A04_SOW.docx

PINE NUT LAND HEALTH PROJECT

SUNRISE PASS ROAD MASTICATION

STATEMENT OF WORK

6/20/2023

PURPOSE

The purpose of this contract is to secure the service of thinning of brush and pinyon and juniper trees through mechanical mastication on 406 acres to maintain and restore ecologically diverse, properly functioning and resilient plant community and reduce fire intensity potential.

LOCATION

The project is located approximately 15 miles northeast of Minden, Douglas County, Nevada (vicinity map). The project is entirely on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION

Vegetation in the project area is typical of the western Great Basin and consists of a diverse mix of grasses, sagebrush, bitterbrush, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea and pinyon and juniper trees.

The project area consists of multiple treatment unit all located along Sunrise Pass Road and its adjacent spur roads (see project maps). Elevation ranges between 6,000 and 7,200 feet, and slope ranges between 0 and 30 percent. The number of trees per acre and tree density varies throughout the unit from widely scattered to dense. Percent cover of material to be treated is estimated to be less than 45 percent total cover. Trees to be treated are generally small to medium size for the species. The project area contains some rock, typical of the western Great Basin.

The area receives moderate public use and aesthetics following treatment are important.

ACCESS

The nearest full support communities to the project are Carson City and Minden, NV. Average travel time from both communities to the project site is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Access to the project site is on a periodically graded dirt road. The dirt roads in the area become muddy with moisture, and access may be difficult or impossible following rain or snow storms. Although the project can be reached by two-wheel drive vehicles, four-wheel drive high clearance vehicles will improve access options. The Government does not assume obligation to plow snow or conduct special maintenance to keep roads open and maintained.

BOUNDARIES

The Government will load the treatment unit boundaries into devices with GPS capability (e.g. Garmin GPS, iPad/iPhone with Avenza app) provided by the Contractor. Any areas within the treatment units to be excluded from treatment will be delineated on treatment maps. Any flagging hung by the Contractor will be pulled and properly disposed of before the project will be considered complete.

SCHEDULE/PROGRESS OF WORK

Period of performance is September 15 to December 15, 2023. Prior to start of and during the period of the contract, the Government may specify priority areas to be treated. The Contractor will maintain progress at a rate that will assure completion within the contract time. At the pre-work conference, the Contractor will provide a work schedule which must be acceptable to the Government.

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

A minimum of two machines is required.

Machines will:

1. Be rubber tired, rubber tracked, or metal tracked.

2. At least one machine will be equipped with a horizontal shaft mastication head capable of meeting the treatment specifications below.

3. Machines equipped with horizontal shaft mastication head will be a minimum of 200 horsepower.

4. Machines equipped with vertical boom-mounted mastication heads will be a minimum of 81 horsepower.

5. Be free of fluid leaks.

TREATMENT SPECIFICATIONS

General - The Contractor is expected to thin brush and trees through mechanical mastication in a manner that maintains and restores a diverse, functioning and resilient plant community and reduces fire intensity potential.

Stump height will not exceed 4 inches.

Small untreated islands, where large rocks or slope prevents treatment, are acceptable.

Mastication heads will be directed away from roads as much as possible to minimize the potential of impacting the public with debris and placing debris on roads.

Brush – Mastication of brush will occur within 50 feet along both sides of roads within the unit. In the first 25 feet directly adjacent to either side of the road 100% of the brush will be treated; in the next 25 feet brush will be thinned by treating approximately 60% of the brush in a mosaic pattern. Where brush is thinned the retained brush will vary from a single shrub to a small patch of approximately 2-10 shrubs. The outside edge of the brush treatment should be uneven versus a straight linear edge. Mountain mahogany and any riparian brush (willow, wild rose) will not be treated.

