Attachment 1 FZ4 Construction and Material Specifications.pdf

Nature of the Project:

The Todd FZ4 Easement is an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) – Wetlands Reserve Enhancement (WRE) repair project. The work includes installation of practices related to the repair of shallow water area dikes and associated features, including clearing, seeding, installing rock-stabilized spillways, and installing erosion-prevention measures within existing shallow-water areas.

The selected contractor shall without the additional expense to the Government, be responsible for obtaining all permits and licenses necessary to successfully construct the project.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

KENTUCKY

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

General:

This construction plan set forth the requirements for this installation as shown on the drawings and described in the construction specifications and material specification. The project shall be constructed at the location and to the lines and grades as shown on the drawings in accordance with the construction and material specifications.

Construction Plan:

a. Specifications:

The construction and material specifications describe minimum acceptable quality of work and materials for the project. The material specifications may also reference a commercial standard such as the American Society of Testing Materials, ASTM, which identifies materials. Commercial standards set forth the minimum acceptable quality of identified materials within the industry. If a conflict arises between the drawings and specifications, the specification governs the work and/or material.

b. Drawings:

The drawings are a visual representation to supplement construction and material specifications. The drawings include location, profiles, sections, details and notes necessary to describe the work. The drawings for this project consist of 10 sheets and are labeled Repair Plans for Wetland Restoration Repair – Todd FZ4 Easement Owner:

Michael E Todd ACEP-WRE.

NO CHANGES ARE TO BE MADE IN THE DRAWINGS OR SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT

PRIOR APPROVAL OF NRCS.

Permits:

The Contractor shall, without additional expense to the Government, be responsible for obtaining all permits and licenses necessary to successfully construct the project as shown in the attached plans and specifications, including but not limited to: Department of State Lands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All permits, rights of ways, and/or easements that are applicable for the construction and/or operation are the responsibility of the Contractor and shall be available for review by the NRCS prior to the start of construction.

Safety:

The contractor is responsible for compliance with all state and local laws, ordinances, codes, and/or regulations applicable for the installation. The Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative will document any safety violations witnessed.

Landowner Acknowledgement:

The Landowner acknowledges that:

a. They have received a copy of the construction drawings and specification, and that they have an understanding of the contents, and the requirements.

b. They understand that NRCS makes no representation as to the existence or non-existence of utilities. It is the responsibility of landowners, operators and contractors to comply with the provisions of KRS 367.4901 to 367.4917. Landowners, operators and contractors will be liable for any damage resulting from disruption of service caused by construction activities. The phone number for the utility location service in Kentucky is 1-800-752- 6007.

c. They understand that maintenance of the installed work is necessary for proper performance during the project life.

Accepted by: /s/ Date:

Acceptance:

The NRCS acceptance of the project will be performed by the inspector during construction and after the work has been completed. If deficiencies are found, the NRCS inspector may prepare a written report.

I have made an on-site inspection of the site (or I am accepting owner/contractor documentation), and have determined that the job as installed does conform to the drawings and practice specifications, Construction Certification by:

/s/ Date NRCS Representative

Job Title:

LIST OF APPLICABLE SPECIFICATIONS

Construction Specifications

1 Clearing

5 Pollution Control

6 Seeding, Sprigging, and Mulching

8 Mobilization and Demobilization

11 Removal of Water

21 Excavation

23 Earthfill

26 Topsoiling

61 Rock Rip Rap

95 Geotextile

Material Specifications

523 Rock Rip Rap

592 Geotextile

Construction Specification 1—Clearing

1. Scope

The work shall consist of the clearing and disposal of trees, snags, logs, brush, shrubs, stumps, and rubbish from the designated areas.

2. Classification

Unless otherwise specified in section 8, clearing will be classified according to the following definitions:

Class A—Requires that trees and other woody vegetation be removed so that the remaining stumps extend no higher than 4 inches above the ground surface.

Class B—Requires that trees and other woody vegetation be removed so that the remaining stumps extend no higher than 12 inches above the ground surface.

Class C—Requires that trees and other woody vegetation be removed as near the ground surface as conventional tools or field conditions will permit or as specified in section 8.

3. Protection of existing vegetation

Trees and other woody vegetation designated to remain undisturbed shall be protected from damage throughout the entire construction period. Any damage resulting from the contractor's operations or neglect shall be repaired by the contractor.

Earthfill, stockpiling of materials, vehicular parking, and excessive foot or vehicular traffic shall not be allowed within the dripline of vegetation designated to remain in place. Vegetation damaged by any of these or similar actions shall be replaced with viable vegetation of the same species or as specified in section 8 and approved by the contracting officer.

Any cuts, skins, scrapes, or bruises to the bark of the vegetation shall be carefully trimmed and local nursery accepted procedures used to seal damaged bark.

