2409.15-60
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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
NORTHERN REGION (REGION 1)
MISSOULA, MT
FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
Supplement No.: 2409.15-2010-1
Effective Date: September 10, 2010
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: LESLIE A. C. WELDON
Regional Forester
Date Approved:
09/10/2010
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and
calendar year. Post by document; remove 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 2409.15-99-1 to chapter 60.
New Document(s):
2409.15_60
10 Pages
Superseded Document(s) by
Issuance Number and
Effective Date
2409.15_60 (2409.15-99-1 04/09/1999)
9 Pages
Digest:
61.32b,2,l - Removes the designation of Cruise Assistant for Sale Administrators and adds
the new designation as Measurements Assistant. Also stipulates the training and testing
requirements to obtain a Measurements Assistant designation and the yearly requirement for
maintaining this designation.
R1 SUPPLEMENT 2409.15-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
61 - OPERATIONS PROVISIONS (Form FS-2400-6 and FS-2400-6T, 1970 and 1973
Editions).
61.32b - Landings and Skid Trails (B/BT6.422). The objective is to clearly establish and account
for those trees, in addition to Included Timber listed in the timber sale contract, that are to be
included and authorized for cutting. Such trees must show evidence that they are Included
Timber after they have been cut. Whenever possible this will be done by paint marking
individual trees prior to cutting, except as noted below.
1. Contract Form 2400-6.
a. Tractor Roads and Skid Trails. Location of tractor roads and skid trails
will be designated on the ground and agreed upon, as provided in B6.422.
Upon agreement on location and width, the tractor road or skid trail becomes
an authorized clearing. As such, the timber within the authorized clearing is
designated for cutting under B2.32.
b. Landings. Location of landings will be agreed upon, as provided in
B6.422. All additional trees to be cut for such landings shall be marked prior
to cutting. In lieu of marking all trees, the clearing limits of the landing may
be painted or otherwise clearly designated on the ground. Upon agreement
on location, the landing becomes an authorized clearing. As such, the timber
within the authorized clearing is designated for cutting under B2.32.
c. Guy Trees, Tail Trees and Deck Trees. Approval of a skyline corridor shall
also constitute approval to cut one tail tree, those trees necessary and
actually used to guy the yarder, and those trees necessary and actually used
as intermediate supports. Deck trees and multiple stump anchors shall be
marked prior to cutting. When unforeseen circumstances arise during set-up
or yarding, such as uprooting of a designated tree, the purchaser may cut the
additional tree or trees as necessary to prevent delay in cable yarding. These
trees will be treated as described for trees that are hung up during felling.
This change in the timber individually marked for cutting is provided for in
B2.37.
d. Skyline Corridors. The location of all skyline corridors will be flagged and
agreed upon, as provided in B6.422 for skid trails. Purchaser may cut those
trees directly under the line with no further designation, provided the bole of
the tree is within 6 feet of the tightened line. These trees will constitute an
authorized clearing, and as such are designated for cutting under B2.32. Any
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
damaged trees along the corridor that are outside the previously authorized
clearing shall be marked prior to cutting, as provided in B2.131.
(Note: Agreed width may vary if a different width is stated in the contract.
The purchaser should only be permitted to cut those trees, immediately
under the line, that interfere with free passage of the carriage prior to
yarding. This will permit the cutting of damaged trees within the 12-foot
wide authorized clearing, after yarding, without further designation. It is the
purchaser's responsibility to flag straight lines. If the purchaser cuts trees
along a flagged line that are found to be outside the agreed clearing width
when the line is strung, due to the flagged line not being straight, additional
timber should not be marked to compensate for crooked lines, unless
absolutely necessary.)
e. Jammer Corridors. No additional trees will be cut along the line, unless
they are marked prior to cutting. If an agreement is reached that it is
necessary to cut additional trees, they would be included, as provided in
B2.37.
f. Temporary Roads. All locations shall be flagged. The location and clearing
width must be agreed to, as provided in B5.1. When the clearing width is
agreed to be a uniform width for all, or a defined segment of the road, trees
may be cut without further designation. In all other cases, either the clearing
limits shall be marked on the ground or additional trees to be cut shall be
marked. Timber within the agreed clearing limits is designated for cutting,
as provided in B2.32.
g. Damaged Trees. All damaged trees shall be marked prior to cutting, as
provided in B2.131.
h. Trees Damaged by Natural Causes. When it is agreed to include dead,
dying, or other trees damaged by natural causes, as provided in B2.134, all
such standing trees shall be marked prior to cutting. Blowdown trees that
have been uprooted may be designated by agreement.
i. Trees Hung Up During Felling and Other Hazard Trees. In tractor units
where skidding is taking place at the time of felling, no additional trees shall
be cut to get trees down unless they have been marked prior to cutting. In
tractor units where skidding will be done at a later date, and in cable or
skyline units when it is necessary to fell an additional tree to get a
designated tree down or to eliminate an immediate safety hazard, such a tree
may be cut without being marked. When such a tree is cut, the purchaser
R1 SUPPLEMENT 2409.15-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
shall call the sale administrator or the Forest Service representative within
24 hours. The sale administrator will be shown the tree prior to yarding.
