Attachment03_Table_1.pdf

AG-0343-S-16-0062

Selway Bitterroot Invasive Plant Treatment IDIQ/Bitterroot NF

Attachment 02

Design Criteria (Protection Measures)

The following table outlines the project design criteria (protection measures) for the contract. Some of the criteria are included for informational purposes. The Contractor shall comply with all design criteria that apply to their operation, as determined by the

Contracting Officer. Table 1 identifies the mapping and information delivery responsibilities that are assigned to the Government

(U.S. Forest Service) and the Contracting Officer.

Table 1: Design Criteria (Protection Measures)

Design Criteria

Objective, Effectiveness, and Basis for Rating

Herbicide Use

(H1) Operators shall calibrate spray equipment at regular intervals (approximately after every 80 to 160 hours of use) to ensure proper rates of herbicide applications, using standard methods. Contractor will document recalibration dates.

Control Application Rates;

Moderate effectiveness

(Logical –check equipment); Monitor – equipment for wear

(H2) Herbicides will be used in accordance with label instructions and restrictions. Application will be done or supervised by licensed applicators according to the appropriate

Idaho or Montana State requirements.

Ensure responsible application of herbicide;

Moderate effectiveness

Monitor –Daily Pesticide

Application Record or similar database.

(H3) Herbicide applicators shall carry spill containment, as described in the Herbicide Emergency Spill Plan, and be familiar with and carry an Herbicide Emergency Spill Plan. A spill cleanup kit will be available at temporary storage sites and with all transportations (vehicles, raft, plane, mules) carrying herbicides.

Ensure responsible application of herbicide;

High effectiveness

(Professional experience)

(H4) Equipment used for transportation, storage, or application of herbicides shall be maintained in leak proof condition.

Prevent spillage in rafts that may come into contact with humans or may directly enter surface waters.

High Effectiveness, Practical experience.

(H5) Chemicals will not be used over live water (streams, ponds, springs, etc.), including water standing or running in ditch lines.

Prevent contact with open water. High effectiveness.

Logic.

(H6) Procedures for mixing, loading, and disposal of herbicides and a spill plan will be followed. All herbicide storage, mixing, and post-application equipment cleaning is completed outside of riparian habitat conservations areas (RHCAs). If no other alternative is available, mixing and loading operations must take place in an area where an accidental spill would not contaminate a stream or body of water before it could be contained. Particular attention would be given to avoiding mixing, loading, or cleaning within 100 feet of live water.

These procedures are outlined in Appendix A and B of the FEIS as well as categories and descriptions of RHCAs. Drafting equipment used for filling herbicide spray tanks will be

Avoid impact to sensitive plants and non-target aquatic species.

High effectiveness

Professional experience.

equipped with appropriate back-siphoning prevention devices.

(H7) No spraying of herbicides would occur from a boat/raft.

Prevent contact with open water. High effectiveness.

Logic.

(H8) Additional herbicides may be considered for use within the project area in the future. Only EPA registered herbicides having a completed Human Health and Ecological Risk

Assessment Final Report will be considered for use.

Assure product safety.

High effectiveness.

EPA Studies.

(H9) In public recreation areas (such as developed campgrounds, and trailheads) post treated area until the area is safe to re-enter.

Inform public and reduce exposure; High effectiveness (Logical – prevent exposure)

(H10) The Annual Plan of Operations for herbicide application will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary team that includes, at a minimum, hydrology and or fisheries biology, botany, and wildlife biology skills. The review will take place prior to implementation to ensure the protection of native flora and fauna and to ensure that herbicide thresholds, as described in the Water section of Chapter 3, are not exceeded.

Government responsibility

Provide for annual, pre-application oversight.

High effectiveness.

Coordination.

(H11) No spraying of herbicides would occur during rain or when rain is imminent.

Prevent contact with open water. High effectiveness.

Logic.

(H12) Use of surfactants would occur as previously described, using only the surfactants listed in Table 3, and according to the allowable distances to live water displayed in Table 3.

Protect Aquatic Resources;

High effectiveness

Prior testing.

(H13) Water-soluble colorants, such as Hi-Light® blue dye, would be used within 100 feet of water and in other situations as needed to enable applicators and inspectors to better see where herbicides have been applied.

Safe handling of herbicide;

High effectiveness (Logical

– visible)

Biological Controls

(B1) Biological agents will not be released until screened for host specificity and approved by the USDA Animal Plant

Health Inspection Service. Government responsibility.