Any limbs or branches 0.5 inch or larger in diameter that are broken, severed, or otherwise seriously damaged during construction shall be cut off at the base of the damaged limb or branch flush with the adjacent limb or tree trunk.

All roots 1 inch or larger in diameter that are cut, broken, or otherwise severed during construction operations shall have the end smoothly cut perpendicular to the root. Roots exposed during excavation or other operation shall be covered with moist earth and/or backfilled as soon as possible to prevent them from drying.

4. Marking

The limits of the areas to be cleared will be marked by stakes, flags, tree markings, or other suitable methods. Trees to be left standing and uninjured will be designated by special markings placed on the trunks at a height of about 6 feet above the ground surface.

5. Clearing

All trees not marked for preservation and all snags, logs, brush, shrubs, stumps, rubbish, and similar materials shall be cleared from within the limits of the marked areas.

6. Disposal

All materials cleared from the designated areas shall be disposed of at locations shown on the drawings or in a manner specified in section 8. The contractor is responsible for complying with all local rules and regulations and the payment of any and all fees that may result from the disposal at locations away from the construction location.

7. Measurement and payment

For items of work for which specific unit prices are established in the contract, the cleared area is measured to the nearest 0.1 acre. Payment for clearing is made for the total area within the designated limits at the contract unit price for the specified class of clearing. Such payment will constitute full compensation for all labor, equipment, tools, and all other items necessary and incidental to the completion of the work.

8. Items of work and construction details

The items of work to be performed in conformance with this specification and construction details are:

a. Bid Item 1. Clearing

(1) This item shall consist of mowing (bush hogging) and clearing along the Ingress/Egress and within the marked work limits. The bush hogging shall be completed prior to any excavation or earthfill.

The area to be cleared will be marked using stakes and flags.

(2) In Section 2, Classification, class “C” shall apply. The work consists of removing young growth trees and bush hogging the existing open areas to a height of not more than 6 inches.

(3) In Section 3, Protection of Existing Vegetation, any existing hardwood vegetation located in the fence rows or field borders shall not be bush hogged or disturbed. Any existing tree plantings outside of marked area shall not be disturbed.

(4) In Section 4, Marking, the areas to be cleared will be marked with wooden stakes and flags by NRCS personnel before any clearing should take place.

(5) In Section 7, Measurement and Payment, the entire area shall be measured using handheld GPS unit to calculate the area for payment.

Construction Specification 5—Pollution Control

The work consists of installing measures or performing work to control erosion and minimize the production of sediment and other pollutants to water and air from construction activities.

2. Material

All material furnished shall meet the requirements of the material specifications listed in section 8 of this specification.

3. Erosion and sediment control measures and works

The measures and works shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

Staging of earthwork activities—The excavation and moving of soil materials shall be scheduled to minimize the size of areas disturbed and unprotected from erosion for the shortest reasonable time.

Seeding—Seeding to protect disturbed areas shall occur as soon as reasonably possible following completion of that earthwork activity.

Mulching—Mulching to provide temporary protection of the soil surface from erosion.

Diversions—Diversions to divert water from work areas and to collect water from work areas for treatment and safe disposition. They are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its near original condition when the diversions are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Stream crossings—Culverts or bridges where equipment must cross streams. They are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its near original condition when the crossings are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Sediment basins—Sediment basins collect, settle, and eliminate sediment from eroding areas from impacting properties and streams below the construction site(s). These basins are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition when they are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Sediment filters—Straw bale filters or geotextile sediment fences trap sediment from areas of limited runoff. Sediment filters shall be properly anchored to prevent erosion under or around them. These filters are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition when they are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Waterways—Waterways for the safe disposal of runoff from fields, diversions, and other structures or measures. These works are temporary and shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition when they are no longer required or when permanent measures are installed.

Other—Additional protection measures as specified in section 8 of this specification or required by Federal, State, or local government.

4. Chemical pollution

The contractor shall provide watertight tanks or barrels or construct a sump sealed with plastic sheets to collect and temporarily contain chemical pollutants, such as drained lubricating or transmission fluids, grease, soaps, concrete mixer washwater, or asphalt, produced as a by-product of the construction activities. Pollutants shall be disposed of in accordance with appropriate State and Federal regulations. At the completion of the construction work, tanks, barrels, and sumps shall be removed and the area restored to its original condition as specified in section 8 of this specification.

Sump removal shall be conducted without causing pollution.

Sanitary facilities, such as chemical toilets, or septic tanks shall not be located next to live streams, wells, or springs. They shall be located at a distance sufficient to prevent contamination of any water source. At the completion of construction activities, facilities shall be disposed of without causing pollution as specified in section 8 of this specification.

5. Air pollution

The burning of brush or slash and the disposal of other materials shall adhere to state and local regulations.

