEASE BE SURE TO USE THE CORRECT BID SCHEDULE TO

SUBMIT BIDS.

CHANGES TO THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS

None

CHANGES TO THE DRAWINGS

None

SPECIAL EMPHASIS ITEMS

Special emphasis items that were discussed or otherwise provided at the site showing are discussed below.

452.236-76 – SAMPLES AND CERTIFICATES

Certificates and test data shall be submitted to show compliance of materials and construction specified in the contract requirements. Materials or equipment for which samples, certifications or test data are required shall not be used in the work until approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

Materials which require material certifications are:

Construction Entrance Materials (Rock, Geotextile)

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Silt Fence

Bentonite

Mixing Water for Bentonite Slurry

Metal; fence stile

Galvanization for metal

Vegetation; seed, fertilizer, hay mulch

Fencing; barbed wire, tie and tension wire, brace and line posts, gate

Supplement to OSHA Part 1926 and 1910 Construction Industry Standards and Interpretations

The Contractor shall comply with all applicable OSHA safety standards. All or part of the work may be suspended for noncompliance. The GR and Inspector will have delegated authority to suspend work for any noncompliance posing a serious or imminent danger to the health or safety of the Contractor’s employees or others such as employees of the CLO or NRCS and the public.

The Supplement to OSHA 1910 and 1926 emphasizes specific safety items which must be understood by the Contractor prior to bidding this job. Among these items are the requirements for:

1. Written plan for accident prevention and safety (CO must approve prior to beginning work)

2. First Aid Training certificates

3. First aid facilities – on site

4. Safety Meetings, weekly “tool box” and monthly

5. Dust control

6. Rollover protective structures

7. Backup alarms

8. Restroom Facilities

9. Scaffolding and Fall Protection

Hard hats must be worn on the job site at all times.

Equipment must be outfitted with working backup alarms, seat belts, and approved roll-over protective structures (ROPS). All equipment will be inspected at the job site by the Construction Inspector prior to use on the project.

DRAWINGS

Drawing TX-EN-0794, Cover + Sheets 1 thru 7 for Site 1 Remedial Repair was reviewed.

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SPECIFICATIONS AND SWPPP

There are two types of specifications in this contract: (1) Construction Specifications and (2) Material Specifications. The construction specifications are composed of two parts. The first part is called the closed specification and is the standard NRCS construction specification that begins with the SCOPE and ends with MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT or PAYMENT. The second part is called the open specification and consists of the ITEMS OF WORK AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILS that are written specifically for this job.

The specifications are summarized below. However, all language of the specifications apply to the contract.

2 – CLEARING AND GRUBBING

Subsidiary Item – Clearing and Grubbing

This item shall consist of all clearing and grubbing within the work limits required for construction of the works of improvement as shown on the drawings.

In Section 5, Disposal, all materials removed from the cleared and grubbed areas shall be either hauled off-site, buried on-site, burned on-site, or mulched on-site at areas designated or approved by the Contracting Officer. All disposal methods shall be in accordance with state and local regulations.

Compensation for this item is to be included in Bid Item 5 – Mobilization and Demobilization.

3 – STRUCTURE REMOVAL

Bid Item 1 – Structure Removal, Existing Fences

This item shall consist of the removal and disposal of just enough fence to complete the work in the construction area as shown on the drawings. The approximate limits of the existing fence to be removed is shown on the drawings. The actual limits to be removed will be designated at the time of the site showing.

In Section 2, Marking, Method 1 shall apply and the sections of fence to be removed will be marked using stakes, flags, paint, or other suitable methods.

In Section 3, Removal, Method 1 shall apply and shall be removed to the bottom of the footing and/or post.

In Section 4, Salvage, all removed fence materials and posts shall not be salvaged.

All unusable material and rubble shall be disposed of at an offsite location of the contractor’s choosing as approved by the contracting officer and in accordance with all local and state regulations.

In section 6, Measurement and payment, Method 2 shall apply and be made at the contract lump sum price.