Minimize injury to non-target species; Highly effective (Logical – tested prior to approval)

(B2) Planned bio-control release sites will undergo review and discussion annually by the Forest weed specialists to confirm appropriateness and to evaluate the most recent available data on possible unintended effects of bio-controls on native plant composition/density or other native ecosystem components.

The process of selecting priority sites for introducing spotted knapweed bio-control agents (such as Cyphocleonus achates) will consider the relative risk of undesirable non-native plant succession, such as cheatgrass, and site dominance that may follow the reduction of knapweed density. Govt. responsibility.

Avoid accelerating the replacement of one invasive plant species by another invasive plant species;

Moderate effectiveness – dependent on new data

(Logical – supported by local monitoring data)

Adjacent Lands

(L1) In cooperation with federal, state, county agencies and private landowners, weeds on non-Forest Service land may be treated when adjacent to national forest lands within the project boundary. Decisions regarding the treatment methods will be negotiated between the Forest Service and the other owner/agency. Not in scope of this contract.

Prevent weeds from spreading onto FS land;

Moderate effectiveness

(Professional experience);

Monitor results in weeds database

Cultural Resources

(C1) Yearly assess potential affects to historic properties by reviewing the annual weed treatment operating plan.

Mechanical/cultural treatments, that would disturb the soil, will not be used on any known historical or archaeological site without proper clearances by a Forest Archaeologist.

Government responsibility.

Protect Cultural Resource sites; High effectiveness

(Logical – avoids impact to area)

Tribal Coordination

(T1) The Annual Plan of Operations for herbicide application will be provided to the Nez Perce Tribe and the Confederated

Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation prior to implementation. Government responsibility

To protect treaty resources that may only be known to tribal members. Moderate to high effectiveness depending on level of response.

Aquatic and Fisheries Resources

(A1) Herbicides will not be used to control weeds within a 100-foot radius of any potable water spring development or diversion within the project area.

Protect aquatic resources and ground water;

High effectiveness

Application standards.

(A2) No ester formulations of herbicides will be used (i.e., 2,4-

D ester, triclopyr-BEE), due to relatively high fish toxicity.

Protect aquatic resources;

High effectiveness.

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

(A3) Use of herbicides and surfactants within 100’ of surface water or wetlands would adhere to distances and conditions outlined in Tables 2 and 3.

Protect aquatic resources and ground water;

High effectiveness.

Practical experience.

(A4) In areas adjacent to known stream reaches where bull trout spawn, no herbicides would be used within 15 feet of the reach, no picloram within 100 feet, and no application after July 15.

CO will identify such areas for the Contractor.

Protect aquatic resources and ground water;

High effectiveness.

Practical experience.

Soil Resources

(S1) At maximum of 1.0 pounds/acre of Picloram, spot treatment only, no more than 50% of any treated acre (USDI-

EPA 1995a).

Protect Soil Resources

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

Wildlife Resources

(W1) As part of the annual pre-season interdisciplinary coordination process, District/Forest wildlife biologists will provide applicators maps of known raptor nesting areas, wolf homesites, or other critical wildlife areas that may be affected by weed control activities, to ensure the protection measures described in this report are implemented properly. In addition, wildlife specialists will provide tools and training to applicators to assure that the risks from herbicide applications, particularly in riparian areas, are minimized with respect to amphibians and aquatic associated herptiles, including western toads, tailed frogs, Pacific tree frogs, spotted frogs, Coeur d’Alene salamanders, Idaho Giant salamanders, painted turtles, rubber boas, and western terrestrial and common garter snakes.

Ensure weed staff have current wildlife information;

Moderate Effectiveness

(Professional experience);

Monitor – document meeting

(W2) When ground application of authorized herbicides (See

RHCA Chemical Restriction Table 2.5, below) is necessary within 50 feet of a water body, wetland, or river beach, surveys of the treatment area by applicators, at time of application, will be required to determine potential presence of amphibians and aquatic associated herptiles, including western toads, tailed frogs, Pacific tree frogs, spotted frogs, Coeur d’Alene salamanders, Idaho Giant salamanders, painted turtles, rubber boas, and western terrestrial and common garter snakes.

If adult amphibians or aquatic associated herptiles are identified, careful spot spraying technique will be used to avoid herbicide contact or overspraying of amphibians/herptiles.

The extent of species population distribution within the treatment area will be reported to the district amphibian specialist (fisheries or wildlife biologist) as soon as possible. If treatment is not possible without directly spraying individuals, High effectiveness with training and diligence of applicator.

exposure.

