2. Appendix A_NG-GSER_DRAFT.pdf

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 1 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District

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. Cut and pile dead and dying Conifers.

2. Cutting and piling live trees less than 20 inches DBH.

3. Piling of pre-existing and operations created fuels.

4. Mastication of small trees and brush.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

All units shown on Contract Area Maps (CAM) for Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC utilize requirements for virtual boundaries. Contract allowable tolerance for virtual boundaries is +/- 33 feet. Global positioning system devices must have an accuracy tested in an open canopy of at least 15 feet to ensure compliance with the allowable tolerance. Device accuracy can be determined at the USDA GPS MTDC Accuracy website:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/gps/mtdcrept/accuracy/index.htm

Requirements pursuant to Award#1 and 2.

1. Heavy equipment requirements in Appendix B, C6.41# and C6.42# apply to all Mechanical Fuels Treatment.

2. Directional felling is required within areas designated DF on Contract Area Map (CAM), all Felling shall be directionally felled onto National Forest land and away from: ALL CA, SMZs, Giant Sequoia over 20 inches DBH, Roads, Recreation infrastructure, Project area boundary with the use of specialized equipment. Such directional felling shall not be required when in the faller’s judgment it is unsafe to do so and shall be.

3. Endlining shall not be required for distances more than 50 feet uphill, and 75 feet downhill.

4. All skid trails and temporary roads shall be agreed to prior to their construction, minimizing skid trails and roads. 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.

5. Mechanical operations shall be accomplished with no turning of tracked equipment while stationary off skid trails to limit disturbance to topsoil.

6. No cutting or piling of old down Giant Sequoia logs and associate rails/posts (of any size).

Mandatory Item 1a & 1b: Giant Sequoia Fuels Treatment Hand-Treatments within 100-foot perimeter of Giant Sequoia bole (Units 9, 10, 11, 110)

1. Manual Felling Treatments within 25-foot perimeter from Giant Sequoia bole:

a. Fell all snags.

b. If large (Greater than 20”) green trees are left and they are in the canopy of the Giant Sequoia, remove fuel ladder.

c. Fell live and dead Cedars, Pines, and Firs greater than 2 feet in height and up to 20 inches DBH that are within the 25 feet perimeter from individual Giant Sequoias.

d. Remove all limbs of residual trees (i.e., young Giant Sequoia) below 6 feet high.

e. Very poor vigor small Giant Sequoia (less than 12 inches DBH) may be felled.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/gps/mtdcrept/accuracy/index.htm

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 2 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District

f. Avoid cutting riparian vegetation if not creating a fuel ladder.

g. Equipment permitted to reach into the 25-foot buffer provided that the tracks and undercarriage remain outside the 25-foot perimeter.

2. Felling Treatments within 25-to-100-foot Perimeter of Giant Sequoia bole:

a. Mechanized equipment permitted within the first 75 feet of the perimeter; Maximum ground pressure of equipment shall not exceed 9 PSI.

b. Fell all snags, precommercial and commercial size trees less than 20 inches DBH, beneath or within 10 feet of dripline of leave trees. Retain the most vigorous trees.

c. Thin trees greater than 2 feet in height and less than 10 inches DBH to an average 17 foot spacing.

Priority of leave tree selection among trees of equal size and vigor is:

i. Giant Sequoia

ii. Sugar Pine

iii. Ponderosa or Jeffery pine

iv. Black Oak

v. Incense Cedar

vi. White Fir

d. Leave tree selection should be based on the following criteria:

i. Dominance - Trees are taller than others of the same age class and live crown ratio greater than 30 percent.

ii. Health - Should be vigorous and healthy in appearance with a full complement of green foliage.

iii. Quality - Trees have good form, with no forks, no vertical branching, no spiral grain and free from insect, disease, physical, and mechanical damage.

e. Leave riparian vegetation if not creating a fuel ladder.

3. Stump treatment within entire 100-foot perimeter:

a. Stumps of live and recently dead fir and Giant Sequoia trees equal to or greater than 3 inches diameter shall be treated with a borate compound. Compound must be registered by EPA in the State of California as a fungicide and be approved by FS as an effective preventing of H. annosus root disease.