Trees – Within 100 feet of a road, 100% of live and dead pinyon pine and juniper will be masticated, except those meeting the criteria below. Beyond 100 feet from a road, a selective mastication will occur to create a post-treatment tree canopy spacing of 20-25 feet. When implementing this selective mastication, preference will be given to cut junipers and leave pinyon pine; preference will also be given to cut smaller intermediate trees while leaving larger dominant trees.

· Larger trees (approximately ≥24 inches in diameter one foot above the ground) will not be treated.

· Other tree species, such as aspen, Jeffrey pine will not be treated.

· Trees with obvious signs of wildlife use such as nest cavities or large stick nests will not be treated.

· Trees with old growth characteristics will not be treated. Old growth characteristics can include: large size, gnarled limbs, thick plate like bark with deep furrows, flattened canopy shape.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The contractor will provide and maintain a minimum of two warning signs that state something similar to “warning equipment working” and/or “warning flying debris”, that will be placed along the primary road on either side of operations.

FIRE PREVENTION/SUPPRESSION

Vegetation occurring on the Carson City District is highly flammable and consists of a diverse mix of pinyon, juniper, sagebrush, grasses and forbs. The risk of wildfire is year-round. Be extra careful when working on or around the dry grasses. Check under vehicles when parking off road. Plan any activity that could cause a spark, in the morning, when the relative humidity is up and the temperatures are cooler (grinding or welding). When clearing land, work from the outside edge to the center of the project site. Under dry and windy weather conditions the potential for a fire start is high.

The Contractor will (1) equip all diesel and/or gasoline operated engines with spark arresters that meet Forest Service standards set forth in the National Coordinating Group publication for Multiposition Small Engines, #430-4 (spark arresters are not required on equipment powered by exhaust driven turbo charged engines), (2) equip all machines powered by an internal combustion engine with at least one 10 lb. ABC rated fire extinguisher (minimum) or equivalent, (3) remove all concentrations of wood dust and debris from the equipment daily, (4) have one 10 lb. ABC rated fire extinguisher, one shovel, and five gallons water readily available adjacent to grinding/welding operations.

The Contractor will, independently and in cooperation with the Government, take all reasonable action to prevent and suppress fires on the project. Independent initial action will be prompt and will include the use of all personnel and equipment available in the project area.

Emergency Reporting Requirements:

911 (initial call for all emergencies) Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center: 775-883-5995

Information needed in reporting a wildland fire would include: Location: Geographical reference and if possible Latitude/longitude coordinates. Description on what the fire is doing size, spread, color of smoke, etc.

The Government may require emergency measures, including the necessary shutting down of equipment or portions of operations during periods of high fire danger.

Wildfire Suppression Costs:

Under Title 43 CFR 9212 the holder of this permit may be held liable for any and all costs should a wildland fire occur caused by the activities associated with the construction, maintenance, or operation of this project. Fire trespass action might be initiated and wildfire suppression costs may be collected from the holder of this permit.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Soil Stability/Water Quality Protection - Contractor will cease operation when soil moisture levels result in significant soil compaction and/or rutting. Contractor's activities shall be executed in a manner which avoid sensitive riparian areas, wetlands, and drainages. Any rutting of the soil will be returned to the natural contour as part of the work process. Any fluid leaks or spills will be cleaned up and removed by contractor.

Weed Control - Contractor shall insure all equipment moved onto public land is free of soil, seeds, and vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds. Contractor shall employ whatever cleaning methods are necessary to ensure compliance and shall notify the Government prior to moving each piece of equipment onto public land. Notification will include identifying the location of the equipment’s most recent operations.

Cultural Resource Protection - Locations of known historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties related to American history, architecture, archaeology, and culture, such as settler or Indian artifacts that need to be avoided by the Contractor will be identified on the ground by the Government. Discovery of such areas by either party during Contractor’s operations shall be promptly reported to the other party and operations will be suspended at that location until the significance or potential significance of the resource is determined.

Other Resource Protection Measures - Other resource protection measures may be imposed, as needed, by the COR based on project location, resources sensitivity and site conditions.