Attachment_1_Statement_of_Work.pdf

U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

HIGH DESERT DISTRICT

RAWLINS FIELD OFFICE, WYOMING

Muddy Creek Restoration Landscape Mechanical Vegetation Treatment Project 2024 Deep Creek Rim/White Rock Draw Treatment Unit

Paleontological Survey

STATEMENT OF WORK

I. Introduction and Background

The contractor shall conduct a paleontological resources survey of the juniper encroachment project located in the Muddy Creek watershed approximately 45 miles south of Rawlins in south central Carbon County, Wyoming (see attached project maps and provided shapefiles). The

Muddy Creek Restoration Landscape Mechanical Vegetation Treatment Project would be accomplished using the following techniques: mechanical treatment using heavy equipment with masticating heads, hand-thinning with chainsaws, lop-and-scatter, cut-and-pile, pile burning and potential broadcast prescribed burning.

The Muddy Creek Mechanical Vegetation Treatment Project subject to this Statement of Work comprises the Deep Creek Rim-White Rock Draw treatment unit. The project area is located immediately above and draining into Muddy Creek itself north of Baggs Wyoming and east of

Wyoming Highway 789.

Project Area:

The contractor shall conduct a paleontological resources survey of approximately 1,124 acres within the Deep Creek Rim-White Rock Draw treatment unit, a subunit of the Muddy Creek Mixed

Mountain Shrub Vegetation Treatments project.

The inventory area is irregular in shape and is not marked on the ground; shapefiles will be provided to the contractor by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of this solicitation package and/or upon contract award. Surface ownership of the inventory project area is entirely lands administered by the BLM.

The Juniper treatment project area is underlain by Lower Member and the Red Rim Member of the

Lance Formation (PFYC: 5), the China Butte Member of the Fort Union Formation (PFYC: 4), and the Browns Park Formation (PFYC: 3).

Mapped Geological Units

Geological Unit Map

Symbol Age

PFYC Acres

Lance Formation (Lower Member) Kll Upper

Cretaceous

5 929.87

Lance Formation (Red Rim Member) Klr Upper

Cretaceous

5 98.87

Fort Union Formation (China Butte

Member)

Tfc Paleocene 4 64.53

Browns Park Formation

Tbp Miocene and

Oligocene

3 30.46

Total Acres 1,123.72

II. Project Location and Scope

Treatment Unit Location Acres

Deep Creek

Rim-White Rock

Draw

T.13N.,R.91W., Sec. 2,3

T.14N.,R.91W., Sec 26,27,34,35 1123.72

The Muddy Creek Mechanical project area covers multiple units south of Rawlins, Carbon

County, Wyoming. Specifically, the Deep Creek Rim-White Rock Draw is one of the southernmost units, lying adjacent to and draining into Muddy Creek itself. Access to the project area can be gained by traveling north from Baggs or south from Creston Junction on Highway

789, and then east on either the Wild Horse Road (BLM 3309), or the Muddy Mountain Road

(BLM 3320.) Several two track roads access the project unit from these main travel routes (see attached maps.) The use of a high clearance, 4WD vehicle is required to access the project areas.

Access to some portions of the project areas may be more suitable to the use of UTVs and/or

ATVs at the contractor’s discretion. All vehicular traffic shall be confined to existing roads and two-tracks.

Elevations of the project areas range from 6,420 to 7,240 feet. The project area consists of relatively steep and fairly rugged draws, ridgelines, and drainages dominated by juniper with a understory of bunchgrasses, bitterbrush, serviceberry, mountain mahogany, and Wyoming and

Mountain big sagebrush.

III. Statement of Work

For the Muddy Creek Mechanical Vegetation Treatment Project, the contractor shall conduct a background file search of the Deep Creek Rim-White Rock Draw treatment unit (1,124 acres). The project area will be inspected for 1) surface fossils, 2) exposures of potentially fossiliferous rock, and 3) areas in which potentially fossiliferous rock would be exposed or otherwise impacted by surface disturbing activities. Exposures of paleontologically sensitive geologic units will receive a pedestrian survey; other areas may be cleared visually or using aerial photographs.

