Blue Mtn. Mechanical ARRA APPENDIX_A.pdf

Blue Mtn. Mechanical ARRA IRSC Stewardship Project Modoc National Forest

AAPPPPEENNDDIIXX AA

• Project area map

• Service Work Technical Specifications

• Quality Assurance Plan

Service Work Technical Specifications for Activity Items

Items 1 & 3 - Mechanical Thinning: Within all work units listed in table 1 below, the Contractor shall cut and remove from National Forest land all trees 2 inches DBH to 14.9 inches DBH designated for cutting. Whole tree yarding includes removal of tops, limbs and boles, unless otherwise noted in the contract.

The work will be performed in a manner that will not damage the residual leave trees. All slash generated from landing operations shall be machined piled for burning. Piles shall be neat, compact and sufficiently free of dirt to allow at least 85% consumption of the piled debris when burned. Landing piles shall have a fire line constructed around the pile cleared to mineral soil at least 8 feet wide. All landing piles shall be located so that burning will not damage standing trees, snags, or improvements. Prior to any felling and skidding the Contractor shall have the Forest Service approve all skid trails and landings. The Contractor shall remove cut material within the designated time frame for all units listed in the table on page 14 of the contract under 52.211-10; Commencement, Prosecution and Completion of Work.

ITEM #1

Mandatory Units

Acres

Saw log Specifications

Non sawlog specifications

8 52 10-12” 2-14.9 9 256 10-12” 2-14.9 40 231 10-14” 2-14.9 41 622 10-14” 2-14.9 42 326 10-14” 2-14.9

ITEM #3

Optional Units

3 196 10-12” 2-14.9 4 22 10-12” 2-14.9 5 15 10-12” 2-14.9 6 42 10-12” 2-14.9 7 21 10-12” 2-14.9 10 7 10-12” 2-14.9 Total 1790

Table 1

Technical specifications and requirements are described in Appendix B Timber Removal Specifications.

The intent is to:

• Thin pine between 2.0” DBH and 14.9 inches DBH to leave the best “crop” trees at approximately 30 foot spacing or 50 TPA. Saw log “cut trees” 10.0-14.0 inches DBH are designated by a horizontal band of green paint at dbh and a stump mark at ground level with green paint.

Biomass “cut trees” 2.0 – 9.9 inches DBH are purchaser select, with tree quality more important than spacing. Biomass “cut trees” 10.0-14.9” are designated by 3 horizontal dots or 3 vertical dots at dbh and a stump mark at ground level with green paint.

• Remove all juniper between 2 and 24 inches DBH unless trees are designated with orange paint for retention.

• To retain additional tree cover and forest structure in areas that are predominantly juniper, only thin pine when more than 4 pine (greater than 2” dbh) trees have touching or interlocking crowns.

• Minimize damage to small (≤ 2” dbh) pine in areas where juniper is the predominant overstory.

• Do not protect juniper not meeting minimum size requirements for cutting. Operator may cut and remove these trees if desired

Characteristics of “quality” pine crop leave trees are as follows:

• Dominance- Trees are taller than others of same age class.

• Foliage- Dark green color, vigorous, thick branches.

• Straight bole.

• Free from physical damage.

• Free from insect or disease damage as generally indicated by color of foliage.

Skidding and Hauling.

Technical specifications and requirements are described in Appendix B Timber Removal Specifications and Appendix C Road Maintenance Requirements.

Forest Service and Contractor shall agree upon the haul route prior to use.

Item 2 - Chainsaw Thinning.

Cutting of pine and juniper up to 12.0” dbh. Limbs shall be piled.

Mandatory Units Acres 11 16 25 15

Total 31 Table 2

Most stands are predominantly juniper with inclusions of pine. Boundaries are flagged with solid yellow and solid blue ribbon tied together. Yellow signs are posted at the corners of the units.

The intent is:

• Thin pine up to 12.0 inches DBH to leave the best “crop” trees at approximately 30 foot spacing or 50 TPA.

• Cut all juniper up to 12.0” dbh.

• Maximum stump height is 4 inches.

• Limb any live limbs remaining on the stump.

• Minimize damage to small (≤ 2” dbh) pine in areas where juniper is the predominant overstory.

• Leave boles where they fall. Boles shall be limbed. Limbs shall be piled into compact piles no larger than 6’ X 8’ with a dome shape.

Item 4 - Chainsaw Thinning w/lop and scatter.

Cutting of pine and juniper up to 12.0” dbh. Lop and scatter limbs.

Optional Units Acres 12 24 13 7 14 0.5 15 2 16 11 17 1 18 1 19 1 20 2 21 9 22 1 23 1 24 3

Total 63.5 Table 3

Most stands are predominantly juniper with inclusions of pine. Boundaries are posted at the corners of the units.

The intent is:

• Thin pine up to 12.0 inches DBH to leave the best “crop” trees at approximately 30 foot spacing or 50 TPA.

• Cut all juniper up to 12.0” dbh.

• Leave boles where they fall.

• Lop and scatter limbs so that the height of the slash created is no higher than 18” from ground level.

• Maximum stump height is 4 inches.

