6.10     SITE PREPARATION

 

6.11     CLEARING AND GRUBBING

           

Threatened and Endangered Bats

Threatened and endangered bats are included on both the federal and state endangered species list. To protect threatened and endangered bats, Specification 2101 requires trees 3” or more in diameter to be cut between October 1st and March 31st. There are two species of bats that are listed.

 

Indiana Bat

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers much of southeast and south central Iowa as being within the potential range of the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). 

Refer to https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5949 for a current map and list of counties designated as within the range of the Indiana Bat.

 

For more information on habitat requirements, refer to http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/inba/inbasummersurveyguidance.html for the Indiana Bat summer survey guidelines from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Northern Long-Eared Bat

            The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers all ninety-nine counties to be within the range of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis).

 

If suitable threatened and endangered bat habitat is present, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Iowa DNR must be contacted by the Location and Environment Bureau.  Specifications 1107.18, B, 2 and 2101.01, A should be followed relative to any clearing and grubbing on a project. The Location and Environment Bureau is responsible for determining if suitable habitat is present and may be consulted on questions regarding project impacts from threatened and endangered bats.

 

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle is a destructive tree pest that kills ash species.  To prevent the spread of the EAB, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has issued a statewide quarantine order.

 

Refer to this website for current information on the state and federal quarantines: http://iowatreepests.com/eab_home.html

 

Materials affected by this quarantine include entire ash trees, firewood of any hardwood species, any cut or fallen material of the ash, non-heat treated ash lumber with either bark or sapwood attached, and hardwood wood or bark chips larger than one inch in two dimensions.

 

Disposal of Waste

The Iowa DNR Administrative Rules (IAC 567-23.2) prohibit open burning, “Open burning” is defined as “any burning of combustible materials where the products of combustion are emitted into the open air without passing through a chimney or stack”. Thus, burning is not allowed on construction projects, with the exception of waste from clearing and grubbing operations.  The rules provide an exemption for burning of clearing and grubbing waste, on premises, with specific restrictions.

These restrictions include:

§  At least 1/4 mile from any inhabited building

§  Rubber tires shall not be used to ignite the waste

The rules prohibit open burning of any material in the following specific localities: Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights, Urbandale, Pleasant Hill and portions of Cerro Gordo County

 

Local ordinances may be more restrictive than the Iowa DNR rules, and not allow burning of any clearing and grubbing waste.

Other options for disposing of grubbing and clearing waste include:

n  Chipping

Chipping of the down timber for mulching material

n  Firewood

Salvaging of the logs for firewood

n  Landfill

Disposal at a "yard waste" landfill

n  Burial on project

Disposal of stumps and other wood waste which cannot reasonably be disposed of by any of the above listed options may be buried on the project with certain restrictions.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) has granted a variance to the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) to allow the burial of clearing and grubbing waste on the State of Iowa right‑of‑way.  The location for burying the stumps is only allowed with the approval of the project engineer.

 

The contractor shall formally request permission to bury stumps within the project limits.  The Department is not obligated to provide a location on the project to bury the stumps.  The project engineer may allow disposal by burial on the project based on the following:

Site shall not be located under the roadway template.

Site shall not be in a floodplain wetland, or cultural resources site

Site shall not interfere with future known highway construction areas.

 

Area Clearing

This method of clearing and grubbing is intended for use in heavily timbered areas such as relocated alignments and borrow areas.  Area clearing is not usually intended for use on reconstruction projects or where individual trees need to be cleared and/or grubbed.

 

The locations for area clearing and grubbing are to be specifically identified.  Example of location identification may be "From Station 100 to Station 250, Right Side, Borrow A."

 

The unit of measurement for clearing by area is by acre.  If the identified area is right‑of‑way line to right‑of‑way line, this is the area for payment even though the actual clearing and grubbing may be less.

 

Selective Clearing

All desirable trees between the right‑of‑way line and the need line shall be preserved, provided they are not within the clear zone or cause restricted sight distance.  Trees which have more than one‑third of their root system removed will normally not survive, therefore, these trees should be cleared and grubbed.

 

Trees are important for erosion control and slope stabilization, as well as enhancing the appearance of the completed highway.

