2.Appendix A Service Specs - Freeland IRSC.pdf

Freeland Stewardship IRSC Black Hills National Forest Page 1 of 11 Hell Canyon Ranger District

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE WORK ITEMS

SECTION I – DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

The Freeland Stewardship IRSC will increase wildfire reliance and stand vigor, improve and protect wildlife habitat, and move landscape-level vegetation conditions toward objectives identified in the Forest Plan using commercial and non-commercial treatments within ponderosa pine stands and prairie grasslands. Goals will be accomplished through a variety of silvicultural and fuels management activities designed to reduce stand density, remove pine encroachment from grasslands, and manage ladder and surface fuels within stands.

Approximately 70% of the project area proposed for treatment lies within the Martin OHV Motorized Trail System. This project will also accomplish desired vegetation treatment activities while discouraging off-trail use by OHV recreationists, through service items designed to maintain the integrity of the trail system.

SECTION II – WORK ITEMS

Mandatory Item 1: Cut and Remove Included Timber:

Units 1-24, 26-31, 33-35, 37-42, 45-61, and P1-P6 (2,254 Acres)

Cut and remove from Contract Area sawtimber and non-saw trees which meet the minimum tree specifications as identified in Appendix B. One acre of Right of Way has been included in total acres. Road Maintenance shall be required commensurate with road use per the specifications of Appendix C.

Mandatory Item 2 and Optional Item 7: Mechanical Precommercial Thinning and Mastication – Variable Density:

Mandatory units: S1-S3, S4A, S5A, S6A, S7A, S8A, S9A, S10, S11A, S12A, S14, S15A, S16, S17A, S18, S19A, S20A, S20B, S21A, S22, S23A, S24, S26, S27A, S28, S29A, S30A, S31A, S33A, S34, S35A, S37-S38, S39A, S41A, S42A, S45A, S46A, S47A, S48A, S49A, S50A, S50B, S51A, S52A, S53, S54A, S55-S56, S57A, S58A, S59, S60A, S61A, S70, S71A, S72A, S73, S74, S81-S82, S84, S88, S90, S92, S94, S96, S101-S103, and S105 (2,253 Acres) and Optional units S205-S213 (426 Acres)

1. Mechanically thin live ponderosa pine 2’ in height and up to 8.9” DBH to variable density spacing of 12’-18’. Following commercial thinning (if applicable), trees 2’ in height to 5.9” DBH will be thinned to a variable density spacing of 12’-16’. Trees 6-8.9” DBH will be thinned to a variable density spacing of 14’-18’.

Spacing of leave trees can range from the minimum spacing to the maximum spacing so specified. Leave trees exceeding the maximum DBH cutting limits shall be left regardless of the spacing. Trees larger than 9.0” DBH shall not be considered leave trees nor used in spacing purposes. The preferred cut tree size class shall be 2’ in height to 5.9” DBH, and the preferred leave tree size class shall be 6.0-8.9” DBH when present with a mix of size classes. Each leave tree shall be no closer than 10’ from any other leave tree. In general, Contractor shall average the leave tree spacing to 16’ in areas dominated by trees greater than 6.0” DBH, and 14’ in areas dominated by trees less than 6.0” DBH. Do not leave trees within grasslands or natural openings.

2. Mulch depth of masticated material shall not exceed 6”. Piece size in treated material shall not exceed 6’ in length.

3. Stump height shall not exceed 4”-6” above an obstruction and shall be cut to less than a 30-degree angle, trees shall be severed from stump.

4. Up to 20% of the acreage may require hand thinning due to ground features such as rock and/or steep slope.

Resultant slash shall be lop and scattered to a depth not exceeding 18 inches.

5. Reference Contract Area Service Map(s) for units. See Exhibit A and B for Desirable Leave Tree Characteristics and examples of Whips and Culls, or undesirable tree characteristics.

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Mandatory Item 3 and Optional Item 8: Pine Encroachment Release with Mastication:

Mandatory units S5B, S5C, S6B, S7B, S7C, S8B, S8C, S8D, S9B, S11B, S12B, S15B, S17B, S19B, S20C, S20D, S20E, S20F, S20G, S21B, S21C, S23B, S23C, S27B, S29B, S29C, S30B, S30C, S31B, S33B, S35B, S39B, S40, S41B, S41C, S41D, S42B, S45B, S46B, S47B, S48B, S49B, S50C, S51B, S52B, S54B, S57B, S57C, S58B, S58C, S60B, S61B, S71B, S71C, S72B, S80, S83, S85-S87, S91, S93, S95, S97, S100, S104, and S106-S108 (569 Acres) and Optional units S200-S204 (77 Acres)

1. Mechanically masticate all ponderosa pine trees, not harvested in product removal, 1’ in height and up to 8.9”

DBH.

