Section_J_-_Att_No__002_Specifications.pdf

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

CALIFORNIA

Mitigate Tree Hazards on the Generals Highway and Wolverton Road

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

PACIFIC WEST REGION

June 2021

RFQ 140P8621Q0049

Section J - Att No. 002

I. Work Required:

This project provides for:

• Felling tagged (numbered 7/8” brass stamped with “NPS”) trees identified by blue dot at ground level and blue stripe about head height. Refer to attached exhibits for approximate locations.

Jurisdiction Distance

(Mi)

Diameter Size Classes

4-10” 12-24” 26-

40”

42+” Totals

NPS 1.4 Mi

Wolverton Rd

12 55 43 31 141

NPS 0.7 Mi N Sequoia Boundary - Lost Grove

6 65 28 10 109

NPS 0.7 Mi

Dorst Creek – Dorst Campground

9 34 37 27 107

• Fell and/or remove designated trees at the locations shown in the plans and as directed by the CO. Stump removal is not required. Fell and remove designated trees within 30 feet of the roadway edge of pavement. Protect existing asphalt and utilities by use of bumper logs if a fall is directed towards the road.

Down trees outside of 30 feet from the pavement edge to be left onsite with limbs lopped and scattered or chipped. Slash to be lopped to no greater than 24 inches in length and distributed so as not to accumulate a depth of 12 inches or greater.

• Flush cut stumps to 6” from the ground. Top of stump shall slope with adjacent existing grade.

• Treat all remaining conifer stumps 8 inches in diameter or greater with liquid disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (Cellu-Treat, www.CelluTreat.com) to prevent the spread of Annosus root disease.

• Chip or remove from park logs and woody debris in road prism, or within 40’ of road center.

• Provide traffic control along roadways.

o Traffic can be held for a maximum accumulate time of 15 minutes north bound or south bound along the Generals Highway or Wolverton Road. Failure to provide the public access as required will result in the CO issuing a stop work order of all work on the project to facilitate the prompt opening of a lane to allow for passage of public traffic through the project. The Contractor will not be compensated for any costs related to a stop work order issued for this reason.

o Do not construct diversions outside of the construction limits or use alternate route detours without the approval of the CO.

o For alternate one-way traffic control, provide a minimum lane width of 10 feet. For two-way traffic, provide a minimum roadway width of 22 feet.

o Maintain access to all approach roads, access roads, parking areas, pullouts, and trails during construction.

o Perform the work described under MUTCD Part 6.

• Cleanup roadways immediately from brush and debris that result from felling and removal activities.

http://www.cellutreat.com/

II. Schedule & Control of Work:

a. All activities must be done between Labor Day, September 6, 2021, and November 30, 2021. After mobilization, the Park shall be notified of planned work locations with 14 calendar day look-ahead schedules. Contractor shall keep to the look ahead schedule to best extent possible. Provide the park 48-hour notice for delays outside of areas initially indicated in the look -ahead.

a. No work allowed from 5pm Fri and 9pm Sun without prior approval of the CO.

b. Submit request for weekend work 14 days in advance.

b. All construction equipment and haul vehicles must use the north entrance to Sequoia and Kings

Canyon National Park entering from State Route 180.

c. Contractor shall submit a Safety Plan.

III. Required Protections:

• Comply with resource protection provisions of Trees Hazard Mitigation Programmatic Categorical Exclusion (PEPC 57097):

o Protect Air Quality

▪ Abide by California State vehicle idling regulations; e.g., 5 minute limit for heavy diesel equipment.

▪ Adhere to the SEKI "no idling policy" whenever and wherever mechanically feasible.

o Protect Cultural Resources

▪ If unknown cultural resources are uncovered during the project, all work will be stopped in the discovery area pending further investigation and consultation. If concealed archaeological resources are encountered during project activities, all necessary steps will be taken to protect them; notify the parks Cultural Resources Program Manager immediately upon their discovery.

▪ In the event that human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony are discovered during project activities, the regulations implementing the

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (43 CFR Part 10) will be followed.

o Protect Native Vegetation

▪ Outside of developed areas, consult with Park Forester as needed.

