**Bangor Hydro-Electric Company**

> **Northeast Reliability Interconnect Project**
>
> **Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan**

***Prepared for:***

**Bangor Hydro-Electric Company**

**P.O. Box 932**

**Bangor, Maine 04402-0932**

***Prepared by:***

**TRC Environmental Corporation**

**400 Southborough Drive**

**South Portland, Maine 04106**

**May 2005**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.4895833333333333in"
height="1.0104166666666667in"}

**1.0** **INTRODUCTION [1-1](#introduction)**

2.0 PLANNING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
[2-1](#planning-and-design-considerations)

2.1 Resource Identification [2-1](#resource-identification)

2.2 "Walk-Through" Mechanics [2-3](#walk-through-mechanics)

2.2.1 Use of Flagging and Signs [2-3](#use-of-flagging-and-signs)

2.2.2 Identification and Use of Existing Roads
[2-4](#identification-and-use-of-existing-roads)

3.0 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE [3-1](#general-construction-sequence)

3.1 Transmission Line [3-1](#transmission-line)

3.2 Orrington Substation [3-4](#orrington-substation)

3.3 Erosion and Sedimentation Control Implementation Schedule
[3-4](#erosion-and-sedimentation-control-implementation-schedule)

3.3.1 Transmission Line [3-5](#transmission-line-1)

3.3.2 Orrington Substation [3-6](#orrington-substation-1)

4.0 STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION [4-1](#standards-for-construction)

4.1 Travel Lanes, Lay Down and Yarding Areas
[4-1](#travel-lanes-lay-down-and-yarding-areas)

4.2 Stream or Wetland Crossings [4-3](#stream-or-wetland-crossings)

4.2.1 Types of Crossings Used [4-3](#types-of-crossings-used)

4.2.2 Construction in Wetlands [4-4](#construction-in-wetlands)

4.3 Construction in Buffer Areas [4-4](#construction-in-buffer-areas)

4.3.1 Standard Waterbody Buffers [4-4](#standard-waterbody-buffers)

4.3.2 Salmon Stream Buffers [4-5](#salmon-stream-buffers)

5.0 INSTALLATION OF CROSSINGS [5-1](#installation-of-crossings)

5.1 Bridges [5-1](#bridges)

5.1.1 Materials [5-1](#materials)

5.1.2 Sizing [5-1](#sizing)

5.1.3 Positioning [5-1](#positioning)

5.1.4 Maintenance [5-2](#maintenance)

5.1.5 Removal [5-2](#removal)

5.2 Culverts [5-2](#culverts)

5.2.1 Materials [5-3](#materials-1)

5.2.2 Sizing [5-3](#sizing-1)

5.2.3 Positioning [5-3](#positioning-1)

5.2.4 Installation [5-3](#installation)

5.2.5 Removal [5-5](#removal-1)

5.3 Mats (Timber or Construction Mats)
[5-5](#mats-timber-or-construction-mats)

5.3.1 Materials [5-5](#materials-2)

5.3.2 Installation [5-6](#installation-1)

5.3.3 Maintenance [5-7](#maintenance-1)

5.3.4 Removal [5-7](#removal-2)

5.4 Corduroy [5-7](#corduroy)

5.4.1 Materials [5-7](#materials-3)

5.4.2 Positioning [5-7](#positioning-2)

5.4.3 Installation [5-8](#installation-2)

5.4.4 Maintenance [5-8](#maintenance-2)

5.4.5 Removal [5-8](#removal-3)

6.0 SURFACE WATER DIVERSION STRUCTURES (WATER BARS)
[6-1](#surface-water-diversion-structures-water-bars)

6.1 Materials [6-1](#materials-4)

6.2 Positioning [6-1](#positioning-3)

6.2.1 Installation [6-2](#installation-3)

6.2.2 Maintenance [6-2](#maintenance-3)

6.2.3 Removal [6-3](#removal-4)

7.0 SEDIMENT BARRIERS (STRUCTURAL MEASURES)
[7-1](#sediment-barriers-structural-measures)

7.1 Introduction [7-1](#introduction-1)

7.2 Use of Silt Fence [7-2](#use-of-silt-fence)

7.2.1 Materials [7-2](#materials-5)

7.2.2 Placement [7-2](#placement)

7.2.3 Installation [7-3](#installation-4)

7.2.4 Maintenance [7-4](#maintenance-4)

7.2.5 Removal [7-5](#removal-5)

7.3 Use of Hay Bales [7-5](#use-of-hay-bales)

7.3.1 Placement [7-5](#placement-1)

7.3.2 Installation [7-6](#installation-5)

7.3.3 Maintenance [7-7](#maintenance-5)

7.3.4 Removal [7-8](#removal-6)

7.4 Use of Erosion Control Mix Berms and Continuous Contained Berms
[7-8](#use-of-erosion-control-mix-berms-and-continuous-contained-berms)

7.4.1 Installation [7-9](#installation-6)

7.4.2 Maintenance [7-9](#maintenance-6)

8.0 NONSTRUCTURAL EROSION CONTROL MEASURES
[8-1](#nonstructural-erosion-control-measures)

8.1 Nonstructural Measures Defined
[8-1](#nonstructural-measures-defined)

8.2 Importance of Nonstructural Measures
[8-1](#importance-of-nonstructural-measures)

8.3 Placement of Nonstructural Measures
[8-2](#placement-of-nonstructural-measures)

8.3.1 Temporary Measures [8-2](#temporary-measures)

8.3.2 Permanent Measures [8-4](#permanent-measures)

9.0 WINTER CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
[9-1](#winter-construction-considerations)

10.0 SITE RESTORATION STANDARDS [10-1](#site-restoration-standards)

10.1 General Procedures [10-1](#general-procedures)

10.2 Methods of Restoration [10-1](#methods-of-restoration)

10.3 Timing of Restoration [10-3](#timing-of-restoration)

11.0 SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION [11-1](#supervision-and-inspection)

11.1 Contractor Environmental Officer
[11-1](#contractor-environmental-officer)

11.2 BHE Environmental Inspectors [11-1](#bhe-environmental-inspectors)

11.3 DEP Third Party Inspectors [11-3](#dep-third-party-inspectors)

12.0 ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING FOR CONTRACTORS
[12-1](#environmental-training-for-contractors)

**TABLES**

1\. Recommended Widths For Filter Strips Between Disturbed Areas And
Water Resources [4-1](#__RefHeading___Toc102779920)

2\. Log Bridge Stringer Requirements [5-1](#__RefHeading___Toc102779921)

3\. Culvert Size - Length of Rock Protection
[5-5](#__RefHeading___Toc102779922)

4\. Recommended Distances Between Water Diversion Structures
[6-1](#__RefHeading___Toc102779923)

5\. Temporary Nonstructural Erosion Control Measure Summary
[8-3](#__RefHeading___Toc102779924)

6\. Seasonal Differences in Construction BMP Requirements
[9-3](#__RefHeading___Toc102779925)

7\. permanent Seeding Specifications
[10-2](#__RefHeading___Toc102779926)

**APPENDICES**

> APPENDIX A: Definition of Terms
>
> APPENDIX B: project contact list
>
> APPENDIX C: Construction Technique Illustrations
>
> APPENDIX D: orrington substation site-specific drawings
>
> APPENDIX E: contractor's weekly inspection form
>
> APPENDIX F: final third party inspection program
>
> APPENDIX G: Maine Erosion and Sedimentation Control Law
>
> APPENDIX H: Maine Slash Law
>
> APPENDIX I: Other Recommended Reference Manuals
>
> APPENDIX J: Construction Materials Source List

**FIGURES IN APPENDIX C**

> figure 1: typical row vegetation clearing/maintenance
>
> figure 2: salmon stream row vegetation clearing/maintenance PRIOR TO
> PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
>
> figure 3: salmon stream row vegetation clearing/maintenance FOLLOWING
> PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
>
> figure 4: log/timber mat bridge
>
> figure 5: Timber mats -- waterbody crossing
>
> figure 6: stream bank stabilization using erosion control blankets
>
> figure 7: culvert inlet outlet protection
>
> figure 8: culvert crossing
>
> figure 9: timber mat road
>
> figure 10: TIMBER mats -- wetland crossing
>
> figure 11: corduroy crossing
>
> figure 12: Typical water bar

figure 13: water bars

figure 14: typical swale stabilization methods

figure 15: typical silt fence erosion control barrier

figure 16: silt fence sediment barrier -- proper installation

figure 17: silt fence sediment barrier

figure 18: typical silt fence/hay bale erosion control barrier

figure 19: typical hay bale erosion control barrier

figure 20: hay bale sediment barrier -- proper installation

figure 21: hay bale sediment barrier

figure 22: typical hay bale check dam

figure 23: erosion control mix berm detail

figure 24: mulch anchoring detail using netting

figure 25: slope stabilization using erosion control blankets

# INTRODUCTION

Bangor Hydro-Electric Company (BHE) has prepared this Northeast
Reliability Interconnect Project Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan
(NRI E&S Plan) to be a stand-alone document containing all erosion and
sedimentation control requirements related to the Northeast Reliability
Interconnect (NRI) project. The NRI E&S Plan contains standards and
methods used to protect soil and water resources during construction of
the transmission line and the Orrington Substation modifications. The
NRI E&S Plan is based on the Maine Department of Environmental
Protection's *Maine Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs*, dated March
2003, (BMPs) and the practical application of the BMPs adapted by BHE
for construction in utility corridors.

The goal of this document is to supply BHE contractors, environmental
inspectors and agency inspectors with a single, cohesive set of erosion
control specifications for the NRI project. The document is designed to
provide specifications for the installation and implementation of soil
erosion and sedimentation control measures while allowing adequate
flexibility to allow application of the most appropriate measures based
on site-specific conditions. All bid packages and contracts for work
performed on the NRI project will include these specific guidelines to
ensure the project is constructed in an environmentally sensitive
manner. BHE personnel or their designated representatives will ensure
that the procedures contained in the NRI E&S Plan are followed by
regularly inspecting all work and requiring corrective steps to be taken
where necessary.

The primary goals of any erosion and sedimentation control plan are to
minimize soil movement, preserve the integrity of environmentally
sensitive areas and to maintain existing water quality. Implementation
of the following objectives is required to achieve those goals:

-   Minimize the extent and duration of disturbance;

-   Protect exposed soil by diverting runoff to stabilized areas;

-   Install temporary and permanent erosion control measures; and

-   Establish an effective inspection and maintenance program.

The remainder of the NRI E&S Plan is organized as follows:

-   Section 2.0 describes the planning and design considerations that
    are utilized to minimize the potential for erosion and sedimentation
    of protected natural resources during construction of the project;

-   Section 3.0 provides the general construction sequence for the
    project, including the implementation of erosion and sedimentation
    control measures;

-   Section 4.0 describes the typical construction techniques used to
    minimize the potential for erosion and sedimentation;

-   Section 5.0 provides the specific types of wetland and waterbody
    crossing methods to be used during construction;

-   Section 6.0 describes the specific water diversion structures to be
    used, primarily water bars;

-   Section 7.0 includes detailed descriptions of the types and proper
    installation of structural methods for erosion and sedimentation
    control;

-   Section 8.0 provides detailed descriptions and proper application of
    nonstructural measures;

-   Section 9.0 describes the modified techniques and application of
    control measures to be used during winter time construction
    (November 1 through April 15);

-   Section 10.0 summarizes the restoration procedures for the
    transmission line right-of-way (ROW) and Orrington Substation;

-   Section 11.0 provides the details of the multiple levels of
    supervision and inspection for compliance with environmental
    requirements that will be implemented during construction; and

-   Section 12.0 describes the environmental training program for
    construction contractors and subcontractors.

In addition, this document includes several appendices that contain
definitions of a number of scientific and technical terms, a list of
project personnel to be contacted should questions arise, illustrations
which demonstrate both proper and improper application of erosion and
sedimentation control techniques, site-specific erosion and
sedimentation control drawings for the Orrington Substation
modifications, and other generic and specific references to ensure the
proper and adequate implementation of erosion and sedimentation control
methods during construction activities.

# PLANNING AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

## Resource Identification

Sensitive natural areas which will receive priority treatment include:

-   Streams and rivers;

-   Great ponds;

-   Wetlands;

-   Steep slopes; and

-   Unstable soil conditions.

Sensitive natural areas which may receive priority treatment, depending
upon the specific construction activities and timing of the project,
include:

-   Waterbody and wetland buffers;

-   Significant wildlife habitat;

-   Habitat for rare species; and

-   Historic and prehistoric sites.

During the project planning phase, all sensitive natural areas that
require priority treatment will be identified. The method of avoiding or
crossing the sensitive natural areas to minimize impacts will be
identified and incorporated into the construction-issued project plans
and permitting documents, if necessary. Construction-issued project
plans are designed and drawn to provide contractors and inspectors with
a comprehensive reference guide that includes, but is not limited to,
locations of sensitive natural areas, access, and abutter and landowner
issues. If modifications to the plans need to be made in the field, the
BHE NRI project environmental manager will make necessary changes and
will notify all necessary personnel promptly. The name and contact
information for the BHE NRI project environmental manager is included on
the Project Contact List in Appendix B.

Copies of the construction plans are provided and explained to equipment
operators to ensure that construction practices meet the intent of
avoiding or minimizing impacts to the identified sensitive natural
areas. In addition to the plans, the proposed access ways and
water/wetland crossing locations, as well as other environmentally
sensitive areas where activities will be restricted or prohibited, will
be flagged and/or will have signs posted.

