Revised_Standards.pdf

AG-447U-S-16-0058

Ozark-St. Francis & Ouachita National Forests Vegetative Management - Mechanical Services

MECHANICAL TREATMENT STANDARDS

Current Policy and Standard Practices for H2B Workers and Working Conditions

Migrant and seasonal Workers Protection Act: Provides requirements for housing, transportation, and working conditions for migrant and seasonal workers. The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcement.

Service Contract Act: Provides for minimum wages and other benefits under federal service contracts. The Department of Labor is responsible for enforcement.

Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Responsible for setting health and safety requirements in the multitude of industries. OSHA is responsible for enforcement.

Legal status of workers in the U.S.: The Department of Homeland Security--Immigration and Naturalization Service is responsible of reinforcing the legal status of workers in the U.S.

MECHANICAL TREATMENTS

1.1. RIPPING

Equipment

The minimum size that is acceptable for completing a site prep operation will vary between treatment areas depending on site conditions and objective. The equipment size shall be selected from the following list or have an equivalent horse power rating as designated on the task order.

Type 5 74 Horse Power Type 4 87 Horse Power Type 3 189 Horse Power Type 2 258 Horse Power Type 1 347 Horse Power

Equipment shall be equipped with protective canopies and fire extinguishers and shall meet all OSHA standards.

Timing of Operations

Operations shall be conducted during drier times of the year in order to prevent rutting and compaction of the soil.

Standards

No ripping operations shall be completed within the crown drip line of designated leave crop trees and preferably not within a distance of five feet from the bole of non-designated leave crop trees.

The soil shall be ripped continuously and will cover all plantable areas unless specifically excluded by the COR.

Ripping shall be completed as a single-pass operation that is performed on the contour with rip lines spaced seven to ten feet apart.

Depth of rips will vary between 12 and 20 inches with exceptions allowed by the COR.

Ripping teeth will be of adequate length and attached so that the operator can move over stumps without pulling the ripper teeth up more than the acceptable minimum ripping depth.

Ripper shall consist of two ripper teeth mounted on the rear of a crawler tractor.

Ripping operations shall not be implemented on slopes equal to or exceeding thirty-five percent or as directed by the COR.

Soil will be loosened in place with no forward or lateral displacement being acceptable.

The ripper teeth shall be less than six inches in width and not have a sweep point or disc attachment that turns the soil.

1.2. SINGLE DRUM CHOP

Equipment

The minimum size that is acceptable for completing a site prep operation will vary between treatment areas depending on site conditions and objective. The equipment size shall be selected from the following list or have an equivalent horse power rating as designated on the task order.

Type 5 74 Horse Power Type 4 87 Horse Power Type 3 189 Horse Power Type 2 258 Horse Power Type 1 347 Horse Power

Equipment shall be equipped with protective canopies and fire extinguishers and shall meet all OSHA standards.

Timing of Operations

Operations shall be conducted during drier times of the year to prevent excessive rutting and compaction of the soil.

Standards

Tree stems and other vegetation up to 10 inches DBH are to be chopped to ground level by a single drum chopper with a total working weight of not less than 21,000 pounds pulled by a crawler tractor, unless otherwise agreed to by the COR.

A minimum of 5 inches for each blade on the chopper must be available for cutting, and be sharpened as needed to ensure stems are severed.

Direction of cut swath shall be determined by COR before each treatment area is entered.

All standing trees and stems not designated to remain are to be chopped; as well as, slash and residual materials that may be a result of logging or storm damage.

A fireline 8 to 10 feet wide, cleared to mineral soil, will be contructed around the area that is drum chopped.

Single drum chopping operation shall not be implemented on slopes exceeding 25 percent or as directed by the COR.

Designated Material to Remain

Where available, 2 to 6 hardwood or pine snags 12 inches DBH or greater per acre.

Hardwood trees or Pine trees designated for retention with marking paint on the trunk and/or base of tree.

Trees located along property boundary marked with red paint, signs, tags, blazes or other survey information.