5 – POLLUTION CONTROL

Bid Item 2 – Pollution Control

This item includes work required to maintain sediment filters, installation of the stabilized construction entrance, and implementing the SWPPP. Geotextile used for the construction entrance shall be non-woven and conform to Material Specification 592.

Site 1 is subject to the Texas pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) requirements administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Rules for the TPDES process relative to construction sites are contained in TPDES General Permit No. TXR150000. In conformance with the general permit, a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required.

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The Contractor shall prepare a SWP3 in accordance with the TPDES general permit requirements.

The SWP3 shall include a detailed work sequence outline that defines the delineates the proposed construction operation and includes the minimum pollution control practices indicated on the construction drawings, as well as any additional measures that may be required to meet TPDES requirements. The amended SWP3 shall be signed by the Contractor and submitted to the Contracting Officer prior to issuance of the Notice to Proceed. A copy of the approved SWP3, as amended, will be maintained at the construction site by the Contractor. A copy of the permit shall be attached to the SWP3. All applicable TCEQ rules and regulations concerning the TPDES and the SWPPP must be followed.

The disturbed area of the construction site is greater than 1 acre but less than 5 acres. TPDES requires a Small Construction Site Notice to be included with the permit and post at the construction site.

In Section 7, Measurement and Payment, Method 3 shall apply and establishes lump sum payment for this work which is prorated in equal monthly payments.

6 – SEEDING, SPRIGGING, AND MULCHING

Bid Item 3 – Vegetation Establishment

This item shall consist of preparing the seedbed and furnishing and applying seed, hay mulch, tackifier, and fertilizer to all disturbed areas as shown on the drawings.

Disturbed areas and slopes in the reservoir area shall be vegetated to the extents as shown on the drawings unless elevated reservoir water levels at the time prevent their installation. Permanent vegetation is not required below the elevation where reservoir water levels are expected to prevail and per the recommendations by the local NRCS field office.

In Section 5, Seeding, sprigging, fertilizing, mulching, and stabilizing, straw mulch material shall consist of a native bluestem mix and the rate of application shall be 2-1/2 tons per acre. Mulches shall be stabilized by a mechanical crimper or by a non-asphaltic tackifier applied at a rate consistent with either 40 pounds per acre or as recommended by the manufacturer, whichever is greater. Tackifier, if applicable, shall be approved by the COR prior to placement.

The grass seed shall be drilled or broadcast onto a firm, clean seedbed. A grass seed drill equipped with depth control bands, grain drill with a grass seed attachment, or Brillion (type) seeder shall be used.

The seed shall consist of the following mix.

Blue Grama, Hachita 3.8lb PLS/Arce

Sideoats Grama, Haskel 2.9lb PLS/Acre

Green Sprangletop 0.8lb PLS/Acre

Seeding shall take place immediately after completion of earthwork activities and be conducted between December 1 and June 1. In the event that the construction falls outside the dates indicated, a temporary cover shall be established.

Fertilizer shall be of the pelleted form and shall be uniformly mixed. The rate of application of the fertilizer shall be based on a routine soil fertility test conducted for vegetation establishment in accordance with the soil sampling and testing procedures outlined at http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/files/soilwebform.pdf

In Section 6, Measurement and Payment, Method 1 shall apply and will be made at the contract unit price with the vegetated area being measured to the nearest 0.1 acre.

7 – CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS

http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/files/soilwebform.pdf

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Bid Item 4 – Construction Surveys

This item shall consist of all work required for all surveys, measurements, and computations required of this project.

In Section 5, Construction Surveys, Method 2 shall apply. The Contractor is responsible for the layout of all the work and for checking all work and shall include but not limited to: (a) Those required to check all excavation and earthfill slopes as work progresses to ensure such slopes are maintained at those specified. (b) Earthfill and excavated slopes shall be checked at least each five feet of vertical interval and corrected to planned slopes. (c) Those required to set “bluetops” for subgrades and finished grades of all excavations, earthfills, and appurtenances to the work.

The Contractor must submit to the CO in writing the names, qualifications and experience of the surveyor personnel for approval prior to commencement of work. The Contractor must provide original field notebooks and other records to the COR before final payment and acceptance of work.