Fire prevention measures shall be taken to prevent the start or spreading of wildfires that may result from project activities. Firebreaks or guards shall be constructed and maintained at locations shown on the drawings.

All public access or haul roads used by the contractor during construction of the project shall be sprinkled or otherwise treated to fully suppress dust. All dust control methods shall ensure safe construction operations at all times. If chemical dust suppressants are applied, the material shall be a commercially available product specifically designed for dust suppression and the application shall follow manufacturer's requirements and recommendations. A copy of the product data sheet and manufacturer's recommended application procedures shall be provided to the engineer 5 working days before the first application.

6. Maintenance, removal, and restoration

All pollution control measures, and temporary works shall be adequately maintained in a functional condition for the duration of the construction period. All temporary measures shall be removed, and the site restored to near original condition.

7. Measurement and payment

Compensation for any item of work described in the contract, but not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items, and the items to which they are made subsidiary, are identified in section 8 of this specification.

8. Items of work and construction details

a. Subsidiary Item, Pollution Control

(1) This specification applies to any pollution control measures required to comply with permit requirements and local, state, and federal regulations. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring all state and federal permits or licenses necessary to successfully construct the project are in place before commencing work.

(2) In Section 3, Erosion Sediment Control Measures and Works, Schedule construction to be completed during the dry summer months when drainages on the property are generally free of water, or during the KDFW in-water work window if one is established.

Stage equipment, fuels, and other supplies in the staging area indicated on the drawings or at other staging areas agreed upon by the Contractor and NRCS during the pre-construction meeting. Contain all construction traffic and activities within the work limits indicated on the drawings and flagged in the field by NRCS. Modification of the work limits will be at the discretion of the NRCS. Contractor shall work with NRCS to acquire all necessary permits and will comply with the requirements of any permits furnished by the Landowner or NRCS.

(3) In Section 7, Measurement and Payment, this item is subsidiary to Bid Item 2, Mobilization and Demobilization and is included in the lump sum price for that bid item. No separate payment will be made for Pollution Control.

Construction Specification 6—Seeding, Sprigging, and Mulching

The work consists of preparing the area for treatment; furnishing and placing seed, sprigs, mulch, fertilizer, inoculant, lime, and other soil amendments; and anchoring mulch in designated areas as specified.

2. Material

Seed—All seed shall conform to the current rules and regulations of the state where it is being used and shall be from the latest crop available. It shall meet or exceed the standard for purity and germination listed in section 7.

Seed shall be labeled in accordance with the state laws and the U.S. Department of Agriculture rules and regulations under the Federal Seed Act in effect on the date of invitations for bids. Bag tag figures are evidence of purity and germination. No seed will be accepted with a test date of more than 9 months before the delivery date to the site.

Seed that has become wet, moldy, or otherwise damaged in transit or storage will not be accepted. The percent of noxious weed seed allowable shall be as defined in the current State laws relating to agricultural seeds. Each type of seed shall be delivered in separate sealed containers and fully tagged unless exception is granted in writing by the contracting officer.

Fertilizer—Unless otherwise specified, the fertilizer shall be a commercial grade fertilizer. It shall meet the standard for grade and quality specified by State law. Where fertilizer is furnished from bulk storage, the contractor shall furnish a supplier's certification of analysis and weight. When required by the contract, a representative sample of the fertilizer shall be furnished to the contracting officer for chemical analysis.

Inoculants—The inoculant for treating legume seeds shall be a pure culture of nitrogen-fixing bacteria prepared specifically for the species and shall not be used later than the date indicated on the container or as otherwise specified. A mixing medium, as recommended by the manufacturer, shall be used to bond the inoculant to the seed. Two times the amount of the inoculant recommended by the manufacturer shall be used except four times the amount shall be used when seed is applied using a hydraulic seeder. Seed shall be sown within 24 hours of treatment and shall not remain in the hydraulic seeder longer than 4 hours.

Lime and other soil amendments—Lime shall consist of standard ground agriculture limestone, or approved equivalent. Standard ground agriculture limestone is defined as ground limestone meeting current requirements of the State Department of Agriculture. Other soil amendments shall meet quality criteria and application requirements specified in section 7.

Mulch tackifiers—Asphalt emulsion tackifiers shall conform to the requirements of ASTM D 977, Specification for Emulsified Asphalt. The emulsified asphalt may be rapid setting, medium setting, or slow setting. Nonasphaltic tackifiers required because of environmental considerations shall be as specified in section 7.

Straw mulch material—Straw mulch shall consist of wheat, barley, oat or rye straw, hay, grass cut from native grasses, or other plants as specified in section 7. The mulch material shall be air-dry, reasonably light in color, and shall not be musty, moldy, caked, or otherwise of low quality. The use of mulch that contains noxious weeds is not permitted. The contractor shall provide a method satisfactory to the contracting officer for determining weight of mulch furnished.