**Prior to any clearing or construction work** in or near any sensitive
natural areas, a "walk-through" will be conducted. Typically, "near" a
sensitive area is defined as within 100 feet of the closest edge of the
resource, although this distance could be longer where steep slopes or
erosive soils are present. Attendees at the walk-through will
include: 1) the contractor, 2) BHE and/or any designated representative,
and may include 3) any assigned Third Party Inspector (3PI) and/or other
agency representatives (e.g., Maine Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) project manager, Atlantic Salmon Commission
representative, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) representative,
etc.). The purpose of the walk-through is to achieve the following
objectives:

-   Identify available or alternate points of access to the project
    site;

-   Identify sensitive natural areas within or adjacent to the
    transmission line ROW, the Orrington Substation and project access
    areas;

-   Determine appropriate operating methods to be used to protect
    sensitive areas;

-   Identify future "No-Access" areas and buffers;

-   Review color designation for all flagging used;

-   Establish the Communication Chain of Command (Contact Point);

-   Identify and flag access/construction roads; and

-   Establish equipment crossing and operating methods (mats, timber
    corduroy, frozen ground, tracked equipment) when crossing water
    resource areas.

In order to minimize impacts to sensitive natural areas, the above
objectives will continually be evaluated throughout the construction
process. Project superintendents, foremen, and inspectors will also
monitor weather conditions and reports on an on-going basis. Knowledge
of changing or anticipated wet weather will allow time to address
erosion control needs. In this way, BHE and its contractors will be
prepared to respond to changing environmental conditions (e.g.,
unusually wet or dry weather) and other unknowns that are inherent in
the construction of the transmission line and substation.

## "Walk-Through" Mechanics

### Use of Flagging and Signs

Flagging will be conducted at the time of the walk-through in order to
visually identify select features or construction methods to be used.
All wetlands crossed by the project were flagged earlier as part of
project permitting. Signs will also be installed following the
walk-through to direct construction to approved access routes and away
from "no access" areas. The BHE flagging color-code is as follows:

-   ***Glow-pink*** with the printed words "Wetland Delineation",
    "Wetland Boundary" or "Wetlands". This flagging denotes the edge of
    wetlands.

-   ***Red*** with or without the printed words -- "Do Not Cross". This
    flagging denotes a No- Access area where no equipment is allowed.

-   ***Yellow** --* no printed words. This flagging denotes the location
    of an environmental measure such as a water bar, hay bale barrier,
    or silt fence.

-   ***Blue** --* no printed words. This flagging denotes approved
    travel ways. This is typically flagged on each side of the
    access-way to denote the designated travel lane for all access.

-   ***Glow-pink with black stripes*** or otherwise printed with the
    words Waterbody Buffer or Salmon Stream Buffer. This denotes a
    setback from a water resource and will be treated the same as
    No-Access area. It also designates the area where special clearing
    and vegetation maintenance requirements apply at designated
    waterbodies and salmon streams (see Section 4.4.2).

### Identification and Use of Existing Roads

BHE will utilize existing public roads, abandoned town roads, the Stud
Mill Road and other smaller logging roads to access the ROW. These roads
will provide an opportunity to travel back and forth to the ROW for
clearing and construction activities without building any new access
roads for construction. Use of logging roads is required where other
road crossings (paved or gravel state and local roads) do not exist.
These access roads were selected to avoid natural resource impacts to
the greatest extent practicable. Improvements to these access roads will
be limited to trimming overhanging or adjacent vegetation, replacing
existing damaged or malfunctioning culverts, and installing temporary
timber mat or corduroy roads and bridges over wetlands and streams as
needed to allow safe, reliable passage of the equipment that will
utilize the road and to avoid adverse impacts to natural resources. In a
limited number of areas, additional gravel may be added to the road
surface to improve the stability of the surface for passage of
construction equipment in order to prevent rutting and the potential for
off-road sedimentation. Any new gravel and grading will be limited to
that necessary to maintain a safe, reliable surface, will not result in
any new impervious surface, and will not be placed in protected
resources such as wetlands. The location of all temporary access roads
approved for use during construction are shown on the Temporary Access
Road Maps, utilizing U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) mapping as the base
map. Temporary construction access points along the ROW are also shown
on the project Plan and Profile drawings.

The movement of equipment and materials within the transmission line ROW
will be confined as much as possible to a single road or travel path.
Construction equipment will utilize the off-ROW access roads to the
maximum extent practicable to cross or bypass wetlands and waterbodies.
The location of wetland and waterbody crossings needed within the ROW
will be kept to the minimum number and length, as determined during the
walk-through. Wetland and waterbody crossings will be located to
minimize the span of a wetland or stream crossing and avoid the more
environmentally sensitive or "wetter" portions of a wetland or stream
crossing.

In all cases, BHE and its contractors will avoid and minimize impacts to
sensitive natural areas to the greatest extent feasible. As a result of
this planning and walk-through process, wetland and stream crossings,
steep slopes, unstable soils, and other sensitive natural areas will be
avoided and adverse impacts minimized whenever practicable.

# GENERAL CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

## Transmission Line

Construction of the proposed 345 kV line will consist of two main
stages. The first stage is the clearing of vegetation followed by the
actual line construction stage. An on-site project manager will dictate
the day to day activities during both stages. The project manager's
responsibilities include ensuring compliance with all applicable
environmental standards and conditions of agency permits.

The construction plan calls for clearing overstory vegetation for an
average width of about 100 to 155 feet from the existing edge of cleared
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, LLC (Maritimes) natural gas pipeline,
the Maine Electric Power Company (MEPCO) electric transmission line ROW,
or Stud Mill Road. Overstory vegetation clearing will be 170 feet wide
along proposed virgin ROW for the NRI transmission line. Additional
clearing will be required to maintain the federally regulated distance
near Maritimes blow-off valves (150 feet from the edge of the NRI ROW to
the blow-off valves) and at bends along the Stud Mill Road and Maritimes
pipeline where it is impracticable to maintain the 155 foot distance.
This only occurs in a few isolated locations as shown on the project
Plan & Profile drawings.

Crews with whole-tree harvesting machines will first ground cut all
vegetation that is two inches in diameter at breast-height (dbh) and
greater. Merchantable timber will be utilized for various forest
products. Mowing machines and/or hand clearing crews will then remove or
top any remaining "capable species." Capable species are defined as
those vegetative species capable of growing tall enough to reach within
the required clearance between the conductors and vegetation established
by the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) Vegetation Maintenance Standards
(NEPOOL Vegetation Maintenance Standard) within the next four- to
five-year vegetation maintenance cycle. Due to the sag in power lines,
which varies due to a number of factors, compliance with the NEPOOL
Vegetation Maintenance Standard is typically achieved by removing all
capable species and topping other vegetation greater than 8 -- 10 feet
in height, except in waterbody and visual buffer zones and at rare plant
or unique natural community locations. Significant branches that
overhang the ROW and any dead or damaged trees outside of the ROW that
could contact or come within 15 feet of a conductor if they fall
("danger trees") are also removed. All ground level vegetation will
remain in place and the stumps left after cutting of overstory trees
will not be removed, unless necessary to install a pole. Figure 1
illustrates typical vegetation clearing and maintenance practices to
comply with the NEPOOL Vegetation Maintenance Standard.

The pole construction work area will not be grubbed or cleared of brush,
unless leveling of the area is required. The only soil disturbance will
be associated with the drilling/excavation of a hole for the
installation of poles and, in some cases, due to the need to level the
work area or for access along and adjacent to the ROW. Temporary erosion
and sedimentation control measures will be installed prior to ground
disturbance, as determined during the site walk-through.

After clearing and preparation of the ROW, the first step in line
construction is to erect the poles. The primary pole structure will be
wooden H-frames which consist of two in-ground poles connected by cross
members. Some poles will be erected by drilling a hole with an auger,
placing the pole in the hole and backfilling around the pole with any
excess soil material. This backfill is tamped in (or packed down) to
provide a firm base. Other poles will be erected using a small excavator
to excavate approximately 5.5 cubic yards of material, allowing each
pole to be placed up to 10 feet deep. The excavated area around the
poles will then be backfilled. This backfill is also tamped in to
provide a firm base. The use of heavy earth moving equipment such as
bull dozers will not be required. In all cases, poles are buried to a
depth equaling 10 percent of their length, plus two feet \[an 80-foot
pole would be buried 10 feet (8 feet plus 2 feet)\]. Specific locations
of poles within the ROW are depicted on the project Plan and Profile
drawings.

In all probability, it will be necessary to blast ledge and large rocks
at a number of locations during construction of the project. Blasting
will be limited to pole locations where bedrock is exposed or shallow,
and possibly used to move or break large boulders providing access to
pole locations.

During erection of some poles, it may be necessary to create a level
area for the equipment in order to allow for proper (straight)
installation of the pole. In most cases appropriate topography exists.
However, in locations where the terrain is not level, it is expected
that a level working area will need to be created by pulling material
(rocks and soil) from the area immediately adjacent to the pole location
to create safe working conditions. These locations will be limited to
only those places where the topography is too sloped to allow the
equipment to level itself. All necessary erosion and sedimentation
control measures will be installed at areas requiring leveling and will
be left in place until the area is restored to original contours and
stabilized.

For poles located at angle points, guy wires will be anchored near the
poles to account for the change in direction of the tension on a given
pole. These anchors are simply screwed into the ground and attached to
the pole with a cable. Because of higher tensions due to sharper angles,
some locations may be anchored by burying a 4-foot section of pole and
attaching a cable between the poles and the buried stub. All necessary
erosion and sedimentation control measures will be installed at anchor
locations and will be left in place until the area is stabilized.

After the poles are erected \[the horizontal insulators which hold the
conductors (electrical wires) are installed prior to placement of the
pole\], the next step involves running a pull (or p-) line along pulleys
attached to each insulator. In all sensitive areas, the p-line will be
pulled across the resource by construction personnel 'walking' the line
across, to avoid unnecessary crossing of the resource by construction
equipment and to minimize impacts. This is particularly true along Stud
Mill Road where pole locations will be accessed via finger access ways
perpendicular to the Stud Mill Road (versus traveling down the ROW). The
p-lines are then connected to the conductors which are pulled from pole
to pole until they are run the entire length of the line. The last step
involves tying the conductors into each insulator.

Total site time needed for the installation of each pole is less than
one day and the excavated area will be backfilled, seeded, and mulched.
Work within inundated or saturated wetlands will be limited to the
winter months (i.e., frozen conditions), as much as possible.
Restoration measures will return the disturbed area to its original
contour in order to allow natural re-vegetation with shrub and brush
cover. The site will be re-vegetated with temporary and/or permanent
seeding, as necessary, to stabilize the area (see Section 10.0 Site
Restoration Standards).

## Orrington Substation

Construction at the Orrington Substation will begin with establishing
base lines, the site perimeter, and clearing and removal of the topsoil.
Temporary erosion and sedimentation control measures will then be
installed, as shown on the construction drawings included in Appendix D.
Following the establishment of site drainage controls, a sub-grade will
be established. Where necessary, ledge will be removed by either
blasting or mechanical means, depending on the competency of the rock.
If acceptable, site material will be used in a cut and fill scheme to
establish the sub-grade of the substation yard. Off-site material will
be used wherever the quantity or quality of the native material is
insufficient for use. At this point individual foundation excavations
will be made and concrete forms installed for the placement of concrete
substructures.

Following installation of the concrete foundations, sub-surface
conduits, cable trench, and ground grid will be installed on the
sub-grade. Structural fill will be installed on top of these systems to
bring the sub-grade of the yard to six inches below finish grade. This
sub-grade will likely be off-site material consisting of select gravel.
At this point, the steel substation structures, dead end structure,
capacitor platforms, control house, electrical equipment (circuit
breakers, switches, etc.), and yard fence posts will be installed. The
finished grade of the yard will consist of 6 inches of select crushed
stone on top of the sub-grade. Finally, the remaining electrical
equipment and low voltage cabling between the yard equipment and the
control house will be installed, and the fence fabric will be attached
to the fence posts. Final grading, seeding and mulching of areas outside
of the substation fence will complete the work at the substation.

## Erosion and Sedimentation Control Implementation Schedule

The best method to limit erosion and sedimentation is to prevent it from
occurring by protecting exposed soils or sensitive areas. The location
of the limits of work and sensitive resource areas along the ROW are
shown on the project Plan and Profile drawings. The placement and types
of erosion control measures will be determined during the site
walk-through. The locations of the limits of work and placement and type
of erosion and sedimentation control measures at the Orrington
Substation are shown on the construction drawings for the substation
(Appendix D). The following general sequence of work will be followed to
mitigate the potential for erosion of exposed soils and/or discharge of
sediment-laden water from the work area.

### Transmission Line

1.  Conduct a walk-through of the ROW to establish limits of work for
    construction activity; identify and mark sensitive resources and the
    location of travel lanes.

2.  Complete and stabilize with gravel any needed access road
    improvements.

3.  Install and stabilize equipment crossings over wetlands and
    waterbodies, in accordance with Section 5.0 and the BMPs.

4.  Clear timber and brush. No grubbing will be necessary unless the
    area requires leveling.

5.  Install silt fencing or other erosion control barriers around the
    perimeter of the work area, in accordance with Section 7.0 and the
    BMPs.

6.  Protect resources along temporary travel lanes within the ROW and
    protect resources adjacent to construction laydown and parking
    areas.

7.  Construct temporary or permanent water bars, if needed, and
    stabilize in accordance with Section 6.0 and the BMPs, prior to
    allowing them to convey water.

8.  Level the construction area and conduct any blasting, as needed.

9.  Excavate for the poles. Pump excavation seepage and runoff to a
    temporary sedimentation trap, prior to discharge to a well-vegetated
    area. Control and direct runoff from the excavation areas using
    water bars, berms or hay bales. Remove excess spoils from site.

10. Monitor any paved public road used for access for signs of tracking
    and spilling of spoils on the roadway. Construct a stabilized
    construction entrance if required by BHE representative or 3PI.

11. Complete pole and conductor installation.

12. Stabilize disturbed soils associated with temporary wetland and
    stream crossings in accordance with the Section 10.0 and the BMPs,
    within 48 hours of removal of the temporary crossing.

13. Regrade the ROW to original contours, as needed, loam, seed, mulch,
    and anchor all exposed soils within 7 days from final grading in
    accordance with the Section 10.0 and the BMPs.

### Orrington Substation

1.  Establish limits of work for the construction activity; identify and
    mark sensitive resources.

2.  Clear timber and brush. Do not grub until just prior to ground
    disturbance and establishment and stabilization of temporary and
    permanent drainage courses.

