Local_Forest_Special_Contract_Requirements.docx

USE OF MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES

It is the responsibility of the successful bidder to ensure that motorized equipment and/or transport/use is commensurate with the management directions for the areas in which the trails are located. The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for the Clearwater NF and Forest Access guide for the Nez Perce NF provide information on roads and trails with motorized use restrictions. These guides are available from Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Supervisor’s and Ranger District Offices. All areas outside of wilderness provide for the use of chainsaws.

STOCK LIMITATIONS

In order to decrease chances for site degradation, the use of saddle and pack stock will be kept at the minimum necessary to accomplish the project. A maximum 6 head per trip addresses the initial camp and tool supply. Once tools and camp are transported into the job site, use of stock will be limited to 3 head* during the length of the project. At the end of the project and for complete camp movement during the project, stock shall not exceed 6 head. Stock not in use shall be removed from the National Forest until such time as they are required.

*Based on a 2 person crew – 2 riding and 1 pack animal. (Requests for additional stock will be submitted in writing and approved by the CO prior to use.)

CAMPING. There are a limited number of campsites in some trail areas. Campsites shall be addressed and designated at the pre-work meeting. The Contractor's campsite will be subject to weekly inspections by a Government Inspector to assure that minimum impact requirements are met. (SEE ATTACHMENT: Minimum Impact Camping Guidelines)

CONDITIONS ON USE OF PREMISES (Camping)

(a) Camping will be allowed only at the sites designated on the project maps or approved in advance by the Contracting Officer.

(b) No improvements of a permanent nature shall be constructed without prior written approval of the Contracting officer.

Temporary structures such as tent frames, hitch racks, tents and tent pegs shall be removed at the end of the period of use, all evidence of the camp eliminated, and the site restored to its original condition. Final payment will not be authorized until the campsite has been cleaned up and the site is approved by the Contracting Officer or his designated representative. Reusable native material may be neatly stacked for future use.

(c) Livestock will not be permitted without written approval from the Contracting Officer.

(d) Vegetation shall be undisturbed to the maximum extent possible. The Contractor will be permitted to cut only those trees designated by the COR.

(e) Storage of petroleum products in excess of 50 gallons at the campsite will require the approval of the COR. All petroleum spills shall be immediately cleaned up. All spills shall be reported immediatly to the CO or COR. Spills over 25 gallons or that cause a sheen on surface water shall be reported to the Idaho State Department of Enviromental Quality. No waste disposal of petroleum product will be permitted on National Forest land.

(f) Chemical toilets are preferred for all campsites, however, the Contractor may be permitted to construct a slit trench when conditions warrant. Any slit trench constructed shall not be located closer than 400 feet to any live stream and is subject to approval of the COR. The trench shall be covered and the area restored to as natural a condition as possible when the camp is closed.

(g) Refuse including waste materials, garbage, and rubbish of all kinds, shall be disposed of in the following manner, and shall guard the purity of streams and living waters:

Garbage, trash, sewage waste, and other litter shall be kept in closed fly-proof containers and periodically hauled to an approved disposal facility located outside of the National Forest.

(h) Waste water shall be disposed of in a leach pit located at least 300 feet from springs, streams, and lakes. The pit shall be a minimum of 2 x 2 x 2 feet and shall be filled with rock two to eight inches in diameter. The leach pit shall be covered with at least two feet of compacted soil when the camp is closed.

(i) No waste or by-products shall be discharged if it contains any substances in concentrations which will result in substantial harm to fish and wildlife, or to human water supplies.

Storage facilities for materials capable of causing water pollution, if accidentally discharged, shall be located so as to prevent any spillage into waters, or channels leading into water, that would result in substantial harm to fish and wildlife or to human water supplies.

(j) The camp area shall be maintained to present a clean, neat, and orderly appearance. Disposal of trash and debris, unusable machinery, Forest Service authorized improvements, etc., shall be kept current. Building materials, firewood, etc., shall be neatly stacked.

The campsite shall be left in a clean condition. Any clean-up work not accomplished by the Contractor at time of camp closure will be done by the Forest Service, and the actual cost of such clean-up will be deducted from payment otherwise due the Contractor.

CLEANUP OF WORK AND CAMP AREAS. The project area(s) shall be restored to as close to its original natural appearance as possible. The work area impact must be kept to a minimum. All debris and litter shall be removed from site. Litter shall be packed out, and the native debris shall be scattered outside the trail clearing limit. No debris shall be scattered into any stream, lake, snow pond, meadow, or other water course. (SEE EXHIBIT 9: Minimum Impact Camping Guidelines)

Access and Equipment Drops in Wilderness:

Use of motor vehicles (including trail motorcycles, ATV’s) and motorized/mechanized equipment (such as chainsaws, generators, or bicycles) are prohibited in designated Wilderness Areas.

Use of helicopters for equipment/supply drops or for ferrying personnel into a Wilderness area will not be allowed.

In general, storing equipment, personal property or supplies at one cache site for more than 14 consecutive days within a 45 day period is prohibited in both Wilderness and Non Wilderness areas, subject to specific Wilderness stay limits.

LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION

(a) Do not remove, deface, injure, or destroy trees, shrubs, lawn, or natural features not designated for treatment. This does not include access roads. Confine operations to within the clearing limits or other areas designated in the contract documents, and prevent the depositing of rocks, excavated materials, stumps, or other debris outside of these limits. Retrieve material which falls outside of these limits and dispose of, or incorporate in the work.