Other mulch materials—Mulching materials, such as wood cellulose fiber mulch, mulch tackifiers, synthetic fiber mulch, netting, and mesh, are other mulching materials that may be required for specialized locations and conditions. These materials, when specified, must be accompanied by the manufacturer's recommendations for methods of application.

3. Seeding mixtures, sod, sprigs, and dates of planting

The application rate per acre for seed mixtures, sprigs, or sod and date of seeding or planting shall be as shown on the plans or as specified in section 7.

4. Seedbed preparation and treatment

Areas to be treated shall be dressed to a smooth, firm surface. On sites where equipment can operate on slopes safely, the seedbed shall be adequately loosened (4 to 6 inches deep) and smoothed.

Depending on soil and moisture conditions, disking or cultipacking, or both, may be necessary to properly prepare a seedbed. Where equipment cannot operate safely, the seedbed shall be prepared by hand methods by scarifying to provide a roughened soil surface so that broadcast seed will remain in place.

If seeding is to be accomplished immediately following construction operations, seedbed preparation may not be required except on a compacted, polished, or freshly cut soil surface.

Rocks larger than 6 inches in diameter, trash, weeds, and other debris that will interfere with seeding or maintenance operations shall be removed or disposed of as specified in section 7.

Seedbed preparation shall be discontinued when soil moisture conditions are not suitable for the preparation of a satisfactory seedbed as determined by the contracting officer's technical representative (COTR).

5. Seeding, sprigging, fertilizing, mulching, and stabilizing

All seeding or sprigging operations shall be performed in such a manner that the seed or sprigs are applied in the specified quantities uniformly in the designated areas. The method and rate of seed application shall be as specified in section 7. Unless otherwise specified, seeding or sprigging shall be accomplished within 2 days after final grading is completed and approved.

Fertilizer, lime, and other soil amendments shall be applied as specified in section 7. When specified, the fertilizer and soil amendments shall be thoroughly incorporated into the soil immediately following surface application.

The rate, amount, and kind of mulching or mesh shall be as specified in section 7. Mulches shall be applied uniformly to the designated areas. They shall be applied to areas seeded not later than 2 working days after seeding has been performed. Straw mulch material shall be stabilized within 24 hours of application using a mulch crimper or equivalent anchoring tool or by a suitable tackifier.

When the mulch crimper or equivalent anchoring tool is used, it shall have straight blades and be the type manufactured expressly for and capable of firmly punching the mulch into the soil. Where the equipment can be safely operated, it shall be operated on the contour. Hand methods shall be used where equipment cannot safely operate to perform the work required.

The tackifier shall be applied uniformly over the mulch material at the specified rate, or it shall be injected into the mulch material as it is being applied. Mesh or netting stabilizing materials shall be applied smoothly, but loosely on the designated areas. The edges of these materials shall be buried or securely anchored using spikes or staples as specified in section 7.

The contractor shall maintain the mesh or netting areas until all work under the contract has been completed and accepted. Maintenance shall consist of the repair of areas damaged by water erosion, wind, fire, or other causes. Such areas shall be repaired to reestablish the intended condition and to the design lines and grades required by the contract. The areas shall be refertilized, reseeded, and remulched before the new application of the mesh or netting.

6. Measurement and payment

Method 1—For items of work for which specific unit prices are established in the contract, each area treated is measured as specified in section 7 and the area calculated to the nearest 0.1 acre. Payment for treatment is made at the contract unit price for the designated treatment, which will constitute full compensation for completion of the work.

When specified as an item of work, mesh or netting is measured to the nearest square yard of surface area covered and accepted. Payment is made at the contract unit price and will constitute full compensation for completion of the work.

Method 2—For items of work for which specific lump sum prices are established in the contract, the quantity of work will not be measured for payment. Payment for this item is made at the contract lump sum price for the item and will constitute full compensation for the completion of the work.

Method 3—For items of work for which lump sum prices are established in the contract, payment is made as the work proceeds. Progress payments will be determined as specified in section 7. Payment of the lump sum contract price will constitute full compensation for completion of the work.

Method 4—For items of work for which lump sum prices are established in the contract, payment is made as the work proceeds. Progress payments will be determined as specified in section 7. Payment of the lump sum contract price will constitute full compensation for completion of the work.

The following provisions apply to all methods of measurement and payment. Compensation for any item of work described in the contract, but not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the item(s) to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 7.

7. Items of work and construction details

a. Bid Item 4, Seeding and Mulching

(1) This item shall consist of seeding and mulching all non-wetland areas disturbed during restoration within the work limits and as designated by the NRCS personnel.