3.  Install silt fencing or other erosion control barriers along the
    downhill limit of work, as shown on Drawing ES-1: Erosion and
    Sedimentation Control Plan. Where silt fence cannot be toed-in
    properly due to tree roots, rocks or frozen ground, an erosion
    control mix berm may be substituted.

4.  Stabilize temporary and permanent roadways, construction laydown and
    parking areas with gravel subbase.

5.  Construct and stabilize temporary or permanent drainage and
    diversion courses, drainage swales, culverts, inlet and outlet
    structures, the storm water detention pond and plunge pool prior to
    conveyance of any water.

6.  Complete the pond embankment within 2 weeks of initiating
    construction. Install final erosion control blankets or anchored
    mulch within 24 hours of final grading of pond. If dewatering is
    required, pump to a geotextile-lined hay bale impoundment, an ACF
    environmental "Dirt Bag," or approved equivalent. Sediment
    basin/dirt bag discharge must be to a well-vegetated area and at a
    controlled rate to prevent erosion.

7.  Stabilize any exposed slopes greater than eight percent and newly
    constructed drainage swales with anchored erosion control blankets
    or other approved mulching techniques.

8.  Install check dams in drainage swales within 24 hours of shaping
    swale and prior to stabilization of channels.

9.  Excavate for the foundation of the structures. Pump excavation
    seepage and runoff to a temporary sedimentation trap that discharges
    to a vegetated swale or the storm water detention pond. Control and
    direct runoff from the excavation areas to the stabilized site
    drainage system using water bars, berms or hay bales.

10. Remove excess spoils from site. Stabilize disturbed ground or spoil
    stockpiles with anchored mulch within 48 hours or immediately if
    significant rain or snow melt is anticipated. Between April 16 and
    October 31, temporary seed these areas if final stabilization is not
    expected within 30 days. Apply anchored mulch daily, as needed,
    during winter construction.

11. Inspect and repair erosion control measures weekly and after a ½
    inch or greater rain storm. Remove accumulated sediment when it
    reaches ½ the height of the barrier.

12. Monitor Fields Pond Road for signs of tracking and spilling of
    spoils materials on the roadway. Construct a stabilized construction
    entrance if required by a BHE representative or 3PI.

13. Complete foundations, install substation structures and other
    electrical equipment. Bring substation yard to finish grade with
    gravel and install the perimeter fence.

14. Construct and stabilize any additional permanent vegetated swales
    with erosion control blankets and/or check dams and permanent
    seeding.

15. Finish grade, loam, seed, mulch, and anchor the cut and fill slopes
    and other disturbed areas outside the fence within 48 hours from
    final grading.

16. Maintain temporary erosion controls, as needed, until site is
    stabilized; i.e., when vegetated areas have a healthy catch of
    vegetation over approximately 90 percent of the seeded area. Reseed
    sparsely vegetated areas.

17. Install temporary and/or permanent mulching and seeding in
    accordance with Tables 5, 6 or 7, as applicable.

# STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION

## Travel Lanes, Lay Down and Yarding Areas

The following six standards apply to the location of travel lanes and
location and/or upgrade of all roads, skid trails, yarding areas, and
construction lay down areas or work pads.

1.  Where travel lanes or work areas will be located near water
    resources, such that material or soil may be washed into them, these
    disturbances will be set back from the edge of the water resource to
    maximize the amount of undisturbed filtering area between the
    disturbed area and the resource. These "filter strips" will consist
    of an area of undisturbed vegetation between the edge of disturbed
    area and/or silt fence/hay bale barriers placed to intercept any
    sediment load in runoff water before it can enter the resource area.
    Table 1 below provides the recommended widths for the filter strips
    according to the slope of land between the edge of the resource and
    any exposed soil.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  []{#__RefHeading___Toc102779920     
  .anchor}Table 1. Recommended Widths 
  For Filter Strips Between Disturbed 
  Areas And Water Resources           

  **Slope of Land Between Disturbance **Width of Filter Strip\* (Feet)**
  and the Resource (Percent)**        

  0                                   25

  10                                  45

  20                                  65

  30                                  85

  40                                  105

  50                                  125

  60                                  145

  70                                  165

  \*Measured along surface of the     
  ground                              
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

2.  Wherever possible, construction equipment will either avoid steep
    slopes or proceed across the slope in a safe manner to avoid
    excessive disturbance of vegetation and soils. Equipment will not
    travel straight up or down any slopes with a grade steeper than 10
    percent, except where necessary due to safety concerns and/or
    terrain constraints.

3.  Where travel lanes or construction areas cross slopes, the area will
    be properly sloped and maintained to retain the existing surface
    drainage.

4.  Slopes of leveled areas will be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1
    vertical (2:1).

5.  Rivers, streams, and wetland areas will be crossed, where necessary,
    at right angles to the channel and/or at points of minimum impact.
    To ensure that natural drainage patterns will not be altered or
    restricted as a result of construction activities, crossings will be
    designed and constructed according to specific standards outlined
    below.

6.  Due to the limited reach of mobilized tree harvesting equipment
    (feller-bunchers), three access ways will be needed within 75-foot
    wide waterbody buffers to enable cutting and removal of large trees
    across the entire ROW without the potential for additional ground
    disturbance and damage to remaining vegetation that can occur if the
    trees were hand cut and dragged out of the buffer with a cable (see
    Section 4.4). The access ways will be located in the approximate
    middle of the proposed ROW and approximately half way between the
    middle access and the outside edge of the ROW. The access ways will
    be 10-12 feet wide and only the trees that would prevent the
    harvesting equipment from efficiently performing its job, or other
    vegetation that would otherwise be seriously damaged by harvesting
    equipment traveling along the access way, will be removed. Existing
    low vegetation will remain. The access ways will not extend closer
    than 25 feet from the top of banks of any waterbody and will not
    require grading or any gravel, stone or other surface material.
    Temporary erosion and sedimentation control measures will be
    implemented along the access ways, as required. As will be the case
    along the entire NRI ROW, ground disturbance caused by the use of
    harvesting equipment will be repaired by returning the ground to its
    original contour, as needed, and seeding and mulching any bare
    ground. The two outer access ways will be restored at the completion
    of clearing activities in the area, and the central access restored
    at the completion of construction in the area. The vegetation in the
    two outer access ways will be allowed to revert to its original
    state, as allowed by ROW vegetation maintenance requirements. The
    vegetation in the middle access way will be maintained long-term to
    allow for small vehicle access (such as pick up trucks or a small
    tracked vehicle with a "cherry picker") during transmission line and
    ROW vegetation maintenance activities.

## Stream or Wetland Crossings

The following standards apply to all unavoidable stream, drainage way,
or wetland crossings encountered while accessing the project site or on
the project site itself.

### Types of Crossings Used

The type of crossing used for access is dependent on: the purpose and
use of the crossing, the nature of the resource being crossed, ground
conditions present at the time of construction, and construction
materials available. Some planning guidance is provided below. The
appropriate means and location of the crossing will be determined at the
time of the formal walk-through.

-   Permanent culverts will be used only where long-term, continued, and
    frequent access is required (such as substation access roads and
    drainage management).

-   Temporary crossings will be used at all other locations. Temporary
    bridges or construction mats must be used to cross any streams,
    drainage ways, or wetlands that contain: (1) flowing water, (2)
    standing water, (3) saturated soils, or (4) organic/mucky soils. No
    equipment will operate in or travel through the water or on soft or
    saturated wetland soils.

-   The use of corduroy as crossing material will be limited to wetlands
    which are not anticipated to have flowing or standing water or
    saturated soils during the construction period. The use of corduroy
    will be limited and must be pre-approved by a BHE representative and
    the 3PI.

-   All temporary waterbody crossings must be temporarily stabilized
    upon installation and permanently stabilized, as needed, within 48
    hours of removal, unless specified otherwise.

### Construction in Wetlands

In saturated or inundated wetland areas, winter construction will be
required during frozen soil conditions as much as possible. Otherwise,
wide tracked or balloon-tired equipment operating from timber corduroy
or timber mat work areas will be required. No permanent loss of wetland
habitat is allowed from construction activities. Where structures are to
be placed in wetlands, topsoil must be excavated first, and stockpiled
separate from subsoil. Soils will be replaced into the excavated area in
the opposite order they were removed. After pole installation, topsoil
must be restored to the original surface grade, except where mounding
around a structure is necessary for structure stability.

## Construction in Buffer Areas

###  Standard Waterbody Buffers

For the section of the NRI ROW that is adjacent to existing (MEPCO) ROW,
from the Orrington Substation to just beyond the Blackman Stream
crossing in Bradley, a 25-foot buffer from the top of banks of all
rivers, streams and brooks crossed by the NRI transmission line will be
established and maintained by BHE. No structures will be located within
these 25-foot buffer areas and no soil disturbance or vehicular traffic
will be allowed other than that necessary to construct and utilize
temporary equipment crossing bridges authorized during the walk-through.
For the remainder of the route, 75-foot buffers from the top of banks of
all waterbodies will be established. As described in Section 4.1, three
access ways will be required within these wider buffers during initial
clearing to enable tree harvesting equipment to reach all trees that
need to be removed. These access ways will not extend to within 25 feet
of the top of bank of a waterbody. All appropriate erosion and
sedimentation controls will be implemented and maintained along these
access ways during and following construction.

Construction activities within these 25- and 75-foot waterbody buffers
will be limited to the cutting of only capable species that are greater
than 8-10 feet tall (see Figure 1, Appendix C). Dead or danger trees may
be removed entirely. Cutting of these trees will be done by hand or by a
feller-buncher reaching into the buffer from outside the zone, if
possible, and from the three access ways as needed. Erosion control
barriers will be established and maintained along the access ways within
the buffers and along the approach to all stream crossings and will be
supplemented, as appropriate by water bars and/or erosion control
barriers extending outside the buffer zone.

As is the case for 75-foot buffers, in a limited number of instances,
even a 25-foot waterbody buffer surrounding several braided stream
channels running through a wetland area may be too wide for a
feller-buncher to reach all the trees requiring removal from outside the
buffer zone. In many of those instances, hand cutting followed by
pulling the downed trees out of the buffer using cables attached to a
vehicle located outside the buffer may result in a higher risk of damage
to the stream and surrounding vegetation and wetland than allowing a
feller-buncher into the buffer zone. In those situations, the BHE
representative will contact the 3PI and request authorization to allow a
feller-buncher into a 25-foot buffer area or within 25 feet of the
waterbody in a 75-foot buffer, utilizing appropriate wetland and stream
crossing procedures. If 3PI concurrence is not obtained for mechanized
cutting, the trees will be cut by hand and pulled from the buffer as
carefully as possible.

### Salmon Stream Buffers

The same construction limitations and erosion and sedimentation control
safeguards will apply to designated salmon stream buffers except that
only those trees capable of growing within the required NEPOOL clearance
of 15 feet [from the conductors]{.underline} within the next 3 to 4
years will be topped or removed. Topping of these trees is the preferred
method near salmon streams, unless they are dead or danger trees. This
will allow for taller buffers that provide additional shading (and
cooling) of the salmon streams. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the special
vegetation clearing and maintenance procedures to comply with the NEPOOL
Vegetation Maintenance Standard and maintain a taller buffer at salmon
streams. The following 9 streams that are crossed by the NRI
transmission line have been identified as salmon streams:

-   Narraguagus River (NRI station no. 2218+80)

-   Tributary to Fifth Machias Lake (NRI station no. 2770+15)

-   Tributary to Fifth Machias Lake (NRI station no. 2773+05)

-   Tributary to Fletcher Brook (NRI station no. 2912+72)

-   Machias River (NRI station no. 2963+21)

-   Dead Stream (NRI station no. 3075+24)

-   Lanpher Brook (NRI station no. 3113+39)

-   Huntley Brook (NRI station no. 3702+97)

-   Joe Brook (NRI station no. 3831+68)

# INSTALLATION OF CROSSINGS 

## Bridges

### Materials

Typically bridge construction will entail the use of log stringers as
construction materials covered by decking planks or construction mats.

### Sizing

The table below illustrates the log sizing requirements depending on the
span and anticipated loads.

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| []{#__RefH            |                       |                       |
| eading___Toc102779921 |                       |                       |
| .anchor}Table 2. Log  |                       |                       |
| Bridge Stringer       |                       |                       |
| Requirements          |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| **Span**              | **Minimum Log         |                       |
|                       | Diameter\***          |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
|                       | **(80,000 lb. Load)   |                       |
|                       | (40,000 lb. Load)**   |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| 8 ft.                 | 16 in.                | 12 in.                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| 12 ft.                | 18 in.                | 14 in.                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| 16 ft.                | 20 in.                | 16 in.                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Wheel guards: 10"     |                       |                       |
| diameter              |                       |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
| -   Size of deck      |                       |                       |
|     planks: 4" x 12"  |                       |                       |
|     x 12'             |                       |                       |
|                       |                       |                       |
| \* Assume 6 stringers |                       |                       |
| at 24" centers        |                       |                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

### Positioning

Illustrations of the proper use and installation of crossing bridges are
provided on Figures 4 and 5.

-   Temporary bridges will cross streams at right angles to the channel
    at a location with firm banks and level approaches whenever
    possible.

-   At the crossing location, the ends of the stringers will extend at
    least two feet onto firm banks or several feet into the upland edge
    of a wetland to ensure a dry, firm approach onto the bridge.

-   Mats, corduroy logs or a stone pad installed on top of geotextile
    fabric will be used, where necessary, to provide a smooth transition
    for equipment travel from the adjacent ground or temporary road onto
    the bridge.

-   Temporary bridges for the NRI project will not require support piers
    or abutments in a stream or inundated wetland.

### Maintenance

Bridges will be continually monitored to ensure their correct
functioning. Bridges which become covered with dirt will be kept clean
and the material removed must be disposed of and stabilized in an upland
location. The material will not be scraped and shoveled into the water
resource. The contractor will replace timbers or decking in poor
condition as soon as deterioration is observed. At a minimum, the
contractor will be responsible for inspecting all bridges once per week
and will keep a log of all changes, improvements and other maintenance
performed.

