Road Use Rules and Fire Protection and Supression.pdf

ROAD USE RULES AND RESTRICTIONS AND FIRE PROTECTION AND

SUPPRESSION

ROAD USE RULES AND RESTRICTIONS

Commercial Road Rules

Objectives: The Road Rules and Regulations for commercial use of roads on the Tribal Forestlands are:

1. Provide road users with a uniform and timely system concerning use requirements on roads in advance of applying for permits or bidding on contracts.

2. Provide Forest Officers with a system to display their road use requirements and to administer them uniformly with all commercial users

3. Implement a responsive system for issuing permits or making other arrangements for authorizing road use to meet the special needs unique to any commercial user.

General Road Rules:

1. Damaging, and leaving in a damaged condition, any road or segment thereof is prohibited. In addition to the road damage the following are prohibited:

A. Driving crawler or lug equipment upon or leaving tractor marks upon any bridge or structure, including asphalt, concrete, wood or metal surfaces.

B. Any bending, breaking, removal, or other damage to bridge rails, bridge decks, guardrails, culverts, signs or signposts, markers, or other structures.

C. Destruction of the road prism (travelway, ditches, fill and cut slope) not correctable by normal maintenance activity.

2. Exceeding posted bridge weight limits is not authorized without Tribal approval.

3. Unless otherwise provided in a contract, permit, or agreement, no road shall be blocked by placing of any vehicle or other object upon it in a manner that is an impediment or hazard to safety, or conflicts with other users.

4. The following are examples of impediments or hazards:

A. Falling trees onto the roadway without permit and proper warning signs.

B. Slow moving logging, construction, or road maintenance equipment operated without posting proper warning signs.

C. Logging slash or debris deposited or left in the roadway, ditches or cut bank.

D. Parking equipment or vehicles in the roadway without proper signing.

E. Logs yarded or decked on the roadway without proper signing.

5. Any logging operation that requires cables to be suspended above or used across the roadway without proper signing and/or traffic control.

6. Waivers to Rules may be allowed when such permission is in writing from the Tribe.

ROAD DISTRESS AND DAMAGE DEFINITIONS

1. Road Distress: Indicates maintenance must be performed as specified in maintenance specifications. If maintenance cannot be performed, use must be reduced or stopped until signs of distress are no longer present unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Tribe.

A. Road distress indicators on gravel surfaces are:

1. Surface course deformities (potholes, soft spots, ruts, etc.) greater than 2" deep that can be repaired with incidental loads of aggregate.

2. Drainage not functioning as designed (surface and/or structures).

3. Slurry affecting traction or strength of road and not causing damage as defined under Environmental Damage below.

B. Road distress indicators on pavement are:

1. Any perceptible change in the pavement cross section or surface (cracking, visible deflection, etc.) caused by contractor's operations. 2. Drainage structures not functioning as designed.

2. Road Damage: Is a reduction in the ability of a road or structure to carry traffic that cannot be corrected by recurring maintenance methods. Use must be stopped and the road repaired unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Tribe citing the appropriate contract provisions. Road damage exists when:

A. Load carrying ability of the road is reduced as a result of, but not limited to:

1. Subgrade pumping.

2. Excessive soft spots, potholes, or ruts that result in subgrade deformation.

3. Slurry exists in the roadway but is contained within the roadway or is draining on locations which are containing the sediment by use of biological or man-made erosion control filters.

B. Maintenance methods specified in the contract cannot repair the road.

C. Failure to maintain drainage causes loss of surfacing, saturation of subgrade layers, degradation of surface course, or erosion of fill slopes.

D. Use of asphalt road results in permanent deformation of pavement cross section or degradation of asphalt surface.

II. ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE: Is the displacement of soil material, resulting from contract operations, into intermittent or perennial streams that results in an increase in sediment.

Environmental damage exists when all of the following occur:

A. Vehicular traffic causes displacement of fines through pumping, rutting or damage to drainage features creating sediment-laden water on or from the road surface.

B. Sediment laden water resulting from pumping of fines is reaching intermittent or perennial streams.

C. Sediment is visible and there is an increase in turbidity in streams occurring at points downstream from the outfalls of culverts, ditch lines, or fords.

Haul will be permitted when facility or environmental damage will not result.

FIRE PROTECTION AND SUPPRESSION

1. Fire Plan

Before starting any operations on the project, the Contractor shall prepare a fire plan in cooperation with the Owner Representative providing for the prevention and control of fires in the project area. The Contractor shall certify compliance with fire protection and suppression requirements before beginning operations during the fire period and closed season, and shall update such certification when operations change.

2. Substitute Measures The Owner Representative may by written notice authorize substitute measures or equipment or may waive specific requirements during periods of low fire danger.

3. Emergency Measures The Tribe may require emergency measures, including the necessary shutting down of equipment or portions of operations in the project area during periods of fire emergency created by hazardous climatic conditions.

