B08_Attachment_01_140P8422Q0113_Specifications.pdf

Prepared by:

National Park Service Point Reyes National Seashore

Marin County, California

F Ranch Resource Protection Fencing for Drakes Estero 2022 Project Specifications Point Reyes National Seashore

I. INTRODUCTION

Point Reyes National Seashore (Seashore), a unit of the National Park Service (NPS), includes leased cattle grazing as an authorized use. This project will implement resource protection subzoning described in the General Management Plan Amendment for the park. Specifically, fencing will be installed within the F Ranch lease/permit to exclude cattle from tidal marshes adjacent to Drakes Estero to protect water quality and reduce erosion. The fencing will also protect the southern end of Bull Point from erosion by cattle to improve visitor experience.

II. OPERATING RESTRICTIONS

Given the proximity of sensitive natural, cultural, and agricultural resources to the work, there are some operational restrictions in effect. Pre-construction surveys will be conducted by NPS for sensitive resources including California red legged frog (Rana draytonii), Myrtle’s silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae), American badger (Taxidea taxus) and rare plant species.

Any sensitive resources such as rare plants the project area will be flagged by a park biologist prior to construction. Buffers will be established around sensitive species and habitats as per Table 1. Construction monitoring by NPS will be required during all brushcutting operations and during installation of fence within 300 feet of springs due to the potential presence of red legged frog. Additionally, fence construction needs to take place after frog breeding and bird nesting season has completed, putting the earliest start date at August 1, although breeding and nesting can take place after this date. Construction can be delayed into the late fall but must be completed before winter rains restrict the ability for site access.

Vehicles and personnel must avoid disturbance to wetlands to the greatest extent possible and follow the established access and project fence routes (Appendix A). Disturbance to vegetation near or in permanent and seasonal pools of streams, marshes, wetlands, or shorelines with extensive emergent or weedy vegetation will be minimized. Contractors should also keep vehicle speeds under 10 mph to avoid the potential for strikes of Myrtle’s silverspot butterfly.

Table 1: Project Site Species and Habitat Operational Restrictions

Species/Habitat Construction buffer (feet)

Applicable Periods

Comments

Rare plants 10 All Any rare plants will be flagged by

NPS

California red-legged frog (CRLF;

FT)

See comments January 1st to July 1st (breeding season)

Implementation typically scheduled between August and October.

Construction monitoring by a qualified biologist must be conducted during all brushcutting operations and during construction within 300 feet of springs.

Wetlands N/A Year-round Avoid disturbance. Refueling at least 100 feet away in designated areas.

Nesting birds 100 March 15th to Implementation typically scheduled

July 31st (breeding season) between August and October. If nest is discovered after August 1, a buffer of 100 feet must be maintained.

Myrtle’s silverspot butterfly (MSB; FE)

June 15th – Aug 31st

Implementation typically scheduled between August and October.

Applicable in August; possibly applicable in Sept./Oct. if butterflies are observed on site. Drive vehicles and equipment less than 10 mph Any host plants (Viola adunca) will be flagged by NPS.

All gates and existing fencing should be left as found, and any gates or fencing damaged must be repaired at the Contractor’s cost. Re-fueling must be conducted at least 100 feet from any wetland and should have tarping or some other form of containment to ensure that there is no spillage onto the ground. Due to the presence of cattle and wildlife, the Project Area shall be secured each day to ensure animals are not injured or entangled by in-progress construction (e.g.

holes), equipment and materials left on site.

Many weeds enter the park on the tires or undercarriage of vehicles, including vehicles and equipment used for construction. A number of non-native invasive species have been found in the past in Staging Areas or along access routes to project areas. To minimize introduction of new weeds and spread of existing weeds, all equipment brought to the site (including UTVs, trailers, mechanized equipment) must be cleaned thoroughly prior to being brought on site to ensure that equipment does not bring in seeds or vegetative materials from weeds of other areas.

Before coming on-site, all equipment will need to be parked at the Bull Point Trailhead (see Appendix A, Figure 1) and inspected by designated park representative to ensure equipment is clean and free of weeds and weed seeds and roots or dirt/mud that could contain weed seeds and roots. No equipment is to move beyond this area without being inspected first. Any unclean equipment will not be allowed on-site.

Personal vehicles used to bring crew back and forth each day also need to have tires and undercarriage cleaned daily if travelling off paved roads outside the park. In addition, the Contractor will need to remove sand, mud, vegetation and seeds from vehicle wheels and under carriage before exiting the work site onto County roadways. There is a known invasive weed present on the F Ranch (Rosy sandcrocus/Romulea rosea), and these actions are needed to limit spread to other areas. The Bull Point Trailhead area will be utilized as a tire cleaning area. The Contractor shall submit a Tire Cleaning Plan to NPS prior to start of construction.

