SOW.pdf

TREE HAZARD REMEDIATION STATEMENT OF WORK

For

Richmond National Battlefield Park

June 2023

Description of Work:

The work specified in this contract consists of furnishing all labor, equipment, supplies, materials, machinery, incidentals, and supervision necessary for the pruning or removal of hazard trees and the grinding of designated stumps to a depth not to exceed 4” below grade. Resulting debris generated from any tree removal operation of this contract, unless otherwise authorized, shall be removed from the park by the Contractor. Neither removal of wood from park property by individuals not directly employed by the Contractor nor burning on site of any slash/debris will be permitted.

At minimum, the crew supervisor shall be an ISA certified arborist.

All work to be done is identified and described below and on the attached maps. In addition to all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, activities associated with this contract MUST conform to all regulations set forth below.

Base Contract:

Hazard Tree Removal consists of the removal of all trees identified on the attached maps. In certain un-maintained areas of the park (such as some fully wooded park trails or roadsides) a hazard tree may be lowered completely to the ground and left intact if cleared of roads, trails, public use areas and earthworks. Trees to be taken down and removed from site are identified in blue on the attached maps, and trees to be lowered to the ground and left onsite are identified in orange. Trees identified in purple are to be removed and the stumps ground (see below). Trees cannot be fallen onto earthworks. Any trees with the likelihood of landing on Civil War trenches (identified in green on the attached maps) must be taken down in pieces. Tree debris shall not be left on earthworks.

Hazard trees are defined as the following when they are adjacent to, and likely to fall on, the potential targets listed above (Targets are shown in red on the attached maps.):

Dead trees Trees with deep cracks or large injuries (covering >60% of the trunk), especially when they are associated with extensive decay Trees with a heavy lean toward the target, especially when they have recent mounding or root upheaval at the base

Stump Grinding - Stumps in manicured areas will be ground to a sub-surface depth of approximately four (4) inches at the stump center while minimizing contact with the adjacent soil. Stumps for grinding are identified on the attached maps in purple. All chips generated from this operation are to be left on-site and raked flat. No heavy equipment or damaging activities will be permitted on Civil War earthworks.

Optional Activities:

Hazard Tree Pruning Along Roads, shall consist of the removal of dead limbs 5 inches or greater in diameter (measured at the base) hanging over park roads. These targets will be identified in red on the attached maps and only hazard limbs likely to fall on those targets need to be removed. Pruning operations must employ ISA Best Management Practices.

Hazard Tree Pruning Along Trails shall consist of the removal of dead limbs 5 inches or greater in diameter (measured at the base) hanging over trails. These targets will be identified in red on the attached maps and only hazard limbs likely to fall on those tarts need to be removed. Pruning operations must employ ISA Best Management Practices.

Hazard Tree Pruning Over Buildings and Picnic Tables shall consist of the removal of dead limbs 5 inches or greater in diameter (measured at the base) hanging over buildings/picnic tables. These targets will be identified in red on the attached maps and only hazard limbs likely to fall on those tarts need to be removed. Pruning operations must employ ISA Best Management Practices.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the information above, the following are general requirements of this contract.

1) All stumps shall be cut down to a maximum of 4” above ground level.

2) All work specified is to be accomplished during normal park operating hours, which are:

Monday – Friday, 7 am to 5 pm. No work is to be done on weekends or federal government holidays unless agreed to by the COR.

3) All workers to comply with Federal, State and Local laws and safety requirements

4) The Contractor will provide, at all times of work, a competent supervisor(s) on the job site who is totally familiar with the requirements, terms, and specifications of this contract. Any and all supervisor(s) must have a copy of the contract in their possession and must have met with the COR before any work commences. They must have access to a cell phone while on site and will provide that cell phone number to the COR. Work will not be permitted without a supervisor on-site.

5) It is the responsibility of the Contractor to be adequately covered by public liability, property damage, and employee compensation insurance. Proof of all necessary insurance and business license must be presented to the Contracting Officer upon awarding of this contract.

PUBLIC TRAFFIC

A. This work consists of controlling and protecting public traffic adjacent to and within the project.

B. The Contractor shall provide, erect, and maintain all necessary barricades, danger signals, detour and other signs, and take all necessary precautions for the protection of the work and safety of the public. All such barricades and signs shall be in accordance with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD, 2003 Edition, as published by the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

C. No uncompleted work or debris that present a hazard to public traffic shall be left in a traveled way or on roadway shoulders overnight or on weekends.

D. Traffic delays shall be minimized.

PROTECTION OF PARK PROPERTY

A. Work must be completed without damage to entrenchments or earthworks, trees not to be removed, trails, survey monuments or signs, roads, or other property. The Contractor will be responsible for costs incurred to repair or replace any of the aforementioned items, or for the value of the item as assessed by an archeologist or biologist. Any artifacts recovered are property of Richmond National Battlefield Park and should be immediately submitted to the

COR.

B. Contractor’s operations shall be conducted reasonably to prevent rutting or other soil damage.

Skidding of logs will not be permitted. No work shall be allowed for at least a 24-hour period following a rain accumulation of one-quarter (1/4) inch or more during the proceeding 24-hour period. After any work stoppage, it will be the responsibility of the COR to determine when work may re-commence. Any lost time due to prolonged periods of rain will automatically be credited and added to the length of the contract.

C. All vehicles and other heavy equipment involved in the completion of this contract will be restricted to roads, parking areas, and road shoulders no more than 10’ from the edge of the road surface unless given case-specific permission by the COR. Off road equipment use is solely at the discretion of the COR and subject to change based on current or anticipated conditions. Rutting or other resource damage will not be tolerated. All work from trails will be considered off road and must adhere to the same guidelines and restrictions.

D. All vehicles should be equipped with absorptive pads while on park property in order to quickly contain any spills of oil or hydraulic fluid. Any such spills must be reported to the COR as soon as is safely possible.

FIRE PRECAUTIONS

Specific fire precautionary measures shall be applicable during Contractor's operations as described below:

A. Fire Fighting Equipment - Contractor shall keep a 2 1/2 lb dry chemical fire extinguisher with gasoline chain saws at all times. Each gasoline operated field tractor shall have mounted on it a 5 lb dry chemical fire extinguisher.

B. The National Park Service shall be reimbursed for any damage to, or loss of, park resources or fire fighting equipment furnished by park that occurs on negligently caused fires or as a result of using equipment for unauthorized purposes.

C. Truck, Tractor, and Power Saw Mufflers - Effective muffler systems installed by the manufacturer as standard equipment shall be maintained on the exhaust system of all trucks, tractors, power saws, and other internal combustion engines used in Contractor's operations.

D. Fire Control - Contractor shall, both independently and in cooperation with park, take all reasonable and practicable actions to prevent and suppress any forest fire on the area.

Contractor's independent initial fire suppression actions on such fires shall be immediate and shall include the use of all necessary manpower at Contractor's disposal on the area.