Painted trees that mark unit boundaries, or exclusions, and the trees within the exclusion shall not be treated.

1.3. MULCHING

Utilizing a front mounted heavy duty rotary cutter or mastication head that can be raised or lowered, all standing woody vegetation, slash and trees up to 8 inches diameter at breast height shall be mulched.

Cut stems shall be no higher than 5 inches above ground level unless obstructed by rocks, terrain, etc

Felled trees and brush, including existing down material, shall be reduced to within 2 feet of ground level.

Keep trees from falling on private property. Any damages caused by the contractors to private lands such as but not limited to cutting or falling trees on private property will be repaired by the contractor, and all associated cost will be paid by the contractor.

Contractor will not remove trees located along any property boundary marked with red paint, signs, tags, blazes or other survey information.

All gas and oil cans or other debris/trash generated by the contractor will be removed from Forest Service land as work progresses.

Mulching operations shall not be implemented on slopes exceeding 35 percent or as directed by the COR.

1.4. PRECOMMERCIAL THINNING

Equipment

The minimum size of equipment that is acceptable for completing a site prep operation will vary between treatment areas depending on site conditions and objective. The tractor size shall be selected from the following list or have an equivalent horse power rating as designated on the task order.

Type 5 74 Horse Power Type 4 87 Horse Power Type 3 189 Horse Power Type 2 258 Horse Power Type 1 347 Horse Power

Equipment shall be equipped with protective canopies and fire extinguishers and shall meet all OSHA standards.

Timing of Operations

Operations shall be conducted during drier times of the year in order to prevent excessive rutting and compaction of the soil.

Standards

Utilizing a front mounted heavy duty rotary cutter that can be raised or lowered and capable of severing trees up to six inches diameter at breast height in a single pass, parallel swaths shall be cut approximately 8 to 10 feet in width through stands of young trees leaving rows of uncut strips from 1 to 2 feet wide.

Trees to be treated shall be cut, chopped and severed from the stump within 6 inches of the ground line.

Where solid obstructions prevent severing stumps at 6 inches they may be severed at a higher point until the cutter head is past the obstruction. The direction of cut swaths shall be determined by the COR before each treatment area is entered.

1.5. WILDLIFE OPENING

1.5.1. Construction

This task will be utilized to create an opening in a forested setting that has not previously had an opening.

Standards

All vegetation and debris will be removed so that the mineral soil is exposed; surface area will be leveled to allow a tractor to safely traverse the opening.

All stumps greater than 2 inches in diameter and rocks greater than 1 foot wide at its widest point will be removed from the opening. Stump holes will be filled with soil and compacted. Stump removal will be completed by May 1, unless modified by the COR.

COR and the Contractor will determine appropriate location for piling stumps and debris. Piling activites will occur prior to Sept 1, unless modified by the COR.

When piling stumps and debris, use methods and equipment that will minimize soil being incorporated into the piles.

If during inspection an excessive amount of soil is noted in a pile, the contractor may be required to break up the pile and redistribute it.

Debris piles may be burned after coordinating with the COR and district Fire Management Officer or representative.

Piles will not be burned within 150 feet of the timber line and will have a minimum of 20 feet of bare soil exposed around the piles. If the fire escapes the contractor is responsible for contacting the COR and district FMO.

If excessive damage to protected trees occurs during piling, a reduction at the current appraised rates for the damaged trees will be subtracted from payment.

Keep debris from stump removal and piling activities from concentrating around protected trees. Protected trees will be flagged or marked with paint prior to clearing activities.

The opening will have 3 tons/ac of agricultural lime applied prior to leveling, fertilizing and planting.

All gas and oil cans or other debris/trash generated by the contractor during this contract will be removed from Forest Service land as work progresses.

Keep trees from falling on private property. Any damages caused by the contractors to private lands such as, but not limited to cutting or falling trees on private property, will be repaired by the contractor and all associated cost will be paid by the contractor.

1.5.2. Reconstruction

This task will be performed in existing openings to remove old brush piles, ice damage, overhanging limbs from adjacent trees and/or encroaching vegetation too large to be cut using a standard bush hog.