(2) In Section 2, Material, apply 120 pounds of nitrogen (N), 120 pounds of phosphorous (P2O5), and 120 pounds of potash (K2O) per acre on all areas to be seeded.

(3) In Section 2, Material, apply 3 tons of Ag Lime per acre uniformly over seeded area.

(4) In Section 2, Material, apply 2 tons of small grain straw or 2.5 tons of fescue hay per acre uniformly over the seeded area.

(5) In Section 3, Seeding Mixtures, Sod, Sprigs and Dates of Planting, apply 50 pounds of Tall Fescue KY-31, 3 pounds Redtop, and 8 pounds Alsike or Red Clover per acre. These are pure live seed quantities. Actual seed applied can be calculated using the following equation:

Actual Seed Quantity Lbs/Ac = PLS x 10000 / %Purity / %Germ

(6) In Section 3, Seeding Mixtures, Sod, Sprigs and Dates of Planting, seeding shall be done as soon as construction of the wetland restoration practices has been completed.

(7) In Section 3, Seeding Mixtures, Sod, Sprigs and Dates of Planting, apply 30 pounds of wheat per acre for cover crop.

(8) In Section 4, Seed Bed Preparation and Treatment, and Section 5, Seeding, Sprigging, Fertilizing, Mulching, and Stabilizing, the following sequence shall be used on all areas to be seeded: Upon completion of the installation of the wetland restoration practices as concurred by the NRCS personnel, apply fertilizer, seed, and mulch and either lightly disk with the disk set straight or track in with the tracks of the earthmoving equipment over the entire seeded area.

(9) In Section 6, Measurement and Payment, Method 1 shall apply. The entire area shall be measured using handheld GPS unit to calculate the area for payment.

b. Bid Item 6, Wetland Planting

(1) This item shall consist of planting wetland areas (as designated in the plans) at the size and spacing given in the construction drawings within the work limits and as designated by the

NRCS.

(2) In Section 2, Material, plant material shall be the species, size, and propagule provided in the construction drawings unless written approval is provided by the NRCS.

(3) In Section 3, Seeding Mixtures, Sod, Sprigs and Dates of Planting, planting shall occur within the window of time given in the planting notes within the construction drawings unless written approval is provided by the NRCS.

(4) In Section 4, Seed Bed Preparation and Treatment, preparation of the planting area must be approved prior to planting.

(5) Section 5, Seeding, Sprigging, Fertilizing, Mulching, and Stabilizing, the wetland planning shall be at the vertical and horizontal locations and spacing specified in the construction drawings unless written approval is provided by the NRCS.

(6) In Section 6, Measurement and Payment, Method 1 shall apply. The entire area shall be measured using handheld GPS unit to calculate the area for payment.

Construction Specification 8—Mobilization and Demobilization

The work consists of the mobilization and demobilization of the contractor's forces and equipment necessary for performing the work required under the contract. It does not include mobilization and demobilization for specific items of work for which payment is provided elsewhere in the contract.

Mobilization will not be considered as work in fulfilling the contract requirements for commencement of work.

2. Equipment and material

Mobilization shall include all activities and associated costs for transportation of contractor's personnel, equipment, and operating supplies to the site; establishment of offices, buildings, and other necessary general facilities for the contractor's operations at the site; premiums paid for performance and payment bonds including coinsurance and reinsurance agreements as applicable; and other items specified in section 4 of this specification.

Demobilization shall include all activities and costs for transportation of personnel, equipment, and supplies not required or included in the contract from the site; including the disassembly, removal, and site cleanup of offices, buildings, and other facilities assembled on the site specifically for this contract.

This work includes mobilization and demobilization required by the contract at the time of award. If additional mobilization and demobilization activities and costs are required during the performance of the contract as a result of changed, deleted, or added items of work for which the contractor is entitled to an adjustment in contract price, compensation for such costs will be included in the price adjustment for the item or items of work changed or added.

3. Payment

Payment will be made as the work proceeds, after presentation of paid invoices or documentation of direct costs by the contractor showing specific mobilization and demobilization costs and supporting evidence of the charges of suppliers, subcontractors, and others. When the total of such payments is less than the lump sum contract price, the balance remaining will be included in the final contract payment. Payment of the lump sum contract price for mobilization and demobilization will constitute full compensation for completion of the work.

Payment will not be made under this item for the purchase costs of materials having a residual value, the purchase costs of materials to be incorporated in the project, or the purchase costs of operating supplies.

4. Items of work and construction details

Items of work to be performed in conformance with this specification and construction details are:

a. Bid Item 2. Mobilization and Demobilization

(1) These items shall consist of the mobilization and demobilization of the contractor’s forces and equipment as necessary for performing the work required under the contract.