### Removal

Bridges will not be removed until their use is no longer necessary.
Specifically, all final restoration work along the adjacent ROW will be
completed prior to removing the bridge from the crossings. The planned
removal of bridges will be coordinated with BHE (or designated
representative) and the 3PI. All bridges will be removed from the ROW
upon completion of construction. The banks of streams and drainage ways
must be graded back to original conditions. Exposed soils on the banks
and within 100 feet of the crossing must be stabilized using seed and
mulch. Banks of drainage ways that are expected to receive high flows
will be stabilized with seed and curlex or jute matting (Figure 6).

## Culverts

No new culverts will be required for construction of the transmission
line, other than as a means of construction mat support for a long
stream crossing, and to replace existing damaged or malfunctioning
culverts along access roads.

### Materials

Permanent culverts will be either corrugated metal or plastic pipe.
Temporary culverts will be corrugated metal, plastic pipe, or lumber
ties. Chemically-treated wood will be not used.

### Sizing

Culvert size will be determined by the largest pipe diameter equal to
the undisturbed cross sectional area of the bank full condition of the
stream. It should fit into the existing channel without major excavation
of the waterway channel or without major approach fills. If a channel
width exceeds 3 feet, additional pipes may be used until the cross
sectional area of the pipes approaches that of the existing channel. The
minimum size culvert that may be used is an 18-inch diameter pipe. The
maximum flow capacity of the culvert(s) ("bank full") will be determined
at highest flows or will be approximated during periods of lower flows
using the apparent natural high water marks remaining on the stream
banks.

### Positioning

The following guidelines will be used for the positioning of all
permanent and temporary culverts:

-   Culverts will be placed to allow for the crossing to take place at
    right angles to the channel to ensure that natural drainage patterns
    will not be altered.

-   Culverts will be placed at the point of narrowest crossing and where
    firm banks and level approach slopes are available. Slopes should be
    no greater than 1.5 to 1.

### Installation

The following guidelines will be used for the installation of all
permanent and temporary culverts:

-   Culverts will be of sufficient length to allow both ends to extend
    at least one foot beyond the toe of any fill used to cover the
    culvert.

-   Culverts will be bedded on firm ground. Supplemental use of
    geotextile with gravel can be used to create this firm base.
    Permanent culvert installation will include firm compaction of the
    foundation and the fill around the sides of the culvert. Compaction
    will be done in no less than 8-inch lifts.

-   Both the inlet and outlet ends of the culverts will be set at or
    slightly below the natural stream bottom to allow passage of fish
    and other aquatic life at all levels of flow. At no point will
    either end of an installed culvert be positioned in the air out of
    the water.

-   Multiple culverts must be offset in order to concentrate low flows
    into the culvert within the natural channel.

-   Fill used to bury the culvert will be compacted at least half-way up
    the side of the culvert for its full length in ensure that flowing
    water will not undermine the culvert.

-   Culverts will be covered with fill to a depth of at least one foot
    or one-half the culvert diameter, whichever is greater.

-   Road fill at the upstream (headwall) and downstream (out-fall) ends
    of culverts will be armored with rock rip rap to protect the road
    fill from being eroded by the action of water or road traffic. This
    material will be installed up to the level of anticipated high
    water.

-   In areas where the streambed appears highly erodible, the streambed
    at the outlet end of the culvert will be lined with riprap to
    prevent erosion and potential streambed scour. Table 3 below
    indicates the distances away from the culvert to install such
    riprap. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate typical culvert installation for
    the NRI project with inlet and outlet protection.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  []{#__RefHeading___Toc102779922     
  .anchor}Table 3. Culvert Size -     
  Length of Rock Protection           

  **Culvert Diameter (Inches)**       **Length of Rock Protection From
                                      Culvert (Feet)**

  12 -- 20                            7

  21 -- 24                            9

  30                                  11

  36                                  13

  42 -- 48                            18

  54 -- 60                            24

  66 -- 78                            32
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

### Removal

Temporary culverts used to support bridge spans will be removed from the
stream channel and ROW at the same time the span is removed. Replacement
culverts along temporary access roads will be left in place, because the
original damaged or malfunctioning culvert was removed.

## Mats (Timber or Construction Mats)

BHE will require the contractor to ensure that adequate mats are present
at the project site prior to construction. A readily accessible source
of mats will also be available in case construction conditions change
and necessitate the need for more mats.

### Materials

A number of differently sized and constructed timber mats are typically
available. BHE requires that the appropriate mats be used for the
appropriate crossing. For example:

-   Longer mats will be used for spanning the longer crossings. This
    practice avoids the need to install additional mats within the
    crossing area in order to support the "span" mats.

-   Mats will be in good condition to allow for their "clean"
    installation and use. Using mats with timbers and cables in good
    condition minimizes the potential for breakage during installation
    and use, and helps prevent them from becoming imbedded in mud and
    the need to drag them in or out of the resource versus carrying them
    above the resource.

-   Mats with partial/short timbers joined end to end will not be used
    to cross stream channels.

### Installation

Illustrations of the proper use and installation of mats are provided on
Figures 9 and 10.

-   Whenever possible, mats will be carried and not dragged. Dragging
    mats creates more soil disturbance which requires additional erosion
    control or final restoration work.

-   At the crossing location, the ends of the timber mats will extend at
    least two feet onto firm banks or several feet into the upland edge
    of a wetland to ensure a dry, firm approach onto the mats.

-   At wetland crossings requiring multiple mats, the mats will be
    oriented with their longest dimension perpendicular to the direction
    of travel to reduce the potential for the mats to work into the
    wetland soils as vehicles cross and cause significant disturbance of
    the wetland surface.

-   Mats used as temporary bridges for the NRI project will not require
    support piers or abutments to cross a stream or inundated wetland.
    The contractor will use appropriately sized and spaced timbers (see
    Table 2, above) to span the resource and support the mats. In
    certain instances, a culvert may be used to provide midstream
    support if more than one mat is required to cross a long span, as
    approved by the BHE representative or 3PI. Support culverts will be
    oriented parallel to the direction of flow and fish passage
    maintained.

-   At "dry" crossings where no water is present or anticipated during
    project construction, the mats may be placed directly onto the
    sensitive natural area in order to prevent excessive rutting,
    provided stream banks and bottoms are not altered.

### Maintenance

Matted crossings will be continually monitored to ensure their correct
functioning. Mats which become covered with dirt will be kept clean and
the material removed disposed of and stabilized in an upland location.
The material will not be scraped and shoveled into the water resource.
Mats which become imbedded will be reset or layered to prevent mud from
covering them or water passing over them. The contractor will replace
mats as soon as deterioration is observed. At a minimum, the contractor
will be responsible for inspecting all matted crossings once per week
and will keep a log of all changes, improvements and other maintenance
performed.

### Removal

Mats will not be removed until their use is no longer necessary.
Specifically, all final restoration work along the adjacent ROW will be
completed prior to removing the mats from the crossings. The planned
removal of mats will be coordinated with BHE (or designated
representative) and the 3PI. All mats will be removed from the ROW upon
completion of construction Exposed soils within 100 feet of the crossing
must be stabilized using seed and mulch.

## Corduroy 

### Materials

Corduroy material will consist of de-limbed trees or logs. The logs must
have a diameter greater than three inches at the small end and lengths
greater than 18 feet. Shorter length material may be used only as
described in the Installation section below.

### Positioning

The use of corduroy as crossing material will be limited to wetlands
which are not anticipated to have flowing or standing water or saturated
or soft soils during the construction period. Corduroy will be placed
perpendicular to the direction of travel. Corduroy will be placed at the
point of narrowest crossing and where firm ground and level approach
slopes are available. Corduroy may also be used to help stabilize and
level the approaches to a bridge crossing. Illustration of the proper
use and installation of corduroy logs is provided on Figure 11.

### Installation

The corduroy will be placed with the longer length pieces laid down
first. The bed of corduroy will not only be placed within the low
portions of the crossing but also for at least three feet up the sides
of any upland side slopes in order to prevent rutting and sedimentation
from the approaches to the crossing.

Once a thick base of corduroy has been laid, pieces shorter than 18 feet
can be used to fill gaps and raise the elevation of the corduroy to
provide for a more stable crossing.

### Maintenance

Corduroy will be continually monitored to ensure its correct
functioning. Corduroy logs which become covered with dirt will be kept
clean and the material removed must be disposed of and stabilized in an
upland location. The material will not be scraped and shoveled into the
water resource. Corduroy that becomes imbedded in mud will be replaced
by timber mats or other more suitable crossing materials as soon as
significant surface disturbance is observed. At a minimum, the
contractor will be responsible for inspecting all corduroy logs once per
week and will keep a log of all changes, improvements and other
maintenance performed.

### Removal

Removal is the reverse of installation. Once the corduroy has been
removed from the crossing, it will be moved off the right-of-way,
burned, or chipped. The material may also be spread and distributed on
the ROW over the nearby upland, if in accordance with the Maine Slash
Law (see Appendix H) and approved by a BHE representative.

# SURFACE WATER DIVERSION STRUCTURES (WATER BARS)

A number of above-ground structures or techniques are available to
divert water out of travel ways and work areas in order to prevent
subsequent runoff and erosion. Water bars (also called slope breakers)
may be required in a limited number of locations along the NRI ROW to
redirect water moving down a prolonged steep slope into adjacent
vegetated areas (filter strips).

## Materials

Water bars will be constructed by excavating or moving and shaping earth
from within the ROW to form a shallow cross-drainage swale. The
excavated material will be used to form an elevated bar immediately down
slope of the swale.

## Positioning

Water bars will be installed immediately above and along steep pitches
in the ROW or travel lane and below seepage areas on natural or cut
banks, as determined during the site walk-through. They will be sited to
take advantage of existing vegetation for filtering and slope away from
the erodable area. The interval for installing these diversion
structures depends on the slope of the area, as well as the nature of
the surface, soils, and wetness. Generally speaking, steeper slopes
require shorter distances between water bars. The following table
contains typical recommended distances between installed structures
depending on slope.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  []{#__RefHeading___Toc102779923     
  .anchor}Table 4. Recommended        
  Distances Between Water Diversion   
  Structures                          

  **Slope (Percent)**                 **Spacing (Feet)**

  0 -- 2                              500 -- 300

  3 -- 5                              250 -- 180

  6 -- 10                             167 -- 140

  11 -- 15                            136 -- 127

  16 -- 20                            125 -- 120

  21+                                 100
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Water bars will be sized in anticipation of greater flows resulting from
snow melt, spring runoff, and storm rains.

### Installation

Water bars will be installed at 30-degrees angled down grade. The shape
of the backside portion of the structure will have a reverse slope of
about 3 percent. Use of a pop-level is recommended to ensure that
drainage is away from the erodable area. Water bars will be constructed
with rounded (not vertical) mounds and dips to allow for firm compaction
and to allow re-vegetation. Illustrations of the proper installation of
water bars are provided on Figures 12 and 13.

The inlet end of water bars will extend beyond the edge of the erodable
area so that it fully intercepts water flows that may flow onto the
area. The outlet end of the structure will extend out far enough to
prevent water from flowing around and re-entering the work area. The
discharge ends will outlet into a vegetated filter strip. Where heavy
flows are encountered or anticipated, the outlet end of the water bar
will incorporate an apron of rock and/or geotextile fabric to reduce
water velocities and prevent erosion.

Where the water bar is within 100 feet of a stream or wetland, a small,
excavated settling basin or ditch turnout will be incorporated to reduce
the velocity of flows and the continued movement of sediment downslope.
In addition, stone check dams, silt fencing or staked hay bales will be
installed at the outlet of the diversion structure, where vegetated
filter strips are narrow or sparsely vegetated, in order to prevent
sediment from entering water resources. Additionally, a temporary mulch
liner (anchored erosion control blanket) will be installed immediately
upslope of the sediment barrier to reduce the erosion potential of the
concentrated flow. The proper installation of stone check dams and other
swale stabilization measures is illustrated on Figure 14.

### Maintenance

Due to repeated travel over these structures, maintenance is critical to
their effective functioning. As the structure becomes flattened or
rutted, it will be re-excavated or graded to ensure the interception and
redirection of water runoff. The outlet ends, sediment basins and
sediment barriers will be maintained by clearing away any potential
blockages and accumulated sediments. In areas where silt fence or hay
bale barriers are used, the barriers will be replaced with stone check
dams if inspections during construction indicate that channelized runoff
is undercutting the barrier. At a minimum, the contractor will be
responsible for inspecting all waterbars in active construction areas
once per week and will keep a log of all changes, improvements and other
maintenance performed.

### Removal

After the completion of the construction project, removal of these
structures is not a requirement. Water bars can be left in place
provided they have been suitably stabilized with seed and mulch. Any hay
bale barriers or silt fence at the outlet end will be removed when the
site has a healthy vegetative cover.

# SEDIMENT BARRIERS (STRUCTURAL MEASURES)

## Introduction

The use of properly installed erosion and sediment control barriers is
the most fundamental and [critical]{.underline} component for stopping
erosion on the NRI project. Erosion control barriers include silt fence,
hay bales, and/or erosion control mix berms. In some cases, these
barriers may be deemed unnecessary by a BHE representative or the 3PI
due to factors including slope and filter strip width within project
boundaries. A typical BHE construction project will use both silt fence
and hay bale barriers to effectively control erosion near water
resources. Installation and diligent maintenance of these barriers
serves the following purposes:

-   Ensures the environmental integrity of those upland and water
    resource areas not designated or permitted for disturbance.
    Specifically, it maintains the onsite vegetative community and water
    quality of the surface water within the watershed.

-   Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local
    environmental and land use regulations or permit conditions.

Generally, silt fence is the preferred barrier because: it traps a much
higher percentage of suspended sediments than hay bales; it can be
easier to install, obtain, and transport; and is less costly. In
addition, the structural longevity of silt fence is 60 days or longer
unlike straw or hay bales, which is 60 days or less.