A. 1.1 SCOPE OF WORK

A. DEFINITION OF CONTRACT LINE ITEMS

Work conducted within the Contract Line Item Areas includes:

1. a. Installation of 1,425 Linear Feet of new 4-wire fencing with double-stranded braided barbed and smooth wire, galvanized t-posts, and untreated wood post for H-braces and line posts along the south end of F Ranch (Appendix A, Figure 2). The top and bottom fence strands will be double-stranded smooth wire, while the middle strands will be double-stranded braided barbed wire. The new fence is estimated to require one (1) Double-H brace due to change in direction or slope. H-braces will also be installed at ends of newly constructed fencing, as well as tying in to or directly abutting the existing fenceline in the eastern portion of the project area. The contractor shall attach 16-foot galvanized cattle panels anchored by t-posts from the terminal brace posts extending to the cliff on the west side of the project and the brush on the east side of the project. It is estimated that Approximately 1,300 Linear Feet of brushcutting will also be needed in areas where a higher density of shrubs are present to facilitate installation of fencing. See FENCE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION section below for specifications.

b. No separate measurement will be made.

c. Payment will be made at the contract lump sum price.

2. a. Installation of one (1) barbed-wire gate and associated single H-braces, constructed with four (4) strands of double-stranded braided barbed wire. The gate will be located near the existing fencing where slope allows access to Drakes Estero. The barbed wire gate will be sited within the fenceline, ideally so that one end corresponds to an identified brace in the main fenceline described in Line Item 1, with a second brace required on the opposite side of the fence for the gate component.

3. a. Installation of two (2) 4-foot wide self-closing galvanized metal tube gates at the intersection with the Bull Point Trail and near the existing fencing where slope allows access to Drakes Estero. The gate will allow people to traverse the trail and will close automatically via spring loading or other means.

4. a. Mobilization of all equipment and materials pertaining to Line Items No. 1 through 3 (and optionally 4), including site preparation measures, establishment of spill prevention and containment measures and measures to limit the spread of invasive plant species.

5. a. Demobilization and close-out measures, including repair of any roads, fencing, or gates damaged or temporarily removed.

6. a. OPTION ITEM: Repair of approximately 395 feet of existing fencing through re-stringing 4-strand double-stranded braided barbed and smooth wire onto existing wooden posts and replacement of rotten wood posts and t-posts that are no longer functioning (Appendix A: Figure 2). The top and bottom strands will be smooth, while the middle strands will be double-stranded braided barbed wire.

B. All work as identified and described in the Graphics and Specifications. In the case that there are discrepancies between Graphics and Specifications, Specifications take precedence over Graphics.

C. All work will be performed under a single contract.

D. There is no revegetation work required under this contract.

1.2 LOCATION

A. The project is located within the F Ranch grazing allotment at Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, California (Appendix A, Figure 1). The Project Area is roughly a 20-minute drive (12.4 miles) from the park’s administrative headquarters at 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA, near the town of Olema.

Travel to the project area involves access from Sir Francis Drake Blvd via the Bull Point Trailhead parking lot. followed by overland travel across the unimproved trail and open grazed grassland (~1.8 miles) to the project site (Appendix A, Figure 1). Topography of the project site consists of coastal above tidal marsh. There is a small wetland drainage that flows north-south through the existing fencing, which will need to be avoided by veering off of Bull Point Trail to complete the western portion of the fenceline. Use of UTV/ATV to facilitate access along the project site may be necessary.

The primary staging area will be the Bull Point Trailhead parking lot (Appendix A, Figure 2). A secondary staging area may be established on the south end of the ranch near the existing fencing at the project site if needed. The staging area(s) would be for vehicle parking, materials stockpile, etc. Cattle will have access to the staging areas and project site until project construction excludes them with fencing.

1.3 ORDER OF WORK

A. All fence construction must start after August 1 and be completed by October 31.

B. The Contractor must recognize that, because of Endangered Species Act restrictions, many task elements may NOT be implemented prior to or after specific dates or may only be implemented during certain time windows related to presence and breeding of special status species. In addition, many task elements may require performance of pre-implementation clearance surveys prior to work start authorization and, in some cases, daily monitoring for special status species by qualified biologists. This may change sequencing or areas where work may be conducted at specific times. See “Operating Restrictions” section above for details.

1.4 GENERAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

A. Special Circumstances: No shutdown of the project site is anticipated. However, unforeseeable fire, geo-hazard conditions, heavy rains, weather, discovery of new cultural resource sites or objects, or presence of special status species not previously documented could prompt the Contracting Officer to suspend work activities for safety reasons at no cost to the NPS or its representatives.

C. Hours of Work: The Contractor shall conduct all work between the hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, unless authorized by Contracting Officer.

Contractor and crew shall not enter the site prior to 5:30 AM or leave the site after 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

C. Hours for Equipment Delivery: Equipment delivery, supply delivery and service/fueling vehicles shall only enter and exit site work areas by the approved access roads during normal working hours. Equipment delivery, supply delivery or service/fueling vehicles shall only occur between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

D. Daily Communications: Contractor shall maintain frequent communications, at least daily, with the Contracting Officer or appointed representatives of the park to discuss details of implementation, order of work, methods of minimizing environmental impacts, and other relevant components of work. There will be communication with the Contracting Officer or appointed park representative at least once per week either in a meeting or phone call.