Construction Specification 11—Removal of Water

The work consists of the removal of surface water and ground water as necessary to perform the construction required by the contract in accordance with the specifications. It shall include: (1) constructing, installing, building, and maintaining all necessary temporary water containment facilities, channels, and diversions; (2) furnishing, installing, and operating all necessary pumps, piping, and other facilities and equipment; and (3) removing all such temporary works and equipment after their intended function is no longer required.

2. Diverting surface water

The contractor shall install, maintain, and operate all cofferdams, channels, flumes, sumps, and all other temporary diversion and protective works needed to divert streamflow and other surface water through or around the construction site. Control of surface water shall be continuous during the period that damage to construction work could occur. Unless otherwise specified and/or approved, the diversion outlet shall be into the same drainageway that the water would have reached before being diverted.

The contractor shall furnish the contracting officer, in writing, a proposed plan for diverting surface water before beginning any construction activities for which a diversion is required, unless waived in section 8 of this specification. Acceptance of this plan or the waiving of the plan requirement will not relieve the contractor of the responsibilities related to this activity during the process of completing the work as specified.

3. Dewatering the construction site

Foundations, cutoff trenches, and all other parts of the construction site shall be dewatered and kept free of standing water and muddy conditions as necessary for the proper execution of the work. The contractor shall furnish, install, operate, and maintain all drains, sumps, pumps, casings, well points, and all other equipment required to properly dewater the site as specified. Dewatering systems that cause a loss of soil fines from the foundation areas will not be permitted.

The contractor shall furnish the contracting officer, in writing, a proposed plan for dewatering before commencing with any construction activity for which dewatering may be required, unless waived in section 8 of this specification. Acceptance of this plan or the waiving of the plan requirement will not relieve the contractor of the responsibilities for completing the specified work.

4. Dewatering borrow areas

The contractor shall maintain all borrow areas free of surface water or otherwise provide for timely and effective removal of surface and subsurface water that accumulates within the borrow area, unless waived in section 8 of this specification. Borrow material shall be processed as necessary to achieve proper and uniform moisture content at the time of placement.

If pumping to dewater borrow areas is included as a bid item of work in the bid schedule, each pump discharge pipe shall be equipped with a water meter. The meter shall be such that the measured quantity of water is accurate within 3 percent of the true quantity. The contractor shall provide necessary support to perform accuracy tests of the water meter when requested by the contracting officer.

5. Erosion and pollution control

Removal of water from the construction site, including the borrow areas, shall be accomplished so that erosion and the transporting of sediment and other pollutants are minimized. Dewatering activities shall be accomplished in a manner that the water table water quality is not altered.

Pollution control activities shall not conflict with the requirements of Construction Specification 5, Pollution Control, if it is a part of this contract.

6. Removal of temporary works

When temporary works are no longer needed, the contractor shall remove and return the area to a condition similar to that which existed before construction. Areas where temporary works were located shall be graded for sightly appearance with no obstruction to natural surface waterflows or the proper functioning and access to the works of improvement installed. The contractor shall exercise extreme care during the removal stages to minimize the loss of soil sediment and debris that was trapped during construction.

Pipes, casings, and any other material used to dewater the site shall be removed from temporary wells.

The wells shall be filled to ground level with clean gravel or other suitable material approved by the contracting officer. The contractor shall exercise extreme care to prevent pollution of the ground water by these actions.

7. Measurement and payment

The following provisions apply to all methods of measurement and payment. Compensation for any item of work described in the contract, but not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the contract line item to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 8 of this specification.

8. Items of work and construction details

The items of work to be performed in conformance with this specification and the construction details are:

a. Subsidiary Item, Removal of Water

(1) This item consists of the diversion of surface water and dewatering of the construction site for construction of the specified work.

(2) In Section 2, Diverting Surface Water, the removal of standing or flowing water will be required as necessary for the proper execution of the work.

(3) In Section 7, Measurement and Payment, no separate payment will be made for removal of water. Compensation for this item will be included in payment for Bid Item 3, Earthfill.

Construction Specification 21—Excavation

The work shall consist of the excavation required by the drawings and specifications and disposal of the excavated materials.

2. Classification

Excavation is classified as common excavation, rock excavation, or unclassified excavation in accordance with the following definitions or is designated as unclassified.

Common excavation is defined as the excavation of all materials that can be excavated, transported, and unloaded using heavy ripping equipment and wheel tractor-scrapers with pusher tractors or that can be excavated and dumped into place or loaded onto hauling equipment by excavators having a rated capacity of one cubic yard or larger and equipped with attachments (shovel, bucket, backhoe, dragline, or clam shell) appropriate to the material type, character, and nature of the materials.

Rock excavation is defined as the excavation of all hard, compacted, or cemented materials that require blasting or the use of ripping and excavating equipment larger than defined for common excavation.