Initial and final surveys for determinations of final quantities will be performed by the Government. All surveys shall proceed from points established by the Government. The benchmarks are shown on the drawings.

In Section 8, Payment, Method 2 shall apply with payment made as the work proceeds with progress payment amounts determined as a percentage of the total work planned as projected from the Contractor’s approved construction schedule.

Subsidiary Item – Permanent Reference Markers (PRMs)

This item shall consist of all work and materials (except the benchmark cap) required for the establishment of permanent reference markers cast in-place with non-reinforced concrete cylinders.

The cap for the PRM will be furnished by the NRCS prior to casting/pouring the concrete. A minimum of two (2) PRMs shall be required.

Compensation for this item is to be included in Bid Item 4 – Construction Surveys.

8 – MOBILIZATION AND DEMOBILIZATION

The Contractor shall construct a temporary construction entrance and site access at the approximate location as shown on the drawings. The access point shall comply with the Donley County requirements for temporary construction driveways and to the requirements as contained within this specification and as shown on the drawings.

The access road to the construction campsite shall be an all-weather road that is a minimum of 14 feet wide and graded to provide a smooth surface which can be easily traversed by automobiles. The road shall be maintained in a smooth rut-free condition throughout the contract period. Culverts shall be installed at crossings of low areas where significant concentrations of runoff water accumulate and cause ponding of water. Minimum culvert size shall be 18-in i.d. and 24-ft in length. A minimum of 18-in of compacted fill shall be placed over top of the pipe before construction equipment is allowed to pass.

As a part of this bid item, the Contractor shall furnish and install electrical service to the Government supplied field trailer. The service shall be adequate to address all anticipated electrical loads and meet the minimum voltage and amperage requirements indicated by the selected trailer and trailer manufacturer recommendations. The Contractor shall be responsible for supply of power to the Government’s field office throughout the contract period. If a portable generator is used to supply electrical power, the Contractor shall be responsible for the complete operation and maintenance of the generator. The generator shall remain in operating condition 24 hours per day.

If needed, the Contractor shall prohibit livestock entry to the work area by installation of temporary fencing. Temporary barbed wire fencing shall be a minimum of three (3) wire fence with a maximum 20

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer feet post spacing. Temporary electric fencing shall be a minimum of two (2) wire fence with a maximum 50 feet post spacing. All temporary fencing shall be capable of turning a cow and preventing its access to the construction area. All temporary fencing shall remain in-place and maintained during the entire contract period, or as approved by the Engineer.

Bid Item 6 – Mobilization and Demobilization

Section 3, PAYMENT, states, "Payment will be made as the work proceeds, after presentation of paid invoices …. by the Contractor showing specific mobilization and demobilization costs and supporting evidence of the charges of suppliers, subcontractors, and others." The Contractor may be asked to provide proof of the total direct cost and will have to submit paid invoices for the purchase of bonds and mobilization supplies in order to be reimbursed for these items prior to acceptance of invoice.

As part of demobilization, the access road shall be bladed to be smooth and shall be left in a rut-free condition. The temporary construction entrance and its improvements shall be removed and the area bladed and shaped to restore the area to its original condition. All temporary fencing installed shall be completely removed and the materials disposed of in an approved manner.

9 – TRAFFIC CONTROL

Subsidiary Item – Traffic Control

In section 4, the Contractor shall furnish a written plan showing the proposed method of signing, barricading for traffic control, use of flaggers, etc. to be approved by this contract’s Engineer and Donley County (if necessary).

Compensation for this item is to be included in Bid Item 5 – Mobilization and Demobilization.

10 – WATER FOR CONSTRUCTION

Subsidiary Item – Water for Construction

This item shall consist of providing, conveying, spreading, and sprinkling of water as applicable for dust abatement, earthfill, soil-bentonite slurry wall, sink hole filling, topsoil, and any other construction activity. Use of water for these activities shall be considered subsidiary to those items.

Water shall be obtained from the on-site stream/lake, an off-site source, or from an on-site well installed by the Contractor. Water provided for construction operations shall be clean and free from injurious amounts of oil, salt, acid, alkali, organic matter, or other deleterious substances. Saline/salt water from oil and gas operations shall not be allowed. Water pumped from on-site stream/lake or well shall not be used to mix soil-bentonite slurry.