The sale administrator will mark the stump with paint and evaluate whether
cutting the tree was justified. If the sale administrator determines the
cutting was not justified, the purchaser shall be notified in writing that no
additional trees will be cut for this or any other purpose unless marked prior
to cutting. The Forest Service may also elect not to make such trees Included
Timber. This change in the timber individually marked for cutting is
provided for in B2.37, when acceptable to both parties.
j. Trees Needing to be Cut to Permit Logging of the Unit. In some cases it is
necessary to cut undesignated trees prior to cutting the designated ones to
permit proper felling of the designated timber. This is normally the case
when the leave volume exceeds that being cut. In such cases when it is
necessary to cut additional trees to permit the cutting and removal of
designated trees, such additional trees shall be marked prior to cutting. This
change in the timber individually marked for cutting is provided for in B2.37,
when acceptable to both parties.
2. Contract Form 2400-6T.
a. Tractor Roads and Skid Trails. Location of tractor roads and skid trails
will be flagged on the ground and agreed upon, as provided in BT6.422
(Landing and Skid Trails/CT6.4, Conduct of Logging). All additional trees to
be cut within tractor roads and skid trails shall be marked and cruised prior
to cutting. Upon agreement on location and the inclusion of any additional
trees to be cut, the tractor road or skid trail becomes an authorized clearing.
As such, the timber within the authorized clearing is designated for cutting
under BT2.32 (Construction Clearing).
b. Landings. Location of landings will be agreed upon, as provided in
BT6.422 (Landing and Skid Trails). All additional trees to be cut for such
landings shall be marked and cruised prior to cutting. Upon agreement on
location and the inclusion of any additional trees to be cut, the landing
becomes an authorized clearing. As such, the timber within the authorized
clearing is designated for cutting under BT2.32 (Construction Clearing).
c. Guy Trees, Tail Trees & Deck Trees. Additional trees for guy trees, tail
trees and deck trees should be marked and cruised prior to cutting. This
should take place when the landings and corridors are being approved. This
change in the timber individually marked for cutting is provided in BT2.37
(Designation Changes).
R1 SUPPLEMENT 2409.15-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
d. Skyline Corridors. The location of all skyline corridors will be flagged on
the ground and agreed upon, as provided in BT6.422 (Landing and Skid
Trails/CT6.4, Conduct of Logging). Additional trees along the corridor
needing to be cut shall be marked and cruised at the time the location is
approved and prior to cutting. Care should be taken to ensure the corridors
are straight and in line with tail hold and guy anchors. Only those trees
which would inhibit the safe passage of the skyline carriage should be
marked. These trees will constitute an authorized clearing and as such are
designated for cutting under, BT2.32 (Construction Clearing).
e. Temporary Roads. All center line locations will be flagged. The location
and clearing width must be agreed to as provided in BT5.1 (Authorization).
All additional trees within the agreed clearing limits shall be marked and
cruised prior to cutting. Timber within the agreed clearing limits is
designated for cutting as provided in BT2.32 (Construction Clearing).
f. Damaged Trees. All damaged trees shall be marked and cruised prior to
cutting, as provided in BT2.131 (Damaged by Purchaser). This provision
requires that these damaged trees be marked before the purchaser has
completed skidding or yarding operations in the immediate area. If we
cannot mark and cruise the damaged trees prior to the completion of skidding
or yarding in an area, such as along a skyline corridor, then the trees should
be left standing.
g. Optional Pulp. Provision CT2.11 (Timber Subject to Agreement), requires
that a written agreement be entered into for removal of optional pulpwood.
The agreements should be made on a payment unit basis. Pulpwood volumes
for payment units can be found in the timber sale report and/or the cruise.