E. Compliance with Regulatory Permits: The Contractor shall completely review, be familiar with and adhere to the terms of all permits and agency approvals for this project.

The Government will be responsible for securing and providing to the Contractor via the Contracting Officer or appointed park representative copies of permits, certifications, or authorizations. Copies of all permits are available from the Contracting Officer or appointed park representative and will remain at the project site throughout the duration of the project.

F. Compliance with State, County and Local Permits: The Contractor shall be solely responsible for securing and complying with any permits or authorization required by the California Department of Transportation, the County of Marin, or other local agencies, including, but not limited to, for the proposed work activities, including, but not limited to, traffic and encroachment permits related to the delivery and hauling of construction equipment and materials, and traffic control measures (Traffic Safety Plan).

G. Air Quality and Noise Restrictions: The Contractor shall implement measures to reduce equipment noise including: ensuring that all equipment has sound-control devices at least as effective as those originally supplied by the manufacturer and that no equipment with an unmuffled exhaust is operated. When not in use or unattended, equipment and vehicles will be shut down, locked up, and not left idling. Contractor shall limit idling time to no more than 5 minutes. Morning warm-up time shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Equipment and vehicles shall also be maintained in accordance with manufactures’ specifications to avoid excessive emissions.

H. Air Quality and Dust Control Restrictions: N/A.

I. Contamination Prevention Restrictions: All refueling areas and any equipment repair or similar activity must take place when equipment is at least 100-feet from any Sensitive Resource Area, wetland, creek, tidal marsh, ocean, lagoon, or other waterbody or area subject to restriction due to special status wildlife. Refueling shall only occur in areas approved by the Contracting Officer or appointed park representative. Staging and fuels storage areas shall occur only in designated areas: all staging or storage will require prior approval from the Contracting Officer or designated park representative. Protective tarps or comparable methods that do not allow materials to enter soils shall be used during equipment refueling or equipment repair with prior approval of Contracting Officer or designated park representative. The Contractor shall check the equipment frequently for any fluid leaks and promptly fix any leaks.

J. Accident Prevention Program: Within five (5) days of Award of Contract, the Contractor shall submit for approval an Accident Prevention Plan. The Contracting Officer and designated park representative will review the proposed program for compliance with OSHA and project requirements. If the program requires any revisions or corrections, the Contractor shall resubmit the program within 4 days. No progress payments will be made until the program is approved.

K. Off-Site Traffic Restrictions and Site Access: The Contractor may be required to secure permits from either the County of Marin or the State of California for hauling of equipment. The Contractor and any subcontractors must strictly follow the posted speed limits on County, State, and NPS roads. Speed limits are reduced in town areas such as Point Reyes Station, Inverness Park, and Inverness, and the Contractor and its subcontractors are required to follow these speed limits. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor if the employees of the Government, or any members of the public, observe speeding by employees of the Contractor or the subcontractor.

L. On-Site Traffic and Access Restrictions: Because most of the site supports multiple sensitive resources, including wetlands, rare plants, and listed wildlife species, the Contractor must use identified primary and secondary access routes and Staging Areas to access work areas (Appendix A, Figure 1). Equipment is not to deviate from this route without approval of the Contracting Officer or designated park representative.

In addition, equipment may not work in or move or access through areas designated as Sensitive Resource Areas, specifically wetland, pond, marsh, and beach areas unless specifically authorized. The Contractor is responsible for identifying these areas to employees and, if necessary, installing protective flagging and silt fencing to ensure protection of these resources as designated on Plans. Any lathe and fencing installed by the Contractor should be removed by the Contractor at the end of implementation.

All traffic is restricted to 10-mph through on primary access routes, secondary access routes, and work areas.

M. Weed Prevention: All equipment brought to the site should be cleaned thoroughly prior to being brought on site to ensure that equipment does not bring in seeds or vegetative materials from weeds of other areas. Contracting Officer or designated park representative will inspect equipment (e.g., UTVs, trailers) coming on-site to ensure equipment is clean and free of weeds and weed seeds and roots, as well as dirt/mud that can contain seeds and roots. All personal vehicles used to transport crew back and forth to the Project Area will also need to have the tires and undercarriage cleaned on a daily basis. No equipment is to move beyond the Trailhead parking lot without being inspected first (Figure 2). Based on this inspection, Contracting Officer reserves the right to prohibit site access to unclean equipment or vehicles.

N. Tire Cleaning: The Contractor shall provide means of removing dirt, mud, vegetation and seeds from vehicle wheels and under carriage before exiting the work site onto County roadways through installation of tire cleaning stations at the Trailhead parking Lot (Figure 1). The Contractor shall develop methods as approved by Contracting Officer or designated park representative for removing soil and vegetation material from vehicles before leaving the Project Area and submit these methods for approval by the park as part of a Tire Cleaning Plan Within five (5) days of Award of Contract.