A report shall be completed based on the results of the survey and will include the following details:

a) Name, affiliation, address, date of report, and permit number of paleontologist doing the survey.

b) Project name and number (if used), name of proponent, and general location of project.

c) Date(s) of survey and names of any personnel assisting with the survey.

d) Project Description

- Brief description of the proposed project, emphasizing potential impacts to paleontological resources.

e) Brief description of background research conducted.

- Including overview of known paleontological information, institutions consulted, previous surveys in the area, previous projects of similar nature in the area, and general description of survey techniques employed.

f) Survey Methodology

- Extent of survey coverage, providing total acres of pedestrian survey and non-survey.

- Include criteria used to determine significant vs non-significant localities.

g) Summary of the survey results.

- Describing each locality separately and providing information on topographic location, formation, fossil description, and preservation.

- Potential impacts to paleontological resources resulting from the project.

- Detailed mitigation recommendations that may lessen potential adverse impacts, including any areas where monitoring during construction is recommended.

- Listing of any collected material, including field numbers, field identifications, and elements, cross-referenced to locality field numbers. This list may be submitted in electronic format, preferably in spreadsheet format.

h) Potential fossiliferous areas to allow for future assessment of sites if applicable.

i) Cited and other pertinent references.

j) Map of the project area, indicating areas surveyed, areas not surveyed, previously identified localities, and new discoveries. Maps will be at 1:24,000 scale with a standard 7.5’ USGS topographic map as a background. Supplemental maps which are reduced or enlarged in scale or with a different background may be provided as needed.

k) Relevant photos, diagrams, tables to aid in explaining, clarifying, or understanding the findings. All photographs included in the report shall be at least 3.5 inches by 5 inches in size. Captions will include direction of photo, description, any modification to the photo, and date taken.

l) BLM locality form (8270-3) or equivalent for each new locality (including localities where fossils were observed but not collected) with a 1:24,000 scale map showing the localities (not reduced in scale during photocopying).

The contractor is required to have a current BLM Wyoming Paleontological Resources Use Permit and will adhere to the permit stipulations.

IV. Government Supplied Property

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, travel costs, and other items and incidental services necessary to complete the project. Map and GIS shapefiles of the area subject to inventory are supplied with this solicitation.

V. Funding/Schedule

The work schedule and partial payment shall be divided into the following timetable:

Treatment

Unit

Description of Deliverables Date of

Deliverables

Payment

Percentage (of total contract)

Deep Creek

Rim-White

Rock Draw

Completion of Background Research and Field

Work

08/31/2024 60%

Deep Creek

Rim-White

Rock Draw

Draft Reports Submission 09/30/2024 20%

Deep Creek

Rim-White

Rock Draw

Final Reports Submission 10/31/24 20%

VI. Deliverables

The contractor shall prepare a paleontological resources inventory report, including locality forms.

The report shall include photographic documentation and maps produced with GIS information. One copy of the draft report (electronic format) shall be submitted to the BLM for initial review and comment. The BLM shall be allowed 15 calendar days for review. The contractor shall make revisions and prepare the final report in accordance with BLM recommendations.

The contractor shall submit to the BLM one unbound paper copy of the final report with color maps and photographs upon completion of the project. In addition to the hard copy of the report, an electronic copy of the final report, locality forms, and GIS information (including original field data files and GIS shapefiles), and all photographs taken as part of this project will also be submitted via email, share site, thumb drive, CD, or DVD. The final report and locality forms may either be in

Microsoft Word or PDF files. The preferred digital format for photographs is JPEGs. Copies of field and research notes and maps associated with this project shall be submitted to the BLM upon completion of the project. Either digital format or paper copies are acceptable.

VII. Other Requirements

Notifications:

The contractor shall notify the BLM at least two weeks (14 calendar days) before commencing fieldwork by email and/or phone call to the COR and the agency POC.

The contractor shall also notify BLM POC when fieldwork for the unit is completed by email and/or phone call; notification shall communicate a brief synthesis of preliminary findings. An email notification shall also be sent to the COR and POC when the final reports are digitally submitted and the hard-copy reports are physically mailed to the BLM.