2409.15,60-61 Page 1 of 14 FSH 2409.15 - TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION HANDBOOK WO AMENDMENT 2409.15-92-6 EFFECTIVE 8/3/92 CHAPTER 60 - OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS This chapter contains direction and guidance for timber sale administrators concerning contract provisions for operations, fire precaution and control, other conditions, and performance and settlement. Refer to the zero code chapter of this handbook, section 13.1 of this handbook and FSM 2450 for additional guidance in carrying out the direction in this chapter. 60.4 - Responsibility. In addition to the responsibilities outlined in Section 04 of this handbook, and in FSM 2450.4, the following specific responsibilities apply. 60.41 - Sale Administration Team. The individual team members (Section 04) assigned to the timber sale represent the Forest Service under the various contract provision. The delegation must identify the situations in which the individual can represent the Forest Service. All members of the sale administration team are responsible for coordinating closely with each other and for informing other Forest Service employees of the nature and extent of timber harvesting operations that may be occurring in areas the officers routinely work in. Enough information should be given so that these officers can supply useful information to the team about events or circumstances that appear to be unusual or otherwise of interest to the administration team. Also inform them of any safety related information that will be of interest to them and the general public. 60.42 - Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer has certain responsibilities that are not normally redelegated. These include: 1. Approval of operating plans submitted by the Purchaser. 2. Approval of haul route. 3. Requests for costs and selling prices from purchasers in accordance with provision B/BT6.9. The Contracting Officer may not redelegate this responsibility. 4. Granting waivers of requirements of any provision in Section B/BT7.0 of the timber sale contract. 60.42 - Other Forest Officers. Forest officers not assigned to the sale administration team are responsible for the following: 1. Maintaining an awareness of logging operations and other timber sale activities that may be going on in the areas where they conduct their day to day activities. 2. Advising members of the general public the officer may come in contact with of active timber sale operations and inform the public of any safety related precautions the public should be aware of. 3. Reporting any unusual or suspicious activity by the purchaser or member of the public involving timber sale activities to a member of the the sale administration team or to the District Ranger on the District where the activity was observed. 4. Cooperating fully with the sale administration team in performing regularly assigned duties such as fire control or law enforcement that may apply to timber sale operations. 61 - OPERATIONS PROVISIONS (Form FS-2400-6 and FS-2400-6T, 1970 and 1973 Editions). In order to understand this material read the provisions referred to in the parentheses in the topic heading. Be sure to use the actual contract being administered or an identical form and edition. Refer also to the Nationally approved C Provisions that are included in the contract being administered. 61.1 - Improvements (B/BT6.2). According to the timber sale contract there are two categories of improvements: (1) those the purchaser is authorized to construct, and (2) that existed on the sale area at time of award. The purchaser is authorized to construct improvements on National Forest land that are necessary to log included timber under provision B/BT6.2. Processing facilities may also be permitted if the timber sale contract contains the appropriate C/CT provision. The location, construction, and use of improvements must be approved in writing by the Forest Service. Such approval should be site specific and in sufficient detail to insure protection of National Forest resource values. Ensure that the purchaser removes all improvements authorized for construction and use under provision B/BT6.2 within six months after termination of the timber sale contract. If the purchaser fails to remove these improvements, the Forest Service may remove them at the purchaser's expense, or assume title to the improvements upon written notice to the purchaser. 61.11 - Protection of Improvements (B/BT6.22). This provision requires the purchaser to protect improvements on the sale area when the following criteria are met: 1. Improvements are located in the operating area. 2. Improvements are determined to have a continuing need or use. 3. Improvements are designated on the sale area map. The contract requires the purchaser to protect these improvements or provide for their timely restoration if the improvements are damaged by the purchaser's operations. Some roads and trails may be designated on the sale area map as "keep open" under this provision. These facilities must be kept reasonably free of equipment, products, slash, and debris resulting from the purchaser's operations at all times. The purchaser may be required to protect, relocate, or remove Forest Service owned or privately owned improvements if the timber sale contract contains provisions C/CT6.22# and/or C/CT6.221#, and the improvements meet the conditions mentioned above. The Forest Service may also have obligations related to improvements under the contract. 