Any well that is installed for the purpose of supplying water for construction shall be installed, developed, and plugged in accordance with all applicable State and local regulations by a Texas licensed water well driller if required by the sponsor and the Contracting Officer.

Compensation for this item is to be included, as applicable, in Bid Item 2 – Pollution Control; Bid Item 5 – Mobilization and Demobilization; Bid Item 7 – Earthfill; Bid Item 8 – Topsoil; Bid Item 11

– Soil Bentonite Wall.

11 – REMOVAL OF WATER

Subsidiary Item – Removal of Water

This item of work requires the Contractor to submit a written plan for diverting surface water and dewatering the construction site. The plan must be approved before beginning construction.

The soil bentonite wall and sink hole areas shall be protected from the entry of water from the reservoir.

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Compensation for this item is to be included, as applicable, in Bid Item 6 – Excavation; Bid Item 7 – Earthfill; Bid Item 8 – Topsoil; Bid Item 11 – Soil Bentonite Wall.

21 - EXCAVATION

Bid Item 6 – Excavation

This item shall consist of excavation required for the upstream slurry trench working pad and the reservoir sinkhole repair areas located in the upstream reservoir and as designated on the drawings.

In Section 2 – Classification, Unclassified excavation shall apply and all materials encountered, including rock materials, regardless of the nature or the manner in which they are removed.

In Section 4 – Use of Excavated Materials, Method 1 shall apply. There is no guarantee that materials obtained from the specified excavations may be used directly in specified fill areas. Separate stockpiling of selected materials to ensure their availability for use in specific zones of the fill may be required. Additional compensation will not be made for stockpiling of excavated materials. Cost for stockpiling of excavated materials shall be included in the compensation for the bid item(s) for excavation.

Suitable materials resulting from this excavation shall be used to construct the specified fills.

In Section 5 – Disposal of Waste Materials, Method 1 shall apply. The disposal of the excavated materials shall include transporting, depositing, and spreading the materials to and on the designated waste areas. Waste areas shall be designated at the time of the site showing. The finished surface of the waste area(s) shall be uniform and conform to the topography. Additional compensation for disposal of excavated materials and dressing of the waste area will not be made.

In Section 9 – Measurement and Payment, Method 3 shall apply. The neat lines and grades shown on the drawings shall be considered the true surface of completed excavation unless low density materials still exist. The actual depths and extent of these excavations will be determined by the engineer after examination of materials encountered. The upper limits for the foundation excavation shall be the measured surface of the base of the dam after the foundation stripping operation has been completed.

Subsidiary Item – Excavation, Common, Borrow

The item consists of all excavations from within the borrow areas required to complete the specified earthfills as designated on the drawings.

Borrow shall not be conducted within 100 feet of the upstream toe of the embankment.

Compensation for this item is to be included in Bid Item 7 – Earthfill.

Subsidiary Item – Excavation, Common, Foundation Stripping

This item shall apply to the areas receiving earthfill that do not require other excavations before earthfill placement. This excavation consists of removing weeds, grass, roots and soils containing significant vegetative or organic material from the ground surface (including any waste areas) prior to placing earthfill in required areas. The depth of stripping shall be sufficient to remove the vegetative material and soil containing significant organic matter and is estimated to be 3 to 12 inches (on average). The total required volume of stripping shall not exceed that obtained by assuming a depth of 6-inches.

Compensation for this item is to be included in Bid Item 6 – Excavation.

23 - EARTHFILL

Bid Item 7 – Earthfill

This item shall consist of all fill and backfill necessary for the completion of all earthwork required for:

a) the working surface pad for the slurry trench

b) backfilling the reservoir sinkholes.

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c) the protective, temporary loose earthfill layer covering the soil bentonite wall.

d) the protective, final compacted earthfill cap as discussed in Note 1 on Sheet 2 of the construction drawings.