A colorant shall be applied. Treatments shall be accomplished within 3 hours of felling. Daily logs shall be maintained and turn into the Forest Service monthly. See appendix B C6.315#

4. Slash Disposal

a. Pile all activity created and existing fuel. Piles shall consist of pieces greater than 24 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter.

b. Buck slash into a minimum 12-foot lengths, piles shall be less than 4 feet tall and 10 feet in diameter, piled material shall not extend 3 feet outside of piles perimeter. Piles shall be compact and free of dirt and constructed that will facilitate consumption of 90% of piled material when burned.

c. Construct fuel break 24 inches wide to bare mineral soil around hand piles.

d. Mechanically pile down fuels greater than 16 inches diameter, including Giant Sequoia logs less than

24 inches diameter. Piles shall be constructed within openings; Piles shall be built in a teepee style and oriented so that logs will not roll down slope during construction or burning.

e. All piles shall be covered with a durable waterproof paper covering. Paper covering will be approved prior to use in writing 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.

Giant Sequoia Hand Piling Criteria for Protected Features

(>16”) Minimum Distances

Giant Sequoia bole greater than 30” DBH (Live or Dead) 1 Tree length or 50 Feet, whichever is greater

Giant Sequoia bole greater than 20” DBH (Live or Dead) 30 Feet

Dripline of Residual trees 25 Feet

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 3 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District

Giant Sequoia Mechanical Piling Criteria for Protected Features (>16”) Minimum Distances

Giant Sequoia bole greater than 20” DBH (Live or Dead) 1 Tree length from residual trees

Dripline of Residual trees 25 Feet

5. Remove Duff

a. Scrape duff to mineral soil for a distance at least 5 feet away from all old stumps. Equally distribute duff outside of the 5-foot perimeter of stump.

Mandatory Items 2a, 2b & Optional 2c: SMZ Fuels Treatments (All Units)

1. All felling within Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) shall be done by hand unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

2. Within the first 25 feet of SMZ area, Fell all conifer trees 2 foot tall or greater and less than 10 inches DBH.

a. Beyond the first 25 feet of SMZ area, thin trees greater than 2 feet tall and less than 10 inches DBH to an average 17 foot spacing. Priority of leave tree selection among trees of equal size and vigor is:

i. Giant Sequoia

ii. Sugar Pine

iii. Ponderosa or Jeffery pine

iv. Black Oak

v. Incense Cedar

vi. White Fir.

b. Leave tree selection should be based on the following criteria:

i. Dominance - Trees are taller than others of the same age class and live crown ratio greater than 30 percent.

ii. Health - Should be vigorous and healthy in appearance with a full complement of green foliage.

iii. Quality - Trees have good form, with no forks, no vertical branching, no spiral grain and free from insect, disease, physical, and mechanical damage.

3. Do not cut the following:

a. Sequoias shall not be cut unless hazardous to contractors’ operation. Forest Service must be contacted prior to cutting sequoia trees >12 inches DBH.

Hand Piling SMZ Specifications:

1. Activity created and existing fuels less than 16 inches at large end and less than 5 foot shall be hand piled.

2. Piles shall be compact, free of dirt and constructed in a manner that will facilitate burning.

3. All hand piles shall be constructed as follows:

a. Piles shall be constructed within openings; Piles shall be built oriented so that fuels will not roll down slope during construction or burning.

b. Piles shall be a maximum of 4 feet tall X 10 feet in diameter, piled material shall not extend outside of piles perimeter.

d. Piles built on steep slopes should have three times the pile height in distance from residual trees in the uphill side.

Hand Piling Criteria for Protected Features Minimum Distances Meadows 100 Feet Giant Sequoia bole greater than 30” DBH (Live or Dead) 50 Feet Giant Sequoia bole greater than 20” DBH (Live or Dead) 30 Feet

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 4 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District

Corrals, Fencing, Protected Improvements, Identified Sensitive Plant Locations, Roads, Snags and Wildlife Logs 30 Feet

Dripline of Residual trees and Streams 15 Feet Minimum Fireline Distances from Protected Features Minimum Distance

Forest Service boundaries and private land (Pile Fireline) 30 Feet Control Area 1 (Pile Fireline) 10 Feet

Ground based & Aerial based SMZ Piling Specification.

