2409.12_60
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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
ALASKA REGION (R-10)
JUNEAU, ALASKA
FSH 2409.12 – TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 60 – QUALITY CONTROL
Supplement No: R10-2409.12-2011-2
Effective Date: April 15, 2011
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: Beth G. Pendleton
Regional Forester
Date Approved: 04/12/2011
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and
calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this
supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to
this Handbook was 2409.12-2011-1 to 2409.12_30.
New Document
2409.12_60
6 Pages
Superseded Document(s)
2409.12_60 (2409.12-2005-1, 8/17/2005)
6 Pages
Digest:
60.2 Objective – Adds a requirement for certified cruisers.
R-10 SUPPLEMENT 2409.12-2011-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/15/2011
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
2409.12_60
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FSH 2409.12 – TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 60 – QUALITY CONTROL
60.2 - Objective
All cruising measurements shall be done by certified cruisers including Free Use Timber
under 36 CFR 223.10.
61 - CRUISER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS
61.1 - Qualified Cruiser
5. The minimum passing score on the written examination is 80 percent.
61.2 - Advanced Cruiser
4. The minimum passing score on the written examination is 80 percent.
62 - INSPECTING INDIVIDUAL CRUISER PERFORMANCE
62.1 - Qualified Cruiser
7. Use the form in 62.1 - Exhibit 01 to assess cruiser performance. The following items
are to be checked in evaluating an individual cruiser’s performance:
a. Tree Measurements. Overall, correctness must be at least 85 percent.
Item
Tolerances
Error
Weight
Acceptable
Score
In/Out Trees
(Tally)
Number of trees must equal check cruiser's tally with exception
of borderline trees when point or fixed plot cruising.
Borderline trees will have a variance of 1 percent between the
cruisers and check cruiser's limiting distance. If the cruiser’s
DBH is within tolerance, use the cruiser's DBH for calculating
the variance. Add the number of incorrect trees tallied and
record in column b (62.1 - Exhibit 01).
5
80%
Species
All trees must be identified correctly for each species, unless
otherwise justified by specific sale conditions. (Example:
Mountain Hemlock and Western Hemlock may be combined as
all Western Hemlock; both species have the same value.) If the
cruiser has more trees for a particular species than the check
cruiser and all other trees are correct, the additional species
would be a tally error, which is addressed in the TALLY
element. The Cruiser number correct should never be larger
than the Check Cruiser total.
3
80%
Diameter
A variance of +/-3 percent is allowed. Cruisers and check
cruisers should record DBH measurements to the nearest tenth
of inch.
1
80%
R-10 SUPPLEMENT 2409.12-2011-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/15/2011
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.12 – TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 60 – QUALITY CONTROL
Height (total
tree height)
A variance of +/-8 percent from the check cruiser for each tree
height. (Example: 147' tree has a variance of +/- 11 feet).
1
80%
Defect
A maximum variance of +/-10.00 percent is allowed per log.
Logs not defected by both the cruiser and check cruiser are
considered correct and are included in the total number. Do not
include any additional log(s) graded by either the cruiser or
check cruiser if there is a difference in tree height. Use the
check cruiser's total number of logs graded if the height is
shorter than the cruiser's and the cruiser's number of logs if the
check cruiser's height is taller.
1
85%
Log Grades
The first 32-foot log must be graded the same as the check
cruiser. A variance of one grade above the first 32-foot log is
allowed. Differences in tree heights will not be considered a
log grading error. Do not include any additional log(s) graded
by either the cruiser's total number of logs graded if the height
is shorter than the cruiser and cruiser's number of logs if the
check cruiser's height is taller. P/S may be combined with grade
1 in all species.
1
85%
b. Maximum Allowable Variances For Volume: The gross volume variance is a
fixed +/- 5 percent while the net volume is a fixed +/- 10 percent. Maximum
allowable mean absolute percent difference is 20 percent.
If the results of the sale check cruise are unsatisfactory, follow-up training and a check cruise
must be completed within 30 days from the date of the unsatisfactory check cruise. Cruisers
with unsatisfactory checks must not be allowed to work unsupervised until the problem is
corrected.
If these limits are exceeded, not more than two additional check cruises of this cruiser will be
made. If the aggregate difference of the check cruises exceeds the above accuracy limits, the
original cruise data on the sale(s) cruised by this cruiser will be replaced with the check cruise
data and the remaining plots re-cruised. Certification of this cruiser must be withdrawn.
If one or more elements are unsatisfactory, the check cruiser may work with the cruiser on those
specific elements in an area adjacent to the area being check cruised. When the cruiser is
satisfied with the retraining and the check cruiser is confident that the cruiser is functioning
satisfactory the cruiser may re-cruise the test area or plots. A follow-up check cruise report shall
be processed using the revised cruiser's data.