▪ If large temporary log decks or skid trails are used, there could be the need for site restoration. Contact the Park Forester should one of these activities take place.

▪ Special measures will be taken to protect populations of the annual monkeyflower

(Mimulus inconspicuous), Tulare County bleeding heart (Dicentra nevadensis), and the short-leaved hulsea (Hulsea brevifolia) located adjacent to the highway. No parking of vehicles or staging of materials or equipment will take place where these populations occur. The NPS will flag locations on site so that they are recognizable and can be avoided.

o Prevent the Introduction and/or Spread of Non-Native Plants

▪ Developed locations where tree hazards are mitigated often contain nonnative plant populations; staging areas where logs are moved are also often quite weedy. Mitigation crews therefore have high risk of moving nonnative plant propagules to new park locations on their shoes, clothing, tools (chainsaws), and equipment (log loader and other equipment). Careful attention must be paid to prevention best practices/mitigations.

▪ Do not import into the project limits rock, sand, gravel, earth, subsoil, or other natural materials from a Contractor-selected non-commercial materials source, that have not been certified free of noxious weeds. Materials imported into the project limits which do not include a noxious weed free certification may be rejected and ordered by the CO to be removed from the project limits. The CO has the discretion of requesting inspection of certified materials by a third party, and rejecting the use of the source if noxious weeds or seeds thereof are found to be present.

▪ Vehicles and Equipment- Before moving vehicles or equipment into the Parks and/or to a new job site, particularly from lower to higher elevations, inspect and clean equipment thoroughly to remove all mud, dirt, and plant parts. Consult with Invasive Plant

Management staff for cleaning techniques and procedures. If possible, clean vehicles before leaving each job site, particularly if vehicles have been on unpaved roads and roads are muddy, or if in areas of known weed infestations. If it is not muddy, visually inspect undercarriage and tires for seeds or plant matter before leaving job site.

▪ Allow the CO (or authorized Representative) to inspect each piece of equipment before entering the project. Provide the cleaning and inspection records to the CO. Equipment found operating on the project that has not been inspected, or has oil leaks will be shut down and subject to citation. Notify NPS staff of equipment needing inspection 72 hours in advance.

▪ Tools- Thoroughly inspect and clean dirt, mud, and plant parts from tools (shovels, pulaskis, winches, saws, weed eaters, etc.) prior to mobilizing to a new job site, particularly when moving within the foothills or from a lower to higher elevation. A sufficient cleaning typically involves scrub brushes and picks to get out all seeds. Pay particular attention to chainsaws and other types of fast action equipment that have compartments that transport seed. Once mobilized, inspect and clean tools ON SITE, before leaving a job site.

▪ Crews- Inspect and clean shoes, clothing and camping equipment of dirt, mud, and plant parts before mobilizing to a new job site, particularly when moving from lower to higher elevations. Clean shoes and lower extremities prior to leaving job site, particularly if there are known weed infestations in area.

o Protect Native Wildlife

▪ Comply with food-storage and garbage disposal requirements at all times.

▪ Removal of defective trees involves removal of habitat for dozens, if not hundreds, of wildlife species. Where feasible, conversion of trees to short snags (i.e., avoidance of flush cuts) would retain some wildlife habitat as trees continue to decay.

• Protection of Vegetation and Trees.

o Preserve and protect existing trees including their roots and all plant materials outside the tree cutting limits.

o Do not remove, injure, or destroy trees and other plants except those identified for removal without prior approval of the CO. Refer to subsection 202.07 for roots and branches that interfere with construction and are not already designated for removal.

o The following activities are prohibited outside the tree cutting limits (fenced area of protected vegetation):

▪ Fastening ropes, cables, or guys to existing trees.

▪ Parking vehicles or equipment

▪ Disposing of materials such as concrete or cement residue, washing from cement or concrete mixers or any other material considered harmful by the CO.