High Effectiveness then hand pulling or wick application will be employed, or treatment will be deferred upon advisement of amphibian specialist.

If tadpoles or metamorphs of amphibian species are identified, the location will be reported to the amphibian specialist and weed coordinator as soon as possible, and application of herbicides will be delayed in the riparian zone until metamorphs disperse.

(W3) Avoid directly spraying any terrestrial organism other than invasive plant species, including snakes, lizards, salamanders, small mammals, ground nesting birds, and insect concentrations such as ladybug swarms.

If treatment is not possible without directly spraying individuals, then hand pulling or wick application will be employed.

Reduce potential for incidental contact of spray compounds with non-target species of concern.

Moderate effectiveness due to tendency for some species to hide under rocks and debris.

Practical experience.

(W4) Activities associated with weed control will avoid areas within 400 meters of active bald eagle or peregrine falcon nest sites until getting further direction from the Wildlife Biologist.

(Note: No such nests are currently known to exist within the project area.)

Minimize impact to nesting eagles; High effectiveness

(MT Bald Eagle Working

Group. 1994. page 24)

(W5) Food, garbage, and human waste associated with project implementation work crews will be properly managed so as not to attract or habituate wildlife.

Crew camps will be located to avoid disturbance to wildlife in reproductive sites during active reproductive periods, including calving and lambing areas, raptor nesting and carnivore den sites.

Minimize human effects on wildlife.

High effectiveness.

Practical experience.

(W6) Noise levels from spray equipment motors will be low and should not cause significant disturbance to wildlife.

Moderate depending on equipment and diligence of applicators.

(W7) Chemical application is prohibited within 300 feet of all sites where northern bog lemmings are known to occur, as well as peatland sites not yet surveyed for northern bog lemmings, pending review and approval by the Forest Wildlife Biologist.

CO will identify any areas for the Contractor.

Protect Bog Lemmings.

exposure.

High Effectiveness

Based on research, Sensitive Plants

(SP1) Consult with district/forest botanist each year for updates to species-specific protection measures, before any site applications begin. Government responsibility.

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

M-H Effectiveness

(SP2) All treatment sites would be evaluated for sensitive plant habitat suitability. Highly suitable habitat would be surveyed as necessary prior to treatment. Government responsibility

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

M-H Effectiveness

(SP3) Provide the weed crew with maps of all known sensitive plant locations so that these sites can be identified and protected. Government responsibility

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

M-H Effectiveness

(SP4) Train the weed crew to identify sensitive plants so that new sites can be identified and protected. CO will provide information to the Contractor.

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

M-H Effectiveness

(SP5) Botanist would provide Site-specific treatment guidelines for weed infestations within or adjacent to known sensitive plant populations. Government responsibility

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

M-H Effectiveness

(SP6) No spraying with would be done within 50 feet of any known sensitive plant occurrence. CO will apprise

Contractor of any sensitive plant sites.

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

Moderate Effectiveness

(SP7) No chemical spraying would be done within 25 feet of any known sensitive plant occurrence, only mechanical treatment would be used.

Avoids potentially harmful exposure.

M-H Effectiveness

General Wilderness

(G1) Livestock and equipment, including trailers, used for conducting project activities would be properly cleaned prior to entering the project area to prevent possible importation of weed seeds from outside the area.

Prevent Weed Introductions.

M-H effectiveness

Personal Experience

(G2) Areas with bare soil and areas proposed for cultural treatments would be monitored to assess need for revegetation.

Revegetation would be considered for treated sites where vegetation density is low enough to allow re-infestation or introduction of target invasive plant species. Only native seed mixes would be used.

Restore native ground cover.

M-H Effectiveness

Practical Experience

(G3) The public would be notified of herbicide use and locations by signing at entry portals and at the location of the activity. A starting and ending date for the activity will be included on the sign allowing visitors to choose to go elsewhere if they desire. Forest web sites would maintain current information during the field season and press releases would also serve to notify potentially affected users.

Keep public informed.

Minimize potential encounters between visitors and weed crews.

High effectiveness.

(G4) Wilderness rangers hitch plans will be coordinated, where possible, to cover the drainages where the weed management work will be happening to conduct monitoring work as well as answer any questions or concerns visitors may have.

Maintain communication with Wilderness visitors.

Provide feedback to

Wilderness managers.

High Effectiveness

Based on past experience.

(G5) Wherever possible, spraying operations would be halted as visitors approach within the audible range of the equipment being used in the Wilderness.

Avoid possible disruptions to visitor’s sense of wildness. M-H effectiveness.