Attachment_2-_SOW_Exemption_Area_Cut_and_Pile_2025.pdf

Exemption Area Manual Cut and Pile - 2025

STATEMENT OF WORK

General

The South Dakota Field Office is soliciting fuels management services for fuels treatments in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The objective of this contract is to treat hazardous fuels to mitigate wildfire risk to protect public health and communities, firefighter safety, and landscape resilience for future wildfire. The project area includes 133 acres in 3 locations: PeeDee Gulch, Sheeptail Gulch, and Deadman.

Contractor will provide English-speaking supervisor on site each day work is being performed.

PeeDee Gulch

The PeeDee Gulch project area consists of 65 acres broken into four units; Unit 1 is 28 acres, Unit 2 is 10 acres, Unit 3 is 24 acres and Unit 4 is 3 acres. This project area is located 2 miles east of Deadwood, South Dakota and has adjacent private land to the east and south. The legal description is Township 5 North, Range 3 East, Section 24 and 25.

Directions to project area: From Deadwood take Highway 14 east for approximately1.5 miles.

Turn south onto Two Bit Road. Continue for approximately 3 miles to the project area. Access to certain areas of the project will require Contractor to get approval from private landowners.

BLM can assist Contractor in contacting appropriate landowners.

Much of the forested stand in this project area consists of very dense, mid-aged stands of ponderosa pine.

Treatments will include thinning conifer species less than 8-inch diameter breast height (DBH) to a spacing of 15-25 feet between boles. Greater than or equal to 8-inch DBH trees will not be included in spacing. All material from thinning will be piled. All dead and down 8-inch DBH and less will be piled.

Sheeptail Gulch

Sheeptail Gulch project area consists of 45 acres broken into two units; Unit 4 is 10 acres and Unit 10 is 35 acres. The project area is located approximately 2 miles northwest of Lead, South Dakota. The legal description is Township 5 North, Range 3 East, Sections 19 and 30.

Directions to project area: From Deadwood take Highway 85 bypass towards Lead for approximately 3 miles. Turn right onto Cutting Mine Road. After approximately .4 miles, turn right onto Iverson Field Road and continue for approximately 1 mile to the project area.

Much of the forested stand in this project area consists of very dense, mid-aged stands of ponderosa pine. There are areas of large overstory trees, greater than 12–14-inch DBH. The project has areas of heavy conifer regeneration with some areas of blow down.

Treatments will include thinning conifer species less than 8-inch DBH to a spacing of 20 feet between boles. Greater than or equal to 8-inch DBH trees will not be included in spacing. All material from thinning will be piled. All dead and down 8-inch DBH and less will be piled.

Deadman

Deadman project area consists of 23 acres broken into three units; Unit 1 is 7 acres, Unit 2 is 10 acres, and Unit 3 is 6 acres. The project area is located approximately one mile west of Sturgis, South Dakota and has adjacent private land to the west, east, and north. The legal description is Township 5 North, Range 4 East, Section 12.

Directions to project area: From Sturgis take Highway14A west towards Deadwood. Turn north onto Whitewood Service Road and continue for approximately 1 mile. At Industry Road turn left and go until you reach the end of the road where you will come to a locked gate behind a shop building. After the locked gate continue on the two-track road for approximately 2 miles to the project area. Access to the project area will require Contractor to get approval from private landowner. BLM can assist Contractor in contacting the appropriate landowner.

Much of the forested stand in this project area consist of mid-aged stands of ponderosa pine.

There are areas of large overstory trees, greater than 12-14-inch DBH. Some areas in the units have heavy down and dead material from a previous timber sale contract. The project has areas of conifer regeneration within meadows and hardwood stands.

Treatments will include thinning conifer species less than 8-inch DBH to a spacing of 20 feet between boles. Greater than or equal to 8-inch DBH trees will not be included in spacing. All material from thinning will be piled. All dead and down 7-inch DBH and less will be piled. In Units 2 and 3, the meadow enhancement treatment will include removing and piling all conifers less than 8-inch DBH.

A site tour will be offered. A site inspection is not mandatory but highly encouraged. In no event shall failure to inspect/understand the site conditions constitute grounds for a claim after contract award.

Due to wildlife timing restrictions, no implementation can occur between May 16 to September 30.

The period of performance is from October 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, however, during this time frame this area routinely receives substantial snow fall. The preferred start date would be October 1, 2025, with all work planned for completion by November 30, 2025.

SCOPE OF WORK

Sheeptail Gulch Unit 4 and 10

Deadman Unit 1 and 3

Level I-- Crown closure of material to be hand severed and piled is estimated to be from 0 percent to 30 percent total cover. Slope is under 45 percent.

All cut and pile will have the specs that follow.

PILES ARE NOT TO BE COVERED.

Thin conifer (ponderosa pine and spruce) trees less than 8-inch DBH to a residual spacing of 20 feet between boles. Greater than or equal to 8-inch DBH trees will not be included in spacing.

In meadow enhancement unit - remove all conifers less than 8-inch DBH. All material will be piled. Meadow unit will be flagged in lime green and will be identified on map in hatched green. (Deadman Unit 3).

Where aspen or birch stands of 0.10 acres or greater are present, all conifers less than 12-inch DBH within the stand as well as within a 50-foot buffer around the exterior of the stand will be removed and piled.

All deciduous trees are to be excluded from treatment. These species include but are not limited to aspen and birch.

Stump heights shall not exceed six inches (6”) and will be parallel to the ground.

Dead and downed material less than 7-inch DBH will be piled. This stipulation does not apply to cut and chunk material which will all be piled.