 

Desirable trees and shrubs include oak, hackberry, cherry, maple, hickory, ash, sycamore, linden, walnut, plum, all evergreens, as well as many other trees.  In most cases cottonwood, willow, and box elder should not be preserved unless they serve to reduce soil erosion.  If there are any questions concerning trees to be saved, the project

engineer should consult the Design Bureau (Roadside Development Section) for guidance.

 

The method of measurement for selective clearing is units.  The quantity for payment is a calculation derived from measurements taken of the various sized trees and stumps, hedge rows, bushes, growing corn, and field fence.

 

Preliminary Estimate for Clearing Right of Way (Form 650014)

The project engineer shall arrange to have a preliminary estimate made of the clearing and grubbing required for a proposed construction project.  The project engineer is to transmit this information to the "designer in charge" on the form entitled "Preliminary Estimate for Clearing Right of Way" (Form 650014).  The "designer in charge" is usually from the Design Bureau, but on selected projects may be from the Bridges and Structures Bureau.  Plan sheets detailing the proposed clearing "by area" should also be included.  The Design Bureau or the Bridges and Structures Bureau must receive this information at least 12 weeks prior to the project letting.  Clearing and grubbing should be discussed on the design field exam.

 

A separate preliminary estimate for clearing shall be made for each project and broken down into divisions as shown on the plans.  Use "Clearing and Grubbing Form 103" located online at https://iowadot.gov/construction_materials/Inspection-tool  under “General Inspection”.  Retain these "work sheets" in the project engineer's file.  Do not forward copies of these work sheets to the Design Bureau or the Bridges and Structures Bureau.

 

Method of Payment

The method of payment for clearing and grubbing is based on the contract unit price multiplied by the quantity (acres or units).

Example:

Contract Unit Price          = $2.50

Contract Quantity            = 2,149.50 Units

Total Item                        = $2.50 X 2,149.50 = $5,373.75

 

For progress payments, the number to be entered on the progress vouchers will be that portion of the 2,149.50 which was completed.

 

There may be considerable elapsed time between an estimate of clearing and grubbing and the actual work.  If actual site conditions are different than those shown in the contract documents, the following suggested resolutions are provided:

n  If additional trees are in the right‑of‑way, payment may be based on the number of logs and down timber.

n  If the log has been removed, leaving branches and the stump, payment may be based on clearing and grubbing.

n  If fence is partially removed or in poor condition but requires an identifiable removal operation, full price for fence removal may be made.

n  Where brush and/or junk has been deposited within the right‑of‑way, a price agreeable to both the contractor and the project engineer may be negotiated or a force account change order may be used.

 

6.12     REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF OLD PAVEMENT

Pavement is removed from all cuts and fills with less than 4 feet of cover.  On projects which require borrow, the plans may specify that the old Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement be placed in fills in 2‑foot depths and covered with at least 2 feet of suitable soil.  The removed concrete is to be broken into pieces with an area of ¼ square yard or less if placed in fills, as per Article 2510.03.A.

 

PCC pavements may be used as Class D or Class E Revetment, if requirements of Article 4130 are met. Use should be approved by the District Materials Engineer.

 

6.13     DISPOSAL OF HOT MIX ASPHALT PAVEMENT

Unless otherwise directed or authorized, all hot mix asphalt pavement and other bituminous materials not specifically addressed or described in the plans shall be removed from the project and become the property of the contractor.  The contractor shall manage the material in accordance with all current federal and state rules and regulations.

 

Salvaged hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavement may be used as special backfill material.  When intended for special backfill material, the HMA pavement is normally removed by scarification.  The material must pass a 2‑inch sieve.  A vibratory steel wheel roller or pneumatic tired roller is commonly used for compaction.  Per Specifications Sections 4123 and 4132 and Iowa Code Chapter 108, reclaimed/recycled asphalt is not allowed to be used in special backfill or modified subbase if the material is placed within the high water table.

 

 

6.14     DEMOLITION WASTE

Refer to Construction Manual 10.61 for demolition information. Demolition waste should be disposed of at a disposal or recycling facility permitted or approved by the Iowa DNR.