Forests shall maintain all check cruise reports and supporting data. A record shall be maintained
for each cruiser showing dates certified for the various levels of certification, training completed,
and any follow-up action required.
Forest Supervisors may establish check cruising standards for sales containing less than 1mmbf,
for beach log and log deck sales, salvage (catastrophic damage) sales, and sales less then
$10,000 in value. The estimated value is the expected minimum bid.
R-10 SUPPLEMENT 2409.12-2011-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/15/2011
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
2409.12_60
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FSH 2409.12 – TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 60 – QUALITY CONTROL
63 - INSPECTING SALES
63.1 - Inspection Elements
Develop a unit checklist similar to the sample shown in the parent text at 63.1 - Exhibit 02 –
Timber Sale Evaluation Report. Any items in the cruise inspection list that are suspect must be
further investigated. Do not use this small sample to adjust sale volumes, but only to indicate
where additional checks need to be made. A sale evaluation is unsatisfactory if any of the
following conditions occur:
1. Sale does not meet sampling error standards.
2. The overall measurement score is less than 85 percent for field-checked sales.
3. The sale does not meet error-of-closure standards for area based cruising methods.
4. The sale cruise certification has not been completed.
5. The boundary and tree designation elements have been rated unsatisfactory.
63.11 - Check Cruise Field Measurement Inspection
When check cruising timber sales cruised by Forest Service cruisers or contract cruisers, use the
Field Measurement Evaluation form (62.1 - Exhibit 01).
Check cruise all timber sales cruised by contractors regardless of sale volume; this includes
cruises done by T.E.A.M.S Enterprises. An inspector for the administration of a cruising
contract shall have a minimum certification level of “District Check Cruiser.”
Use the following check cruise standards by cruise method for timber sales of sawtimber larger
than 1mmbf. Major species have ten percent or more of the estimated value of the sale.
Cruise Method
Scaled Sales
Tree Measurement
Sample Tree
Check a minimum of 25 trees or 10
trees per species.
Check a minimum of 25 trees
for each major species.
Area Based/Plot
Check 5% of the plots with a
minimum of 10 plots.
Check 5% of the plots with a
minimum of 15 plots.
3P
Check at least 5% of the measured
trees per sale.
Check at least 10% of the
measured trees per sale.
All Cruise Methods
Check a minimum of 25 trees or 10
trees per species, selected throughout
the sale area.
Check a minimum of 25 trees
for each major species,
selected throughout the sale
area.
R-10 SUPPLEMENT 2409.12-2011-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/15/2011
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
2409.12_60
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FSH 2409.12 – TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 60 – QUALITY CONTROL
If the sale check cruise does not meet standards, check 10 additional trees on scaled sales or up
to 10 additional trees for each major species on tree measurement sales. If still unsatisfactory,
re-cruise the sale.
R-10 SUPPLEMENT 2409.12-2011-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/15/2011
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
2409.12_60
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FSH 2409.12 – TIMBER CRUISING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 60 – QUALITY CONTROL
62.1 - Exhibit 01
Field Measurement Evaluation
Check cruise
elements
Tolerance
plus or
minus
Number
of
incorrect
answers
(b)
Total possible
correct answers
(a)
1. In/Out Trees
2. Species
3. DBH
4. Height
5. Defect
6. Log Grades
Total
error
(b*c)
(d)
Error
weight
(c)
5
3
1
1
1
1
None
None
3%/
8%
10%
None
Percent
correct
(1-d/a)*100
(e)
Overall %
Correct:
Overall Percent Correct = Total of (e) / Number of items about which information is checked.
Note: To pass this check, items 1-4 must have at least 80 percent correct and items 5 and 6 must have 85 percent correct. The overall correctness
must be at least 85 percent.
The ``Total possible right answers' (a) is the number of trees measured by the check cruiser. For plot or point cruises, the number of ``in/out
trees' is the number of trees identified by the check cruiser. For all other elements, it is the number of correctly identified in/out trees.
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE VARIANCES FOR VOLUME
Gross Volume
Net Volume
+/- 5 Percent
Mean Abs. % Diff.
Mean absolute percent difference
(20% allowed)
+/- 10 percent
VOLUME SUMMARY
Species
Gross Volume/MBF
Check
Original
Percent
Cruiser
Cruise
Diff.
Check
Cruiser
Net Volume/MBF
Original
Percent
Cruise
Diff.
Percent Defect
Check
Orig.
Cruiser
Cruise
Total:
CHECK CRUISE RESULTS
Measurements
Satis
Unsat
Total Gross Volume
Satis
Unsat
Total Net Volume
Satis
Unsat
Mean Abs % Diff
Satis
Unsat
Total Results
Satis
Unsat
Recommendation/Follow-up Action:
Note: Document the reason for an element to be unsatisfactory and the required follow-up action needed to achieve
an overall satisfactory evaluation.
Signature
Date