Preserve the scenic and natural environment along this construction project.

(b) Do not allow objectionable material to enter any stream, river, lake, or other body of water. Retrieve material which falls in these areas and dispose of, or incorporate in the work, and repair damage to vegetation or structures outside the project limits.

(c) Do not operate equipment or otherwise disturb the natural vegetation and soil beyond the construction limits.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Prevention of Oil Spills.

The contractor is required to have a spill plan. The plan will contain a description of the specific hazardous materials, procedures, and spill containment that will be used, including inventory, storage, and handling.

All vehicles carrying fuel will have specific equipment and materials needed to contain or clean up any incidental spills at the project site.

All pumps and generators used in or near streams will have appropriate spill containment structures and/or absorbent pads in place during use.

When storage facilities for oil or oil products are on site, appropriate preventive measures shall be taken to insure that any spill of such oil or oil products does not enter any stream or any other body of water. If a spill of petroleum product should occur in water, immediately notify the Contracting Officer and appropriate state agencies.

Service all equipment only in the areas approved by the Contracting Officer. If the total oil or oil products storage exceeds 1320 gallons or if any single container exceeds a capacity of 660 gallons, prepare a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan. Meet all applicable EPA requirements (40 CFR 112) including certification by a registered professional engineer.

Contractor shall ensure that all personnel involved in handling and packaging the hazardous materials are trained for the level of expertise required for the proper performance of the task and, in particular, in the areas of chemical incompatibility, general first aid procedures, and spills. Provide handling and personal protective equipment appropriate to ensure safe handling of the hazardous waste according to 29 CFR 1910.120). Notify the Forest Service of all hazardous material that may be brought onto the National Forest.

The Contractor is solely responsible for all spills or leaks that occur during the performance of this contract. The contractor must clean up spills or leaks in a manner that complies with Federal, state, and local laws and regulations and to the satisfaction of the CO. Any spills resulting in a detectable sheen on water shall be reported to the EPA National Response Center (1-800-424-8802). Any spills over 25 gallons will be reported to the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality and cleanup will be initiated within 24 hours of the spill. When available provide copies of all spill related clean up and closure documentation and correspondence from regulatory agencies.

Equipment Fuel/Oil Leakage.

All equipment used for instream work will be cleaned of external oil, grease, dirt and mud; and leaks repaired; prior to arriving at the project site. All equipment will be inspected by the Contracting Officer’s Representative before unloading at site. Any leaks or accumulations of grease will be corrected before entering streams or areas that drain directly to streams or wetlands.

All equipment (heavy equipment, chainsaws, ATVS, other hand power tools) will be fueled outside of stream-adjacent riparian areas and wet areas. Specific fueling areas may be approved and designated by the CO. When not in use, vehicles and fueling equipment will be stored in a designated staging area. The staging area should be in an area that will not deliver fuel, oil, etc. to streams.

Oil-absorbing floating booms, and other equipment such as pads and absorbent “peanuts” appropriate for the size of the stream, will be available on-site during all phases of construction. For small streams with few pools or slack water, booms may not be effective. Use pads and straw bales to anchor booms if necessary. Booms will be placed in a location that facilitates an immediate response to potential petroleum leakage.

NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL

In order to prevent the potential spread of noxious weeds into work areas, Contractor shall be required to use weed-free equipment.

The following is considered proof of weed-free equipment:

The Contractor will be required to clean all construction equipment prior to entry on to National Forest land. This cleaning shall remove all dirt and plant parts and material that could carry noxious weed seeds into the work area. Only clean construction equipment inspected by the Forest Service will be allowed to operate within the work area. All subsequent move-ins of construction equipment shall be treated in the same manner as initial move-in.

Straw/Hay Bales shall be certified as “Weed Free”. The source field shall be inspected and certified by the county extension agent from the county that the straw/hay is grown. Each shipment onto the forest shall be accompanied by a certification tag stating that it is weed free. The contractor shall furnish the forest service with a statement of certification.

FIRE CONTROL

Any employees and equipment furnished will be relieved from fire fighting as soon as the Forest Service finds that it is practicable to employ other labor and equipment adequate for the protection of the area. An equitable adjustment in contract time may be made for this period.

Any fueling or refueling of a powersaw shall only be done in an area which has first been cleared or is free of all material capable of carrying fire; powersaw shall be moved at least 10 feet from place of fueling before starting.

All stovepipes, inside and out, will not be closer than 2 feet from any wood or other flammable material or 1 foot if the combustible material is protected by a metal or asbestos shield.

When Hoot Owl restrictions are invoked, the Forest Service may curtail or shut down all or portions of a Contractor's operations. The following requirements may be imposed:

N/A for this type of work.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN

Inspection Procedure. The Government will perform contract quality assurance as necessary to determine compliance with specifications and to provide the basis for computing the rate of payment. The Government may conduct visual observations and/or sample measurements to determine compliance with specifications. The Contractor shall notify the COR when each trail is complete and ready for inspection. The Government will conduct inspections within 14 days of notification of completion of work by the Contractor.

Re-inspection. If the original inspection results are unacceptable and a second inspection is required after rework, the inspection procedures will be the same as the first inspection. Requests for re-inspection must be made in writing. The cost of the re-inspection will be the inspector’s hourly wage applied to the time it takes to re-inspect the work. The Contractor shall deduct the cost of the re-inspection from their invoice.