• Limb any live limbs remaining on the stump.

• Minimize damage to small (≤ 2” dbh) pine in areas where juniper is the predominant overstory.

Item 5 - Chainsaw Thinning w/piling.

Cut juniper and thin pine up to 12.0” dbh. Pile limbs.

Optional Units Acres 12 24 13 7 14 0.5 15 2 16 11 17 1 18 1 19 1 20 2 21 9 22 1 23 1 24 3

Total 63.5 Table 4

Most stands are predominantly juniper with inclusions of pine. Boundaries are posted at the corners of the units.

• Thin pine up to 12.0 inches DBH to leave the best “crop” trees at approximately 30 foot spacing or 50 TPA.

• Cut all juniper up to 12.0” dbh.

• Leave Boles where they fall.

• Pile limbs into compact piles no larger than 6’ x 8’ with a dome shape.

• Maximum stump height is 4 inches.

• Limb any live limbs remaining on the stump.

• Minimize damage to small (≤ 2” dbh) pine in areas where juniper is the predominant overstory.

Item 7 – Chainsaw cut.

Cut juniper and thin pine less than 2” DBH.

Optional Units

Acres

3 196 4 22 5 15 6 42 7 21 8 52 9 256 10 7 41 622 42 326 Total 1559

Table 5

• Cut all juniper < 2.0” DBH below lowest live limb.

• Cut/Thin all pine < 2” in DBH. Retain pine at 30’ spacing only if there are no trees > 2” DBH that meet the 30’ spacing requirement.

• Maximum stump height is 2”.

Limited Operating Periods and Related Restrictions.

Hazardous fire conditions: Actual or predicted weather conditions indicate a hazardous fire condition that warrants curtailment of contract operations as specified in Part 29 - Fire Precautions and Control.

Adverse weather: Soil moisture is such that soil or roads would be damaged or compacted by equipment operation and/or access has been determined to be unsafe. With recommendations from the COR, the CO will make the final determination regarding operations shutdown.

Non-Treatment Areas may be delineated on the contract area map or on the ground by the Forest Service. These areas could be wildlife habitat, archeological sites, streamcourse protection and/or areas of excessive rock or steep ground. Generally speaking, if these areas are one acre or greater in size, individually or combined, they are not included in the contract acres. Should unworkable areas be encountered that have not been delineated, The COR shall be notified.

GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN

Inspection: Government inspections are for the purpose of satisfying the Government that the services are acceptable and do not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for maintaining quality control. The Contractor shall conduct inspections on all units in accordance with the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan included in the Contractor’s technical proposal which is made part of this contract.

The contractor is responsible for performing or having performed all inspections and tests necessary to substantiate that the supplies or services furnished under this contract conform to contract requirements, including any applicable technical requirements for specified manufacturers’ parts.

Acceptable Quality Level for Mechanical Thinning and Related Subtasks:

• At least 95% of all stems greater than 2 inches DBH and less than 15 inches DBH (for pine) and 24 inches DBH (for Junipers), which are designated for cutting, are cut and removed.

• No undesignated trees are cut or removed without COR approval.

• No more than 5% (cumulative) of the residual leave trees are damaged by the contractors’ operation.

• At least 95% of the cut stumps are within the specified stump height (Appendix

B, Division A).

• All slash generated at the landing is piled and at least 95% of the machine piles meet contract specifications.

• All cut material is removed within the required time period.

Acceptable Quality Level for Chainsaw Thinning and Related Subtasks:

• At least 95% of all stems less than 12 inches DBH, which are designated for cutting, are cut.

• No undesignated trees are cut.

• No more than 5% (cumulative) of the residual leave trees are damaged by the contractors’ operation.

• At least 95% of the cut stumps are within the specified stump height.

• At least 95% of the piles meet specifications.

• At least 95% of lop and scatter specifications are met.

Acceptance – Work will be accepted when it is determined by the visual inspection or plot data that the Contractor’s work conforms to the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) for the task and critical sub-tasks. Missed areas within the work unit will not be considered a part of the work being inspected and must be re-worked regardless of the results of the inspection of the work completed in the unit. Work units that do not comply with the Acceptable Quality Level for the task and critical subtask are un-acceptable and shall be reworked.

Measurements for Stewardship Credit – Acreage was measured on a horizontal plane using a Global Positioning System. Unless otherwise indicated by this contract, the contactor may request re-measurement of any quantities. The request must be made in writing and must be within 10 calendar days of completing work on the unit in question. If re-measurement indicates a variance of five percent or less from the stated quantity, the Forest Service may deduct Stewardship Credits to the Contractor equal to cost of this re-measurement. If re-measurement indicates a variance of more than five percent from the stated quantity, Stewardship Credits will be based on the re-measured quantity, and the Contractor will not be liable for the costs of re-measurement. All re-measurement will be done by the Forest Service. The Forest Service may re-measure quantities of completed stewardship work activities at its discretion. The Forest Service will bear all costs for discretionary re-measurement. Re-measured quantities will be the basis for awarding Stewardship Credits. Re-measurement of acreage will be done using a Global Positioning System.