2. Mulch depth of masticated material shall not exceed 6”. Piece size in treated material shall not exceed 6’ in length.

3. Reference Contract Area Service Map(s) for units.

Mandatory Item 4: Road Reconstruction

See Appendix D for Road Reconstruction specifications.

Mandatory Item 5: Temporary Road Closures:

For temporary roads that intersect with the Martin OHV Motorized Trail System, which are used for the hauling of included timber or in performance of service work, construct specified closures.

1. For temporary roads, where the intersection of the road and the trail system meet in meadows, install a boulder closure across the width of the road (at least 12 feet). Boulders shall be of a size that would impede OHV travel. Perform all other temporary road closure activities, in accordance with B6.63 and C6.601#.

2. For temporary roads, where the intersection of the road and the trail system meet in forest, install a slash closure, 100 feet in length and across the width of the road (at least 12 feet). Slash shall be of a depth that would impede OHV travel (at least 18 inches). Perform all other temporary road closure activities, in accordance with B6.63 and C6.601#.

3. Reference Contract Area Service Map(s) for closure type and temporary road closure locations. All other temporary roads that do not meet the criteria above will be closed in accordance with B6.63 and C6.601#. See Appendix B.

Mandatory Item 6: Rolling Dips Construction for Temporary Roads to Remain Open

There are three temporary roads identified on the Contract Area Service Map(s), which will remain open following the hauling of included timber and/or performance of service work. These temporary roads are part of the Martin OHV Motorized Trail System and are not a part of road work identified in Appendix C or D. Requirements for temporary roads to remain open shall be followed in accordance with B6.631 and seeding shall occur in accordance with C6.601.

In addition, rolling dips will be constructed on temporary roads identified to remain open, occurring approximately every 0.1 miles.

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

2. All operational restrictions in Appendix B, C6.312# apply to service work units.

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

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4. When the soil moisture is below plastic limits or protected by at least 1’ of packed snow or 2” of frozen soil. Soil moisture exceeds the plastic limit if the soil can be rolled into 3mm threads without breaking or crumbling.

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

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

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 Clause 24. Protection Measures Needed for Plants, Animals, Cultural Resources, and Cave Resources. Restrictions would apply:

7. If new nests are discovered.

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.

Contractor quality control plan (QCP)/Contractor self-inspections

The Contractor shall conduct self-inspections on all aspects of work. The field inspections shall be spread throughout the project area. The Contractor shall provide the Government with an acceptable method of self-inspection. This method shall be accepted and approved by the Government prior to the Notice to Proceed being issued. The Contracting Officer may observe the Contractor's inspection at any time and shall otherwise have unlimited access to the inspection data.

The self-inspection process shall be documented and submitted prior to the Notice to Proceed.

The Contractor Quality Control Plan (QCP) shall specify:

How quality will be monitored to assure performance standards are met.

How the work will be supervised.

How results of the monitoring will result in quality performance.

Identify the personnel responsible for performing quality control.

The Contractor shall notify the COR when units are started, when problems are encountered and when contract work needs government oversight.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Government Inspection Procedures - 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.

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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 – Formal (Plots) Precommercial Thinning and Pine Encroachment Release

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 for precommercial thinning and pine encroachment release will consist of a series of 1/20th acre fixed area plots (26.3’radius) 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 thinning plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings on the items listed below:

a. Plot number

b. Number of trees to be left on plot.

c. Number of trees left on plot.

d. Number of satisfactory trees.

e. Number of deficient trees.

f. Number of excess trees.

- Stumps containing live limbs which are not in accordance with specifications herein will be counted as excess trees.

- Cut trees which are still attached at the stump will be counted as excess trees

- Trees meeting cut specifications will be counted as excess trees

- Trees in excess of trees to be left will be counted as excess

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At each pine release plot, the Government will examine the plot area and record findings on the items listed below:

a. Plot number

b. Number of excess trees.

- Stumps containing live limbs which are not in accordance with specifications herein will be counted as excess trees.