The standards and procedures outlined in this section are meant to
address a majority of the situations encountered during transmission
line construction activities. For additional information on sediment and
erosion control methods and techniques, or to address a particularly
problematic situation, the information in this section will be
supplemented by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's
[Maine Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs]{.underline}, dated March 2003.

The locations and types of sediment barriers to be used at the Orrington
Substation are shown on the construction drawings in Appendix D.

## Use of Silt Fence

### Materials

Silt fence is provided by a number of manufacturers and is generally a
synthetic fabric pre-attached to wooden staking. The fabric must be
pervious to water allowing a flow through rate of 0.3 gallon per square
foot per minute. The fabric must contain stabilizers and ultraviolet ray
inhibitors to allow it to sustain exposure of a minimum of 6 months. The
height of the filter fabric must not exceed 3 feet above the ground
surface.

### Placement

Silt fence is to be utilized at the edge of any planned work area or
area which will incur the disturbance of soil conditions. It will be
installed on slope contours to intercept any sheet flow of water,
maximize ponding, and detain sediment from entering water resources or
leaving the project site. It will be installed prior to construction
activity that results in exposure or disturbance of soil. Given the
length of the NRI transmission line in particular, the amount of silt
fence placement must be selective; however, it will be used in amounts
sufficient to meet potential changing conditions in a pro-active manner.
Silt fence will be used, as appropriate, in the following locations:

-   Around all substation project sites.

-   Along all access roads or work areas and at the end of water bars
    that are within 100 feet of water resources.

-   Along all access roads or work areas in upland settings that
    encounter seepage moving across slope.

-   Around all stockpiled soils.

In general, the placement of silt fence is appropriate when:

-   Serving a drainage area of no more than 0.25 acre per 100 feet of
    silt fence length.

-   The maximum slope length behind the fence is 100 feet or less.

-   The maximum gradient behind the fence is 50 percent or 2:1
    horizontal/vertical.

-   Where the filter strip is not of an adequate width (see Table 1).

The placement of silt fence along the right of way will be determined
during the walk-through.

### Installation

The following installation guidelines are the minimum which will be
implemented; however, appropriate changes to silt fence installation
will be made as conditions change during the construction. Illustrations
of the proper use and installation of silt fence are provided on Figures
15 - 18.

Silt fence will be placed an adequate distance (6-10 feet) beyond the
toe of the slope (if there is sufficient room) to allow for sediment
accumulation between the disturbed area and the down-gradient water
resources. If there is not sufficient room to place the silt fence an
adequate distance beyond the toe of the slope, a BHE representative or
the 3PI must be consulted. The barrier will be installed along the
contour, within reason. The goal is to slow and pool sediment-laden
runoff to allow fine sediments to settle-out before the runoff enters a
water resource. The ends of the barrier will be turned up-slope to
maintain the pool volume.

A trench will be excavated approximately 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep
on the up-slope side of the silt fence alignment. The lower edge of the
silt fence fabric will be entrenched for a distance of at least 6 inches
up-slope and then back-filled. Should frozen or rocky ground conditions
prevent the effective or practical use of trenching, materials such as
bark/wood chips, wood fiber mulch, or a soil erosion control mixture can
be used. This material is to be mounded on top of at least 8 inches of
filter fabric placed on the ground surface, which would otherwise be
trenched.

Silt fence will be installed in a continuous roll to avoid a joint
between different pieces of fence. If joints are necessary, filter
fabric will be "spliced" together at a support post, securely sealed,
and with a minimum of 6 inches of overlap. Splicing rolls of silt fence
entails twisting end posts together, creating a continuous section of
silt fence.

Support posts will be placed on the down-slope side or the side closest
to or facing the water resource. The posts will be placed 6 feet apart
(a maximum of 10 feet may be acceptable in some locations) and driven
securely into the ground, typically about 18 inches deep. Silt fence
usually has posts pre-attached. If ponding water behind the silt fence
is anticipated or occurs, additional stakes will be added for support
and attached to the fabric with staples or zip-ties.

**Silt fence will not be installed in streams or drainage ways where
water flow is present or concentrated flows that could undercut the
barrier are anticipated**.

### Maintenance

Once a week, or after rainstorms producing at least ½ inch of rainfall,
whichever is more frequent, the contractor will inspect all temporary
erosion and sediment control barriers. During a prolonged rainfall,
barriers will be inspected at least daily. Such inspection is necessary
to ensure that the barriers are functioning properly as well as
identifying new areas requiring installation. A maintenance log will be
kept of all erosion control changes, improvements, and maintenance
performed.

If any barriers are not functioning properly, they will be repaired or
replaced. A sediment control barrier is not functioning if:

1.  Water is flowing around the sides or under the barrier.

2.  Soil has built up behind the barrier to the point more than half-way
    up the fence.

3.  There is excessive sag in the fence.

4.  There is evidence of sedimentation such as gully erosion, slumping
    of banks, or the discoloration of water outside of the perimeter
    silt fence.

Corrective measures include removing accumulated sediment from behind
the barrier, restaking, extending the ends of the fence, installing
another fence further upslope, or replacing the fence with a stone check
dam in areas of significant concentrated flow.

### Removal

Installed silt fence will be removed once it is evident that the soils
have become stabilized and the potential for erosion no longer exists,
generally a healthy growth of vegetation over at least 90 percent of the
stabilized area (see Section 10.0). In most cases, the silt fence will
not be removed until at least one growing season has past. Removal of
silt fence will be coordinated with BHE or its designated
representative.

Any ridges or mounds of soil or caught sediment remaining in place after
the silt fence has been removed, will be leveled-off to conform to the
existing grade. Any newly exposed soil that may erode will be seeded and
mulched. All removed silt fence will be properly disposed of off ROW.

## Use of Hay Bales

### Placement

Like silt fence, hay bale barriers can be utilized at the edge of any
planned work area or areas where soil disturbance has occurred or will
occur. Barriers will be installed to intercept sheet flow of water and
detain sediment from entering water resources or leaving the project
site. As is the case with silt fence, the amount of hay bale barrier
placement must be selective, but in amounts sufficient to meet potential
changing conditions in a pro-active manner. Hay bale barriers will be
used, as appropriate, in the following locations:

-   Around all substation project sites.

-   Along all access roads or work areas and at the end of water bars
    that are within 100 feet of a water resource area.

-   Along all access roads or work areas in upland settings that
    encounter seepage moving across slope.

-   In ditch lines as check dams.

-   Around all stockpiled soils.

In general, the placement of hay bales is appropriate when:

-   Serving a drainage area of no more than 0.25 acre per 100 feet of
    barrier length.

-   The maximum slope length behind the barrier is 100 feet or less.

-   The maximum gradient behind the barrier of 50 percent or 2:1
    horizontal/vertical.

-   Where the filter strip is not of an adequate width (see Table 1).

-   Weed free [straw]{.underline} bales will be used in place of hay
    bales, when installation is required in a wetland.

### Installation

The following installation guidelines are the minimum which will be
implemented; however, appropriate changes to hay bale installation will
be made as conditions change during the construction operation.
Illustrations of proper hay bale use and installation are provided on
Figures 19 - 22.

The barrier will be placed an adequate distance (6-10 feet) beyond the
toe of the slope (if there is sufficient room) to allow for sediment
accumulation between the disturbed area and the down-gradient sensitive
areas. If there is not sufficient room to place the hay bales an
adequate distance beyond the toe of the slope, a BHE representative or
the 3PI will be consulted. Within reason, the barrier will be installed
along the contour. The goal is to slow and pool the sediment-laden
runoff to allow fine sediments to settle-out before the runoff enters a
water resource. The ends of the barrier will be turned up-slope to
maintain the pool volume.

A shallow trench will be excavated the width of the bale and to a
minimum depth of 4 inches in which to imbed the bale. The excavated
soils will then be used to seal the lower inside (up-slope) edge of the
barrier. The bales will be set tightly together and entrenched with the
baling string oriented on the sides (i.e., not touching the ground) in
order to prevent deterioration of the string.

Every bale will be staked using 2 stakes per bale. The stakes will be
driven in at angles such that it binds and forces abutting hay bales
together. Gaps between bales will be packed with loose hay to prevent
water from escaping between the bales. Hay bales will not be placed in
streams where flow is present or anticipated or in drainage ways with
concentrated flows that could undercut the barrier are anticipated.

### Maintenance

Once a week, or after rainstorms producing at least ½ inch of rainfall,
whichever is more frequent, the contractor will inspect all temporary
erosion and sediment control barriers. During a prolonged rainfall,
barriers will be inspected at least daily. Such inspection is necessary
to ensure the structures are functioning properly as well as identifying
new areas requiring installation. A maintenance log will be kept of all
erosion control changes, improvements, and maintenance performed.

If any barriers are not functioning properly, they will be repaired or
replaced. A sediment barrier is not functioning if:

-   Water is flowing around the sides or under the barrier.

-   Soil has built up behind the barrier to the point more than half-way
    up the hay bale or where there is excessive lean to the barrier.

-   There is evidence of sedimentation such as gully erosion, slumping
    of banks, or the discoloration of water outside of the hay bale
    barrier.

Corrective measures include removing accumulated sediment from behind
the barrier, re-staking, extending the barrier at the ends, installing
another barrier further up-slope, or replacing the hay bales with a
stone check dam in areas of significant concentrated flow.

Straw or hay bales will not be used at locations where a sediment
barrier is expected to be needed for more than a 60 days period.

### Removal

Installed hay bales will be removed once it is evident that the soils
have become stabilized and the potential for erosion no longer exists.
In most cases, the hay bale barrier will not be removed until at least a
healthy growth of vegetation is established on at least 90 percent of
the disturbed site. Removal of hay bale barriers will be coordinated
with BHE or their designated representative.

Any ridges, mounds of soil, or caught sediment remaining in place after
the hay bales have been removed, will be leveled-off to conform with the
existing grade. Any newly exposed soil that may erode will be seeded and
mulched. All removed hay bales must be properly disposed of off ROW, or
broken up and used as mulch on the bare soils near the barrier.

## Use of Erosion Control Mix Berms and Continuous Contained Berms

Erosion control mix berms are practical and effective in most
situations, but are especially suited for frozen ground, outcrops of
bedrock, and forested areas with many roots where silt fence or hay
bales cannot be effectively keyed in. Erosion control mix consists
primarily of organic materials such as shredded bark, stump grindings,
composted bark, or similar materials. Wood and bark chips, ground
construction debris, or reprocessed wood products are not acceptable for
use in erosion control mix. It can be manufactured on or off site, and
will contain a well-graded mix of particle sizes and may contain rocks
up to 4-inches in diameter. Any erosion control mix used on the NRI
project will have:

-   organic matter content between 80 and 100 percent (dry weight),

-   100 percent of particles passing a 6-inch screen,

-   between 70 and 85 percent passing a 0.75-inch screen,

-   the organic portion will be fibrous and elongated,

-   only small proportions will be silts, clays, or fine sands,

-   soluble salts content will be \<4.0 mmhos/cm, and

-   pH will be between 5.0 and 8.0.

A continuous contained berm (or filter sock) is a fabric sock that is
filled with erosion control mix. It is also an effective barrier in
areas that cannot be effectively trenched for installation of silt fence
or hay bales. It is especially suited for use on pavement, since it can
be driven over without adversely affecting its effectiveness. The
netting holds the organic mix together and keeps it from being
displaced.

### Installation

Illustration of the proper installation of erosion control mix berms is
provided on Figure 23. As with other barriers, to be most effective
these berms must be placed along the contour of the slope. It will be
necessary to cut tall grasses or woody vegetation to avoid creating
voids and bridges that may enable runoff and sediment to wash under the
barrier. For erosion control mix berms, on slopes less than five percent
or at the bottom of steeper slopes (\<2:1) up to 20 feet long, the
barrier must be a minimum of 12 inches high and a minimum of 2 feet
wide. On longer or steeper slopes, the barrier must be wider to
accommodate additional runoff.

Erosion control mix berms will not be used at low points of concentrated
runoff, below culvert outlet aprons, around catch basins and closed
storm systems, and at the bottom of steep perimeter slopes that have
large watersheds.

### Maintenance

Once a week, or after rainstorms producing at least ½ inch of rainfall,
whichever is more frequent, the contractor will inspect all temporary
erosion and sediment control barriers. During a prolonged rainfall,
barriers will be inspected at least daily. Such inspection is necessary
to ensure the structures are functioning properly as well as identifying
new areas requiring installation. A maintenance log will be kept of all
erosion control changes, improvements, and maintenance performed.

If any barriers are not functioning properly, they will be repaired or
replaced. A sediment barrier is not functioning if:

-   Water is flowing around the sides or under the barrier.

-   Soil has built up behind the barrier to the point more than half-way
    up the barrier or where there is excessive lean to the barrier.

-   There is evidence of sedimentation such as gully erosion, slumping
    of banks, or the discoloration of water outside of the barrier.

Corrective measures include removing accumulated sediment from behind
the barrier, re-staking, extending the barrier at the ends, reshaping
the erosion control mix berm, or installing another barrier further
up-slope.

# NONSTRUCTURAL EROSION CONTROL MEASURES

## Nonstructural Measures Defined

Nonstructural measures are temporary or permanent methods used to cover
exposed soil areas to prevent erosion from occurring. Their purpose is
to cover the entire area of exposed soil to prevent initial erosion of
soil from a construction site.

Examples of nonstructural measures include hay or straw mulch, erosion
control mix, matting, or seeding.

## Importance of Nonstructural Measures 

Nonstructural measures are important because they provide both temporary
and permanent protective cover to exposed soils. Generally, they provide
the first line of protection against erosion, and can be the most
effective means of preventing erosion. This protection is important
because exposed soils are easily eroded by wind or water. Some soils
such as silts can easily be removed from a construction site by
rainwater. The impact of individual raindrops on exposed soils can
loosen soil particles, and these particles can then be carried off the
work site by runoff and deposited into water resources including
streams, rivers, wetlands, ponds, and lakes. Silt particles don't settle
out of water easily, and water siltation can pollute surface waters and
harm aquatic creatures such as insects and fish. For example, brook
trout, one of Maine's premier game fish species, requires clear, high
quality water in order to survive. Silty water can reduce spawning
habitat, irritate fish gills, lower oxygen content in water, and make
fish susceptible to diseases.