O. On-Site Staging and Stockpiling: The Contractor shall only stage materials and equipment in areas designated for Staging and Stockpiling (Appendix A, Figure 1).

Absolutely, no staging or storage shall occur in Sensitive Resource Areas. If needed, staging shall only occur in outside of the Staging Area following written authorization by the Contracting Officer or a designated park representative.

Staging in permitted Staging Areas shall be at the Contractor’s risk, and the NPS, or its representatives, shall not be held liable for any damage to or loss of materials or equipment located within these areas or at any location on the project site(s). The Contractor should be advised that the F Ranch is an active cattle ranch with ongoing ranching activities and cattle grazing, as well as a public trail and access point.

P. Flagging and Fencing of Access, Work, and Work Avoidance Areas: No flagging or fencing is required to be installed by the Contractor as part of this process. If the Contractor elects to install flagging, lathe, or fencing to eliminate potential for access into Sensitive Resource Areas discussed earlier, the Contractor will be responsible for removing these flagging and fencing materials at the conclusion of the project.

Q. Water: The Contractor shall coordinate with the Contracting Officer or designated park representative to identify suitable water sources within the park, if needed. Water may be available at the F Ranch core area north of the trailhead.

R. Existing Utilities: Excavation affecting existing utilities is not anticipated as part of this project. However, the contractor shall exercise care when working near existing utilities and shall be responsible for all damage, breaks and/or leaks. If damage occurs, the Contractor shall repair utility at no additional expense to the NPS.

S. Sanitary Facilities: The Contractor shall provide and maintain temporary toilet facilities in accordance with State Health Department, County, and Seashore requirements. The Contractor shall place temporary sanitary facilities, as needed, in locations approved by the Contracting Officer and designated park representative, secluded from public observation and convenient to work stations. The Contractor shall not locate temporary toilet facilities adjacent to a natural water source or within Sensitive Resource Areas or in a location to cause a public health hazard, contamination or nuisance. Relocating temporary facilities as work progress requires and approved by Contracting Officer or designated park representative. The Contractor shall maintain and clean temporary sanitary facilities at least weekly or ensure that facilities are maintained at least once weekly. The Contractor shall coordinate with the Contracting Officer or designated park representative the date for delivery of sanitary facilities as Seashore representative may need to open gate, and the Contractor shall completely remove temporary sanitary facilities on completion of work.

T. Trash Disposal: The Contractor shall keep work and storage areas clean and free of rubbish at all times and perform protective and clean-up work within one day of being so notified by the Contracting Officer or designated park representative. All items used for treatment purposes will be removed from the site at the completion of the project. The Contractor shall legally dispose of trash resulting from work, off Federal and private and leased property, as it accumulates. The Contractor shall pay fees required for use of public dumps. Burning of trash on Federal property is prohibited. All areas used by the Contractor including, but not limited to, work areas, staging, laydown, and parking shall be kept free of waste materials, debris, and rubbish. All sites shall be maintained in a clean and orderly condition.

U. Removal of Temporary Facilities: Temporary facilities shall be removed prior to final inspection at the end of the project with the exception of those authorized to remain by the Contracting Officer or designated park representative.

V. Public Access Safety and Closure: Bull Point Trail is a public access trail within the

Seashore. All construction must ensure safety of the public utilizing these trails at all times by ensuring hazards such as holes and equipment are not within or adjacent to the trail footprint. Signage indicating work is occurring adjacent to the trail shall be posted at either end and workers shall engage any public prior to entering construction areas to ensure they may progress safely before entry.

W. Ranch Operations and Fencing: The Contractor shall conduct all operations with the least possible obstruction and inconvenience to the public and ranch operators. The project area and access pathways occur on a working ranch containing free-roaming cows and potentially bulls. The Contractor shall maintain any temporary fencing to prevent pedestrians from entering the worksite as needed and to preserve wildlife, livestock, crops, or property. All existing ranch fence lines will be maintained in good working condition except where necessary to remove to allow access or to conduct work. No fence removal is anticipated, but, should it occur, all removed materials should be retained on-site for later re-installation of the existing fence line by the Contractor at the Contractor’s expense. The Contractor shall control or prevent animals from entering the worksite to the same degree that they were controlled prior to the start of work. Deer may also be present in the work area. The Project Area shall be secured each day to ensure animals are not injured or entangled by in-progress construction (e.g. holes), equipment and materials left on site.

All gates should be closed upon entering and exiting any part of the project area, unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer or designated park representative. The Contractor shall follow all instructions from the Contracting Officer or designated park representative regarding closure of existing and new gates located within the Project Area. The Contractor is liable for all damages resulting from any and all impacts associated with improper gate closures.

X. Resource and Property Protection: The Contractor shall provide protection for

Sensitive Resource Areas, including wetland, pond and marsh habitats. No driving through these areas is permitted; walking through these areas should be minimized to the maximum extent practicable. Damage in these areas could result in the Contractor having to restore or replace vegetation at the Contractor’s expense.

The Contractor shall protect non-owned vehicular traffic, stored materials, site, and structures from damage.