Standards

The same Standards for Constructing an Opening will apply to this task.

1.6 FIRELINE CONSTRUCTION/RECONSTRUCTION

This task will be utilized to re-establish existing fire lines and roads used for fire line and/or access.

Roads and lines should be cleared of all brush and debris in or encroaching on the existing road or line.

Roads\lines should be reshaped to shed water and allow for vehicle travel. Waterbars and leadoff ditches should be built or re-established as needed for erosion control.

Dead/hazard trees that could potentially fall into the road/line should be pushed down away from the road/line.

1.7.1 POND CONSTRUCTION

Size of ponds will be separated into quarter acre units. The number of units requested will be specified in the task order.

Contractor and COR will determine the suitability of the site for pond construction before the contractor is released to build the pond. A test hole should be dug before clearing the site and proceeding with pond construction.

Clear all trees and brush from pond foundation area and earthen dam.

Construct ponds in irregular configurations as opposed to rectangular.

The top of the dam will be at least 10 feet wide.

Upstream slope of dam should be 3:1 slope and downstream slope should be 2:1 slope.

The dam must be keyed-in. The keyed area should be a minimum of 8 feet wide and 3 feet deep.

The material with the most clay will be used in the keyed area. Remove as much rock and other debris that would reduce compaction from this material.

The dam will be compacted throughout construction.

Construct auxiliary spillway to pass storm runoff around and away from the dam in order to protect the dam from being overtopped and eroded. Spillway channel will be constructed transversely level to prevent meandering and resultant scour during low flow periods.

Spillway will be 8 feet wide or as wide as the existing material will allow. If there is not enough material to construct an 8 foot wide spillway, the contractor must obtain written permission to reduce the width from the COR.

COR will identify new width for the spillway in the letter.

The top of the dam will be a minimum of 3 feet higher than the spillway.

Sod and topsoil will be stockpiled, and after construction of the pond is completed, the sod and topsoil will be distributed evenly over the dam and spillway to enhance revegetation.

Brush and or rock piles will be constructed in the pond. No more than 10% of the pond will be covered with these piles. Exact size dimensions and locations will be determined by the COR.

If specifications for the dam, spillway, or brush and/or rock piles cannot be meet due to site specific conditions, they can be modified through a letter signed and dated by the contractor and COR. This letter must contain what will be modified and the new agreed specification.

The dam, spillway and all disturbed areas above the water level of the pond will be seeded and fertilized as follows;

unless otherwise agreed upon in writing:

Product Type Rate Orchard grass 20 lbs/acre Annual Rye grass 15 lbs/acre

Winter Wheat 50 lbs/acre 13/13/13 Fertilizer 500 lbs/acre

The seeding season will be:

Season Rate Season 1 March 1st - April 30th Season 2 August 15 - October 15

Seeding and fertilizing should be implemented in such a manner to achieve even distribution of the seed and fertilizer and optimize germination.

The top soil on the dam and spillway will need to be stabilized until revegetation occurs.

1.7.2 POND RECONSTRUCTION

Standards

Reshape pond to direct the flow of water to fill the pond by removing accumulated debris and silt from intake ditches and the pond bottom taking care not to punch through the bottom of the pond. Silt will be placed beyond edge of pond and backside of the pond dam.

Rebuild or reshape the levee to maintain adequate water levels and provide a functional spillway for excess water.

Auxiliary spillway is required to pass storm runoff around and away from the dam in order to protect the dam from being overtopped and eroded. Spillway channel will be required to be transversely level to prevent meandering and resultant scour during low flow periods.

Spillway will be 8 feet wide or as wide as the existing material will allow. If there is not enough material to construct an 8 foot wide spillway, the contractor must obtain written permission to reduce the width from the COR.

COR will identify new width for the spillway in the letter.

Top of the dam will be a minimum of 3 feet higher than the spillway.