1. Fuels greater than 16 inches diameter and longer than 5 feet shall be removed and piled, mechanically or through aerial removal outside of SMZs.

2. When removing material within 15 feet of the established stream channel on slopes greater than 15% flood plain impacts must be kept to a minimum.

a. Ground Based Piling Restrictions

i. Tracked equipment prohibited within 15 feet of established stream channel where sustained slopes are less than 15%. Utilize the equipment boom to remove material within 15 feet of stream channel.

ii. Heavy equipment shall not turn in place or side hill within SMZ.

iii. Ingress and egress shall be perpendicular to the stream channel.

iv. Entries can occur at 40-foot intervals along the SMZ unless otherwise agreed in writing.

3. Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) Retention

a. Remove logs in decay class 1 & 2 such as recently downed/suspended fuels in areas where excess fuel loading is of concern. Refer to Exhibit A for Decay Classes.

b. Leave logs in a lesser decay class 3 to 5 for CWD retention while still maintaining fuel management objectives.

4. Do not remove woody material from in-channel established log jams as these provide important habitat components. Buried material or material that could compromise the stream bank/flood plain if removed needs to be left in-place.

Mandatory Item 3a, 3b: Hand fuels treatment (Unit 3, & 11)

1. Contractor shall fell all snags, exceeding the requirements stated under Solicitation Section 24 ‘All Units’, excluding Sequoia trees greater than 20 inches DBH unless otherwise agreed.

2. In areas with dense conifers regeneration, thin conifer less than 10 inches DBH to 17 foot spacing.

3. Avoid damaging alders, dogwoods that have grown to tree form, and all other woody riparian species.

Mandatory Item 4a, 4b: Hand Piling (Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, & 66,)

1. All activities created and existing fuels greater than 3 inches in diameter and 24 inches in length.

2. Pile all activity created and existing fuels less than 16 inches at large end.

a. Piles shall be compact, free of dirt and constructed in a manner that will facilitate burning.

b. Piles shall be built oriented so that fuels will not roll down slope during construction or burning.

c. Buck slash into minimum 12-foot Lengths.

d. Piles shall be 4 feet tall and 10 feet in diameter. Piled material shall not extend outside of piles perimeter.

3. Piles built on 35% slopes and greater should have three times the pile height in distance from residual trees in the uphill side.

a. All Piles consisting of fuels greater than 20 inches diameter small end will be located outside of Stream Management Zone, see CAM for locations of SMZ.

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b. Contractor may be required to relocate material to a suitable pile location unless otherwise agreed to with COR.

c. Piles that are not a minimum of 90 percent soil-free shall be reworked.

Hand Piling Criteria for Protected Features Minimum Distances Meadows 100 Feet Giant Sequoia bole greater than 30” DBH (Live or Dead) 50 Feet Giant Sequoia bole greater than 20” DBH (Live or Dead) 30 Feet Corrals, Fencing, Protected Improvements, Identified Sensitive Plant Locations, Roads, Snags and Wildlife Logs 30 Feet

Dripline of Residual trees and Streams 15 Feet Minimum Fireline Distances from Protected Features Minimum Distance

Forest Service boundaries and private land (Pile Fireline) 30 Feet Control Area 1 (Pile Fireline) 10 Feet

4. The contractor shall clear a fireline around each pile to the following specifications.

a. Clearing will be 24 inches in length.

b. On slopes greater than 30%, install water bars in the 24-inch fireline at a 30° angle, to disperse the flow of water and to stabilize soil or as agreed to with COR.

5. 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.

Mandatory Item 5: DFPZ Fuels Treatment (Unit 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8)

1. Dead sequoia trees should be left standing for wildlife trees, unless otherwise agreed.

2. Leave all live trees over 20 inches DBH unless it is a safety hazard.

3. Fell all snags within 150 feet of roads and trails.

4. Fell snags beyond 150 feet from the road, leaving 1 to 2 snags of the largest size per acre averaged across a 10-acre area. Clump snags where possible. Do not fall Giant Sequoia snags over 20 inches DBH. Directionally fell snags where feasible to areas more easily piled to reduce potential fuel buildups that cannot be piled.

5. Fell trees up to 20 inches DBH beneath the dripline of leave trees.

6. Fell trees less than 12 inches DBH where boles are growing within 10 feet of dripline of leave trees.

7. Except for Giant Sequoia, fell trees larger than 2 feet tall and less than 10 inches DBH to 17 foot average spacing. Oak seedlings and saplings are considered as part of the residual stand.

8. Priority of leave tree selection among trees of equal size and vigor is:

a. Giant Sequoia

b. Sugar Pine

c. Ponderosa or Jeffery pine

d. Black Oak

e. Incense Cedar

f. White Fir

9. Leave tree selection should be based on the following criteria:

a. Dominance - Trees are taller than others of the same age class and live crown ratio greater than 30 percent.

b. Health - Should be vigorous and healthy in appearance with a full complement of green foliage.

c. Quality - Trees have good form, with no forks, no vertical branching, no spiral grain and free from insect, disease, physical, and mechanical damage.

10. Leave unthinned pockets for wildlife cover covering an average of 15% of the stand.

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 6 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District

a. To reduce fuel loadings near residual pockets and leave trees, fell trees away from residual pockets and leave trees.

b. Leave Giant Sequoia reproduction where present.

c. Sequoias shall not be cut unless hazardous to contractors’ operation. Forest Service must be contacted prior to cutting sequoia trees greater than 12 inches DBH unless imminent hazards.

11. All material will be available as Timber Subject to Agreement.

Mandatory Item 6: Mechanical Fuels Treatment: (Units 8 & 110)

1. Fell all snags within 150’ of roads and trails, exceeding the requirements stated under Solicitation Section 24 ‘All Units’. Dead oak and sequoia trees greater than 20-inch DBH shall be left standing for wildlife trees, unless otherwise agreed.

2. Fell all snags greater or equal to 10 inches DBH beyond 150 feet from roads and trails exceeding the requirements stated under Solicitation Section 24 ‘All Units’, excluding Sequoia trees greater than 20 inches DBH unless otherwise agreed.

a. Forest Service must be contacted prior to cutting of sequoia trees greater than 12 inches DBH unless an imminent hazard. Directionally fell trees where feasible to areas more easily removed to reduce potential fuel buildups that cannot be removed.

3. All material will be available as Timber Subject to Agreement.

Mandatory Item 7: Mechanical Pile: (Unit 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8, 110)

Piled material from Mandatory Items 5 and 6 shall be kept separate from Timber Subject to agreement unless Option Item 14a Removal of Timber Subject to Agreement has been awarded.

1. The contractor shall clear and pile all existing and created slash.

a. Piles shall consist of mixed conifer trees with limbs, tops, boles, and bark from existing and activity generated slash exceeding 24 inches in length and 3 inches diameter. Piles will be compact and free of dirt and constructed in a Teepee style manner that will facilitate burning.

2. All mechanical created piles shall be constructed as follows:

a. Piles shall be constructed within canopy openings; Piles shall be built in a teepee style and material oriented so logs will not roll down slope during construction or burning.

b. Piles built on steep slopes shall be constructed at 3x the distance as the pile’s height from residual trees on the uphill side.

Machine Piling Criteria for Protected Features Minimum Distances

Meadows 100 Feet

Residual trees bole (ALL) 1 Tree Length or 50 Feet, whichever is greater

Giant Sequoia bole greater than 20” DBH (Live or Dead) 50 Feet Corrals, Fencing, Protected Improvements, Identified Sensitive Plant Locations, Roads, Snags, Wildlife Logs 30 Feet

Dripline of Residual trees 25 Feet Streams 15 Feet

Minimum Fireline Distances from Protected Features Minimum Distance Forest Service boundaries and private land (Pile Fireline) 30 Feet Control Area 1 (Pile Fireline) 10 Feet

3. An eight-foot fuelbreak shall be cleared of all but fine material around each Machine Pile and a 24-inch wide fireline shall be cleared to mineral soil around the outer ring of the fuelbreak.

a. Piled material shall not extend into the 8-foot wide fireline, unless agreed to with project COR.

b. When slope is greater than 30%, install water bars in the 24-inch fireline at a 30° angle, to disperse the flow of water and to stabilize soil or as agreed to with COR.

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 7 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District

Mandatory Item 8: Mastication (Unit 1 & 8)

Operations shall take place post Mandatory Item 7. Mechanical Pilling activities and allow 7 days for Forest Service can identify Giant Sequoia leave trees prior start work.

1. Masticate small non-sequoia trees less than 2 feet tall and understory shrubs within treatment area.

2. Leave all trees greater than 2 feet tall.

3. Protect all identified Giant Sequoia reproduction.

4. Protection of the residual stand shall be high priority.

5. Residual stand damage will be deemed unacceptable when 4 or more residual leave trees per acre have been damaged.

6. Up to approximately 15 percent of each masticated unit shall be left untreated, in small clumps of trees and brush scattered throughout each unit.

7. Where ground condition is suitable masticated material shall be mixed with the topsoil no more than 2 inches.

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

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

Mandatory Item 9: Hand Felling Dead and Dying fuels Treatment (Units 9, 10, 11)

1. Fell all snags within 150 feet of roads and trails. Do not cut live trees unless it is a safety hazard.

2. Fell all snags greater or equal to 10 inches DBH beyond 150 feet from roads and trails exceeding the requirements stated under Solicitation Section 24 ‘All Units’, excluding Sequoia trees greater than 20 inches DBH unless otherwise agreed.

a. Forest Service must be contacted prior to cutting of sequoia trees greater than 12 inches DBH unless an imminent hazard. Directionally fell trees where feasible to areas more easily removed to reduce potential fuel buildups that cannot be removed.

Mandatory Item 10: Removal & Piling Specifications for Aerial Based Operation (Units 9, 10, 11)

1. All activity created and existing fuels shall be removed to agreed to disposal sites designated as follows:

a. All operations created and existing fuels greater than 12 inches DBH at large end and greater than 5-foot length shall be removed from the treatment unit and decked/piled at agreed to disposal sites; NO mechanical ground-based equipment will be allowed with the treatment units.

b. Piles and jackpots of material may be constructed within treatment units as agreed to with COR.

i. Piles may be built to any size in appropriate openings but must not be no closer than 1 tree length from residual trees. Piles shall be compact and free of dirt and constructed in a manner that will facilitate burning.

2. At agreed to disposal sites, the contractor shall clear a fireline around each pile that is 8 feet wide and free of all but fine material, with a minimum of 24 inches of fireline cleared to mineral soil at the outer ring. Fireline shall meet the following additional specifications:

a. Piled material shall not extend into the 8-foot wide fireline unless agreed to with project COR.

b. When slope is greater than 30%, install water bars in the 24-inch fireline at a 30° angle, to disperse the flow of water and to stabilize soil or as agreed to with COR.

c. All piles shall be placed so that the outside edge of the fireline shall be a minimum of ten feet from all CA-1 identified on CAMs.

Mandatory Item 11: Road Reconstruction-Padding

1. See Appendix D for Road Reconstruction requirements for items 151, 207(01), 301(09) and 655.

2. This activity must be completed no later than September 1, 2023.

Mandatory Item 12: Road Maintenance

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 8 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District

1. See Appendix D for requirements for item 303(02), Recondition of Roadbed, Compaction method A.

2. The notice to proceed for this activity will be issued once all other ground based work items are completed along designated road systems.

Optional Item 13: Fell and Remove Hazards Fuels (Unit 66)

1. Cut and remove all marked live vegetation, snags, and existing fuels greater than 3 inches diameter at large end and larger than 2-feet in length that consists of mixed conifer trees, limbs, tops, boles, and bark to disposal site.

a. Contractor shall protect the residual stand from incidental damage.

b. Contractor shall protect all CA as shown on the CAM, and infrastructure associated with the recreation facility from damage and shall be responsible for their timely restoration if damaged by Contractor's Operations. Restoration shall occur only after the COR has consulted with the District staff.

c. Contractor shall notify Forest Service at least 10 days prior to any operations in the vicinity of cultural resources sites identified the Confidential Sale Area Map within unit 66. No equipment shall be permitted within boundary of sites as indicated on the ground unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

Felling and/or removal of marked vegetation and snags is required within cultural resources sites.

