FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
MISSOULA, MONTANA
FSH 7109.21 - GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
Effective January 10, 1991
TRANSMITTAL SHEET
Page Code
Superseded New
(No. of Sheets)
(Entire Handbook)
Title Page
00
-1
-1
(Entire Chapter)
10 through 11--4
-3
(Entire Chapter)
20 Through 21.1
-2
Digest:
7109.21 - Establishes Region 1 Geotechnical and Materials Engineering Handbook.
Chapter 10 - Guidelines on aggregate source management with a list of elements to be included
in quarry and pit development drawings. Revision of obsolete Supplement 9, FSH 7709.11.
Chapter 20 - Guidelines on subsurface investigations, with procedures for including subsurface
information in contracts. Revision of deleted Supplement 95, dated 2/13/90 to FSM 7100.
JOHN W. MUMMA
Regional Forester
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
REGION 1
MISSOULA, MONTANA
FSH 7109.21
GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
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00
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
Contents
CHAPTER
10
AGGREGATE SOURCES
20
SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATIONS
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10
GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 10 - AGGREGATE SOURCES
Contents
11
QUARRY AND PIT DEVELOPMENT DRAWINGS
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CHAPTER 10 - AGGREGATE SOURCES
11 - Quarry and Pit Development Drawings.
The following elements should be evaluated and included in contract drawings if applicable:
1. Vicinity map to indicate general location of the pit or quarry source.
2. Specific location of the source--including ownership and legal description by section,
township, and range.
3. Access and distance to nearest town and haul distance to the project. Access roads to
be constructed.
4. Topographic map - Scale not smaller than 1" - 50' and contour interval as small as
practical.
5. Topo detail - Vegetation, roads, structures, streams, fences, utilities, and other data, as
needed.
6. Survey Data - Permanent baseline, benchmarks, and reference data.
7. Location of test holes and seismic traverses.
8. Log of test holes showing materials encountered and depth of changes. Laboratory test
results should be shown if feasible. Interpretation of the test results will not be given. State
where the complete subsurface investigation report may be obtained.
9. Limits of clearing and excavation:
a. Present.
b. This entry.
c. Ultimate development.
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GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
10. Designations of areas for:
a. Stockpiling and/or disposal of topsoil and overburden.
b. Slash disposal.
c. Merchantable timber decking area.
d. Waste and spoils material--including tree stumps, large unusable boulders and
crusher reject material.
e. Aggregate stockpiles.
f. Scales and weighhouse.
g. General Work Area - For crusher, power plant, tool, and storage trailers,
equipment storage, fuel tanks, and field office. Special care should be taken to assure feasibility
and flexibility site, but not to dictate contractor's operations.
11. Cross Sections:
a. Scale as necessary to show existing land form compared to final completion.
b. At least two sections approximately perpendicular to each other and located to
show the most pertinent detail, including pit floor elevation and slope.
c. Back Slopes - Designed to meet ultimate development, including revegetation
and safety requirements. For sand and gravel sources, the slopes shall be 3:1 or flatter unless
satisfactory revegetation can be achieved with steeper slopes.
d. Limits of clearing and excavation. Clearing generally 10 feet back from top
edge of back slope and removal of hazard trees that might fall in the work area.
e. Benching and ramp requirements - Showing maximum heights and minimum
widths of benches to meet the requirements of the Mining Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA) - 30 CFR part 56, and the approximate ramp locations.
f. Groundwater elevations, if required.
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g. Provisions for drainage.
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GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
12. "General Notes."
a. Estimated Quantities - Total available, planned this entry, and amount
remaining.
b. Quality Control - Conditions of blending materials -- vertical face, layers,
addition of filler, utilization of boulders, and other requirements as needed.
c. Dust abatement for quarry and pit sites and haul roads.
d. Traffic Control - In accordance with Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) for signs, barricades, and other requirements to
protect workers and public during operations in the pit area. Fencing of high banks may also be
necessary to protect pedestrians and stock after interim or final closure of the pit.
e. Special Site Conditions - Noise barriers and screening requirements for
aesthetics.
f. Erosion Control Items.
g. Requirements for blasting plans, for review (not approval) by the Forest
Service, including but not limited to: Drill pattern, borehole size, depth of drill holes, type of
explosives and blasting agents, type of primers, powder factor, number of holes per shot, test
shot, and other pertinent information.
h. Protection of utilities, monuments, markers, and other features as necessary.
i. References if necessary to standard drawings, special project requirements, and
standard and special project specifications. List Pay Items as shown under Schedule of Item
numbers, such as: 625(06) - Seeding and Mulching, dry method without mulch.
j. Interim closure, final closure and restoration -- stripping, stockpiling, and
utilization of topsoil and overburden.
k. Disposition of oversize and waste material.
l. Special instructions for final shaping.
m. Closure or obliteration access roads and work areas.
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n. Miscellaneous requirements as necessary. For example: Location of
merchantable timber, decking area, sanitary requirements, and removal of oil and industrial
waste.
In all cases, the drawings should be correlated with the specifications and not used in place of
supplemental or special project specifications.
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GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATIONS
Contents
20.6
References
21
21.04
21.04a
21.04b
21.1
SUBSURFACE INFORMATION IN CONTRACTS
Responsibility
Contracting Officer
Forest Engineer
Procedure
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GEOTECHNICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 - SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATIONS
20.6 - References. Related policy and guidelines are in the following Region One supplements:
1. FSM 7100 - Policy on Regional geotechnical and materials program.
2. FSM 2850 - Policy on investigation and management of aggregate sources.
3. FSH 7109.21 - Guidelines on quarry and pit development drawings.
21 - SUBSURFACE INFORMATION IN CONTRACTS
21.04 - Responsibility
21.04a - Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is responsible for supplying subsurface
investigation reports and/or data to prospective bidder when requested and for verifying proper
documentation is included in the material provided to prospective bidders.
21.04b - Forest Engineer. The Forest Engineer is responsible, through the appropriate
geotechnical personnel, for performance of subsurface investigations, interpretation of the data,
providing written reports and necessary qualification statements, and furnishing this information
to the Contracting Officer in response to requests from prospective bidders.
21.1 - Procedure. If subsurface investigations have been made, contract documents should
contain abbreviated logs of drill holes and test pits and/or a brief summary of subsurface
information. The information in the contract should be the minimum necessary for bid
estimating and construction planning. More detailed subsurface investigation reports are
referenced in the contract and supplied to prospective bidders through the Contracting Officer.
Reports furnished to prospective bidders will be professionally interpreted. Raw data, field
notes, or calculation sheets are not to be furnished unless a written request is submitted to the
Contracting Officer and a written professional interpretation is attached.
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