Dry soil conditions and high winds can also cause siltation. When small
particle soils such as silts become dry, they have a powder-like texture
and can easily be swept away by winds. Nonstructural measures help
prevent wind erosion because they hold moisture next to the soil, keep
the soil from drying out due to wind exposure, and prevent winds from
carrying away dry soil particles.

## Placement of Nonstructural Measures

Nonstructural measures will be used whenever there is a possibility that
exposed soils on a construction site could wash into adjacent sensitive
water resources. **Temporary nonstructural measures such as hay or straw
mulch will be spread on all exposed soils within 100-feet of water
resources within 48 hours of initial soil disturbance, or before any
predicted storm event**. Mulch will also be applied immediately to areas
that have been seeded. All mulch materials will receive periodic
inspection by the contractor (especially after rainstorms) to be sure
that they are covering the soil they are meant to protect and are
functioning properly. Mulches that are damaged will be repaired,
replaced, or reinstalled.

There are two types of nonstructural measures: temporary and permanent.
Temporary measures are typically used [during]{.underline} construction,
while permanent measures are usually applied [after]{.underline}
construction is complete (i.e., restoration). Erosion control mix is
described in temporary measures, though it is also applied as a
permanent measure. Provided below are general discussions and
explanations of the common nonstructural measures that are to be used
for NRI project construction.

### Temporary Measures

-   Hay or straw mulch (unanchored on slopes less than eight percent,
    anchored on slopes greater than eight percent) on exposed soil areas
    and soil stockpiles in the construction area. Figure 24 illustrates
    proper mulch anchoring using netting;

-   Between April 16 and October 31, temporary seeding covered by hay or
    straw mulch on soil stockpiles or areas of exposed soil within 100
    feet of sensitive resources that are not scheduled for final
    restoration for 30 days. Temporary seeding is not required during
    the winter construction season; however, daily mulching is required
    on all exposed soils, including those exposed during winter,
    followed by temporary or permanent seeding, as appropriate, as soon
    as growing conditions allow. (See Section 9.0 and Table 6 for
    details of winter construction.)

-   Erosion control mix (as described in Section 7.4) can be used as
    slope reinforcement or mulch on slopes that are 2:1 or less, on
    frozen ground or forested areas, and at the edge of gravel parking
    areas and active construction areas.

-   Erosion control mix used as mulch applied at different thicknesses
    depending on the slope and slope length. For slopes of 3:1 or less,
    apply erosion control mix 2 inches thick plus an additional 1/2 inch
    per 20 feet of slope up to 100 feet (e.g., 3 inches thick for 60
    feet of slope; 4 inches thick for 100 feet of slope). For slopes
    between 3:1 and 2:1, apply erosion control mix 4 inches thick plus
    an additional 1/2 inch per 20 feet of slope up to 100 feet (e.g., 5
    inches thick for 60 feet of slope; 6 inches thick for 100 feet of
    slope).

-   Erosion control mix must be spread evenly and must provide 100
    percent soil coverage;

-   Erosion control mix will not support grass, but will support clover
    and other legumes and woody vegetation. Vegetation can be promoted
    by seeding, or it can be left to occur naturally.

-   Curlex or jute matting on areas of high wind exposure, steep slopes
    (steeper than eight percent grade), unstable soils, and stream/river
    bank restoration areas. Matting is typically anchored with large
    staples, as recommended by the manufacturer (see Figure 25).
    Although this type of material is usually used during final
    restoration, it is considered a temporary measure because it
    generally deteriorates within two years.

Temporary, non-structural erosion control measures are summarized in
Table 5.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  []{#__RefHeading___Toc102779924   
  .anchor}Table 5. Temporary        
  Nonstructural Erosion Control     
  Measure Summary                   
  --------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  **Mulch on slopes less than 8%**  Within 100feet of wetlands or waterbodies apply hay
                                    and/or straw mulch at a minimum of 70 lbs./1000 square
                                    feet of exposed soil (about 2 bales). Must be done
                                    within 48 hours of initial soil disturbance and before
                                    storm forecasted events, unless specified otherwise.

  **Mulch on slopes greater than    Hay or straw mulch can be applied without being
  8%**                              anchored, unless specific site conditions may require
                                    use of anchoring.

  **Temporary seeding in uplands**  Within 100 feet of wetlands or waterbodies, apply annual
                                    ryegrass at 1 lb./1000 square feet. Mulch with hay or
                                    straw. Must be done if final restoration is not
                                    scheduled within 30 days.

  **Temporary seeding in wetlands** If required, apply annual ryegrass at a rate of 1
                                    lb./1000 square feet and cover with **straw** mulch.
                                    **Do not add lime or fertilizer to wetlands.** When in
                                    doubt, ask the environmental or construction inspector.

  **Temporary seedbed preparation** Apply limestone and fertilizer (uplands only) according
                                    to soil test data. If soil test is not possible,
                                    10-10-10 fertilizer may be applied at a rate of 600
                                    lbs./acre and limestone at 3 tons/acre.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

### Permanent Measures

-   Permanent grass and/or legume seeding covered by hay or straw mulch
    on all areas that have been restored to final grade. This is
    required to establish permanent, perennial, vegetative cover on
    exposed soils. This seeding generally applies between April 16 and
    October 31. Permanent seeding is not required during the winter
    construction season, although dormant seeding may be performed (see
    Section 9.0 and Table 6).

-   Seeding covered by anchored Curlex or jute matting in areas of high
    wind exposure, on steep slopes (steeper than eight percent grade),
    unstable soils, and stream/river bank restoration areas.

-   The soil may need to be properly prepared before any seed is placed
    on the ground. Soil preparation may include addition of lime and
    fertilizer in areas that have not been tested, or in areas that have
    been tested and are found to be deficient in plant nutrients. Lime
    and fertilizer will only be used in designated upland areas and
    never within waterbody buffer zones. If in doubt, ask the BHE
    environmental inspector.

Summary information regarding proper permanent seed mix, application
rates, locations, and mulching requirements is provided in Section 10.0
and Table 7.

# WINTER CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS

Properly conducted winter construction provides a unique opportunity to
complete work in sensitive resources with a minimum of environmental
impact. For instance, construction of the NRI project has been planned
to complete work in inundated and saturated wetlands under frozen ground
conditions as much as possible. Other activities, such as clearing and
stream crossings, are often best performed when the ground is frozen to
minimize impacts. As a result, considerable construction activity for
the NRI project will be conducted during the winter season, while
avoiding ROW preparation activities such as clearing and excavation
during the fall and spring mud seasons.

Construction activities conducted between November 1 and April 15 will
follow the erosion and sediment control BMP that was developed by the
DEP for winter construction, as applicable (see BMP A-3). More frequent,
heavier application of temporary mulch, increased dormant seeding rates,
the substitution or additional use of erosion control mix berms in
erosion control barriers and other supplemental erosion controls will be
used as required.

However, it is important to note that following the winter construction
BMP may not be necessary at all times during winter construction, and in
some situations may increase the potential for erosion and
sedimentation. For example, if there is no snow on the ground or the
ground isn't frozen by November 1, or at any time during winter
construction, silt fence will be installed if it can be keyed in
properly. Similarly, if saturated or inundated wetlands are not frozen,
all work will be performed from construction mats. Also, if the ground
thaws and the snow is gone before April 15, resumption of the standard
BMPs may be appropriate. Temporary bridges will still be used for all
waterbody crossings, regardless of the season or frozen ground or stream
conditions. When in doubt, use common sense and contact the BHE
environmental inspector with any questions. All areas stabilized during
the winter construction period will be inspected once snow cover is gone
in the spring and remedial measures taken as needed.

Table 6 on the following pages highlights some of the major differences
between winter construction and typical construction season BMPs. The
table presents differences for temporary erosion control and
stabilization measures that will be used during construction, and
permanent measures when construction is completed.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  []{#__RefHeading___Toc102779925                                  
  .anchor}Table 6. Seasonal                                        
  Differences in Construction BMP                                  
  Requirements                                                     
  --------------------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------
  **Control Measure**               **General Construction**       **Winter Construction**

                                    **April 16 through October     **November 1 through April
                                    31**                           15**

  **Mulch on slopes less than 8%**  Within 100-feet of wetlands or Within 100-feet of wetlands or
                                    waterbodies apply hay and/or   waterbodies apply and maintain
                                    straw mulch at a minimum of 70 properly anchored hay and/or
                                    lbs./1000 square feet of       straw mulch at a minimum of
                                    exposed soil (about 2 bales).  150 lbs./1000 square feet of
                                    Must be done within 7 days of  exposed soil (about 5 bales)
                                    initial soil disturbance and   at all times. (double the
                                    before storm forecasted        April 16 -- October 31 rate).
                                    events, unless specified       Or apply anchored erosion
                                    otherwise.                     control mats or the
                                                                   appropriate layer of erosion
                                                                   control mix (see Section
                                                                   8.3.1). Do not apply mulch on
                                                                   top of more than 1 inch of
                                                                   snow. Remove snow as
                                                                   necessary. Apply anchored
                                                                   mulch after each day of final
                                                                   grading.

  **Mulch on slopes greater than    Hay or straw mulch can be      Apply mulch as specified above
  8%**                              applied without being          and anchor with Curlex, jute
                                    anchored, though specific site matting, or similar mulch
                                    conditions may require use of  netting. Erosion control mix
                                    anchoring.                     can be used on slopes in place
                                                                   of anchored hay or straw
                                                                   mulch.

  **Area of exposed soils allowed   No restriction on area         Not more than one (1) acre of
  at any one time**                 exposed, but contractor must   exposed (not mulched or
                                    attempt to minimize amount of  otherwise devoid of vegetative
                                    exposed soil at any one time,  cover) soil.
                                    especially next to water       
                                    resources.                     

  **Sediment barriers**             A single line of sediment      If soil is frozen, use erosion
                                    barriers including silt fence, control mix filter berms in
                                    hay bales, or erosion control  place of hay bale/silt fence
                                    mix filter berms must be       sediment barriers. After Dec.
                                    installed between water        1, install 2 lines of sediment
                                    resources and disturbed soils. barriers if wetlands or
                                                                   waterbodies are within 100
                                                                   feet of disturbed soils.

  **Temporary seeding in uplands**  If required, apply annual      Not required, but if temporary
                                    ryegrass at 1 lb./1000 square  seeding is desired, it must be
                                    feet. Mulch with hay or straw. applied at a rate 2 times
                                                                   higher than the General
                                                                   Construction Season, and
                                                                   covered with mulch.

  **Temporary seeding in wetlands** If required, apply annual      Not required, but can be
                                    ryegrass at a rate of 1        applied at a rate 3 times
                                    lb./1000 square feet and cover higher than the General
                                    with **straw** mulch. **Do not Construction Season, and
                                    add lime or fertilizer to      covered with **straw mulch.
                                    wetlands.** When in doubt, ask Apply only annual rye grass
                                    the environmental or           and do not add lime or
                                    construction inspector.        fertilizer.**

  **Permanent seeding in uplands**  Apply seed mixture and mulch   Not required before April 16,
                                    as specified in Table 7.       but if dormant seeding is
                                                                   desired, the site will receive
                                                                   an adequate cover of loam, if
                                                                   necessary, be seeded at a rate
                                                                   2 times higher than the
                                                                   General Construction Season,
                                                                   and covered with mulch at a
                                                                   minimum of 150 lbs./1000
                                                                   square feet.

  **Permanent seeding in wetlands** If required, apply annual      Not required, but can be
                                    ryegrass at a rate of 1        applied at a rate 2 times
                                    lb./1000 square feet and mulch higher than the General
                                    with **straw**. **Do not add   Construction Season, and
                                    lime or fertilizer to          covered with **straw mulch. Do
                                    wetlands.**                    not add lime or fertilizer.**.

  **Temporary seedbed preparation** Apply limestone and fertilizer Not required, but seedbed can
                                    (uplands only) according to    be prepared according to
                                    soil test data. If soil test   General Construction
                                    is not possible, 10-10-10      requirements.
                                    fertilizer may be applied at a 
                                    rate of 600 lbs./acre and      
                                    limestone at 3 tons/acre.      

  **Permanent seedbed preparation** Apply limestone and fertilizer Not required before April 16,
                                    (uplands only) according to    but if dormant seeding is
                                    soil test data. If soil test   desired, the seedbed can be
                                    is not possible, 10-20-20      prepared according to the
                                    fertilizer may be applied at a General Construction
                                    rate of 800 lbs./acre and      requirements.
                                    limestone at 3 tons/acre.      

                                                                   

  **Inspection and monitoring**     Erosion controls will be       Monitoring will be performed
                                    inspected weekly and after a ½ weekly during all periods when
                                    inch or greater rain storm to  significant runoff could occur
                                    ensure proper function.        to ensure proper stabilization
                                    Monitoring will be performed   and re-vegetation (both
                                    until a new, healthy           temporary and permanent).
                                    vegetative cover is attained   Starting in the spring
                                    over at least 90% of the site. following completion of the
                                    This applies to both temporary project, inspections will be
                                    and permanent seeding.         performed. Areas with less
                                                                   than 75% vegetated cover will
                                                                   be reseeded and mulched and
                                                                   monitoring continued until a
                                                                   new, healthy vegetative cover
                                                                   is attained over at least 90%
                                                                   of the site.

  **Maintenance of erosion          Same as winter construction    If any evidence of erosion or
  controls**                        guidelines.                    sedimentation is evident,
                                                                   repairs will be made to
                                                                   existing controls or other
                                                                   methods will be used.
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# SITE RESTORATION STANDARDS

Following completion of the construction work, the contractor will be
responsible for conducting site restoration work. The following
guidelines will apply to all activities, including temporary and
permanent roads, stream/wetland crossings, staging and work areas, and
substation sites.