Y. Work Camp: Establishment of a camp within the park will not be permitted.

Z. Site Grades and Survey Control: Elevations are not referenced in the accompanying graphics.

AA. Proposed Modifications to Graphics or Specifications: Any deviations from graphics and specifications need to be completed and/or approved by the Contracting Officer and designated park representative prior to implementation.

BB. Meeting: The Contractor shall meet with the Contracting Officer and designated park representative on the day of the pre-work meeting to conduct a joint review of the project schedule requirements of the contract to assure the Contracting Officer and designated park representative of the Contractor’s and subcontractors’ understanding of the requirements of this section.

DD. Project Communication: The Contractor shall meet or talk with the Contracting Officer and designated park representative each week at a project schedule update meeting to review actual progress made through the status date of the project schedule update, including dates activities were started and/or completed and percentage of work completed on each activity started or completed, as well as to review changes to future scheduling and coordination of required environmental clearance and monitoring activities with the proposed updated schedule.

The timely updating of the project schedule shall be an integral part of the process on which progress payments will be made under this Contract. If the Contractor fails to provide schedule updates or revisions, a portion of the monthly payment may be retained until such corrections have been made.

EE. Site Cleanup: Before scheduling the final inspection, the Contractor must remove all tools, equipment, surplus materials, treatment debris, and rubbish. The Contractor must replace or refinish fencing, gates, or other infrastructure that are damaged due to work of this contract to previous condition as directed by the Contracting Officer or designated park representative, including picking up all work-related debris from the site. At time of final inspection, the project sites shall be thoroughly clean and ready for use. All access roads utilized during treatment activities shall be rehabilitated as necessary to pre-project conditions as directed by the Contracting Officer at the Contractor’s expense.

FF. Substantial Completion and Final Inspection: When project, or designated portion of project, is substantially complete, the Contractor must request in writing a final inspection. Upon receipt of written request that project is substantially complete, the NPS will proceed with inspection within 10 working days of receipt of request if inspection is identified in Project Schedule for a minimum of 30 days in advance.

If, following final inspection, the work is determined to be substantially complete, the Contracting Officer will prepare a list of deficiencies to be corrected before final acceptance and issue a Letter of Substantial Completion. Contractor shall complete the work described on the list of deficiencies within 14 calendar days, as weather permits. If the Contractor fails to complete the work within this time frame, the Contracting Officer may either replace or correct the work with an appropriate reduction in the contract price or charge for re-inspection costs in accordance with the Inspection of Construction clause of the contract and in accordance with general conditions.

If, following final inspection, the work is not determined to be substantially complete, the Contracting Officer will notify Contractor in writing. After completing work, Contractor shall request a new final inspection. All re-inspection costs may be charged against the Contractor in accordance with the Inspection of Construction clause of the contract.

After all deficiencies have been corrected, a Letter of Final Acceptance will be issued by the Contracting Officer.

1.5 ADDITIONAL RESOURCE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to items detailed above and in the “Operating Restrictions” section, a number of resource-related avoidance and minimization measures are required for this project.

General Construction

Use of heavy machinery shall be performed by experienced operators and heavy machinery shall:

- avoid steep slopes (>20%), slopes vulnerable to landslides, and uneven or rocky terrain

- be kept at least 10 feet from any cliffs or steep banks

- only be allowed based on daily fire danger rating

- avoid woody material larger than the machine is intended for and, otherwise, conform to the machine’s user’s manual

- avoid significant wildlife habitat and plant communities

- avoid waterbodies and riparian zones unless specifically required and approved by NPS

- avoid lands designated by USDA, NRCS, as “highly erodible lands,” compactable soils, and minimize soil disturbance to the greatest extent possible

Access and staging:

- Vehicles and equipment shall be restricted to one principal access route, preferably one that has been used for past activities. All vehicles and equipment shall be staged on roads, in NPS-specified staging areas, or on existing disturbed ranch operation sites.

- Highly visible temporary fencing or coverings shall be installed where construction related items have the potential to injure wildlife when personnel are not present and actively working (e.g. overnight). This includes but is not limited to excavated holes, hazardous materials, and items that may entangle or injure wildlife, such as loose wire.

Spill prevention:

- A spill prevention and clean-up plan, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, or similar document shall be prepared and implemented for all construction projects to address polluted runoff and spill prevention policies, erosion control materials required to be available on site in case of rain or a spill (e.g., straw bales, silt fencing), clean-up and reporting procedures, and locations of refueling and minor maintenance areas.

- Petroleum products, chemicals, silt, fine soils, and any substances deleterious to fish, amphibian, plant, or bird life are prohibited from passing into, or being placed where they can pass into the waters of the state.

- Equipment operators shall have emergency spill clean-up gear (spill containment and absorption materials), dry cleanup methods (i.e., absorbent materials, and/or rags), and fire equipment available on site at all times.

