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10. The following legally binding prescriptions relate to Schedule 1 – Part 2 of the SFMP and shall be applied to all coupes harvested exceeding 0.5 ha up to 20 ha:
1. Coupe boundaries shall be located so as to
Provide riparian protection for permanent watercourses;
Minimise landscape impacts;
Retain connectivity between riparian forest, old growth forest remnants and between-coupe forest;
Avoid adverse impacts on soil stability and drainage pattern – no coupes having an area exceeding 0.5 hectares shall be harvested on slopes greater than 25 degrees, measured over any 100 meter length;
Minimise risks to stability of retained forest edges by not traversing exposed ridges;
Maintain a minimum separation between any harvested coupe having an area exceeding 0.5 hectares and a coupe proposed to be harvested in close proximity, of the width of the harvested coupe.
2. Trees shall be retained within coupe:
Healthy beech seed trees that have acquired canopy height, are of good form and are spaced across the coupe no more than 60 meters apart;
Habitat trees with high biodiversity that provide food and nesting habitat for fauna and those carrying mistletoe (Peraxilla and Alepis species);
Where practicable trees retained as habitat and seed trees along with their closest neighbours shall be retained together in patches of no less than three trees;
Trees in close proximity to habitat and seed trees which if removed could result in harvesting damage to or lead to instability of retained trees;
Groups of trees sited so as to soften the visual impacts of harvesting where the forest forms a significant part of the landscape as viewed from adjacent lands;
Advanced growth, being beech saplings and poles where their retention does not impede safe harvesting operations.
3. In siting and constructing access roads, in-forest tracking and stream crossings:
Natural drainage patterns shall be maintained;
Stream crossings shall be the minimum number necessary to provide effective forest access. In the construction of crossing stream banks shall be protected;
In the event that weather or other circumstances increases the risk of soil erosion or sedimentation, harvesting shall be suspended until the risk has been averted;
Damage to habitat trees and seed trees shall be avoided.
4. Soil scarification shall be undertaken where ground cover vegetation, especially Blechnum species is likely to impede beech regeneration. Scarification shall:
Be limited to slopes of 15 degrees or less;
Cover no more than 20% of the area of any coupe.
5. Harvesting operations shall:
Avoid mechanical damage to seed and habitat trees;
Avoid mechanical damage to residual coupe edge forest;
Ensure harvest machinery brought into the forest is cleaned prior to forest entry to remove obvious and visible clumps of soil attached;
Avoid identified areas of historic or cultural significance.
6. On completion of harvesting any coupe:
Temporary in-forest tracks shall be rehabilitated;
Temporary stream crossing shall be removed and any stream edge damage rehabilitated.
11. COUPE SEPARATION
1. The following methodology has been adopted for determining separation distances between coupes:
Measure the length of the coupe’s longest axis (in metres – being the longest measurable distance across the coupe)
Divide the coupe area (m2) by the length of the longest axis to estimate the average coupe width; and
To determine a separations distance, calculate the mean of the coupe’s longest axis and the average coupe width.
For example: a 20ha coupe with the longest axis of 550m will have a separation distance of 456.8m:
Average coupe width: 200,000m2 / 550 m = 363.6m
Separation distance: (550m + 363.6m) / 2 = 456.8m
2. The GIS based ALP mapping will provide an accurate pre-harvest area for each mapped coupe to guide planning.
3. Following completion of each coupe’s harvest, the harvested coupe will need to be mapped. At the end of each year’s harvest, the mapped coupes can then be used to establish an operational map which shows the areas within which harvest can’t occur until regeneration requirements are met.
Extraction operations need to avoid damage to the soil.
Extraction operations will seek to avoid unnecessary soil disturbance on forest soils by winching, minimising passes and optimising drags.
Extraction will only be carried out when track and forest soil conditions are or can be made suitable (such as with fascining).
The total length of extraction tracks in coupe areas up to 0.5ha in size (excluding single-pass snig tracks) in a TSA should not exceed 250 metres per hectare.
The actual length of extraction track per hectare is not usually known until after operations have finished in a TSA and the tracks have been mapped with the GPS. The operations manager will advise the crew if the tracking per hectare is exceeding 250 m per hectare.
The crew supervisor may suspend log extraction operations in an area when forest soils, tracks, or skids are saturated and soil damage cannot be minimised.
Ground-based extraction operations will avoid contamination of streams.
The planning and layout of tracks will aim to minimise the number of stream crossings.