## General Procedures

At the completion of project construction in an area, BHE or its
designated representative, the contractor, and the 3PI will review the
project's restoration needs and prioritize the restoration work to be
completed. This prioritization will consider time of year, ground
conditions, re-vegetation probabilities, and equipment availability. A
restoration "walk-through" will be conducted with the contractor and
3PI.

Highest priority restoration areas include, but are not limited to:

-   All wetland, stream, or brook crossings, particularly the disturbed
    areas within 100 feet and stream banks;

-   Drainage ways or ditches;

-   Cut banks and steep slopes (over eight percent);

-   Around substation construction areas;

-   Around pole and anchor pole placement; and

-   All temporary access roads, ROW travel lanes, yarding, and
    construction lay down areas.

## Methods of Restoration

The methods of restoration for different areas are as follows:

All soil that is excavated, mounded, or deposited during construction
will be re-graded or removed from the site as directed by BHE. All
re-grading and redistribution of soil will be done to match existing
grade.

The banks of brooks, streams, and rivers will be restored to natural
conditions. In general, any logs, timbers, construction mats or other
material or any structure used at temporary crossings will be removed,
and the banks restored to their original depth and contour. Any bridge
materials or support culverts within the channel will be removed.

All construction mats used to cross or work in wetlands will be removed
and any surface damage repaired, as needed. Exposed wetland soils will
be stabilized by seeding with annual rye.

Any construction mats, corduroy logs or bridges used to protect water
resources on construction access roads will be removed and the road
surface regraded to original conditions, as needed.

1.  Previously installed water bars may remain or new ones will be
    installed at locations designated by a BHE representative or the
    3PI. Permanent water bars will be constructed to a sufficient height
    and width to divert the amount of water anticipated at each location
    as well as to provide some post-project permanence to the site.
    Water bars will be permanently seeded to ensure their long-term
    stability.

2.  All areas severely rutted by construction equipment will be regraded
    and permanently revegetated.

3.  Upon completion of the project, all areas of exposed soil will be
    permanently revegetated or otherwise permanently stabilized.

4.  Lime, fertilizer, seed and hay or straw mulch will be applied as
    follows:

[]{.mark}

+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+
| []{#__R  |                  |                  |       |           |
| efHeadin |                  |                  |       |           |
| g___Toc1 |                  |                  |       |           |
| 02779926 |                  |                  |       |           |
| .anch    |                  |                  |       |           |
| or}Table |                  |                  |       |           |
| 7.       |                  |                  |       |           |
| p        |                  |                  |       |           |
| ermanent |                  |                  |       |           |
| Seeding  |                  |                  |       |           |
| Specif   |                  |                  |       |           |
| ications |                  |                  |       |           |
+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+
| **Type   | **Soil           | **Seed Mix       | *     | **Mulch   |
| of       | Amendments**     | Componen         | *Seed | (ton      |
| Area**   |                  | ts/(varieties)** | Rate  | s/acre)** |
|          |                  |                  | (lbs/ |           |
|          |                  |                  | acre^ |           |
|          |                  |                  | 1^)** |           |
+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+
| Upla     | Apply ground     | Creeping red     | 20    | 1.5-2\    |
| nds^2,3^ | limestone @ 3    | f                |       | (90-100   |
|          | tons/acre        | escue/(Pennlawn, |       | bales)    |
|          |                  | Ensyla,          |       |           |
|          |                  | Wintergreen)     |       |           |
+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+
|          | Apply 10-20-20   | Redtop/(any      | 2     |           |
|          | fertilizer @ 800 | native species)  |       |           |
|          | lbs/acre         |                  |       |           |
+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+
|          |                  | Tall             | 20    |           |
|          |                  | fescue/(Kentucky |       |           |
|          |                  | 31)              |       |           |
+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+
| Wetlands | None             | Annual           | 40    | 1.5-2^4^\ |
|          |                  | ryegrass/(any    |       | (90-100   |
|          |                  | native species)  |       | bales)    |
+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+
| 1\.      |                  |                  |       |           |
| Increase |                  |                  |       |           |
| seeding  |                  |                  |       |           |
| rates by |                  |                  |       |           |
| 10% when |                  |                  |       |           |
| hydro    |                  |                  |       |           |
| seeding. |                  |                  |       |           |
|          |                  |                  |       |           |
| 2\. Add  |                  |                  |       |           |
| winter   |                  |                  |       |           |
| rye to   |                  |                  |       |           |
| the mix  |                  |                  |       |           |
| at a     |                  |                  |       |           |
| rate of  |                  |                  |       |           |
| 120      |                  |                  |       |           |
| lb./acre |                  |                  |       |           |
| after    |                  |                  |       |           |
| October  |                  |                  |       |           |
| 1.       |                  |                  |       |           |
|          |                  |                  |       |           |
| 3\. Do   |                  |                  |       |           |
| not lime |                  |                  |       |           |
| or       |                  |                  |       |           |
| f        |                  |                  |       |           |
| ertilize |                  |                  |       |           |
| any      |                  |                  |       |           |
| areas    |                  |                  |       |           |
| within   |                  |                  |       |           |
| the      |                  |                  |       |           |
| w        |                  |                  |       |           |
| aterboby |                  |                  |       |           |
| buffers. |                  |                  |       |           |
|          |                  |                  |       |           |
| 4\.      |                  |                  |       |           |
| Mulch    |                  |                  |       |           |
| wetlands |                  |                  |       |           |
| with     |                  |                  |       |           |
| weed     |                  |                  |       |           |
| free     |                  |                  |       |           |
| straw    |                  |                  |       |           |
| only.    |                  |                  |       |           |
+----------+------------------+------------------+-------+-----------+

[]{.mark}

1.  The contractor will be responsible for the proper maintenance of all
    revegetated areas until the project has been completed and accepted.
    Where seeded areas have become eroded or damaged by construction
    operations, or where poor germination is observed, the affected
    areas will be promptly re-graded, limed, fertilized, and re-seeded
    as needed. Areas that are revegetated following construction
    activities will be considered properly stabilized when a healthy
    catch of vegetation covers at least 90 percent of the seeded area
    unless adjacent, undisturbed areas indicate that achieving that
    level of vegetation in the area is unlikely.

2.  The contractor will perform all erosion control work to the complete
    satisfaction of Bangor Hydro-Electric Company and the 3PI before the
    work is accepted. BHE will base acceptance of the erosion control
    and stabilization work on a final inspection.

## Timing of Restoration

Final restoration of areas disturbed by construction will be completed
within the following time periods:

-   At river, stream or brook crossings, complete final restoration
    (finish grade, seed and mulch) of all areas within 100 feet of the
    waterbody within 48 hours of the removal of the crossing.

-   Complete final restoration of all other areas within 100 feet of the
    waterbody or wetland within 48 hours of final grading.

-   Complete final restoration of all other areas within 7 days of final
    grading.

# SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION

To effectively mitigate project-related impacts, the NRI E&S Plan must
be properly implemented. Field decisions may be required regarding
timing of construction activities and erosion and sedimentation control
measures, proper placement and installation of erosion controls,
restoration and revegetation and other construction related items.
Construction of the NRI project will be continually monitored and
inspected in the field for compliance with the NRI E&S Plan, as well as
other environmental permit requirements and regulations, through the
combined efforts of the contractors, BHE environmental inspectors and
representatives and an independent 3PI. A description of the
responsibilities of each of these three groups for supervising and
inspecting construction activity and sites for compliance with the NRI
E&S Plan is provided below.

## Contractor Environmental Officer

All contractors working on construction of the NRI project will be
required to designate an individual that is present on the ROW on a
daily basis as the contractor's environmental officer. The environmental
officers will be responsible for monitoring the activities of their
employees for compliance with the NRI E&S Plan and other environmental
permit requirements. The contractor's environmental officer will work
closely with his or her own personnel, the BHE construction field
supervisor(s) and BHE environmental inspectors to ensure compliance. The
contractor's environmental officers will be responsible for completing
the Contractor's Weekly Inspection Form of Erosion and Sedimentation
Control Measures, included in Appendix E of this document, and for
reporting all petroleum or other hazardous material spills to the BHE
construction field supervisor(s) and a BHE environmental inspector.

## BHE Environmental Inspectors

To ensure proper implementation of the erosion control plan, two BHE
employees or representatives will be assigned as environmental
inspectors and be on the ROW at all times during active construction.
The environmental inspectors will supervise the environmental aspects of
construction activities and will report directly to the BHE construction
field supervisor(s). Environmental inspectors will have the authority to
stop activities that violate the environmental conditions of the NRI E&S
Plan or other permit requirements and order corrective action. The
environmental inspectors will have transmission line construction
experience, be experienced in erosion control techniques and have an
understanding of the wetland and waterbody resources required to be
protected.

Responsibilities of the environmental inspectors include working with
the contractors, BHE construction field supervisor(s), and the 3PI to
ensure project compliance with all environmental requirements permits,
and approvals. Specific duties include: participation in the
walk-through, verifying and marking the location of sensitive resource
areas, verifying that all authorized construction work areas are marked
before clearing, supervising the proper installation and maintenance of
erosion control devices, ensuring the repair of all ineffective
temporary erosion control measures within 24 hours of identification,
determining corrective action and implementation of additional measures
deemed necessary based on field or weather conditions, working with the
contractors and BHE to ensure compliance with environmental permit
conditions and the spill prevention and control plan, documentation of
temporary and permanent revegetation programs, ensuring restoration of
contours and topsoil, and other coordination with environmental
regulatory agencies.

The environmental inspectors will conduct the pre-construction
walk-through of the ROW, followed by a meeting with the BHE construction
field supervisor(s) and the contractors to determine the sequence of
construction and the placement of erosion control measures to be
employed. The environmental inspectors will also participate in periodic
coordination meetings with the 3PI, BHE construction field supervisor(s)
and contractor personnel during construction. In addition, the
environmental inspectors will perform daily independent inspection of
all erosion control devices to ensure proper functioning in areas of
active construction. Furthermore, field inspections and documentation of
erosion controls will be conducted on a weekly basis in areas with no
construction, and following major storm events. The environmental
inspector will keep records of compliance with the environmental
conditions and mitigation measures required by federal and state
environmental permits during active construction and restoration.

## DEP Third Party Inspectors

The third level of supervision and inspection for the project will be
provided by the 3PI required by the Maine Site Location Permit. The 3PI
will be selected jointly by BHE and the DEP, with final approval by the
Department, and will work for the Department to provide independent
monitoring of construction activities and compliance. The 3PI will work
for the Department but will be compensated for their services by BHE.
The final details regarding responsibilities and authority of the 3PI
will be developed by BHE in consultation with the Department and will be
provided as Appendix F of this document prior to construction.

# ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING FOR CONTRACTORS

Environmental training will be provided to both BHE and contractor
personnel whose activities or responsibilities could impact the
environment during project construction. The level of training will be
commensurate with the type of duties of the personnel. All personnel who
will be working on the ROW or substation, or present at a construction
site at any time during construction, will be given some form of
environmental training before he/she is allowed access to a construction
site. The training will be given prior to the start of construction with
refresher training provided on a monthly basis throughout the
construction process to reinforce the importance of compliance with
environmental requirements, and identify potential changes in erosion
and sedimentation control or other requirements that have occurred
during construction.

The training program will cover this NRI E&S Plan, the Maine Erosion and
Sedimentation Control Law, MEPDES Construction General Permit
requirements for storm water management, the Spill Prevention Control
and Countermeasure Plan, threatened and endangered species restrictions,
job specific permit conditions, BHE company policies, and any other
pertinent information related to the job. In addition to the
environmental compliance officer and other inspectors, the BHE
construction field supervisor(s) and all construction personnel are
expected to play an important role in maintaining strict compliance with
all permit conditions to protect the environment during construction. A
record will be kept of the date, location, attendees and topics covered
at all training sessions.

**APPENDIX A**

**DEFINITION OF TERMS**

**APPENDIX A**

**[DEFINITION OF TERMS]{.underline}**

**[BHE-BMP Definitions]{.underline}**

**Adjacent to a natural resource**: Within 100 feet or in a position to
wash into a water resource (river, stream, brook, pond, wetland, or
tidal area).

**Annual seed mix**: Seed mixture largely made up of plants that only
persist one growing season.

**Broad based dips**: Reverse slopes or dips constructed in roads with
an out-slope in the dip for drainage into vegetated areas to prevent
buildup of surface water and subsequent runoff and erosion. They are
used on roads with long slopes and natural dips where slopes are
[less]{.underline} than eight percent.

**Brook**: Water course that has a defined channel, a gravel, sand, rock
or clay base, and flows at least part of the year. It may be a dry
channel part of the year.

**Continuous contained berm**: A continuous contained berm (a.k.a.
filter sock) is a synthetic fabric sock that is filled with erosion
control mix. It is an effective substitute for silt fence or hay bales
in frozen ground situations or over pavement.

**Critical Areas:** Areas that are environmentally sensitive as well as
being sensitive for other reasons. Such areas may encompass extreme
slopes, property owner lands (i.e., hayfields, orchards), low clearance,
drinking water watersheds, rail crossings, etc.

**Corduroy**: Logs greater than 3 inches in diameter at the small end
and at least 18 feet long that are placed perpendicular to travel
direction, on approaches to and in wetlands for crossings. The purpose
of the logs is to prevent rutting and preserve vegetation root integrity
in and adjacent to wetland areas. May also be used on approaches to mats
or bridge stream crossings.

**Cross drain**: A pipe-like or box-like structure of wood, metal,
plastic, or concrete that pass under a road to catch surface water from
side ditches and direct it away from a road. They are used where cross
drainage of storm water or diversion of a small stream is required.

**Crossing**: Any activity extending from one side to the opposite side
of a sensitive natural resource whether under, through, or over that
resource. Such activities include, but are not limited to, roads, fords,
bridges, culverts, utility lines, water lines, sewer lines, and cables,
as well as maintenance work on these crossings. Crossings should be done
to minimize impact. For example, crossing at a right angle to the
resource and finding the driest or narrowest spot is one method for
minimizing impact.