- Petroleum-powered equipment shall be stored and operated in a manner to prevent the potential release of petroleum materials into waters of the state and follow precautionary measures:

o All vehicles and equipment on the site shall not leak any type of hazardous materials, such as oil, hydraulic fluid, or fuel; inspect vehicles each day for leaks and repair immediately.

o Equipment storage, short-term maintenance, and refueling shall be conducted in a contained area located at least 100 feet from a watercourse or riparian area as approved by NPS; these activities will be prohibited from taking place on the project site unless deemed necessary for project completion by NPS.

o Immediately clean up leaks, drips, and other spills to avoid soil or groundwater contamination and notify NPS staff of any such occurrence.

o All spent fluids, including motor oil, radiator coolant, or other fluids, and used vehicle batteries must be collected, stored, and recycled as hazardous waste off site.

o All major vehicle maintenance and washing shall be conducted off site.

To control the spread of plant diseases, insects, and weeds:

- equipment and vehicles shall be free of soil and debris accumulations on tires, wheel wells, vehicle undercarriages, and other surfaces before arrival at the park, when being moved between sites within the park, and before storing within the park. A high-pressure washer, compressed air, brushes, or other means shall be used to ensure that soil and debris are completely removed. All vehicles will be pressure-washed before their first entry into the park or when being moved for use in a different job site within the park.

- Hand tools, shovels, loaders, and other equipment must be clean and free of soil and plant debris before initial use at the park and before being moved between work sites within the park. A high-pressure washer, compressed air, brushes, or other means shall be used to ensure that soil and debris are completely removed.

- No soil or plant debris from the interior of vehicles or equipment (cabs, etc.) shall be deposited at the work site. If drivers/operators will be entering or exiting vehicles at the job site, the cab must be free of mud, soil, plant parts, and organic debris before arriving at the job site. Interior floors, floor mats, and seats must be free of potentially contaminated material.

- Equipment and vehicles shall be inspected by NPS prior to allowing them to proceed to the job site. If deficient, equipment and vehicles may be required to be removed from NPS property for proper cleaning at the expense of the Contractor before returning to NPS property

Additional Measures for Protection of Environmental Resources:

– An education program will be conducted for associated contractors and their employees before the project begins and as needed throughout the duration of the project as staff changes occur or as conditions warrant. Emphasis of the education program will be on identification of the various species, their legal status and Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection, the measures being taken during the project to reduce adverse impacts to them, and conditions that will require stoppage of work.

o If California red legged frog is found in the project area when qualified biologist is not present, a 100-foot buffer will be established around the frog, and work will be discontinued in that area until the frog moves of its own volition.

o If American badger is found in the project area when a qualified biologist is not present, a 500-foot buffer will be established and maintained until the badger has vacated the area.

o There will be no construction activities within 20 feet of a Myrtle’s silverspot butterfly or Viola adunca host plant.

o All vehicles will be driven at speeds of < 10 mph when traveling off-road within the Project Area to protect adult flying Myrtle’s silverspot.

o Access to the Project Area through pastures where the larval plant, common dog violet (Viola adunca), may grow will occur only on established access routes.

Measures for Protection of Cultural Resources:

– The Seashore will provide Contractor education on cultural resource restrictions prior to project start. Certain areas within the Project Area may be designated as Archaeologically Significant Resource Areas. Particular care should be taken during work in these areas, particularly mechanical removal or post-treatment measures.

– If any items of potential cultural or archeological significance are encountered during excavation operations, treatment within this area shall be halted immediately, and the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer or designated park representative.

Contractor shall cease continued treatment until advised to proceed by the Seashore.

– If cultural materials are discovered, work within 100 feet of the find will stop until the Seashore Archeologist has evaluated the find. If a previously unknown archaeological site is discovered, the site’s significance will be evaluated based on the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Work in the area shall not be resumed until the site has been evaluated and appropriately treated.

– If human remains are discovered, the Contractor will be required to cease activity in the area of discovery, protect the remains, and notify the Contracting Officer or designated park representative immediately. On notification that human remains have been discovered on Federal land, the Seashore will certify receipt of the notification, take steps to secure and protect the remains, notify the Native American tribe or tribes likely to be culturally affiliated with the discovered human remains within 1 working day, and initiate consultation with the Native American tribe or tribes in accordance with regulations described in 43 CFR Part 10 Subpart B Section 10.5.

FENCE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION

1 .0 DESCRIPTION

A. The work in this section shall consist of: performing all operations necessary to construct new 4-wire wildlife friendly fencing and construct one (1) new barbed-wire gates and two

(2) 4-ft tube metal gates within the new fenceline, and optionally fence repair activities, as shown on the Graphics, as detailed in these specifications, and as directed by the Contracting Officer and designated park representative; furnishing all labor, materials, chemicals, tools, equipment, and incidentals; and, doing all the work that may be required to construct and maintain the facilities.

2.0 GENERAL SCOPE OF WORK CONDITIONS

A. The Contractor shall furnish all necessary personnel, material, equipment, services and facilities (except as otherwise specified) to install fence, construct gates, and optionally repair fence within the Project Area. Specifically, the Contractor shall provide all double-stranded braided barbed and smooth wire, untreated wood posts, galvanized t-posts, and other supplies needed to construct the fence and gates as described in more detail below under FENCE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION.

