Sources Sought TE_7_PTAInvasivePestPreventionSOPFinal.pdf

Pōhakuloa Training Area

Invasive Pest Prevention Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

July 2018

This document lists protocols for preventing the introduction of harmful invasive pests including, but not limited to reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, weeds, and rapid ʻōhiʻa death (ROD) into

Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA). It is the responsibility of the project leader and/or contractor to ensure compliance with these protocols.

1. All Contractors shall comply with the USAG-P Memorandum For Record for “Best

Management Practices to prevent negative impacts to natural resources from construction activities” dated 25 February 2015.

2. All work vehicles, machinery, and equipment must be clean and free of debris prior to entering and before departing the PTA.

a. Vehicles going down range, and all machinery, and equipment must be thoroughly pressure washed and visibly free of mud, dirt, plant debris, reptile and amphibian eggs (e.g., coqui frog eggs), insects and other debris. A hot water wash is preferred. Areas of particular concern include bumpers, grills, hood compartments, areas under the battery, wheel wells, undercarriage, cabs, and truck beds.

b. The interior and exterior of vehicles, machinery, and equipment must be free of rubbish and food. Vacuum clean the interiors of vehicles and the cabs of machinery. Sanitize floor mats with a solution of 70% isopropyl alcohol or a freshly mixed 10% bleach solution to minimize

ROD transmission.

c. All work vehicles, machinery, and equipment may be subject to inspection.

d. Any vehicles, machinery, and equipment that do not pass inspection will be turned away.

e. Vehicles, machinery, and equipment leaving the PTA for any reason must be cleaned prior to re-entry into the PTA, and may require re-inspection.

3. Inspection of work vehicles, machinery, and equipment for invasive ants prior to entering the PTA.

a. Test for invasive ants on work vehicles, machinery, and equipment prior to entry into the

PTA (Policy Memorandum USAG-HI-71, Avoidance of Little Fire Ant Introduction). To expedite the process, make sure vehicles, machinery, equipment, and staging areas used are clean as described in (1) above.

b. To test, place chopsticks baited with a dab of peanut butter and jelly for 30 minutes to 1 hour throughout the equipment being tested. Use approximately 6 chopsticks to test most personnel vehicles and trucks; however, larger vehicles and heavy machinery may require up to 10-20 baits. Place baits in shady locations inside the cab, engine compartment, and truck bed if applicable. Do not leave baits in the vehicle for over 1 hour as this may attract ants from beyond the area of concern. Baits are only good for detection and do not control ants.

c. If ants are found, the equipment will not be allowed to enter the PTA until it is sanitized and re-tested following a resting period. Sanitize infested vehicles following recommendations by the Hawaii Ant Lab (http://www.littlefireants.com/) or other ant control expert and in

Technical Exhibit #7 - PTA Invasive Pest Prevention Standard Operating Procedures accordance with all State and Federal laws. Treatment is the responsibility of the equipment or vehicle owner and control records will be required to confirm treatment.

d. Also test building materials and other equipment such as portable buildings entering PTA with the same method; however, place baited chopsticks every 10-20 feet around the area, in the shade, and search the immediate surrounding area for 2 minutes for ants. Retrieve the bait after 1 hour and collect any ants found for identification.

e. The PTA NRO reserves the right to conduct additional tests for ants at any time during the course of the project.

4. Auxiliary construction support sites (ACSS) and staging areas within the PTA must be kept free of invasive pests

a. Coordinate with the PTA NRO if additional ACSSs are located outside the established construction footprint.

b. ACSSs and staging areas may be inspected for invasive pests at the beginning of the project.

c. Project vehicles or equipment stored outside of a base yard or staging area, such as a private residence, should be kept in a pest-free area. Such vehicles or equipment may be subject to additional inspection as described (in 1c) above and will be turned away if infested.

d. PTA NRO will coordinate access to ACSSs, staging areas, and construction sites for quarterly inspections.

5. All cutting tools must be sanitized to prevent Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD)

a. All cutting tools, including machetes, chainsaws, and loppers must be sanitized to remove visible dirt and other contaminants prior to entry into the PTA, and when moving to a new project area in the PTA. Tools may be sanitized using a solution of 70% isopropyl alcohol or a freshly mixed 10% bleach solution. One minute after sanitizing, you may apply an oil based lubricant to chainsaw chains or other metallic parts to prevent corrosion.

b. Only dedicated tools and chainsaws will be used to sample known or suspected ROD infected trees.

c. Avoid wounding non-target ʻōhiʻa trees when cutting other vegetation to minimize chance of infection by the ROD fungus.

d. Vehicles, machinery, and equipment must be cleaned as described in (1) above.

6. Landscaping

a. New construction and land management projects will use native Hawaiian plants for landscaping to the extent practical (Policy Memorandum USAG-HI 63, Landscaping with

Native Plants).

b. Non-invasive, non-native plants may be used only after submitting a justification memorandum to the PTA Natural Resources Office and receiving concurrence.

c. For information on suitable native Hawaiian species or non-invasive, non-native species suitable for landscaping at PTA, contact the PTA Natural Resources Office.

d. Do not transport ʻōhiʻa trees or wood, as well as soil or plants from an ʻōhiʻa forest as they may contain spores of the ROD fungus.

e. Use materials from an NRO-approved nursery or source. NRO may inspect source and/or materials prior to entry onto PTA.

7. Use of off-site aggregate material for PTA construction projects

a. The project proponent/lead will follow requirements outlined in the Protocol for Optional

Use of Off-Site Aggregate for Infrastructure Construction at PTA and KMA (22 Sep

2010) for quarry inspections and mitigation of risks of introducing invasive species to

PTA and KMA.

8. Briefing for project personnel

a. All project personnel, including subcontractors, must receive a PTA NRO briefing or review

NRO-provided briefing materials prior to project implementation. The project lead or contractor may be required to document records of personnel training.

Scheduling an equipment inspection for an approved project:

Projects may be required to provide their own trained equipment inspectors and to document records of inspection. Requests for equipment inspections should be made via email to Rogelio Doratt

(redoratt@rams.colostate.edu) or Pamela Sullivan (pamelas@rams.colostate.edu) and should include the project lead and contracting officer. Requests must be made a minimum of 3 business days prior to inspection. We may be unable to accommodate requests made on shorter notice. Please make sure to also copy your PTA project lead on this correspondence.

Alternative Contacts:

1) Lena Schnell (lschnell@rams.colostate.edu) – (808) 315-0300

2) PTA NRO Main Office phone – (808) 315-1340 mailto:redoratt@rams.colostate.edu mailto:pamelas@rams.colostate.edu