Once an agreement is entered into, the material encompassed by the
agreement becomes mandatory removal. A bill for collection for the value of
the material, plus any deposits, should be issued and paid, or additional
bonding allocated to the sale, prior to cutting the included material.
h. Minor Damage by Natural Causes. Undesignated trees within the sale
area that become insect infested, windthrown, suffer serious damage, or die
may be added subject to agreement, as provided in BT2.134 (Minor Damage
by Natural Causes). These trees must be marked and cruised prior to
cutting. If these trees are located more than 200 feet from trees designated
to be cut, including, but not limited to those within a cutting unit or road
right-of-way, a new payment unit may need to be established, under
provision BT1.1 (Sale Area Map). In accordance with BT2.35, payment and
R1 SUPPLEMENT 2409.15-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
cutting of minor amounts of trees damaged by natural causes is required if
they are within a 200 feet slope distance of trees designated for cutting.
i. Unforeseen Circumstances. There will be times when the sale
administrator/harvest inspector are just not present to mark, cruise and
authorize the inclusion of additional timber. A tailhold or guy anchor may
pull out on a yarder side, or a sawyer may have a hang-up in a unit that
poses a safety problem, and so forth. The purchaser should be informed at
the pre-operations meeting that we are aware of these circumstances and
that there is a procedure to follow.
When a tree has been knocked over or a tree must be cut, the purchaser
should not skid the tree, but leave it full length where it was cut/knocked
over. Then the purchaser must contact the sale administrator and inform
them of what happened within 24 hours. The sale administrator at this time
can authorize verbal removal of the tree in tree-length form to the landing for
later cruising, but they must cruise (not scale) the tree, mark the stump and
document the incident. If there are sufficient excess advance deposits the
tree can be removed. If there are not excess advance deposits the billing
process outlined above must be followed before the tree can be removed. If
the tree has been skidded and cannot be positively identified, then a stump
cruise is appropriate. Should the sale administrator find a cut/removed
undesignated tree/stump without prior knowledge of it, then only one
recourse remains: an investigation should be conducted and determination of
criminal intent be made and either contractual action or timber trespass
procedures initiated.
j. Other Specific Agreements. If specific agreements other than above are
made for marking and accounting for additional volume, clear documentation
and on the ground follow-up is required.
k. Methods of Measurement. Cruising, or other methods of measurement as
described in BT6.8 and CT6.8 will be used to determine volume. Volume
estimates, comparisons, and interpolations are not acceptable except under
certain conditions. Normally, 100 percent tree cruising will be the method
used for additional timber designations.
In some cases, such as inclusion of large areas of blowdown under BT2.134,
Minor Damage by Natural Causes or extended temporary road right-of-ways
under BT2.32 and Construction Clearing, they may be measured with the
appropriate cruise method. When this occurs, sale administrators should
enlist the aid of a R-1 certified advanced cruiser to prepare a cruise design for
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
the additional timber, and help from presale crews to accomplish the
cruising. This cruise design should equal or exceed the sampling error
standards set by the Washington Office. These standards are found in FSH
2409.12, Timber Cruising Handbook.
l. Who Can Cruise For Payment? In accordance with FSH 2409.12, Timber
Cruising Handbook, Chapter 60, a minimum designation as a Cruise
Assistant is required for individuals in order to cruise timber for payment.
Cruise Assistants may be used in the collection of cruise data only after
completing the classroom course and obtaining a passing score on a
regionally approved written examination for qualified cruiser certification.
Once obtaining a passing score on the written examination, the cruise
assistant will hold this designation as a cruise assistant for only 12
consective months in order to obtain the necessary practical timber
cruising field experience (under the direct on-site personal supervision
of a certified cruiser) when collecting cruise data.
At the completion of this 12 month period, the cruise assistant must complete
and obtain a passing score on a regionally approved field test conducted on a
regionally approved test area for qualified cruiser certification.
Sale Administrators who have successfully obtained a passing score on the
written examination, will be designated as a Measurements Assistant and
will be permitted to assist in measuring incidental amounts of operational
timber ( less than 2 CCF) for payment as included timber.
To maintain this designation, the Sale Administrator will be required to
attend yearly measurements refresher training conducted at the Forest level.
At a minimum this training will consist of:
a. Tree measurements (diameters and heights)
b. Tree species identification
c. Defect recognation and determination
d. Quality determination
R1 SUPPLEMENT 2409.15-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
Documentation of the Sale Administrator’s Measurements Assistant
designation training and yearly refresher training, will be sent to the
Regional Measurements Specialist.
It is recommended, at a minimum, that all Sale Administrators get certified
as a timber cruiser at the qualified level.
m. Methods of Designation. For additions involving individual trees, tracer
paint marking with the appropriate color above and below stump height as
described in provision BT2.35, Individual Trees is the acceptable method of
designation.
For additions involving a change in a cutting unit boundary for Clearcutting
Units, Overstory Removal Units, and Understory Removal Units designation
is accomplished by eliminating the original unit boundary with black tracer
paint and re-establishing the amended unit boundary with tracer paint.