B. The Seashore will stake or flag the alignment of new fence construction for braces and locations where gates will be installed. The designated park representative will meet on-site with the Contractor to walk the Contractor through the primary, secondary, and tertiary access routes (primary and secondary are established access roads); tire-cleaning/equipment inspection station; Staging Areas; fence alignment; and gate locations.

C. The Seashore will arrange for all resource-related construction monitoring needing to be performed.

D. The Contractor is advised that Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest place on the North American continent, and the Project Area falls within the coldest, windiest, and foggiest region of Point Reyes. September and October generally have the calmest, clearest days, but rains may begin in September. Heavy fog is common in summer.

E. The Contractor is advised that other site hazards may include steep, unstable slopes, poison oak, ticks, and biting or stinging insects.

F. The Contractor shall have a Hazard Communication Program in place as required by 29 CFR 1910.1200, where Safety Data Sheets (SDS) shall be obtained for all chemical materials to be used in performance of this contract. These SDSs and an inventory of chemicals must be provided to the Contracting Officer or designated park representative prior to bringing the material(s) on site.

G. SDSs shall be maintained at the work site and made available to all employees and the public upon request.

H. The name and location of the nearest emergency medical facility should be posted in areas where it is readily available to employees, including in UTVs or other truck or transport vehicles.

3.0 FENCE MATERIALS

A. Steel posts: FS RR-F-191/3C, hot-dipped galvanized; tee type with suitable knobs for fastening line wires with attached anchor plate. Minimum weight per linear foot shall be

1.33 pounds for line posts, 3.10 pounds for all other posts and braces, and 0.67 pound for anchor plates. Length shall be a minimum of 6.5 feet.

B. Wood posts and braces: WWPA No. 1 grade or better, all lumber shall be untreated redwood or cedar unless otherwise specified. Replacement with a similar decay-resistant wood must be approved by NPS project manager. Lumber shall be construction heartwood grade (“Con-hrt”). No sapwood products will be accepted. Seasoned lumber shall be free from splits, checks, large loose clustered knots, and other defects impairing strength. Posts shall be uniform, and straight. Line posts, H brace, and rise and dip posts shall be minimum 4-1/2-inch diameter or 4-1/2x4-1/2-inch if square, 7-foot 6-inch length.

End brace and gate brace posts must be a minimum of 6-inch diameter or 6x6-inch if square. Horizontal brace posts must be a minimum of 4-inch diameter or 4x4-inch if square.

C. Barbed wire: Two high-tensile twisted strands of galvanized 15 1/2 gauge steel wire, with four-point galvanized 14 gauge steel wire barbs spaced a maximum of 5 inches apart.

Class 3 galvanized coating per ASTM A121.

D. Barbless wire:

- For fence - Two twisted cable strands of 12-1/2 gauge galvanized steel barbless wire, Class 1 galvanized coating per ASTM-121.

- For braces: Two strands of hot-dipped galvanized smooth steel wire of at least 9 gauge shall be used for brace wire. Class 3 coating per ASTM A641-91. The 12-1/2 gauge wire above may also be used as brace wire.

E. Cattle panels (aka hog panels): shall be 4 feet tall x 16 feet wide, 4-gauge galvanized steel with welded rods.

F. Fasteners:

- Fence Staples: FS FF N 105B, double hot dipped galvanized steel, 9 gauge, with a minimum length of 1 1/2 inches.

- Steel post Clips: Minimum of one double hot dipped galvanized steel clip, 8-gauge or heavier, or other approved fastening, for attaching each strand of barbed wire to each post.

- Twitch Posts: Minimum 3-inch diameter wood, or minimum 2-inch diameter fiberglass, or galvanized steel t-post, each long enough to be attached to horizontal brace.

- Nails for Brace Timber: FS FF N 105B, 40d common, galvanized wire.

4.0 CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BARBED WIRE FENCING AND GATES

A. General fence layout: Approximately 1,425 Linear Feet of new wildlife friendly barbed-wire fence shall be constructed using four (4) wires (top and bottom smooth, internal 2 wires barbed), setting line t-posts at 10-foot spacing with a wood post every sixth post (inline posts) as per Figure 3. The top and bottom wire shall be 12.5 gauge galvanized double-stranded braided barbless stranded wire. The middle two wires shall be 15.5 gauge galvanized double-stranded braided barbed wire. Four wires shall be stretched with wire spacing from the ground up as follows (in inches): bottom wire at 16-inches, second wire at 23-inches, third wire at 30-inches and top wire at 42-inches. Place wire on outside of curves or changes of direction and on side of posts with more livestock pressure. The height of all posts after installation shall be 4 feet.

Figure 3: Fence post and wire type with spacing specifications.