In section 6, Compaction, Class A compaction shall apply. In-place dry density of materials being placed shall not be less than 95 percent of the maximum dry density obtained during tests performed in accordance with the procedures contained in ASTM D698 Method A or B and placement moisture shall be from optimum to +4% as determined from the above test. The moisture content of the materials being placed shall be adjusted as necessary to meet these requirements.

In section 9, Measurement and payment, Method 4 and 6 shall apply and be made at the contract unit price. Measurement is between the approved subgrade and the specified completed earthfill surface as shown on the drawings.

26 – TOPSOILING

Bid Item 8 – Topsoil

This item shall consist of salvaging of approved topsoil from required excavations; from the stripping operations; and from borrow areas and placing and spreading it on all areas designated to receive topsoil including the embankment earthfill areas, exposed borrow areas, and waste areas as indicated on the drawings.

In section 3, Furnishing, Method 1 shall apply and shall be from designated earth surfaces that will be disturbed by construction activities.

In Section 5, Spreading, Method 1 shall apply. After spreading the topsoil on the required surfaces, a minimum amount of compacted effort shall be applied with at least 1 pass of a dozer track.

The depth of topsoil for these areas shall be 6 inches.

In Section 6, Measurement and payment, Method 1 shall apply and measured to the nearest square yard.

81 – METAL FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION

Subsidiary Item – Stiles

This item shall consist of furnishing, fabricating, galvanizing, and installing the fence stile as shown on the drawings.

Compensation for this item is to be included in Bid Item 9 – Field Fence

92 – FIELD FENCE

Bid Item 9 – Field Fence

This item shall consist of furnishing all materials required and constructing the barbed wire fences as designated on the drawings and MS 591. Barbed wire shall be 12.5 gauge and have Class III coating.

The approximate location of the fences to be constructed is shown on the construction drawings. The final location of the fences (including corners, gates, pull and brace panels, stiles and special anchorage) shall be as staked by the Engineer.

In Section 10, Measurement and payment, Method 1 shall apply and measured to the nearest foot.

94 – CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL

Bid Item 14 – Contractor Quality Control

In Section 3, Quality Control System, Method 2 shall apply. The system established shall be documented in a written plan developed by the Contractor and approved by the CO. The plan shall be

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In Section 4, Quality Control Personnel, Method 2 shall apply. This requires the quality control activities to be performed by competent personnel who are separate and apart from line supervision and who report directly to management. Names of quality control personnel and their duties, qualifications, certifications, and authorities are required and shall be submitted to the CO for approval.

In Section 9, Measurement and Payment, Method 2 shall apply and paid in equal amounts on each monthly estimate.

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to perform tests to prove and ensure that all work performed meets the contract requirements. Any testing done by the Government is for the sole benefit of the Government. All tests must be conducted in accordance with the appropriate ASTM method and with equipment that meets the requirements of the specified ASTM test method.

Daily QC reports are required to be submitted to the Inspector.

Quality control personnel shall also be responsible for maintaining a record of progress with photographs and be submitted with the request for final payment.

416 – EARTHFILL SLURRY TRENCH CUTOFF WALL

Bid Item 11 – Soil Bentonite Wall

The work shall consist of all operations required to construct an earthfilled cutoff wall by the slurry trench method. It shall include excavating a continuous vertical walled trench while keeping the trench filled at all times with a colloidal suspension of bentonite and water and backfilling the trench with a blend of selected materials mixed with slurry and/or bentonite.

Other acceptable methods of installing the soil bentonite wall are available and may be proposed by the contractor. The contractor may submit a written plan for an alternative installation method to the engineer for consideration. The alternative method shall assure the installation will provide a positive cutoff to the limits shown on the drawings and shall demonstrate the end product to be of equal or better quality of the slurry trench method and meet the requirements of this specification. For those items of this construction specification that may not apply to the alternative method, the contractor shall address why it does not apply and provide details of how the alternative method shall meet the intent of the particular item. If the alternative method is accepted by the engineer, the written plan must not change without prior written notice and the engineer’s concurrence with the change.