61.11a - Protection of Land Survey Monuments (B/BT6.23). The Forest Service is responsible for designating on-the-ground and on the sale area map all known survey monuments. In order to qualify for protection under this provision, each known survey monument must have identifying signs posted on two sides of each known bearing tree. In the case of unavoidable damage to survey monuments, such as clearcut units or road construction, the Forest Service is responsible to arrange to perpetuate monuments. Such action should not unnecessarily delay purchaser's operations. In other areas, the purchaser must protect all known survey monuments that are posted in accordance with this provision. If damage does occur, the purchaser is responsible for having a qualified surveyor perform the necessary restoration through legally established procedures in a timely manner. The purchaser must record these surveys in the appropriate county records. 61.11b - Protection of Historical Sites (B/BT6.24 and C/CT6.24). These provisions obligate the Forest Service to identify areas subject to the American Antiquities Act on-the-ground and on the sale area map, when these areas are known prior to advertisement. If subsequent discoveries are made, provision B/BT6.24 requires protection by agreement, whereas under provision C/CT6.24 the purchaser is obligated by the identification protective measures specified. When new discoveries result in substantially changed sale conditions, provision C/CT6.24 allows for contract modification and payment to the purchaser for extra costs involved, or for contract cancellation. 61.2 - Control of Operations (B/BT6.3). Be familiar with the term "Purchaser's Operations," as it appears throughout the contract. Note that when the purchaser's employees, are under the immediate supervision of Forest Service, as in slash burning or fire suppression, they are not considered to be engaged in purchaser's operations. However, required slash work performed by purchaser is part of purchaser's operations. Use and cite the first sentence, second paragraph, of provision B/BT6.3 which requires the purchaser to conduct operations in a "workmanlike and orderly manner," as needed to correct repetitive purchaser noncompliance of contractual requirements. Complete required Forest Service designation of on-the-ground work and the performance of Forest Service work so that it does not cause any delay in purchaser's operations. 61.21 - Plan of Operations (C/CT6.3). Ensure that the plan of operations required from the purchaser by this provision, outlines the purchaser's schedule of events to depict the orderly completion of all contractual obligations by the termination date. The plan and it's schedule of events is necessary because both parties are committed by the timber sale contract to furnish needed information, services, or materials to each other. This provision requireds the purchaser to establish work schedules for slash disposal, road construction, timber removal, erosion control measures, and other contract requirements. This plan requires written approval by the Contracting Officer. The plan of operations should be kept current by the purchaser. 61.22 - Operating Schedule (B/BT6.31). In addition to the plan of operation required under provision C/CT6.3, the purchaser must also provide an annual operating schedule before beginning operations unless no operations are planned for a given year. The annual operating schedule does not require Forest Service approval. The purpose of the annual operating schedule is to give the Forest Service sufficient notice of the timing of the purchaser's activities so that Forest Service administration may be coordinated with the purchaser's plans and needs. This schedule also provides a means of establishing the date of delay when determining contract term adjustments under provision B/BT8.21. Although the purchaser is not contractually required to participate in a preoperations meeting, the Forest Service should request such a meeting to coordinate the activities of both parties. A preoperations meeting conducted annually, prior to the beginning of operations provides an opportunity for the joint preparation of the annual operating schedule, and other necessary plans and agreements. Document the proceedings of all preoperations meetings. 61.23 - Protection of Residual Trees (B/BT6.32). This provision is used to protect young growth timber and other undesignated trees. Provisions C/CT2.3# - Reserve Trees and C/CT6.32# - Protection of Reserve Trees provide additional protection of superior or research trees. 61.24 - Safety B/BT6.33 and C/CT6.33). Provision B/BT6.33 requires the purchaser to conduct operations in a manner that facilitates the Forest Service's safe and practical inspection of the operation. 61.24a - Traffic Safety. Provision C/CT6.33 deals with the steps necessary to be taken to provide for the safety of the general public. This includes the use of temporary traffic control measures to provide the public of adequate warning of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions associated with the purchaser's operations. The Forest Service and purchaser must agree on a written traffic control plan for each individual project on the sale area. At a minimum the traffic control plan should address road construction, road maintenance, felling timber adjacent to roads, landing operations, overhead cables and anchors, and log hauling. Flagpersons and traffic control devices shall be as specified in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. It is critical to insure that the traffic control plan is prepared and implemented in order to provide for public safety and reduce the chances of litigation against the Government in the event of an accident. 