The excavation and removal of isolated boulders or rock fragments larger than 1 cubic yard encountered in materials otherwise conforming to the definition of common excavation shall be classified as rock excavation. The presence of isolated boulders or rock fragments larger than 1 cubic yard is not in itself sufficient cause to change the classification of the surrounding material.

For the purpose of these classifications, the following definitions shall apply:

Heavy ripping equipment is a rear-mounted, heavy duty, single-tooth, ripping attachment mounted on a track type tractor having a power rating of at least 250 flywheel horsepower unless otherwise specified in section 11.

Wheel tractor-scraper is a self-loading (not elevating) and unloading scraper having a struck bowl capacity of at least 12 cubic yards.

Pusher tractor is a track type tractor having a power rating of at least 250 flywheel horsepower equipped with appropriate attachments.

Unclassified excavation is defined as the excavation of all materials encountered, including rock materials, regardless of their nature or the manner in which they are removed.

3. Unclassified excavation

Excavation designated as unclassified excavation shall include all materials encountered regardless of their nature or the manner in which they are removed. When excavation is unclassified, none of the definitions or classifications stated in Section 2, Classification, shall apply.

4. Blasting

No blasting is included in excavation.

5. Use of excavated material

To the extent they are needed, all suitable material from the specified excavations shall be used in the construction of required permanent earthfill or rockfill. The suitability of material for specific purposes is determined by the engineer. The contractor shall not waste or otherwise dispose of suitable excavated material.

6. Disposal of waste materials

All surplus or unsuitable excavated materials are designated as waste and shall be disposed of as directed by NRCS staff.

7. Excavation limits

Excavations shall comply with OSHA Construction Industry Standards (29CFR Part 1926) Subpart P, Excavations, Trenching, and Shoring. All excavations shall be completed and maintained in a safe and stable condition throughout the total construction phase. Structure and trench excavations shall be completed to the specified elevations and to the length and width required to safely install, adjust, and remove any forms, bracing, or supports necessary for the installation of the work. Excavations outside the lines and limits shown on the drawings or specified herein required to meet safety requirements shall be the responsibility of the contractor in constructing and maintaining a safe and stable excavation.

8. Borrow excavation

When the quantities of suitable material obtained from specified excavations are insufficient to construct the specified earthfills and earth backfills, additional material shall be obtained from the designated borrow areas. The extent and depth of borrow pits within the limits of the designated borrow areas shall be as specified in section 11 or as approved by the engineer. Borrow pits shall be excavated and finally dressed to blend with the existing topography and sloped to prevent ponding and to provide drainage.

9. Overexcavation

Excavation in rock beyond the specified lines and grades shall be corrected by filling the resulting voids with portland cement concrete made of materials and mix proportions approved by the engineer.

Concrete that will be exposed to the atmosphere when construction is completed shall meet the requirements of concrete selected for use under Construction Specification 31, Concrete for Major Structures, or 32, Structure Concrete, as appropriate.

Excavation in earth beyond the specified lines and grades shall be corrected by filling the resulting voids with approved, compacted earthfill. The exception to this is that if the earth is to become the subgrade for riprap, rockfill, sand or gravel bedding, or drainfill, the voids may be filled with material conforming to the specifications for the riprap, rockfill, bedding, or drainfill. Before correcting an overexcavation condition, the contractor shall review the planned corrective action with the engineer and obtain approval of the corrective measures.

10. Measurement and payment

For items of work for which specific unit prices are established in the contract, the volume of each type and class of excavation within the specified pay limits is measured and computed to the nearest cubic yard by the method of average cross-sectional end areas or by methods outlined in section 11 of this specification. Regardless of quantities excavated, the measurement for payment is made to the specified pay limits except that excavation outside the specified lines and grades directed by the engineer to remove unsuitable material is included. Excavation required because unsuitable conditions result from the contractor's improper construction operations, as determined by the engineer, is not included for measurement and payment.

Compensation for any item of work described in the contract, but not listed in the bid schedule is included in the payment for the item of work to which it is made subsidiary. Such items and the items to which they are made subsidiary are identified in section 11 of this specification.

11. Items of work and construction details

Items of work to be performed in conformance with this specification and construction details are:

a. Subsidiary Item. Excavation, Common

(1) This item shall consist of the excavation of borrow material for wetland plugs and removal of drainage tiles.

(2) All excavation areas shall be stripped of topsoil as specified in the construction drawings and per these specifications. The topsoil shall be stockpiled for topdressing of wetland plugs and backfilled tile trench.

(3) In Section 2, Classification, the excavation shall be classified as common excavation.

(4) In Section 10, Measurement and Payment, no separate payment will be made for excavation. Compensation for this item will be included in payment for Bid Item 3, Earthfill.

Construction Specification 23—Earthfill

The work consists of the construction of earth embankments, other earthfills, and earth backfills required by the drawings and specifications.