All slash created shall be hand piled to the following specifications:

o Hand Piling Specifications (pile all slash according to the following):

Pile all existing dead and down material 1-inch DBH to 7-inch DBH, including limbs.

All piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and other slash in the pile resulting in a triangular or teepee shape. Slash that causes large air spaces in piles shall be cut to eliminate air spaces. Each pile shall include an area of small sized slash to provide kindling for prompt ignition and to aid in combustion of larger slash. These fuels shall be placed in the center of the pile.

Unless approved by the COR, the maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter and 10 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 6 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height.

Piles shall not be closer than 10 feet to reserve trees unless approved by the COR. Slash shall not be piled or placed on roads, trails, drainages ditches, rocks, or within channel bottoms or streams.

Trees damaged by thinning activity must be treated regardless of species.

Retain all snags which do not present an imminent danger of falling on persons or property.

Identified cultural resources shall be flagged by BLM personnel (COR, PI, Archeologist) prior to implementation. Flagged areas shall not be accessed or disturbed.

The operator and/or contractor shall immediately contact the Contracting Officer in the event that any antiquities or other items of cultural or scientific interest, (including, but not limited to historic or prehistoric ruins, fossils, artifacts or burials), are discovered as a result of the project operations. Such discoveries shall be left intact until written authorization is issued by the South Dakota BLM Field Office Manager and approved by the contracting officer.

Operating equipment in a manner that is safe to the public is mandatory. The contractor shall be responsible for posting signs at all road entries to the work area. The signs shall clearly warn the public of the contractor’s activities.

Along private boundaries, ensure all piles and material stay 25 feet from BLM boundaries.

Peedee Gulch Unit 1, 2, 3, and 4

Deadman Unit 2

Level III-- Crown closure of material to be hand severed and piled is estimated to be from 31 percent to 60 percent total cover. Slope is under 45 percent.

All cut and pile will have the specs that follow.

PILES ARE NOT TO BE COVERED.

Thin conifer (ponderosa pine and spruce) trees less than 8-inch DBH to a residual spacing of 15-25 feet between boles. Greater than or equal to 8-inch DBH trees will not be included in spacing. All material from thinning will be piled. All dead and downed material 7-inch DBH and under will be piled.

In the shaded fuel break, thin all conifer species less than 8-inch DBH to a spacing of 25- 35 feet between boles. Greater than or equal to 8-inch DBH trees will not be included in spacing. All material from thinning will be piled. All dead and down material 12-inch DBH and under will be piled. Shaded fuel break boundary will be flagged in lime green and identified on map. (PeeDee Gulch units 1, 3, and 4)

Meadow enhancement - remove all conifers less than 8-inch DBH. All material will be piled. Meadow units will be flagged in lime green and will be identified on map in hatched green. (Deadman Unit 2).

Where aspen or birch stands of 0.10 acres or greater are present, all conifers less than 12-inch DBH within the stand as well as within a 50-foot buffer around the exterior of the stand will be removed and piled.

All deciduous trees are to be excluded from treatment. These species include but are not limited to aspen and birch.

Stump heights shall not exceed six inches (6”) and will be parallel to the ground.

Dead and downed material less than 7-inch DBH will be piled. This stipulation does not apply to cut and chunk material which will all be piled.

All slash created shall be hand piled to the following specifications:

o Hand Piling Specifications (pile all slash according to the following):

Pile all existing dead and down material 1-inch DBH to 7-inch DBH, including limbs.

All piles shall be constructed by laying limbs, stems, cut boles, and other slash in the pile resulting in a triangular or teepee shape. Slash that causes large air spaces in piles shall be cut to eliminate air spaces. Each pile shall include an area of small sized slash to provide kindling for prompt ignition and to aid in combustion of larger slash. These fuels shall be placed in the center of the pile.

Unless approved by the COR, the maximum pile size shall be 10 feet in diameter and 10 feet in height, and minimum pile size shall be 6 feet in diameter by 8 feet in height.

Piles shall not be closer than 10 feet to reserve trees unless approved by the COR. Slash shall not be piled or placed on roads, trails, drainages ditches, rocks, or within channel bottoms or streams.

Trees damaged by thinning activity must be treated regardless of species.

All snags less than 16-inch DBH will be removed and piled. (PeeDee Gulch Units 1, 2, 3, and 4)

Identified cultural resources shall be flagged by BLM personnel (COR, PI, Archeologist) prior to implementation. Flagged areas shall not be accessed or disturbed.

The operator and/or contractor shall immediately contact the Contracting Officer in the event that any antiquities or other items of cultural or scientific interest, (including, but not limited to historic or prehistoric ruins, fossils, artifacts or burials), are discovered as a result of the project operations. Such discoveries shall be left intact until written authorization is issued by the South Dakota BLM Field Office Manager and approved by the contracting officer.

Operating equipment in a manner that is safe to the public is mandatory. The contractor shall be responsible for posting signs at all road entries to the work area. The signs shall clearly warn the public of the contractor’s activities.

Along private boundaries, ensure all piles and material stay 25 feet off BLM boundaries.

Location of Project Areas General maps of the project area are included. Access is by all-weather and seasonal roads.

Seasonal roads may be impassable for several days after heavy rain or snowfall. Some restrictions apply to the project such as equipment/vehicles crossing riparian areas unless approved by project inspector or contracting representative.

Boundaries of Project Area: Project boundaries will be flagged in orange. The shaded fuel break boundary will be flagged in lime green. Deadman meadow enhancement project boundary will be flagged in pink. GPS equipment may be required for this contract and must have an accuracy of +/- 10 meters. The contractor assumes responsibility for legal access to project sites.