The planning and layout of tracks in a TSA needs to be done during the Pre-Op & Pre-Harvest site assessment. Walking the TSA and getting an idea of the terrain and any problem areas is essential for this aspect of harvest planning. In planning the track layout, you should also take into account any other TSAs that can only be accessed from the TSA under assessment.
Tracks crossing streams will use log bridges, culverts or other bridging structures to avoid damage to stream banks and undue water contamination.
Tracks leading down into waterways will be fascined to minimise water contamination.
As soon as practicable after leaving one TSA for another, all bridging materials will be removed from streams, all fascining and other debris pulled back from the stream, and steps will be taken to minimise water contamination from run-off (such as suitably sized and located cut-offs).
Extraction operations will avoid damage to the stand.
As far as practicable, extraction tracks will avoid sharp corners.
As far as practicable, damage to advance growth, saplings and the roots and stems of the remaining trees will be avoided during extraction. Particular care will be exercised to avoid damage to podocarp species.
Shovel logging is permitted when transferring logs across streams and in steeper areas unsuitable for dozer access.
When breaking out, the digger operator will ensure that the boom is retracted and that there is sufficient swing clearance before turning. The same shall apply in circumstances requiring shovel logging.
Sacrificial trees along extraction tracks and other trees irreparably damaged will be felled prior to moving to the next TSA.
Prior to leaving one TSA for another, all debris on tracks and skids will be tidied up.
It is important that as harvesting operations in each TSA are completed, steps are taken to reduce the impacts of the harvesting and to tidy up. Before leaving a TSA, it is essential to remove damaged stems and debris hang-ups, tidy up stream crossings and larger piles of slash and to treat any tracks which have become highly compacted, poorly drained or deeply rutted.
13. FUEL and OIL SPILLS
Fuel and oil spills in the forest may pose a danger (both toxic and fire) to people working in the forest and can impact on forest soils, groundwater, surface waterbodies, flora and fauna. Diesel, petrol and lubricating oil are used and or stored in the forest. Tanks, pipes and other containers holding these substances may be punctured, may leak, or spills may occur in the process of transferring fuel or oil in the course of operations.
One litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of water making it unfit for aquatic life or drinking. A major spill is a spill of more than 20 litres OR when 5 litres or more is spilt and could enter a waterbody. Other spills are considered minor.
An Environmental Incident Report form must be filled out for any major spill.
Measures to Avoid Fuel & Oil Spills and Pollution
Ensure all tanks, drums or other containers on-site are correctly labeled.
Monthly checks on storage tanks and containers checking for rust, leaks, and damaged or leaking hoses & fittings (Scheduled for first work day of each month).
Weekly pre-start-up checks on vehicle and machine fuel tanks, oil reservoirs, hoses and lines (Scheduled for first work day of each week).
Tanks, drums or other containers holding more than 5 litres of fuel or oil are not to be left within 10 metres of a running stream.
Fuel and oil containers and mobile fuel tanks should be positioned so as to avoid direct run-off into water-tables, waterways or riparian zones.
A suitably-sized drip tray should be positioned under filler nozzles and valves.
Care must be exercised when maneuvering vehicles or machines around or near mobile fuel tanks.
Chainsaws, chainsaw fuel and chainsaw oil containers must not be left where machine operators cannot see them.
Naked lights and hot parts of machinery must be kept at a safe distance from refueling operations.
Mobile fuel tanks must be parked in a prepared bund adjacent to but at a safe distance from the roadway (at least 3 metres) and on fairly even ground.
Fuel tank hoses need to be sufficiently long so that machinery can be parked and refueled at a safe distance.
Training is to be provided on the correct methods of refueling vehicles and machinery.
Suitable containers are to be kept on-site for waste oil, filter changes, and other contaminated waste.
At least two ‘Small Spill Kits’ and two shovels are to be kept in strategic locations (eg. one at the mobile fuel tank and one on an active machine).
Regular refreshers and training is to be provided on the correct use of the Small Spill Kit. Instructions are to be held in each vehicle and machine.
Contaminated materials and waste are to be disposed of outside the forest and at facilities and by methods approved by Environment Southland.
Procedures to Deal With Minor Spills
STOP the flow by the most immediate and practical means possible.
Remove any sources of ignition.
Contain the spill using the Small Spill Kit and or any other suitable material at hand.
Advise the Operations Manager of the incident as soon as practicable.
Complete an Environmental Incident Form within 48 hours.
Procedures to Deal With Major Spills
Follow the procedures as for Minor Spills (above) except:
Advise the Operations Manager of the incident immediately.
The Operations Manager is to report the incident to the appropriate emergency services and or Environment Southland.
The Operations Manager is to complete an Environmental Incident Form within 24 hours.
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