61.24b - Purchaser Safety. Purchaser safety is governed by state or federal safety regulations pertaining to logging and sawmill operations. To limit Forest Service liability in industrial accident cases, Forest Service personnel observing violations of safety codes should document these incidents on appropriate inspection forms and present copy to Purchaser Representatives. 61.24c - Use of Helicopters and Explosives. State agencies such as the Division of Industrial Safety or Construction Safety Orders provide safety rules for operations involving helicopters and explosives. Forest Service personnel should use these regulations as a guide during all helicopter operations and projects using explosives. As required in the Health and Safety Code (Chapter 1 - Section 1.21b, 3c (3), p.8), a Job Hazard Analysis is to be developed and implemented by Forest Service personnel for sale administration activities. 61.25 - Sanitation and Servicing (B/BT6.34). The objective of this provision is the prevention of air, water and visual pollution by purchaser's operations. 61.25a - Prevention of Oil Spills (C/CT6.341). This provision requires that a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan be prepared and implemented by the purchaser when more than 1320 gallons of oil or oil products are stored on the sale area, or a single container of 660 gallons or greater capacity is used to store oil or oil products on the sale area. The plan must meet applicable Environmental Protection Agency requirements and be certified by a registered professional engineer. 61.26 - Acceptance of Work (B/BT6.35). This provision establishes the procedures for acceptance of purchaser work under the timber sale contract. The Forest Service has specific performance obligations, subject to time requirements, in order to fulfill the terms of this provision. 61.26a - Inspection of Work for Acceptance. Upon written request of the purchaser, and upon assurance that work is completed, an appropriate member of the sale administration team must inspect and notify the purchaser of acceptance of all or portions of required work, or provide an evaluation of work which remains to be done. Such a request may be for acceptance of: 1. Any reasonable portion of a specified road. 2. Specific requirements such as logging, erosion control or slash disposal on a subdivision of the sale area. 3. All timber sale contract requirements in a subdivision or payment unit of the sale area. It is not the intent of this provision for the Forest Service to supervise the purchaser's operations by providing punch lists prior to completion of work, under the guise of a final inspection. The Forest Service then has 10 calendar days to make this inspection or to notify the purchaser representative in writing of a specific date within a time frame which will avoid unnecessarily delaying the purchaser. Then within 5 calender days of this inspection, the Forest Service must notify the purchaser representative of the results of the inspection and what work, if any, is remaining to be done or was not acceptably completed. When all timber sale contract requirements for any subdivision or payment unit of the sale area are accepted under this provision, that area can be eliminated from the sale area by written notice from either the Forest Service or purchaser. 61.26b - Periodic Inspections. The Forest Service can make inspections, of the type described in section 61.26a, without request from the purchaser representative and should make every effort to keep inspections current with operations, and to notify the purchaser of inspection findings. This is particularly important where there is uncut designated timber within cutover areas. The aim should be to perform and document inspections so that the final inspection can be limited to previously noted deficiencies and portions of the subdivision or payment unit not previously inspected. This does not mean that final inspections can ignore contract requirements that have not been met, but rather that there should be periodic inspections to preclude the purchaser from correcting work that was previously thought to be satisfactory by the purchaser. Acceptance of erosion control work cannot be given until the terms of B/BT6.66 are met. Where acceptance is given for only some of the timber sale contract requirements in a subdivision or payment unit, the notice must clearly spell out the requirements accepted, and work remaining on those items not accepted. 61.3 - Conduct of Logging (B/BT6.4). This provision establishes the purchaser's right and obligation to cut and remove the designated timber meeting utilization standards with provision for some exemptions when justified. The intent of the contract is that the purchaser must remove included timber meeting utilization standards, except as justified under the stated exceptions. For example, gross economic impracticability applies to the trees or logs "at the time of removal of other timber." Thus, if it was economically practicable to cut and remove included timber in an area, then the purchaser is required to cut and remove missed trees and pieces even though they may be uneconomical to remove individually at a later time. The determination of gross economic impracticability should always be made prior to beginning operations in a given area. 61.31 - Felling and Bucking (B/BT6.41). This provision requires the purchaser to conduct felling operations in a manner that will minimize breakage of included timber and damage to residual trees. It also includes the requirements for cutting long butts and authorizes the purchaser to buck out cull material to produce pieces meeting the utilization standards. The provision establishes the method for determining the extent of defect and requires the purchaser to make sample cuts to assess the extent of defect in pieces. Felling must be done with saws or shears unless a written agreement is made to fell timber in another manner. Bucking must be done to maximize utilization of included timber. 