Earthfill is composed of natural earth materials that can be placed and compacted by construction equipment operated in a conventional manner.

Earth backfill is composed of natural earth material placed and compacted in confined spaces or adjacent to structures (including pipes) by hand tamping, manually directed power tampers or vibrating plates, or their equivalent.

2. Material

All fill material shall be obtained from required excavations and designated borrow areas. The selection, blending, routing, and disposition of material in the various fills shall be subject to approval by the engineer.

Fill materials shall contain no frozen soil, sod, brush, roots, or other perishable material. Rock particles larger than the maximum size specified for each type of fill shall be removed prior to compaction of the fill.

The types of material used in the various fills shall be as listed and described in the specifications and drawings.

3. Foundation preparation

Foundations for earthfill shall be stripped to remove vegetation and other unsuitable material or shall be excavated as specified.

Except as otherwise specified, earth foundation surfaces shall be graded to remove surface irregularities and shall be scarified parallel to the axis of the fill or otherwise acceptably scored and loosened to a minimum depth of 2 inches. The moisture content of the loosened material shall be controlled as specified for the earthfill, and the surface material of the foundation shall be compacted and bonded with the first layer of earthfill as specified for subsequent layers of earthfill.

Earth abutment surfaces shall be free of loose, uncompacted earth in excess of 2 inches in depth normal to the slope and shall be at such a moisture content that the earthfill can be compacted against them to produce a good bond between the fill and the abutments.

Rock foundation and abutment surfaces shall be cleared of all loose material by hand or other effective means and shall be free of standing water when fill is placed upon them. Occasional rock outcrops in earth foundations for earthfill, except in dams and other structures designed to restrain the movement of water, shall not require special treatment if they do not interfere with compaction of the foundation and initial layers of the fill or the bond be- tween the foundation and the fill.

Foundation and abutment surfaces shall be no steeper than one horizontal to one vertical unless otherwise specified. Test pits or other cavities shall be filled with compacted earthfill conforming to the specifications for the earthfill to be placed upon the foundation

4. Placement

Earthfill shall not be placed until the required excavation and foundation preparation have been completed and the foundation has been inspected and approved by the engineer. Earthfill shall not be placed upon a frozen surface nor shall snow, ice, or frozen material be incorporated in the earthfill matrix.

Earthfill shall be placed in approximately horizontal layers. The thickness of each layer before compaction shall not exceed the maximum thickness specified in section 10 or shown on the drawings.

Materials placed by dumping in piles or windrows shall be spread uniformly to not more than the specified thickness before being compacted.

Hand compacted earth backfill shall be placed in layers whose thickness before compaction does not exceed the maximum thickness specified for layers of earth backfill compacted by manually directed power tampers.

Earth backfill shall be placed in a manner that prevents damage to the structures and allows the structures to assume the loads from the earth backfill gradually and uniformly. The height of the earth backfill adjacent to a structure shall be increased at approximately the same rate on all sides of the structure.

Earthfill and earth backfill in dams, levees, and other structures designed to restrain the movement of water shall be placed to meet the following additional requirements:

(a) The distribution of materials throughout each zone shall be essentially uniform, and the earthfill shall be free from lenses, pockets, streaks, or layers of material differing substantially in texture, moisture content, or gradation from the surrounding material. Zone earthfills shall be constructed concurrently unless otherwise specified.

(b) The surface of each layer shall be scarified parallel to the axis of the fill to a depth of not less than 2 inches before the next layer is placed.

(c) The top surface of embankments shall be maintained approximately level during construction with two exceptions: A crown or cross-slope of about 2 percent shall be maintained to ensure effective drainage, or as otherwise specified for drainfill or sectional zones.

(d) Dam embankments shall be constructed in continuous layers from abutment to abutment except where openings to facilitate construction or to allow the passage of streamflow during construction are specifically authorized in the contract.

(e) Embankments built at different levels as described under (c) or (d) above shall be constructed so that the slope of the bonding surfaces between embankment in place and embankment to be placed is not steeper than 3 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical. The bonding surface of the embankment in place shall be stripped of all material not meeting the requirements of this specification and shall be scarified, moistened, and recompacted when the new earthfill is placed against it. This ensures a good bond with the new earthfill and obtains the specified moisture content and density at the contact of the in place and new earthfills.

5. Control of moisture content

During placement and compaction of earthfill and earth backfill, the moisture content of the material being placed shall be maintained within the specified range.

The application of water to the earthfill material shall be accomplished at the borrow areas insofar as practicable. Water may be applied by sprinkling the material after placement on the earthfill, if necessary. Uniform moisture distribution shall be obtained by disking.

Material that is too wet when deposited on the earthfill shall either be removed or be dried to the specified moisture content prior to compaction.

If the top surface of the preceding layer of compacted earthfill…