Clearcutting Units, Overstory Removal Units, and Understory Removal
Units designation is accomplished by eliminating the original unit boundary
with black tracer paint and re-establishing the amended unit boundary with
tracer paint.
n. When Can the Additional Trees Be Cut? The additional trees can only be
cut once a written agreement (if required by the contract) is executed, the
trees have been cruised, the trees have been designated, a bill for collection is
issued, and the bill is paid through lockbox.
Sale administrators can streamline this process at the time of payment unit
release by informing purchasers of the process and the time involved and
requesting that purchasers voluntarily carry advance deposits slightly in
excess of those required for payment unit release to cover any additional
timber. When purchasers agree to do this, then trees may be cut as soon as
they are documented, measured, and designated for cutting, as long as the
value of the trees plus deposits is less than the excess advance deposits.
o. Rates of Payment for Additional Timber on Escalated Sales. When
additional timber is added to an escalated rate timber sale contract, the rates
of payment for the additional timber are current contract rates that are
locked in when the payment unit is released.
In the event that the entire sale area is not geographically included into
payment units and additional timber, say some blowdown under BT2.134,
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
Minor Damage by Natural Causes, is designated outside the payment unit
boundaries, a new payment unit should be established. This would be
accomplished by agreement under BT1.1, Sale Area Map and this payment
unit would be released and rates locked-in, in the same manner as any other
payment unit.
p. Documentation. All timber additions will be clearly documented on the
Timber Sale Inspection Report. Most additions, such as BT2.37, Designation
Changes, and BT2.134, Minor Damage by Natural Causes, require written
agreement. Designation and inclusion of damaged trees under BT2.131,
Damaged by Purchaser, requires no agreement, only documentation. The
color and lot number of the tracer paint should be noted and a sketch map
included if necessary to adequately describe the location of the additional
tree(s). The location of all authorized clearings such as landings, skid roads,
and skyline corridors should also be documented on the report. The species,
diameter, height and defect shall be documented along with the volume and
value calculations.
q. Determining the Volume. After the trees are cruised, the sale
administrator must determine the net volume of each tree using the
appropriate Region 1 volume tables. These tables are found in FSH 2409.12,
Timber Cruising Handbook, and may be used to extend volumes longhand.
An alternative is to utilize the cruise program.
r. Retaining the Cruise Sheets. The cruise data sheets for additional timber
should be retained in the sale folder and kept for a minimum of 6 years after
date of sale closure. See FSH 2409.18, Timber Sale Preparation Handbook.
s. Reporting Additional Timber To Automated Timber Sale Accounting
(ATSA). After the additional trees are marked, cruised, documented, and
volumes determined, the additions must be reported to ATSA. Sale
administrators must report volume sold (added) and volume hauled.
Procedures and timelines for reporting volume sold depend on the type of
advance deposits that are on hand for a payment unit.
When the purchaser elects to maintain advance deposits in excess of those required for payment
unit release, sale administrators can accumulate volumes added and report them to the resource
clerk by the 25th of each month, as long as the value of the added timber does not exceed the
value of the excess advance deposits.
R1 SUPPLEMENT 2409.15-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/10/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSH 2409.15 – TIMBER SALE ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 60 – OPERATIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
When the purchaser only furnishes enough advance deposits to affect payment unit release, sale
administrators must IMMEDIATELY report the volumes to the resource clerk and request that a
bill for collection is issued to the purchaser for the value of the additional timber. This bill must
be issued and paid via lockbox prior to cutting the additional timber.
When the additional timber sold is hauled from the sale area, sale administrators are required to
report this volume as hauled at the end of the billing period when hauling occurred. It need not
be separated from the total volumes hauled from a payment unit; just report the total volume
hauled for the billing period.
Sale administrators must be careful to utilize the unit of measure for each species/product that is
shown in AT5 - Timber Payment Rates. Board foot volumes should be rounded to the nearest 10
board feet and reported in MBF (example: we added 293 board feet of cedar - report this volume
as .29 mbf)
Sale administrators should also report the additional volume sold to the District Sales Tracking
and Reporting System (STARS) coordinator so that these volumes can be entered into that data
base. The figures should be identical to those input into Automated Timber Statement of
Account (ATSA).
It is recommended that sale administrators keep a running summary of all volume additions and
deletions that occur in a payment unit.
Volume deletions under BT2.37, Designation Changes or contract modifications should be
handled in the same manner as shown above.
Sale administrators should never assume that volume entries have been made into ATSA.
Follow up and check to ensure that your work is being properly reported.