In section 8, Experience Record, the Contractor shall be fully equipped and experienced in the construction of a cutoff wall by the slurry trench method. The Contractor shall employ a slurry trench specialist to supervise the installation of the cutoff wall by the slurry trench method including but not limited to excavation, preparation and use of slurry, and selection, preparation and placing of slurry trench backfill including the earthfill protective layer. The specialist shall be responsible for the Contractor’s quality control required for the installation of the slurry trench. The Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer for approval a written plan for the installation of the slurry trench. The Contractor's submitted plan shall include a description of the installation process for the portion of the soil-bentonite slurry wall in the vicinity of the existing principal spillway conduit and riser. The plan shall ensure that principal spillway conduit and riser are protected from damage by equipment, as well as any displacement or settlement that could occur as a result of the trenching and soil-bentonite slurry installation. Any damage to the conduit or riser shall be repaired at the Contractor's expense using methods and materials that are approved by the Contracting Officer.

The minimum width of the Soil-Bentonite Wall shall be 2.5 feet.

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The lower limits for the trench excavation shown on the drawings are approximate. The actual depths and extent of this excavation will be determined by the NRCS Geologist and the contracting officer’s technical representative after examination of materials encountered.

In section 11, Measurement and payment, measurement shall be the total area of the slurry trench cutoff wall will be measured and computed to the nearest square foot as the product of the measured centerline length and the average depth. The average depth will be determined by vertical probing taken at 10-foot intervals with the depth being measured from the top surface of the surface of the slurry in the trench to the approved bottom of the trench.

SITE VISIT

A field visit was made to Site 1. All locations and works of improvement from the drawings were shown on the ground.

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q1. Can water from the watershed coming into the reservoir be diverted to side channels?

A1. See Construction Specification 11 – Removal of Water for requirements of dewatering and surface water diversion. A Dewatering and Diversion of Surface Water Plan is required and shall be submitted to the Project Engineer prior to start of construction operations for approval.

Q2. Are cattle expected to be within the work area?

A2. This is a possibility. See Construction Specification 8 – Mobilization and Demobilization, Section 4

a. (2) (e) for the requirements of temporary fencing.

Q3. Is there a fertilizer rate given for the revegetation?

A3. A rate is not specified. The contractor is required to submit a routine soil fertility test for the on-site soils to determine the mix and application rate. See Construction Specification 6 – Seeding, Sprigging, and Mulching, Section 7 for soil sampling and testing procedures.

Q4. What is the best source for on-site construction water?

A4. See Construction Specification 10 – Water for Construction. The contractor is responsible for obtaining a source of construction water. Water provided for construction operations shall be clean and free from injurious amounts of oil, salt, acid, alkali, organic matter, or other deleterious substances. Saline/salt water from oil and gas operations shall not be allowed.

Q5. Would a geotechnical or geology report be available for viewing?

A5. The report will be included as an attachment to an addendum.

Q6. Are CAD files available?

A6. No; all survey controls for site layout and construction staking are shown on the drawings. The contractor is required to provide all surveying as required by CS-7 – Construction Surveys.

Q7. Is there a minimum set time for the soil bentonite slurry wall?

A7. Yes; see Note 1 on sheet 2 of the drawings. A loose earthfill cap shall be placed immediately after soil bentonite wall backfilling is completed over each 100-foot reach and shall remain in place for a minimum of 10 days. After 10 days, the loose earthfill cap shall be removed and replaced with compacted earthfill.

Q8. Can a portion of the principal spillway conduit removed in order to install the slurry trench wall?

A8. The contractor is required to submit a plan that includes a description of the installation process for the portion of the soil-bentonite slurry wall in the vicinity of the existing principal spillway conduit and riser. The plan shall ensure that principal spillway conduit and riser are protected from damage by equipment, as well as any displacement or settlement that could occur as a result of the trenching and soil-bentonite slurry installation. Any damage to the conduit or riser shall be repaired at the Contractor's expense using methods and materials that are approved by the Contracting Officer.

Shane W. Ice, P.E.

Texas State Construction Engineer cc: R. Brian Wenberg, State Conservation Engineer, Texas NRCS Mark Northcut, Water Resources Team Leader, Texas NRCS

Michelle Linear, Watershed Inspector, Texas NRCS