▪ Piling or storage of earth material or other construction materials.

o If the Contractor destroys or injures trees and plants designated for protection (i.e. vegetation outside the clearing limits or fenced vegetation within the clearing limits), the Contractor will be assessed damages. Damages will be computed according to the method described in the

International Society of Arboriculture’s Guide for Plant Appraisal, Ninth Edition. The guide includes procedures for modifying the basic cost to account for species value, condition, and location factors. If the damaged vegetation is protected under the Endangered Species Act or other special legislation, additional damages may be assessed. Pruning or removal of vegetation when authorized and supervised by the CO is exempt from these damages. The cost of hiring a trained arborist to make the determination will be included in the damage assessment. The damage appraisal process will be triggered by any of the following types of damage to vegetation outside the clearing limits or fenced vegetation within the clearing limits:

▪ Removal of any tree or shrub not identified for removal.

▪ Creation of unauthorized roads or vehicle parking areas outside the clearing limits or areas designated for the Contractor’s use.

▪ Removal of more than 30% of the canopy.

▪ Removal or fracturing a limb or trunk that is one of the major structural entities of the plant.

▪ Removal or fracturing any limb over 12 inches in diameter.

▪ Damaging or removing bark around more than 30% of the trunk circumference.

▪ Any trenching or soil disturbance within the drip line that is deeper than 6 inches.

o Treat minor cuts and damaged areas according to the tree and plant repair practices specified by the National Arborist Association, the International Society of Arboriculture, or as directed by a qualified arborist.

o Inform the CO immediately if a root over 1 inch in diameter is severed during construction operations. Do not allow the tree roots to dry out while exposed. Immediately cover exposed roots with wet burlap or plastic bags keeping roots moist until roots can be covered with dirt.

Rebury the roots as soon as possible.

o If temporary log decks or skid trails are used contact the CO so that the NPS Park Forester can evaluate the need for site restoration.

o Limit heavy diesel equipment idling to 5 minutes maximum. Follow California state idling laws, dust abatement practices as needed, and avoid long term (more than 2-3 min.) idling of non-construction vehicles whenever and wherever mechanically feasible.

• Protection of Endangered Species.

o Special measures will be taken to protect Pacific fisher (Pekania pennanti) endangered species.

Special mitigation shall be used for conservation measures for the Pacific fisher and habitat.

▪ Fungicides to treat cut trees must be non-toxic (e.g. borax) and must dry within 8 hours of application.

▪ Conduct work outside the full limited operating period, (LOP) from March 1 to June 30.

Exception: if no evidence of fisher presence (from camera surveys or telemetry), then

LOP can be lifted on June 1.

▪ Where possible, leave down wood in open areas to create habitat structure. At a minimum, try to leave the thickest part of the trunk on site for ground cover.

• Require work crews to read and acknowledge the “A Photographic Field Guide to Fisher Rest and Den

Sites in the Sierra National Forest” on how to identify fishers and high-quality trees and instruct them to contact the park Wildlife Biologist if a fisher is seen. If a fisher is spotted within a tree, it shall not be cut until the Wildlife Biologist is contacted for guidance. If a fisher is spotted near a hazard tree, work should cease until the animal moves on without harassment. The contractor shall review NPS supplied document

“A Photographic Field Guide to Fisher Rest and Den Sites in the Sierra National Forest”

• Environmental Protection Briefing and Responsibilities.

o Do not leave anything that emits an odor or may look like food inside any motor vehicle. This is necessary to discourage bears from intruding into the work site.

o Furnish NPS approved bear proof storage boxes for any food material brought on site.

o All Contractor employees must attend a Park-led 20 or 30 minute bear training class. Feeding or approaching wildlife is prohibited. Report any wildlife collisions to Park personnel. Notify the

Park Wildlife Biologist or ranger if bears loiter in the area.

o Litter is defined as accumulated, unconfined, and carelessly discarded trash such as packaging material containing human consumables. Immediately dispose of litter into bear proof trash receptacles or dedicated recycle receptacles. Beverage containers e.g. water, energy drinks, soda pop, coffee, etc. other than in the process of being consumed, must be stored in bear proof storage boxes. Beverage containers or other consumable items unattended will be considered litter and in violation of food storage regulations and/or sanitation and refuse regulations per 36 CFR (Code of