Felling and/or removal of marked vegetation and snags shall occur only after consultation with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) on a case-by-case basis and only upon prior agreement concerning operational methods.

2. Operation in and adjacent to cultural resources sites identified as CA-1 on Confidential Sale Area Map or flagged in blue/black striped ribbon and solid white ribbon tied together in the field:

a. All felling shall be directional fell away from cultural resource sites and cultural features, unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

b. Removal is only upon prior agreement concerning extraction methods. No skidding or tracked equipment with metal grousers will be allowed within cultural resource site boundaries. All equipment operation shall leave the topsoil including duff layer mostly undisturbed. Equipment shall have a ground PSI less than 9.

c. All removal of material shall be fully suspended or removed with equipment capable of transporting material within or on said piece of equipment.

d. All skid trails/skid roads will be identified by the COR and agree to by the purchaser. Padding may be required within cultural resource sites; design will be provided by the COR.

e. Cultural features to be avoided and protected will be identified for the Contractor by the COR.

Equipment operators will be briefed on the need to reduce ground disturbance.

f. Crossings of linear cultural resource site will be identified by the COR:

i. Crossings shall be perpendicular to the linear cultural resource site features and will not be located at points of origin, intersection, or terminus. crossing will not cut into the banks, berms, or ends of through-cuts (beginning or end). Do not place lead-off ditches through berms.

ii. Crossing of linear sites may require padding for protection to cultural resource sites.

g. The remainder of the linear cultural resource site is to be avoided and protected. Equipment operators will be briefed on the need to reduce ground disturbance. Crossings that cannot be padded shall be repaired to previous condition under guidance of the COR.

3. Piling requirements:

a. Pile activity created and existing fuels. Piles shall be constructed at disposal location unless otherwise agreed to.

b. Piles shall consist of mixed conifer trees with limbs, tops, boles, and bark from activity created and existing slash, be compact, free of dirt and constructed in a manner that will facilitate burning.

c. The contractor shall clear a fireline around each pile or group of piles that is 8 feet wide and free of all but fine material, with a minimum of 24 inches of fireline cleared to mineral soil at the outer ring.

i. When conditions prevent individual fireline installation, group fireline installation is acceptable.

Groups of piles can be lined around the outer perimeter of a group of piles. Vegetation between

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response Nelder Grove IRSC Sierra National Forest Page 9 of 15 Bass Lake Ranger District the piles shall be left in its natural state to aid in the consumption of the woody material in the burn piles.

ii. When individual or group lining is not attainable, a fireline along the edge of the worked area shall be installed. Conditions such as rocks, slope or cut banks are a few examples that may prohibit individual or group lining.

iii. Piled material shall not extend into the 8-foot wide fireline unless agreed to with project COR.

iv. When slope is greater than 30%, install water bars in the 24-in fireline at a 30° angle, to disperse the flow of water and to stabilize soil or as agreed to with COR.

v. All piles shall be placed so that the outside edge of the fireline shall be at a minimum of ten feet from all CA-1

4. All material will be available as Timber Subject to Agreement.

Optional Items 14: Removal of TSA Products

14a. Ground Based Operations: Estimated 2,200 Tons of forest products avaiable as Timber Subject to Agreement.

14b. Unit 66: An unestimated amount of forest products avaiable as Timber Subject to Agreement.

1. All provisions of Appendix B shall be applicable to removal of TSA.

2. All trees that have been cut or piled by the Contractor within Mandatory Work Items 5 and 6 and Optional item 13 is available for removal under TSA.

3. If Contractor agrees to removal of timber products from the Contract Area, then transportation costs for haul of timber products will become a service pay item.

a. Product accounting will be accomplished through Ton Load Count Scale. One load of product will equal 25 Tons.

b. All Road Maintenance Requirements identified in Appendix C apply to transportation of product removal.

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 solicitation item 24.

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 Heritage Program Personnel.

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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.