B. Wood Posts Set in Ground: Wood posts shall be placed at every 6th post (inline posts) and rise and dip posts shall be placed as needed based on topography to ensure fence stability. Excavate to a minimum depth of 3-1/2 feet, so that the final height of each post after installation is 4 feet. Dig holes cylindrical and plumb with centers in true alignment and bottoms flat. All posts will be vertically leveled upon placement. Set posts centered in a hole at least 6 inches larger in diameter than the diameter of the post. Backfill with excavated material or NPS-approved clean select material in 4 to 6 inch lifts up to ground level, tamping each layer. Mound backfill at top and smooth surface to blend with existing grade. If power driving posts, use an approved power post driver. Replace all damaged posts.

C. Steel posts set in Ground: Drive posts 2-1/2 feet so the final height is approximately 4 feet. Longer posts or “deadman” anchors may be needed for loose soils. Protect post finish from damage during driving. Repair marred finishes and replace damaged posts.

D. In-Line Pull Post assemblies: shall be located in straight sections at lengths not greater than 400 feet or where there are sudden changes in elevation, such as the bottom and top of steep slopes. Set two minimum 4-inch diameter, 7-foot 6-inch-long posts a minimum of 3-1/2 feet in ground (so that the final height of each post after installation is 4 feet), approximately 8 feet apart. Set minimum 4-inch diameter horizontal brace post below tops of, and between the two vertical posts, no higher than 8 inches from the top of the post. Connect brace posts to horizontal posts with minimum 3/8 inch diameter by 4 inch galvanized steel dowels drilled to fit at least 2 inches into each post. The brace post and anchor posts should be notched to achieve a secure fit, but other posts shall not be cut or notched. A Tension Member composed of smooth wire (see material specification above) shall be installed diagonal to the brace from 4 inches above ground line on each brace post to approximately 4 inches below top of other brace posts with an extra loop around post at each point of attachment. Staple brace wires to posts, stretching wire tightly to ensure a rigid assembly. The brace wire shall be twisted with a twitch post of minimum 4-inch diameter wood (or minimum 2-inch diameter fiberglass or galvanized steel) to secure the brace and provide needed rigidity The twitch post shall be attached to the horizontal brace post. In-line H Braces shall be constructed with two (2) Tension Members per brace. Each Tension Member shall have an independent wire and twitch post.

E. End Brace Assemblies: Constructed the same as Line Brace units in D above, except posts shall be a minimum 6-inch diameter. Shall be installed at fence ends, cross stream fencing, and gates.

- This project will involve four (4) end braces, one (1) wire gate, and two (2) pedestrian gates. Gates may be hung on corner and change of direction brace assemblies if constructed with minimum 6-inch diameter vertical posts.

F. Corner and Change of Direction Brace Assemblies: Two Line Brace assemblies, with one common central post shall be installed at direction changes greater than 15 degrees and major slope changes. One tension member shall be installed on each of the two Line Brace assemblies according to the direction of pull from the fence wire. Do not pull wire around corners. Cut, loop around post, wrap, and staple.

- It is estimated that this project will involve one (1) corner and change of direction (double) brace.

G. Stretching: Stretch by hand or use suitable equipment to ensure wire will be tight. Use of trucks and tractors for stretching is not be permitted. Temperature variations must be considered (wire will tighten in cold weather and expand in hot weather).

H. Splicing: Splicing of wire shall be avoided on new fence construction. If approved by NPS, use Western Union type splice or compression fittings. Western Union splice shall have a minimum of 8 wraps on each side of center, tightly wound and closely spaced.

Compression fittings or splice sleeves will have a tensile strength not less than 80% of the wire. Ends of wire will be overlapped at least 2 inches with sleeves crimped and installed according to manufactures specifications. Two 3/8-inch sleeves or one ¾-inch sleeve will be installed at each splice.

I. Staples: Drive crosswise (diagonally) with wood grain at slight downward angle. Where pull of wire is upward, slope staple downward. Leave space between post and staple, wire shall be free to move through staples as it expands and contracts, except on corners and at ends of fence.

J. Stays, Tie-Downs, and Anchors: Install as indicated in the contract, or as needed to ensure stability of fencing. Stays will not be installed unless specified in the contract.

Each strand of wire shall be fastened to tee posts with a clip and wooden line posts by means of staples as specified above.

K. Approximately 1,300-LF of brushcutting will be conducted to construct the fence. As described above, a qualified biologist would need to present to survey for California red legged frog (and nesting birds) during both brushcutting and pole installation in heavily vegetated areas.

L. Gates: All gates (metal and/or wire) shall be the specified types, sizes, and quality and shall include the necessary fittings required for installation. All gate construction shall enable them to be opened by the average person. Gates shall be of rigid construction free from sag or twist. Gates shall be mounted to the end brace with a maximum gap of 6 inches between the gate frame and end brace.

1. Wire Gates: Wire gates are comprised of four strands of barbed wire connecting to wooden end posts (four foot length) with wooden posts a minimum of every four feet between the end posts. The wire gate width shall be 10 feet. The material shall conform to the kinds, grades, and sizes specified for new fence and shall include the necessary fittings and stays.

2. Metal Gates: The fittings for metal gates shall consist of not less than two hinges and one latch.