Federal Regulations) Chapter 1 (7-1-01 edition), Section 2.14. Individuals in violation are subject to fine and dismissal from working within the Park.

o Dispose of garbage, trash, and other solid waste associated with construction operations in

Contractor-furnished bear proof trash bins located in both the project site and staging area. Bins are to be approved by the CO in consultation with the Park. Dispose of waste at least once a week at appropriate dumps outside of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks subject to State, County, and local regulations.

o The Contractor shall identify a dedicated individual who will be assigned the duty to patrol the project site and ensure litter does not exist and beverage items are stored properly. At the end of each shift the said individual is assigned the responsibility to ensure staff has complied with regulations by disposing and securing litter in proper receptacles. The Contractor shall provide

NPS staff with contact information for this designated Responsible person.

o Public intoxication laws, speeding laws, driving under the influence, and disorderly conduct laws are all strictly enforced.

• Wildland Fire Prevention Plan.

o The National Park Service Fire Prevention Plan involving emergency curtailment of operations is in effect on this project. The CO will order the suspension of burning and other operations when directed to do so by the National Park Service. No adjustment in the contract completion date will be made for partial or total suspensions of burning operations.

o Responsible Person: A capable and qualified person shall be placed in charge of fire protection.

The responsibilities shall include locating and maintaining fire protective equipment and establishing and maintaining safe torch cutting and welding procedures.

o Hazard Control: Take all necessary precautions to prevent fire during construction. Do not store flammable or combustible liquids in any existing structure. Provide adequate ventilation during use of volatile or noxious substances.

o Open fires are prohibited. Loaded weapons are prohibited inside the Park boundaries. The discharge of any firearm within the Park is prohibited.

o The contractor shall take reasonable steps to prevent the occurrence and spread of wildland fire.

The contractor agrees to:

▪ Provide and ensure that two (2) twenty pound type A or type AB fire extinguishers are on scene before beginning any and all work. All workers shall know the location of the fire extinguishers and shall be trained in their use.

▪ The contractor will obtain a Burning Permit from the Sequoia District Fire Management

Officer before undertaking any of the following.

• Welding

• Blasting

• Debris Burning (no construction debris may be burned pursuit to Rule 4103 of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.)

• Any other activity which could potentially result in a wildfire.

o The Sequoia District FMO will review current fire danger and determine the terms and conditions that the proposed action by which the contractor may proceed and issue the permit at no charge to the contractor.

▪ Representatives of the Fire Management Office may inspect the project at anytime to assure that the terms and conditions of permit are being adhered to.

▪ The Contractor shall immediately report all ignitions, accidental or otherwise to Park

Dispatch and the Fire Management Office of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

▪ The contractor may be held responsible for all ignitions, accidental or otherwise and may be required to pay for the costs incurred by the United States Government for their control and suppression.

▪ Key Officials for the National Park Service for Wildland Fire Protection shall be:

• John Ziegler, Fire Management Officer (559-565-4337)

• Lief Mathieson, Assistant Fire Management Officer (559-565-3160)

• Fire Dispatch (559-565-3165)

• Comply with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act):

o Do not ford running streams with construction equipment. Obtain approval from the CO to use temporary bridges or other structures whenever crossings are necessary.

o Immediately clear ephemeral drainages, intermittent and perennial streams, lakes and reservoirs of all work items, debris or other obstructions placed by or resulting from construction operations.

o Locate machinery servicing and refueling areas away from streambeds and washes to reduce the possibility and minimize the impacts of accidental spills or discharges.

• Control of Materials:

o The Contractor shall work with NPS staff to identify locations for staging equipment and materials close to the location of work.

o For Contractor-located, non-commercial staging, storing, and material handling areas, secure environmental clearances in coordination with Park environmental staff and the Contracting

Officer (CO). Maintain the staging and storage areas in a clean, neat, and orderly condition satisfactory to the CO.

o Keep the manufacturer’s MSDS, an inventory of the material, and emergency numbers near the storage area. Take appropriate measures to ensure that incompatible chemicals are not stored next to each other.

o Use all products according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for handling, storage, and disposal.