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 fixed area plots (that will have 4 quadrants of pass or fail) and variable radius plots along transects to record whether density, basal area, best tree selection, and other requirements are being met and to what extent.

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

4. 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.

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

6. 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

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

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

9. Work quality will be calculated as follows:

Number of Pass quadrants

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-------------------------------------------------- = % Unsatisfactory work Total number of quadrants

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

10. Government Inspection Procedures for piling: In the event visual inspection indicates work and/or rework to be in non-compliance with contract specifications, all piles will be counted, piles that do not meet specifications 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.

Work quality will be calculated on the form as follows:

No. of Unsatisfactory piles -------------------------------------------------- = % Unsatisfactory work No. of total piles

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

This will be calculated on a unit basis.

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

ITEM DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

1 Manual Treatments within 100 ft.

perimeter from Giant Sequoia bole MANDATORY ACRE 100%

2 SMZ Fuels Treatments MANDATORY/OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

3 Hand fuels treatment MANDATORY ACRE 90%

4 Hand Piling MANDATORY ACRE 90%

5 Mechanical DFPZ Fuels Treatment MANDATORY ACRE 90%

6 Mechanical Fuels Treatment MANDATORY ACRE 90%

7 Mechanical Pile MANDATORY ACRE 90%

8 Mastication MANDATORY ACRE 90%

9 Hand Felling Dead and Dying fuels Treatment Aerial Based Operation MANDATORY ACRE 90%

10 Removal & Piling Specifications for Aerial Based Operation MANDATORY ACRE 90%

11 Road Construction MANDATORY N/A 100%

12 Road Maintenance MANDATORY MILE 100%

13 Fell and Remove Hazards Fuels Unit 66 OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

14 Removal of TSA Product OPTIONAL TON N/A

Unsatisfactory Performance

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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 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.

2. No allowance for variation or portion of a variation will be added which will create a percentage greater than 100 percent.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 1-10 and 13

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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:

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.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 11 and 12

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

SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

ACCEPTABLE QUALITY LEVEL (AQL): Acceptance of work will be based on compliance with all specifications corresponding to the appropriate task(s). 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 9.9 in 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.

CAT FACE – Recent or older deformity on base of bole indicating past fire activity.

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 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.

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:

• (Created) - Any damage created by work under this contract. Includes debarking of the stem or bole of a crop tree, in excess of 25% of the circumference and longer than 10 inches, root springing, or stripping and/or removing of branches resulting in less than 30% crown cover..

• (Existing) - Major damage - includes any defect or deformity of a tree resulting from agents such as wind, snow, animals, insects, disease, and equipment. Indicators include dead or broken tops, trunks or branches, large crooks, deep scars, or irregular growths on the bole or branches, or debarking extending more than 1/4 of the circumference of the tree.

• (Existing) - Minor damage - Includes crooks in the trunk which are offset less than 3 inches from the long axis and within the lower 1/3 of the tree, and barking of 1/4 or less the circumference of the tree.

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

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DOMINANCE: trees having crowns extending above the general level of the crown cover and receiving full light from above and partly from the side, larger than the average trees in the stand with well-developed crowns.

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.

DRIPLINE: Outer edge of tree crown.

FUEL LADDER: 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.

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

HEALTHY REGENERATION: Young, healthy, dwarf mistletoe free conifers, less than 4.9 in in diameter, free of defect.

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 in DBH to minimum diameter by species identified in Appendix B, Division A.

PADDING: use of fabric, blocks, tractor tires, and slash, etc. to provide a buffer between feature and equipment tread.

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.

RESIDUAL TREES: Trees remaining following thinning and related fuels reduction activities.

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.

SNAG: Dead standing tree

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.

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

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EXHIBIT A

Log Decay Class

Code Bark Twigs Texture Shape Wood Color Portion of log on ground 1 Intact Present Intact Round Original None, elevated on supporting points 2 Intact Absent Intact to soft Round Original Parts touch, still elevated, sagging slightly 3 Trace Absent Hard large pieces Round Original to faded Bole on ground

4 Absent Absent Soft blocky pieces

Round to oval

Light brown to faded brown Partially below ground

5 Absent Absent Soft, powdery Oval Faded light yellow or gray Mostly below ground