4. Fire Control The Contractor shall, independently and in cooperation with the Tribe, take all reasonable action to prevent and suppress fires in the project area. Independent initial action shall be prompt and shall include the use of all personnel and equipment available in the project area.

5. Compliance with State Forest Laws Listing of specific fire precautionary measures herein is not intended to relieve the Contractor in any way from compliance with the State Fire Laws covering fire prevention and suppression equipment, applicable to operations under this contract, permit or license.

6. Fire Precautions Specific fire precautionary measures are as follows:

a. Smoking and Open Fires Smoking and fires shall be permitted only at the option of the Contractor. The Contractor shall not allow open fires on the project area without advance permission in writing from the Tribe.

Unless restricted by State Law or Federal Regulation, smoking shall be permitted only in such portions of the project area that are free of flammable material. Smokers shall sit down to smoke in such a position that any burning material will fall within a cleared area, and shall extinguish and press out in mineral soil all burning material before leaving the cleared area.

b. Fire Extinguishers and Equipment on Trucks, Tractors, etc.

All power-driven equipment operated by the Contractor on Tribal land, except portable fire pumps, shall be equipped with one fire extinguisher having a UL rating of at least 5 BC, and one

"D" handled or long handled round point shovel, size "0" or larger. In addition, each motor patrol, truck and passenger-carrying vehicle shall be equipped with a double-bit axe or Pulaski, 3-1/2 pounds or larger. Equipment shall be kept in a serviceable condition and shall be readily available.

c. Power Saws Each gasoline power saw operator shall be equipped with a pressurized chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8-ounce capacity by weight, and one long-handled round point shovel, size "0" or larger. The extinguisher shall be kept in possession of the saw operator at all times. The shovel shall be accessible to the operator within 1 minute.

d. Extinguishers One refill for each type or one extra extinguisher sufficient to replace each size extinguisher required on equipment shall be safely stored in the fire tool box or other agreed upon place on the project area that is protected and readily available.

e. Spark Arresters and Mufflers Each internal combustion engine shall be equipped with a spark arrester meeting either (1) USDA Forest Service Standard 5100-1a, or (2) appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a) as now or hereafter amended unless it is:

(1) Equipped with a turbine-driven exhaust supercharger such as the turbocharger. There shall be no exhaust bypass.

(2) A passenger-carrying vehicle or light truck, or medium truck up to 40,000 GVW, used on roads and equipped with a factory-designed muffler complete with baffles and an exhaust system in good working condition.

(3) A heavy duty truck, such as a dump or log truck, or other vehicle used for commercial hauling, used only on roads and equipped with a factory designed muffler and with a vertical stack exhaust system extending above the cab.

Exhaust equipment described in this subsection, including spark arresters and mufflers, shall be properly installed and constantly maintained in serviceable condition.

f. Emergency Fire Precautions The Contractor shall restrict operations in accordance with the Industrial Fire Precaution Levels listed below.

INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS SCHEDULE

LEVEL INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION (IFPL)

I. Closed season - Fire precaution requirements are in effect. A fire watch/security is required at this and all higher levels unless otherwise waived.

II. Partial hootowl - The following may operate only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., local time:

a. Power saws, except at loading sites;

b. Cable yarding;

c. Blasting;

d. Welding or cutting of metal.

III. Partial shutdown - The following shall be prohibited except as indicated:

Cable yarding - except that gravity operated logging systems employing non-motorized carriages may be operated between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., local time, when all block and moving lines, except the line between the carriage and the chokers, are suspended 10 feet above the ground;

Power saws - except power saws may be used at loading sites and on tractor/skidder operations between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., local time.

In addition, the following are permitted between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., local time:

a. Tractor/skidder operations;

b. Mechanized loading and hauling of any product or material; c. Blasting;

d. Welding or cutting of metal;

e. Any other spark-emitting operation not specifically mentioned.

IV. General shutdown - All operations are prohibited.

The following definitions shall apply to these Industrial Fire Precaution Levels:

Cable yarding systems: A yarding system employing cables and winches in a fixed position.

Closed season (Fire Precautionary Period): That season of the year when a fire hazard exists as declared by the responsible agency official.

Owner Representative: The person executing the contract, permit or license on behalf of the Government and includes that person's designated representative, acting within the limits of their authority or the duly appointed successor to the individuals.

Loading sites/woods site/project area: A place where any product or material (including but not limited to logs, firewood, slash, soil, rock, poles, posts, etc.) is placed in or upon a truck or other vehicle.

Low hazard area: Means any area where the responsible agency representative (WDNR, ORF, BIA, BLM) determines the combination of elements reduces the probability of fire starting and/or spreading.

Tractor/skidder operations: include a harvesting operation, or portion of a harvesting operation, where tractors, skidders, or other harvesting equipment capable of constructing fire line, are actively yarding forest products and can quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start.