**Cross-sectional area**: The cross-sectional area of a stream channel
is determined by multiplying the stream channel width by the average
stream channel depth. The stream channel width is the straight-line
distance from the normal high water line on one side of the channel to
the normal high water line on the opposite side of the channel. The
average stream channel depth is the average of the vertical distances
from a straight line between the normal high water marks of the stream
channel to the bottom of the channel.

**Culvert**: A pipe or box structure of wood, metal, plastic, or
concrete used to convey water.

**Erosion**: Movement of earthen material by water or wind.

**Erosion control blanket (matting)**: Manufactured material made out of
natural or synthetic fiber designed to control movement of earthen
material when installed properly.

**Erosion control mix**: Erosion control mix consists primarily of
organic materials such as shredded bark, stump grindings, composted
bark, or similar materials. Wood and bark chips, ground construction
debris, or reprocessed wood products are not acceptable for use in
erosion control mix. It contains a well-graded mix of particle sizes and
may contain rocks up to 4-inches in diameter. Properly manufactured mix
will have organic matter content between 80 and 100 percent (dry
weight), 100 percent of particles must pass a 6-inch screen, between 70
and 85 percent passing a 0.75-inch screen, the organic portion needs to
be fibrous and elongated, only small proportions of silts, clays, or
fine sands, soluble salts content will be \<4.0 mmhos/cm, and a pH
between 5.0 and 8.0. Its applications include erosion control berms and
mulch.

**Erosion control plans**: Written guidelines specific to a project or
activity, describing various techniques and methods to control erosion
for specific construction activities.

**Fill**: Any earth, rock, gravel, sand, silt, clay, peat, or debris
that is put into or upon, supply to, or allow to enter a water body or
wetland. Material, other than structures, placed in or adjacent to a
water body or wetland.

**Filter strip**: Undisturbed areas of ground consisting of natural
vegetation and natural litter such as leaves, brush, and branches,
located between a water resource and access road, skid road or trail, or
other area of disturbed soil.

**Ford**: A permanent crossing of a stream utilizing an area of
existing, non-erodible substrate of the stream, such as ledge or cobble,
or by placing non-erodible material such as stone or geotextile on the
stream bottom.

**Geotextile, Non-woven**: Synthetic material made of spun polypropylene
fiber used to support wetland fill or stabilize soils.

**Geotextile, Woven**: Synthetic material of woven polypropylene used to
stabilize soils and make sediment barriers (silt fence).

**Great pond**: An inland water body which in a natural state has a
surface area in excess of 10 acres, and any inland water body which is
artificially formed or increased which has a surface area in excess of
30 acres.

**Intermittent watercourse**: Water course that has water in it only
part of the year. It is still considered a natural resource.

**Mats**: Pre-constructed, portable, timber platforms used to support
equipment or travel in or over wetlands or water bodies.

**Mulch**: Temporary erosion control such as hay, bark, or some similar
natural material utilized to stabilize disturbed soil.

**Perennial seed mix**: Seed mixture made up of seeds from plants that
persist for several years.

**Perennial watercourse**: A river, stream, or brook depicted as a solid
blue line on the most recent edition of a United States Geological
Survey 7.5 minute series topographic map. Typically has water in it year
round.

**Permanent access road**: Project access road that is not restored
after project construction completion. Permanent access roads should be
designed and constructed so they are not an erosion problem.

**Permanent stabilization**: Establishment of a permanent vegetative
cover on exposed soils where perennial vegetation is needed for
long-term protection.

**Permanent vegetative cover**: Perennial seed stock, including but not
limited to grasses and legumes that persist for more than several
growing seasons.

**Protected Natural Resource**: Coastal sand dune system, coastal
wetlands, significant wildlife habitat, fragile mountain areas,
freshwater wetlands, great ponds or rivers, streams, or brooks. This
definition is taken from the Maine Natural Resources Protection Act
dated September 13, 2003.

**Riprap**: Heavy, irregular-shaped rocks that are fit into place,
usually without mortar, on a slope in order to stabilize and prevent
soil erosion.

**Sediment barrier**: Staked hay bales, silt fence, or similar materials
placed in a manner to intercept silt and sediment laden water runoff.

**Sedimentation**: Deposition of earthen material in a water body or
wetland.

**Sensitive Natural Resource**: Area that deserves special attention
because it is significant wildlife habitat, fisheries habitat, or has
other natural resource values. These areas may require the use of
minimum impact construction techniques such as use of mats, leaving
vegetation intact for buffers, special timing of construction, or other
specific techniques.

**Settling basin (sediment/catch basin)**: Excavated pit placed to
intercept water running off disturbed soils or dirt road bed. Usually
used only where filter strip is inadequate to protect a stream, pond, or
wetland from silt and sediment.

**Silt fence**: Woven geotextile sediment barrier. Proper installation
requires placement on-contour and keying the fabric in at ground level.

**Steep slopes**: Slopes in excess of eight percent.

**Stream**: Generally, a channel between defined banks with a gravel,
sand, rock, or clay base that flows at least part of the year. It may be
a dry channel part of the year. The Maine Natural Resources Protection
Act contains a more detailed definition.

**Structure**: Anything built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of
persons, animals, goods, or property of any kind, together with anything
constructed or erected with a fixed location on or in the ground.
Examples of structures include buildings, utility lines, and roads.

**Temporary access road**: Road constructed solely for project access
which is restored to original grade upon project completion, if not
sooner. All exposed soils on access road adjacent to water bodies or on
slopes steeper than eight percent must be stabilized with a permanent
seed mix and mulch or matting.

**Temporary stabilization**: Mulch, matting, or seed, or a combination
of, utilized to stabilize soil. Soil stock piles left in place longer
than 14 days must have temporary stabilization.

**Temporary vegetative cover**: An annual seed mixture, typically annual
rye and oats.

**Topography**: The contour and elevation of the surface of the ground.

**Turn out**: Water diversion that directs water out of a ditch or off a
travel-way and into a vegetated buffer.

**Upland edge**: The area of uplands alongside a wetland, stream, or
waterbody.

**Wastes requiring special handling**: Wastes generated from
construction activity including engine oil, hydraulic oil, gear oil,
diesel, gasoline, or coolants.

**Water bar**: Constructed bar across an access road or skid trail that
directs surface water off the road or trail into a stable vegetated
surface or filter strip. They are used as a temporary measure on active
roads or when closing roads permanently to prevent erosion.

**Water body**: River, stream, brook, pond, wetland, or tidal area.

**Water resource**: River, stream, brook, pond, wetland, or tidal area.

**Wetland**: An area that is inundated or saturated by surface or
groundwater at a frequency and for a duration sufficient to support, and
which under normal circumstance do support, a prevalence of wetland
vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soils. The Maine
Natural Resources Protection Act contains a more detailed definition.

**APPENDIX B**

**PROJECT CONTACT LIST**

**[APPENDIX B]{.underline}**

**[PROJECT CONTACT LIST]{.underline}**

**APPENDIX C**

**CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE ILLUSTRATIONS**

**APPENDIX D**

**ORRINGTON SUBSTATION SITE-SPECIFIC DRAWINGS**

**APPENDIX E**

**CONTRACTOR'S WEEKLY INSPECTION FORM**

BANGOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMPANY

**TEMPORARY STREAM CROSSING AND**

**EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL INSPECTION FORM**

**FOR**

**TRANSMISSION LINE AND SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS**

Project Name:

Project Location:

Date:

Inspector:

Do adequate winter conditions exist (frozen ground and at least six
inches of snow cover)?

Yes No Comments:

Have temporary stream crossings (bridges) been properly installed and
are they in tact?

Yes No Comments:

Are stream channels clear of debris such that the stream channel is not
obstructed?

Yes No Comments:

Are Best Management Practices (BMP's) for erosion and sediment control
being employed (such as silt fence, water bars, haybale check dams,
seeding, hay mulch)?

Yes No

Circle all erosion and sediment control BMP's currently in use:

Silt Fence Water Bars Hay Bale Check Dams Seeding Mulching

Are BMP's being used properly (i.e. silt fence keyed-in and maintained,
proper seeding and use of hay mulch)?

Yes No Comments:

Have temporary timber mats been used for wetland crossings?

Yes No Comments:

Is there any evidence of excessive rutting of soils, wetland crossing
without use of temporary mats, soil erosion, or sedimentation of waters
along any portion of the areas inspected.

Yes No Comments:

If yes, please explain who was notified and directed to take corrective
action and the date and time they were notified:

**APPENDIX F**

**FINAL THIRD PARTY INSPECTION PROGRAM**

**TO BE INSERTED WHEN AVAILABLE**

**APPENDIX G**

**MAINE EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL LAW\* 38 M.R.S.A. § 420-C**

##### APPENDIX G MAINE EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL LAW^\*\ ^38 M.R.S.A. § 420-C {#appendix-g-maine-erosion-and-sedimentation-control-law-38-m.r.s.a.-420-c .unnumbered}

*A person who conducts, or causes to be conducted, an activity that
involves filling, displacing or exposing soil or other earthen materials
shall take measures to prevent unreasonable erosion of soil or sediment
beyond the project site or into a protected natural resource as defined
in section 480-B. Erosion control measures must be in place before the
activity begins. Measures must remain in place and functional until the
site is permanently stabilized. Adequate and timely temporary and
permanent stabilization measures must be taken and the site must be
maintained to prevent unreasonable erosion and sedimentation.*

*This section applies to a project or any portion of a project located
within and organized area of this State. This section does not apply to
agriculture fields. Forest management activities, including associated
road construction or maintenance, conducted in accordance with
applicable standards of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission, are
deemed to comply with this section. This section may not be construed to
limit a municipality's authority under home rule to adopt ordinances
containing stricter standards than those contained in this section.*

**^\*^** The Erosion and Sedimentation Control Law is administered by
the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP), Augusta, Maine.
Please contact the MDEP with specific questions regarding this law.

**APPENDIX H**

**MAINE SLASH LAW\* 12 M.R.S.A. § 9333**

##### APPENDIX H MAINE SLASH LAW^\*\ ^12 M.R.S.A § 9333 {#appendix-h-maine-slash-law-12-m.r.s.a-9333 .unnumbered}

*§9333. Disposal along railroad and utility lines*

*1. **Stumpage owner**. A stumpage owner, operator, landowner or agent
who cuts or causes or permits to be cut any forest growth on lands that
are within or border the right-of-way of a railroad, a pipeline, or an
electric power, telegraph, telephone or cable line may not place slash
or allow it to remain on the ground within the right-of-way or within 25
feet of the nearer side of the right-of-way.*

*2. **Construction**. Slash accumulated by the construction and
maintenance of a railroad, a highway, a pipeline or electric power,
telegraph, telephone or cable line may not be left on the ground but
must be hauled away, burned or chipped. Slash may not be left or place
within the right-of-way or within 25 feet of the nearer side of the
right-of-way. If a burning permit is denied or revoked under this
chapter, the director may allow logs that are too large to be chipped to
remain in the right-of-way until the director determines that their
removal is economically feasible.*

*3. **Utility line maintenance**. Slash accumulated by the periodic
maintenance of a pipeline or an electric power, telegraph, telephone or
cable line may be disposed of in the following manner.*

A.  *Slash with a diameter of 3 inches or less may be left in piles on
    the ground within the maintained portion of the right-of-way. A pile
    may not be higher than 18 inches from the ground or longer than 50
    feet and must be separated from other piles by a minimum of 25 feet
    in every direction. A buffer strip with a minimum width of 10% of
    the total width of the maintained right-of-way must be kept totally
    free of slash with a diameter of 3 inches or less.*

B.  *Slash with a diameter of more than 3 inches must be removed,
    chipped or limbed and placed on the ground surface. The pieces must
    be separated and may not be piled one piece over another. Slash of
    this size may be left within the maintained buffer strips.*

C.  *If a utility line right-of-way is adjacent to a road, slash that is
    3 inches or less in diameter must be removed, burned or chipped.
    Slash with a diameter of more than 3 inches may be left on the
    ground within the right-of-way and must not be limbed and separated
    and may not be piled one piece over another. Usable timber products
    generated from the maintenance of a utility right-of-way may be
    piled within the right-of-way but must be removed within 30 days.*

**^\*^** Note that this is an excerpt from the full text of the law.
Please contact the Maine Forest Service, Augusta, Maine, for the full
text of the law or with specific questions regarding the Slash Law.

**APPENDIX I**

**OTHER RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MANUALS**

##### APPENDIX I OTHER RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MANUALS {#appendix-i-other-recommended-reference-manuals .unnumbered}

[Best Management Practices for Forestry: Protecting Water
Quality]{.underline}. Maine Forest Service, Augusta, Maine. 2003.
www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/pubs/bmp_manual.htm

[Forest Transportation Systems: Roads and Structures
Manual]{.underline}. Seven Islands Land Company, Bangor, Maine. Third
Edition, 1999.

**APPENDIX J**

**CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS SOURCE LIST**

##### APPENDIX J CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS SOURCE LIST {#appendix-j-construction-materials-source-list .unnumbered}

The following list of vendors has been selected given the wide variety
of construction materials they offer. The list is not meant to be
all-inclusive or an indication of favored vendors.

**[W.H. Shurtleff Company (Culverts, Geotextiles)]{.underline}**

One Runway Road

PO Box 2800

South Portland, Maine 04116-2800

1-800-633-6149

Attn: Gerry Bosse or Elaine Keith

**[A. H. Harris (Geotextiles, i.e. Curlex Excelsior
Blankets)]{.underline}**

36 Leighton Road 659 Warren Ave.

Augusta, Maine 04332 Portland, Maine 04103

\(207\) 622-0821 (207) 775-5764

Attn: Darryl Harvey

**[North American Green (Erosion control materials)]{.underline}**

Maine Distributor:

E.J. Prescott

24-40 Griffin Street

Gardiner, Maine 04345

\(207\) 873-3292

Attn: Bill Green

**[BFI Organics (Erosion Control Mulch)]{.underline}**

5 Fundy Road

Falmouth, ME 04105

1-800-933-6474

Attn: Chris Balen