61.31a - Felling in Clearings (B/BT6.411). This provision requires the purchaser to fell designated trees so that their tops do not extend outside the boundaries of clearcutting units, construction clearings, and areas of regeneration cutting. This provision is does not apply to the protection of residual trees in partial cut units (Apply the terms of provision B/BT6.32 - Protection of Residual Trees, in partial cut units). The intent is to reduce breakage and provide a reduction of disturbed ground and slash accumulations that may require additional treatment. 61.31b - Stump Heights (Contract Provisions B/BT6.412 and A/AT8). This provision requires the purchaser to cut stumps that do not not exceed the maximum heights set forth in provision A/AT8, when measured on the side adjacent to the highest ground. Occasional stumps of greater height than that specified in provision A/AT8 are acceptable, when cut to facilitate safe and efficient conduct of logging. Determination of the location and extent of high stumping should be made prior to felling in an area and documented with the rationale. Examples of cases where high stumping may be acceptable are: (1) rotten butt trees may need higher felling cuts for safety and control, especially for adhering to established felling lead in partial cut areas; (2) high stumps may be desirable on steep slopes immediately adjacent to streamcourses to prevent debris from purchaser's operations and subsequent slash burning operations from entering streamcourses; and (3) high stumps may be necessary to provide suitable anchors for cable logging systems. The purchaser must recut high stumps other than those qualifying as exemptions so they do not exceed the heights specified in provision A/AT8. If the pieces contain material meeting utilization standards or would have, if attached to the butt log, they shall be removed from the sale area, and presented for scaling, in accordance with provision B/BT2.2 - Utilization and Removal of Included Timber. 61.31c - Bucking Lengths B/BT6.413 and A/AT2). These provisions prohibit the manufacture of preferred log lengths when a loss in merchantable material would occur. The purchaser is required to buck trees in various lengths to obtain the greatest utilization of material that meets the standards in provision A/AT2. If pieces are left on the sale area that do not meet minimum utilization standards, but would have, if attached to the adjoining piece, they shall be removed from the sale area, and presented for scaling, in accordance with provision B/BT2.2 - Utilization and Removal of Included Timber. 61.31d - Limbing (B/BT6.414). This provision requires the purchaser to cut exposed limbs from products prior to skidding operations, when necessary to minimize damage to the residual stand during skidding. Limbing normally applies to partial cut situations and not in clearcuts. Regional C or CT provisions may be included where limbing is required in clearcuts to provide sufficient fuels for site preparation burning. Mechanical limbing should not be permitted when it would cause damage to residual trees and/or reduced utilization of merchantable material. 61.32 - Skidding and Yarding (B/BT6.42). This provision, in conjunction with the sale area map, specifies methods of skidding and yarding for a particular area, cutting unit, or subdivision of the sale area. Changes to the specified method of skidding or yarding shall only be made through a contract modification, with appropriate cost recovery, in accordance with provision B/BT8.3 - Contract Modification. The method of skidding or yarding is optional when it is not depicted on the sale area map for a given area, unit, or subdivision. When tractor skidding in other than clearcuts and construction clearing, tractors and rubber tire skidders must be equipped with a winch to facilitate skidding in order to assure protection of residual trees. 61.32a - Rigging (B/BT6.421). This provision requires that rigging be slung on stumps or trees designated for cutting. When stumps or designated trees cannot practicably be used for rigging, undesignated trees may be utilized. Regional C/CT provisions may require protective devices such as slings, straps, or plates to avoid damage to undesignated trees. 61.32b - Landings and Skid Trails (B/BT6.422). This provision requires that the Forest Service and purchaser agree on the location of all landings, tractor roads, and skid trails prior to their construction. This is best performed if the appropriate member of the sale administration team and purchaser jointly perform the location work to insure that timber harvest is in concert with all resource objectives. Landings are areas where products are gathered for loading. Clearing limits of landings should be flagged on the ground as a part of location work in areas of high resource value. Tractor roads are ordinarily constructed by clearing and/or excavation and are those areas where tractors are authorized to operate under this provision. The location of tractor roads should be flagged on the ground in areas of high resource value. Skid trails are the resultant ground disturbance created by skidding logs on the ground by all skidding and yarding methods. In sensitive areas, the agreed location of tractor skid trails should be flagged on the ground. Encourage the purchaser to locate and agree to landings, tractor roads and skid trails in advance of felling tributary timber in order to permit coordination of felling lead with the skidding or yarding pattern. 