- Cut trees which are still attached at the stump will be counted as excess trees

- Trees meeting cut specifications will be counted as excess trees

- Trees in excess of trees to be left will be counted as excess

9. Work quality will be calculated on the form as follows:

Precommercial thinning:

No. Trees Deficient + No. Excess Trees -------------------------------------------------- = % Unsatisfactory work No. Trees to be left

100% – % Unsatisfactory work = % Work Quality

Pine encroachment release:

100% – No. Excess Trees = % Unsatisfactory work

Unsatisfactory Cutting

1. If the work quality falls below 90 percent for precommercial thinning, or 95 percent for pine encroachment release, the COR will immediately notify the Contractor, in writing, and order him to improve the quality of subsequent tree cutting. If the quality of subsequent tree cutting is not raised above the 90 percent minimum acceptable standard for precommercial thinning, or 95 percent standard for pine encroachment release, within 24 business hours after receipt of such written notice, the Contractor’s right to proceed may be terminated and the contract considered in default.

2. When the work quality falls below 90 percent for precommercial thinning, or 95 percent for pine encroachment release, as a result of excess trees, the Government may elect to do one of the following:

(a) Order rework to be performed and withhold payment until excess trees are cut and the results of a post-rework Government inspection show work quality to be at least 90 percent or more for precommercial thinning or 95 percent or more for pine encroachment release. No rework shall be performed unless ordered or authorized by the COR.

(b) Order that no rework be performed and payment will either be made at a reduced rate, or not at all, as determined from the Thinning Inspection Report.

3. Repeated failure to produce work quality at or above the 90 percent minimum acceptable standard for precommercial thinning, and at or above 95 percent minimum acceptable standard for pine encroachment release, will be considered reason for contract termination and default action.

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.

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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.

Government Inspection Procedures – Items 1-11

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

ITEMS DESCRIPTION SCHEDULE UNIT Min AQL

Cut and Remove Included Timber

MANDATORY ACRE NA

Precommercial Thinning with Mastication

MANDATORY ACRE 90%

Pine Encroachment Release with Mastication

MANDATORY ACRE 95%

4 Road Reconstruction MANDATORY MILE 100%

5 Temporary Road Closures MANDATORY EACH 100%

Rolling Dips Construction for Temporary Roads to Remain Open

MANDATORY EACH 100%

Precommercial Thinning with Mastication

OPTIONAL ACRE 90%

Pine Encroachment Release with Mastication

OPTIONAL ACRE 95%

SECTION V – PAYMENT METHODS

Method of Measurement for Acreages

Acreages within timber cutting units were determined by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Acreages outside of a timber cutting units were determined by Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 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. Units not shared with timber unit boundaries have virtual boundaries with no flag line or discernable boundary edge in some cases. Contractor shall utilize a digital mapping app to ensure staying within service unit boundaries.

d. 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 remeasurement 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

Page 7 of 11 Hell Canyon Ranger District 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 2 and 7 Precommercial Thinning with Mastication

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

1. 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, 5 percent (adjustment for statistical variation) will be added and the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

(b) For work quality from 85 to 89 percent, the 5 percent will be added to the work quality percent and the Contractor will be paid the total multiplied by the bid rate.

(c) For work quality 84 percent and less, the 5 percent will not be added and there will be no payment made to the Contractor.

(d) If, after rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 85% and 94%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 85%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 3 and 8 Pine Encroachment Release with Mastication

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:

(e) For work quality of 95 percent or higher, 5 percent (adjustment for statistical variation) will be added and the Contractor will be paid 100 percent of their bid rate.

(f) For work quality from 90 to 94 percent, the 5 percent will be added to the work quality percent and the Contractor will be paid the total multiplied by the bid rate.

(g) For work quality 89 percent and less, the 5 percent will not be added and there will be no payment made to the Contractor.

(h) If, after rework, the percentage of satisfactory work is between 85% and 94%, payment will be made by the actual percentage. If the percentage is less than 85%, the work is unacceptable, and no payment will be made.

Acceptance and Payment – Items 4, 5, and 6 Road Maintenance, Road Reconstruction, Temporary Road Closures, and Rolling Dips Construction for Temporary Roads to Remain Open

1. Full payment will be made when visual or measurement inspection indicates specifications have been met.

2. Only one rework opportunity will be allowed for this item.

* Stewardship Credits will be earned first, whenever practical. Forest Service Funds will be used if the availability of Stewardship Credits is exhausted or if appropriated dollars are obligated to a specific item.

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SECTION VI – DEFINITIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CUTTING UNIT: See Treatment Unit definition

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

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

DECKING: Stockpiling of trees in a designated area.

