Exhibit H - Excavation Permit Policy.pdf

IMNE-DRM-PW-MP 13 Nov 2012 Revised 12 Aug 2014

MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION

SUBJECT: Policy, Excavation Permits

1. This memorandum establishes local policies and procedures regulating and requiring the use of Excavation (Digging) Permits on Fort Drum. The primary purpose of this policy is to establish a uniform set of rules for Excavation Permits.

2. This policy is applicable to all Military and Civilian Organizations on Fort Drum including Army Family Housing residents, and their contractors. This policy is applicable to all construction efforts on Fort Drum, whether performed by Contractors, Civilians or Troop Labor. The excavation permitting process shall not be applied for troop exercises in the official Local Training Areas or on the specific Training Ranges.

3. An excavation is any intrusion into the surface of the earth greater than 12 inches anticipated depth. This includes but is not limited to the placement of tent pins, excavation for utility lines, and excavation for foundation elements for outdoor recreational devices, antennas, utilities, and buildings. All such excavations need to be coordinated with the Dig Safely New York agency and several agencies on Fort Drum.

4. The Fort Drum Excavation Permitting Process has been automated through the Web-based Excavation Permit System (WEPS) https://mapsrus.drum.army.mil/WEPS/weps.jsp This system directs the collection of information and routes permit requests to approving officials. This document formalizes the requirements and provides guidance on the data to be collected. WEPS is served through the Fort Drum Intranet and is not available to the Internet. Kiosk computers have been provided at several locations (4896, 4004) for non CAC card users to access the system.

5. The following stipulations are part of every excavation permit requested.

i. Dig Safely New York must be called before applying for a permit. The ticket number provided is required by WEPS before an Excavation permit request may be submitted. Dig Safely New York will contact Commercial Phone, Cable TV and DANC to mark the construction site. For Ticket Call or Go to Website Phone: 1-800-962-7962 Web: www.digsafelynewyork.com

ii. The excavator is responsible for outlining the anticipated excavation area prior to application with white markings.

iii. Approvers have a maximum of ten (10) business days to approve each permit; however approvers shall process permits quickly and without unnecessary delays.

iv. Any disapproval stops the permit process and requires a resubmission.

v. Emergency permits may be requested by Public Works Operations and Maintenance, Public Works Environmental, and NEC Outside Plant.

Supervisors of these organizations have unilateral approval authority for after hour excavations.

vi. Excavation permits are considered issued when all approvals are acquired and the signed permit is sent to the submitter via email.

vii. Excavation permits are valid for thirty calendar days from the date issued.

viii. The approved Excavation permit shall be carried by the excavator at the site and shall be presented, when requested, to any government representative.

ix. The excavator is responsible for maintaining any markings made in the area by utilities specialists indicating location of underground utilities.

x. The excavator is liable for repairs to underground utilities damaged by their work regardless of the condition or accuracy of above ground markings.

xi. The excavator is expected to hand dig five (5) feet either side of marked lines.

6. WEPS is not a project approval process. Everyone is required to put in an excavation permit. An excavation permit shall not be requested unless the project has been approved by the appropriate authority. Housing residents must coordinate with Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes (FDMCH). Soldiers will coordinate with their command chain. Any questions on contracted excavations shall be coordinated through the project manager and COR before applying for an excavation permit. If the applicant can supply project numbers from the pre-contract development process the application can be expedited.

7. Project name and project number entered into WEPS should be identical to the original project request. This will enable prior approvals to be applied, thus expediting processing.

8. MCA projects are “Military Construction Army” and are exclusively managed by the Corps of Engineers. This field must be selected, if appropriate, to correctly route the permit application.

9. Use the projects drop down menu to group permits by projects if there are multiple excavations associated with the same project. Installation of satellite dishes can use the same project.

10. The emergency permit provision is intended to be used ONLY IN EMERGENCIES.

Emergency is defined by a break in utility service to facilities on the installation or excavation required to mitigate a spill response. Otherwise approvers have ten (10) business days to respond.

12. Point of contact for additional information is Kurt Hauk, Director, Public Works, 315- 772-4948, kurt.w.hauk.civ@mail.mil, or Douglas Osborne, IGI&S Manager, Public Works Master Planning, Installation Geospatial Information and Services Branch, 315- 772-5709, douglas.osborne@us.army.mil. For additional assistance in submitting an excavation permit, please contact Melissa Rumble, WEPS Administrator, at 315-772- 9758 or visit building 4004, 1st Street West.