61.32c - Skidding on Roads (B/BT6.423). This provision permits the purchaser to skid products on permanent roads, subject to written agreement. Since the national forest transportation road system represents our most substantial investment, close coordination (section 60.41) between timber and engineering personnel administering the contract is necessary to protect this investment. Care must be taken to prepare the necessary written agreement with the purchaser to include the following considerations: (1) public safety and traffic control under provision C/CT6.33 - Safety; (2) the road termini where skidding will be permitted will be flagged on the road and described in the agreement; (3) the type of skidding equipment to be used while skidding on the road; (4) the amount of volume or acres of included timber to be skidded on the road; (5) the time frames that skidding is authorized to occur; and (6) the specific type and timing of the necessary restoration action. When possible, seek out alternatives to skidding products on surfaced roads. 61.32d - Arches and Dozer Blades (B/BT6.424). This provision restricts the use of dozer blades wider than the skidding tractor or C frame width, and the use of pull type arches, in stands of residual timber on other than constructed tractor roads or landings. Variance of this restriction is accomplished by written agreement with the purchaser that residual timber will not be materially damaged by such use. The intent of this provision is to minimize equipment and skidding damage to residual trees. Do not use variance of this restriction as a lever to insure acceptable results. Often, damage to residual trees can be traced back to more substantial causes, such as lack of control of operations, poor felling lead, and improper skid road location, rather than on the mere presence of arches and dozer blades. 61.4 - Protection of Soil and Water Quality. Ensure that timber harvesting and road construction activities have the least adverse effects on soil or water consistent with the timber sale contract. 61.41 - Streamcourse Protection (B/BT6.5). This provision describes the normal precautions and treatment needed to protect streamcourses from damage due to purchaser's operations. Stream courses and their respective protection limits are shown on the sale area map. Those streams and waterways not shown on the sale area map are not subject to the terms of this provision and are best protected under layout considerations in provision B/BT6.422 - Landings and Skid Trails. Purchaser's operations are required to be conducted to prevent debris from entering streamcourses. If debris resulting from purchaser's operations enters a streamcourse and water quality, natural flow, or fishery resource may be affected, the purchaser must remove the debris as soon as practicable, but no later than 48 hours from when the debris entered the stream. Debris removal shall be accomplished in an agreed manner that will cause the least disturbance to the streamcourse. Any other debris that enters a streamcourse as a result of purchaser's operations, and does not have an adverse effect on water quality, natural flow, or the fishery resource should be removed concurrently with erosion control work in the area. This provision requires that products or trees be fully suspended when yarding across streamcourses. The operation of wheeled or track laying equipment in streamcourses is prohibited, except at authorized crossings and in the construction and removal of culverts and bridges. Culverts and bridges are required to be installed in streamcourses when crossing them with skid roads or temporary roads. The use of log fills to facilitate crossing streamcourses is discouraged due to the high sedimentation resulting from removal and cleanup of such fills. Consult local standards and specialists prior to agreeing on installation of log fills in streamcourses, and be aware of anticipated high flow during the period of use. It may be necessary to temporarily divert the flow in streamcourses, such as during the installation of drainage structures. This may only be done when the purchaser is given written authorization, and streamflow should be restored as soon as practical. Regional C/CT provisions may be present to supplement these requirements when more stringent streamcourse protection measures are required. 61.42 - Erosion Prevention and Control (B/BT6.6). This provision requires that purchaser's operations be conducted to minimize soil erosion. It provides for suspending the operation of equipment when ground conditions are such that excessive soil damage will result. If the purchaser's operation of equipment is voluntarily suspended, document the circumstances and note that the suspension was voluntary on the part of the purchaser. If the Forest Service gives oral or written notice of suspension, the action must adhere to the procedures outlined in provision B/BT9.3 - Breach. If the purchaser fails to perform required seasonal erosion control work prior to any period needing such work or prior to moving off the sale area, the Forest Service may use any unencumbered deposits the purchaser may have to do the necessary work. Every effort should be made to get the purchaser to perform this work. When the Forest Service performs the work under this provision, the attachment of unencumbered deposits should be done in strict accordance with established Regional procedures. 61.42a - Meadow Protection (B/BT6.61). The objective of this provision is to protect the integrity of meadows and their sensitive soil conditions. Meadows are considered to be definable areas of grassy terrain; not sagebrush or dry openings. Provision is made for agreement on specific techniques to achieve the protection objective. 61.42b - Temporary Roads (B/BT6.62). This provision prescribes the necessary final treatment for temporary roads, after the purchaser's use is completed, to attain stabilization and return the affected land back to production. The required stabilization work consists of: the removal of all culverts and bridges; the elimination of all ditches, ruts, and berms; outsloping the roadbed; installing cross ditches and water bars where staked by the Forest Service; and effectively blocking the road to normal vehicular traffic. 61.42c - Landings (B/BT6.63). The objective of this provision is to create a self draining, stabilized landing after the purchaser's use is completed. This is achieved through sloping and ditching the landing surface and stabilizing cuts and fills by sloping and the removal of overhangs. It is important to coordinate landing erosion control work on landings with any associated landing slash disposal work required. 61.42d - Skid Trails and Fire Lines (B/BT6.64). This provision establishes the requirements for erosion control on skid trails and fire lines. The purchaser is required to construct water spreading ditches and cross ditches (water bars) on skid trails and fire lines where staked or marked on the ground by the Forest Service. This provision does not allow for agreement to install these structures without prior marking on the ground. Such staking or marking on the ground should be timely, and not cause any unnecessary delay to the purchaser, in accordance with provision B/BT6.3 - Control of Operations. The structures are normally constructed with equipment when slope conditions permit; and by hand on steep ground. As used in this provision, the term skid trails is defined as the resulting ground disturbance created by skidding logs on the ground by all skidding and yarding methods. This includes cable corridors and skyline roads. 61.42e - Current Operating Areas (B/BT6.65). This provision describes the requirements for completing seasonal erosion control and stabilization work on areas where logging or road construction is in progress, but not completed, prior to the end of the normal operating season. The purchaser is also required to keep erosion control work as up to date as practicable when operations are conducted outside the normal operating season. 61.42f - Erosion Control Structure Maintenance (B/BT6.66). The purchaser is required to maintain erosion control structures as described in this provision. This responsibility extends until the structures become stabilized, but is limited to a time period of one year after the structures are constructed. This one year period does not extend beyond the sale termination date. When final acceptance of a subdivision is granted under provision B/BT6.35 - Acceptance of Work, this constitutes an acknowledgement by the Forest Service that the structures are stabilized. The purchaser is not responsible for repairing damage to erosion control structures caused by other than purchaser's operations. 61.5 - Slash Disposal (B/BT6.7). The purchaser's slash disposal requirements are described in Regional C/CT6.7 provisions. This provision requires the purchaser to fulfill these requirements in a timely manner so as not to unnecessarily delay Forest Service slash disposal activities. The timeliness of purchaser slash disposal work should be commensurate with the rate of removal of included timber. 61.6 - Scaling (B6.8 and A13). Provision B6.8 - Scaling defines the three elements of scaling: (1) the various methods of volume determination; (2) the various localized sites where scaling is performed; and (3) various geographic locations. The provision also distinguishes between continuous and intermittent scaling and requires that Forest Service scalers be currently certified. Special condition A13 - Scaling Instructions and Specifications, lists the applicable scaling instructions and specifications. Normally, Forest Service Handbook 2409.11, National Forest Log Scaling Handbook is shown as the governing scaling instruction and is considered as part of the timber sale contract. The trim allowances shown in A13 should be considered to be the maximum permissible under the contract. See Forest Service Manual 2443 for policy and chapter 20 of this Handbook for instructions and procedures for scaling and measuring sale products. 61.61 - Scaling Services (B6.81, C6.81, A14, and A15). Provision B6.81 - Scaling Services sets forth the conditions under which the Forest Service performs scaling. It includes: 1. The terms under which the Forest Service performs alternative scaling services. 2. The definition of continuous scaling services and the mechanics as to how volumes from other timber sales will be handled. 3. Provision for the purchaser to present less volume for scaling than the rate shown in special provision A15, and still receive continuous scaling services, provided the purchaser pays the difference in scaling costs resulting from the volume deficit. 4. The definition of central scaling stations as a central point where more than one purchaser is provided continuous scaling services without additional charge regardless of volume deficits. 5. The definition of intermittent scaling services. Special condition A14 accommodates the data necessary to implement provision B6.81 - Scaling Services by setting a standard cost estimate for the method of Forest Service scaling intended at the appraised location and site. Special condition A15 depicts the minimum volumes for continuous scaling and intermittent scaling, as described in provision B6.81 - Scaling Services. Provision C6.81 - Scaling Services describes the terms and conditions under which third party scaling will be performed. 61.62 - Presentation for Scaling (B6.82 and C6.82). Provision B6.82 - Presentation for Scaling describes the obligations of the purchaser to present logs so they can be scaled in a safe and efficient manner. No scaling should be done, unless products are presented to ensure safe working conditions and an accurate scale. Instructions for general scaling activity are stated in chapter 50 of FSH 2409.11, National Forest Log Scaling Handbook. The purchaser is required to provide satisfactory identification of included timber presented for scaling when it is mixed with timber from other ownership. In the event that included timber cannot be distinguished from other timber presented for scaling, all timber will be scaled as though it were National Forest timber. Likewise, when unidentified timber is mixed with timber from more than one National Forest timber sale, it shall be scaled and assigned to the sale with the highest total of current contract rates and required deposits of each individual species involved. This provision also requires the Forest Service to make a separate record for deductions in scale due to abnormal delay, when implementing the terms of provision B3.47 - Defect Caused by Abnormal Delay. The provision gives direction for "paper bucking" of trees or pieces presented for scaling which have not been bucked to separate material meeting minimum piece standards from material not meeting minimum piece standards. Provision C6.82 - Presentation for Scaling, is included in timber sale contracts west of the 100th meridian and sets the piece branding and painting requirements for export control. Products are required to be branded and painted prior to removal from the sale areas. The provision allows for waivers of branding and painting requirements when circumstances warrant. All such waivers should be closely coordinated with the Regional Forester to insure consistency. 61.63 - Scaling Other Products (B6.83). This provision sets the requirements for converting the scaled volume of material presented for scaling in forms other than those stated in special condition A2, to the A2 unit of measure. This is done by applying standard conversion factors or by agreeing on other conversion factors when circumstances warrant. 61.64 - Accountability (B6.84). This provision outlines the standard requirements for product accountability while in transit from the sale area to the scaling point. FSM 2443.34 contains policy and procedure on accountability. All Forest Service personnel should constantly be on the alert for efforts to circumvent the procedure set forth in this provision. Whenever there are suspicious circumstances, notify Forest Service law enforcement officers. The provision requires that an acceptable accountability system be set up prior to placing products in storage for deferred scaling. This accountability system should be agreed in writing for a stated period of time. 61.64a - Route of Haul (C6.841). This provision requires the purchaser to furnish, as a part of the annual operating schedule, a route of haul map showing the route of haul over which unscaled products will be transported from the sale area to the approved scaling location(s). This route of haul map requires Forest Service approval and must depict the shortest, most direct route from the sale area to the scaling location. It must be emphasized that a map is required. Do not approve descriptive routes of haul in lieu of a map. The provision also requires the purchaser and Forest Service to agree on safe locations along the route of haul where trucks will stop to facilitate Forest Service accountability checks and/or remote check scales. 61.65 - Scaling Lost Products (B6.85). This provision outlines the procedures for determining the volume and value of lost products. Lost products are those unscaled loads or pieces that the purchaser cannot account for after being removed from the sale area. 61.65a - Scaling Lost Products (C6.851). This provision outlines the procedures for determining the volume and value of lost products when sample scaling methods are used. 61.66 - Scale Reports (B6.86). This provision entitles the purchaser to a copy of the scaler's record, if the purchaser requests the record in writing. 61.7 - Records (B/BT6.9). This provision allows the Contracting Officer to request and obtain operating cost and selling price data (Section 60.42) from the purchaser generated from purchaser's operations for use in appraising Federal timber. Collection of data shall be in accordance with instructions in FSM 2423.3 and FSH 6509.15, Collection and Analysis of Timber Purchaser's Cost and Sales Data. If the purchaser gives written notice, an independent certified public accountant approved by the Forest Service, may furnish the requested data. In this event, the Forest Service must furnish necessary specifications and the purchaser bears the costs of paying the accountant. The Forest Service is not obligated to utilize any of the data collected if, in the judgment of the Forest Service, the data is not usable. All data collected are to be treated as confidential. 61.71 - Set Aside Program Records (C/CT6.91). This provision sets the reporting requirements for purchasers on small business set aside timber sales.