Waivers, written in advance, may be used for any and all activities. Activities for which waivers may be issued include, but are not limited to:

a. Mechanized loading and hauling;

b. Road maintenance such as sprinkling, graveling, grading and paving;

c. Cable yarding using gravity systems or suspended lines and blocks, or other yarding systems where extra prevention measures will significantly reduce the risk of fire;

d. Powers saws at loading sites or in felling and bucking where extra prevention measures will significantly reduce the risk of fire;

e. Maintenance of equipment (other than metal cutting and welding) or improvements such as structures, fences and power lines.

Such waiver, or substitute precautions will prescribe measures to be taken by the Contractor to reduce the risk of ignition, and/or the spread of fire. The Owner Representative shall consider site-specific weather factors, fuel conditions, and specific operations that result in less risk of fire ignition and/or spread than contemplated when precaution level was predicted.

Consideration shall also be given to measures that reduce the precaution levels above. The Contractor shall assure that all conditions of such waivers or substitute precautions are met.

The Contractor shall obtain the predicted Industrial Fire Precaution Level daily, prior to the start of work, from the appropriate Ranger District headquarters. If predictions made after 6:00 p.m., local time, are significantly different than the original prediction, CTCLUSI will inform the Contractor when changes in restrictions or industrial precautions are made.

NOTE: The IFPL system does not apply on lands protected by ODF east of the summit of the Cascades.

Where hauling involves transit through more than one shutdown/regulated use area, the precaution level at the woods loading site shall govern the level of haul restriction, unless otherwise prohibited by other than industrial precaution level system.

8. Fire Tools

The Contractor shall furnish serviceable firefighting tools in a readily accessible fire tool box or compartment of sound construction with a hinged lid and hasp so arranged that the box can be secured or sealed. The box shall be red and marked "Fire Tools" in letters one inch high.

It shall contain a minimum of:

a. 2 axes or Pulaskis with a 32-inch handle;

b. 3 adze eye hoes. One Pulaski may be substituted for 1 adze eye hoe;

c. 3 long-handled, round point shovels, size "0" or larger.

9. Fire Security

When the Industrial Fire Precautions Level is “I” or higher, unless a waiver is granted, the Contractor shall designate a person who shall perform fire security services listed below on the project area and vicinity. The designated person shall be capable of operating the Contractor's communications and firefighting equipment specified in the contract, excluding helicopters, and of directing the activities of the Contractor's personnel on forest fires. In lieu of having the designated person perform the required supervisory duties, the Contractor may provide another person meeting the qualifications stated above to direct the activities of Contractor's personnel and equipment during all firefighting activities.

Services described shall be for at least 1 hour from the time the Contractor's operations are shut down. For the purposes of this provision, personnel servicing equipment, and their vehicles, who are not engaged in cutting or welding metal are excluded.

Fire security services shall consist of moving throughout the operation area or areas constantly looking, reporting, and taking suppression action on any fires detected. Where possible, the designated person shall observe inaccessible portions of helicopter operating areas from vantage points within or adjacent to project area.

10. Blasting

Whenever the Industrial Fire Precaution Level is “II” or greater, a fire security person equipped with a long-handled, round point, No. “0” or larger, shovel, and a five-gallon backpack pump can filled with water will stay at location of blast for 1 hour after blasting is done.

Blasting may be suspended by CTCLUSI in writing, in an area of high rate of spread and resistance to control.

Fuses shall not be used for blasting. Explosive cords shall not be used without written permission of CTCLUSI, which may specify conditions under which such explosives may be used and precautions to be taken.

Additional Fire Precautionary Measure 1 - Tank Truck

11. The Contractor shall provide a tank truck or trailer, containing not less than 300 gallons of water. A tank truck or trailer will not be required if handwork (including power saw operation) is the only work being performed. Such tank truck or trailer shall be maintained in a serviceable condition and located within 10 minutes, round trip, from each project area during fire period and closed season.

The tank truck or trailer shall be equipped with a pump capable of discharging 20 gallons of water per minute, using a ¼ inch nozzle tip, through a 50 foot length of rubber lined hose. In addition, 500 feet of serviceable fabric jacket rubber lined hose of not less than 1 inch outside diameter, fitted with a nozzle capable of discharging a straight stream of ¼ inch diameter and a spray pattern, shall be immediately available for use. The tank, pump and at least 250 feet of hose and nozzle shall be connected and ready for use at all times.

If a trailer is used, it shall be equipped with a hitch to facilitate prompt movement. A serviceable tow vehicle shall be immediately available for attachment to the trailer and must meet the time requirements stated above. Such truck or trailer shall be equipped to operate for a minimum of 8 hours. Tank truck or trailer shall be available from the start of work to the end of the Fire Watch/Fire Security service

Additional Fire Precautionary Measure 2 - Communications

12. The Contractor shall provide adequate two-way communication facilities to report a fire to the CTCLUSI within 15 minutes of detection. FCC Regulations prohibit commercial use of Citizen Band [CB] radios. (CBs are not considered adequate two-way communications).

Such communications shall be operable during periods of operation of power driven equipment and shall also include the time fire security is required.