Contractor will remove any trees, saplings, brush or other woody stemmed vegetation from the basin and dam of the pond up to 20 feet from the down stream edge of the dam. Specific distance should be identified on each task order. The root systems of trees within the pond basin should be removed to a depth of at least 8” below the surface of the soil.

The dam, spillway and all disturbed areas above the water level of the pond will be seeded and fertilized as follows;

unless otherwise agreed upon in writing:

Orchard grass 20 lbs/acre Annual Rye grass 15 lbs/acre Winter Wheat 50 lbs/acre 13/13/13 Fertilizer 500 lbs/acre

Seeding and fertilizing should be implemented in such a manner to achieve even distribution of the seed and fertilizer and optimize germination.

The top soil on the dam and spillway will need to be stabilized until revegetation occurs.

1.8. BUSH HOGGING

Cut all vegetation down to an average stubble height of 6 inches in fields and wildlife openings.

These areas may contain shrubs and tree saplings as large as 2” in DBH.

Maps of protected areas will be provided with each task order.

All gas and oil cans or other debris/trash generated by the contractor will be removed from Forest Service land as work progresses.

1.9. GRASS PLANTING

1.9.1. Wildlife Opening (with lime) or 5.2.10.2. Wildlife Opening (without lime)

The opening will be disked so that the existing vegetation and roots have been cut fine enough that it can be turned under.

The surface will be primarily bare mineral soil and ground will be broken to a depth of 2 to 6 inches.

Winter wheat will be sowed and then the top soil will be turned over to cover the seeds.

Clovers will be sowed after the top soil is turned over.

Fertilizer and lime can be spread at any point after clearing is completed.

The following kinds and amounts per acre of seed, fertilizer, and lime shall be applied, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing:

Ladino Clover 9 lbs/acre* Winter Wheat 100 lbs/acre 6/12/12 Fertilizer 500 lbs/acre Agricultural lime 3 tons/acre**

*Some districts will substitute other product like Crimson clover or Kenland Red clover for part or all of the Ladino clover in the mix above. The new seed mix with substitutions should cost the same or less than the above mix.

** In1.9.2., lime will not be required.

1.9.3. Warm Season

Contractors may use the no-till drill or disking/broad casting/compaction methods.

The primary planting season will be February 15 through May 15th, but may be planted from fall until early summer.

The following kinds and amounts per acre of seed, and lime shall be applied, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing:

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) 2.5 lbs/acre Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) 1.5 lbs/acre Eastern Gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) 1 lbs/acre* Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) 2.5 lbs/acre Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) 4 oz/acre Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) 1 oz/acre Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) 1 oz/acre Compass Plant (Silphium lacinatum) 1 oz/acre Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) 1 oz/acre Coreopsis Tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) 1 oz/acre 0-20-20 Fertilizer 300 lbs/acre** Agricultural lime 1 tons/acre

*Stratified seed is preferred but is not required.

**This represents the maximum amount of fertilizer that will be needed on any task order.

De-bearded warm-season grass seeds are required unless using a drill with a native warm-season grass box.

Seeds will be planted just below the surface approximately ¼ inch or less except gama grass which can be planted up to 1 inch.

If using the no-till method, brush hogging maybe required to minimize the thatch and reduce the need for down pressure on the cutters to prevent planting the seeds deeper than ¼ of an inch.

If the area is disked or plowed to remove existing vegetation and thatch, the soil will be rolled to even the surface prior to seeding. The soil will be compacted to the point a person walking across the area will not leave a depressed track.

With the broadcast method, the ground will be broken to a depth of 2 to 4 inches and the vegetation will cut and turned over so the surface will be primarily bare mineral soil.

Fertilizer and lime can be spread at any point during the process.

COR will identify the specific amount of fertilizer needed for the area with each task order.

If seeds are not available at the time of the task order, the COR will identify new species and rates that are equal in value or less than those species being replaced. Value of these seeds would be determined by the COR.

All seed rates are for pure live seed.

Seed must be certified.

Before the area is accepted by the COR, contractor must provide receipts for the seed, fertilizer, lime and labels from the seed packages.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN