§ 954.2. Tractor Operations.

The following standards are applicable to tractor operations:

(a) Tractor operations shall be conducted in a manner which complies with 14 CCR 954.

(b) Tractor, or other heavy equipment which is equipped with a blade, shall not operate on skid roads or slopes that are so steep as to require the use of the blade for braking.

(c) Tractor roads shall be limited in number and width to the minimum necessary for removal of logs. When less damage to the resources specified in 14 CCR 954 will result, existing tractor roads shall be used instead of constructing new tractor roads.

(d) Heavy equipment shall not operate on unstable areas. If such areas are unavoidable, the RPF shall develop specific measures to minimize the effect of operations on slope instability. These measures shall be explained and justified in the plan and approved by the Director, and must meet the requirements of 14 CCR 954.

(e) Slash and debris from timber operations shall not be bunched adjacent to residual trees required for silvicultural or wildlife purposes or placed in locations where they could be discharged into a Class I or II watercourse, or lake.

(f) Tractor operations shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) Heavy equipment shall be prohibited where any of the following conditions are present:

(i) slopes steeper than 65%

(ii) slopes steeper than 50% where the erosion hazard rating is high or extreme

(iii) slopes over 50% which lead without flattening to sufficiently dissipate water flow and trap sediment before it reaches a watercourse or lake.

(2) On slopes between 50 percent and 65 percent where the erosion hazard rating is moderate, and all slope percentages are for average slope steepness based on sample areas that are 20 acres, or less if proposed by the RPF or required by the Director, heavy equipment shall be limited to:

(i) existing tractor roads that do not require reconstruction, or

(ii) new tractor roads that have been flagged by an RPF or supervised designee prior to use.

(3) The RPF may propose exceptions to the limitations on tractor operations described above if the proposed exception will comply with 14 CCR 954, and if the THP both clearly explains the proposed exception and justifies why application of the standard rule is either not feasible, or would not comply with 14 CCR 954. The location of tractor roads to be used under such exceptions shall be flagged prior to the pre-harvest inspection or, when a pre-harvest inspection is not required, prior to the start of timber operations.

(g) Where tractor roads are constructed, timber operators shall use tractor roads only, both for skidding logs to landings and on return trips.

(h) Timber operators shall exercise due diligence so that desirable residual trees and seedlings will not be damaged or destroyed in tractor operations.

(i) Where waterbreaks cannot effectively disperse surface runoff, other erosion controls shall be installed as needed.

(j) Except where terracing will disturb less than 50 percent of the soil surface, mechanical site preparation shall not be conducted on any of the following:

(1) Any slopes over 40%.

(2) Slopes over 30% which lead without flattening to a class I or Class II watercourse or to a lake.

(3) Areas having average slopes over 30%, where the erosion hazard rating is high or extreme. The area sampled for the average shall not exceed 20 acres.

(k) The Director may approve exceptions to (j)(1), (j)(2), and (j)(3) above when damage to soil and water quality caused by the use of heavy equipment will not exceed that caused by other site preparation methods if explained and justified in the THP.

HISTORY

1. Amendment filed 12-4-89; operative 2-1-90 (Register 89, No. 50).

2. Amendment of subsection (d) filed 2-11-91; operative 3-13-91 (Register 91, No. 14).

3. New subsection (i) and subsection relettering filed 9-23-91; operative 9-23-91 (Register 92, No. 25).

4. Amendment of subsections (d) and (f)-(f)(3) filed 12-8-95; operative 12-8-95 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 95, No. 49).

5. Amendment of subsection (f)(2)(ii) filed 11-26-97; operative 1-1-98 pursuant to Public Resources Code section 4554.5 (Register 97, No. 48).

6. Editorial correction of History 1 and History 3 (Register 98, No. 21).

7. Change without regulatory effect restoring subsections (j) and (k) (formerly designated as subsections (i) and (j), respectively) filed 5-20-98 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 98, No. 21).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4551, 4551.5 and 4553, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 4512, 4513, 4562.5, 4562.7 and 4582, Public Resources Code.