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

DESIGNATION BY SPACING (DXSPA): A cutting prescription in which spacing is used to determine which trees will be left and which will be cut.

DIB: Diameter inside bark.

FRAGMENTATION: Breaking woody material into pieces across and along the wood grain resulting in the removal of bark and the exposure of the inner wood to weathering.

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

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

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, 5 inches DBH up to and including 8.9 inches DBH meeting Utilization Specifications in Appendix B, Division A.

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OVERSTORY REMOVAL: A cutting prescription where all overstory trees greater than a specified age class are cut, and the understory is fully stocked and established (at least 600 seedlings/saplings per acre and at least 5- 6 feet tall).

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.

PHYSICAL DAMAGE: One or more of the following:

25% or more of the circumference of the tree with the bark severed or removed.

Tree pushed to leaning greater than 30 degrees from vertical.

Stem broken at any height.

Less than 1/3 of the live green branches left fully attached to the tree.

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.

ROUNDWOOD TREE: Conifer species 4 inches DBH up to and including 4.9 inches DBH meeting Utilization Specifications in Appendix B, Division A and non-saw and sawtimber not meeting Utilization Specifications in Appendix B, Division A.

SAWTIMBER TREE: Conifer species equal to or greater than 9 inches DBH meeting Utilization Specifications in Appendix B, Division A.

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

SUPPRESSED TREE: Small trees with crowns below crown-cover level. Usually characterized by extremely short or nonexistent internodes, twisted or gnarled stems, or an extreme sparseness of foliage.

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: The harvest and removal of the entire tree, including the top, to the landing.

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

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Exhibit A

Desirable Leave Tree Characteristics for Precommercial Thinning

When determining which trees to leave to meet spacing requirements the contractor shall leave the most desirable trees as defined below:

Leave Tree Characteristics – Trees that are selected to be left to meet the spacing shall be desirable leave trees. The contractor shall first select the most desirable leave trees as defined in paragraph 1 below. Ponderosa pine shall be considered the desirable species. Refer to the following for examples of Most Desirable and Less Desirable characteristics:

1. Most Desirable Leave Trees – Trees that possess the following characteristics shall be the first choice for desirable leave trees:

A. Healthy Foliage – Foliage shall be dark green in color and leave trees shall have at least 30% crown ratio.

B. Straight Bole – The bole or stem of the tree shall be relatively straight, with no forks. Trees shall have a single branch leader growth.

C. Free of Physical Damage – Trees shall not have physical damage from fire, animals, or weather on more than ¼ of the circumference of the bole or more than three feet of the length of the bole.

D. Free of Insects/Disease Damage – Trees shall not have insect damage from mountain pine beetles or Ips beetles. Symptoms of mountain pine beetles are small red to yellowish pitch tubes (less than ¼ inch diameter) and boring dust in bark crevices and around the base of the tree. Symptoms of Ips beetles are dead tops and group killings without pitch tubes. Free of western gall rust especially on the bole of the tree and on the branches. Symptoms of western gall rust include wooden galls on branches and cankers on the stem.

2. Less Desirable Leave Trees – When the prescribed stocking level of most desirable leave trees cannot be achieved with trees that possess the most desirable characteristics, the contractor shall select trees with less desirable characteristics in the priority listed below:

A. Minor Defect – Trees with minor defect such as a sharp crook or a small amount of animal damage.

B. Suppressed Trees – Trees that have been severely suppressed. These trees are usually characterized by extremely short or nonexistent internodes, twisted or gnarled stems, or an extreme sparseness of foliage.

C. Other Live Trees – Trees other than insect or disease damaged trees with at least ¼ live crown.

D. Multiple Stems – Trees forked at or below DBH. Multiple stem trees will be left only if needed for spacing purposes. Either both stems shall be cut or both stems shall be left.

E. Physical Damage – Trees that have physical damage on ¼ or more of the bole circumference and greater than three feet in length. Physical damage is damage caused by equipment, falling trees, lightning, wind, animals, etc.

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Exhibit B Unmerchantable Pine: Whips & Culls

A B CD E F G H I

Trees A, B, E and I are examples of acceptable over story leave trees.

Trees C, D, F, G, and H are examples of over story trees which are whips and should be cut to achieve desired leave tree spacing.

Trees B, and I are examples of trees possessing acceptable leave tree characteristics.

Tree G is an example of a tree possessing a cut tree characteristic (underdeveloped crown) and should be cut to achieve desired leave tree spacing