Revised Appendix 13

Overland Pass Pipeline Company

Piceance Basin Lateral Project

Winter Contingency Plan

October 2008
i

Overland Pass Pipeline Company Piceance Basin Lateral Project

Winter Contingency Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................1

1.1 Purpose ...............................................................................................................1

2.0 FROZEN CONDITIONS ..................................................................................................1

3.0 SNOW MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE .......................................................................2

4.0 EROSION CONTROL .....................................................................................................3
1.0 INTRODUCTION

This Winter Contingency Plan (Plan) identifies measures to be taken by Overland Pass 

Pipeline Company LLC (OPPC) and its contractors (Contractor) in the event construction of the 

Overland Pass Piceance Basin Lateral occurs when snow is present on the ground and/or the 

soils are frozen deeper than three inches below the surface. Measures identified in this Plan 

apply to work within the project area defined as the right-of-way, access roads, temporary use 

areas, and other approved areas used during construction of the project on all lands 

administered by the BLM. Winter construction techniques on non-federal lands will be based 

upon conditions placed upon the OPPC by the landowner.

OPPC and its Contractors are expected to be thoroughly familiar with this Plan and its 

contents, and adequately equipped for winter construction conditions prior to initiating 

construction on the project.

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Plan is to outline procedures to be followed in frozen, snowy or 

spring runoff conditions in order to minimize impacts to environmental resources. 

2.0 FROZEN CONDITIONS

“Frozen conditions” will be defined as the presence of frozen soils to a depth of two

inches or more below the surface. The following measures will be taken if construction occurs 

during frozen conditions:

Topsoil salvage and segregation is required as described in Section 3.2 of the 

main Plan of Development (POD). 

OPPC will rip frozen topsoil prior to stripping to allow for more effective 

separation from the subsoil. If soils are frozen to the extent that effective 

segregation of subsoil and topsoil can not be accomplished without mixing, the 

topsoil salvage operation will cease until soil conditions improve so the operation

can be accomplished in accordance with the topsoil segregation requirements.

OPPC will leave breaks in topsoil and subsoil piles as necessary to facilitate 

cross-right-of-way drainage, prevent impoundment of precipitation event and 

snowmelt runoff, and allow passage of livestock and wildlife where trench plug 

crossings have been installed, as required.

If cleanup or reclamation activities are delayed due to weather conditions, the 

disturbed areas will be stabilized with mulch, soil tackifier or other approved 

materials in order to reduce the potential for erosion of exposed soils. 

During hydrostatic test discharge in freezing temperatures, dissipation devices 

and other erosion and sedimentation control structures will be inspected regularly 

to ensure they are in proper working order. 
OPPC will, to the extent possible, remove snow from the trench before the pipe is 

lowered in to minimize the potential for subsidence due to snowmelt. 

OPPC will, to the extent possible, prevent snow from mixing with subsoil during 

the trench backfilling operation. If excess spoil remains after backfilling, the 

trench line will be crowned in an effort to offset subsidence. 

Salvaged topsoil will be not redistributed where backfilling occurred during frozen 

conditions until subsidence can be assessed and, if necessary, repaired the 

following spring after soils have thawed. 

Re-grading of the right-of-way after winter backfilling will be performed to standard POD 

specifications. 

3.0 SNOW MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE

OPPC will implement some or all of the following methods following significant snow 

events: 

OPPC will remove, blade or pack snow on the working side of the right-of-way to 

improve driving conditions, when necessary.

OPPC will limit snow removal from the non-working (spoil) side of the right-ofway. Excess snow that could affect backfilling and right-of-way recontouring will 

be removed to no closer than 3-4 inches of the soil surface to leave a buffer layer 

to minimize the potential for blading and mixing of the topsoil and subsoil. 

Access roads will be cleared of snow as needed to allow for safe access to and 

from the right-of-way.

Snow removal equipment activities must only occur within the approved right-ofway and access road boundaries. 

Snow blading and removal will be limited to the movement of snow. Blading and 

removal activities must not result in soil or vegetation being pushed, dumped or 

blown beyond the original approved right-of-way and access road boundaries. 

Snow blading and removal that results in significant deposition of soil and 

vegetation, as determined by the Compliance Monitor, outside of the approved 

workspace on federal lands will result in the issuance of a noncompliance and a 

halt to the activity until a resolution is discussed.
In the event of a heavy snow accumulation:

o snow may be pushed or lifted and dumped, and stored on an additional 

25-foot wide area adjacent to the existing right-of-way provided:

 equipment tracks and vehicle tires remain within the original 

approved right-of-way or access road boundaries;

 no soil or vegetation is pushed off right-of-way;

 no cultural resources will be adversely impacted;

 no threatened, endangered, or sensitive species or their 

habitat will be adversely impacted; and 

 breaks are left or created in windrowed snow piles to align with 

gaps in soil piles and trench plugs previously installed to allow 

cross-ROW wildlife passage.

o OPPC may remove snow from the ROW and deposit it off ROW using a 

snow blower without restrictions regarding the distance from the right-ofway to the deposited snow provided:

 the Contractor ensures that soil and cleared vegetation is not 

being blown with the snow; and

 the blown snow is spread relatively evenly to minimize 

damage to off-right-of-way woody vegetation or other 

resources. 

The Contractors’ use of snow removal methods that will result in off-right-of-way

damage to or disturbance of vegetation or soils will necessitate OPPC’s submittal 

and BLM approval of a variance request for each additional temporary use area 

prior to the operation of equipment to operate beyond the original approved 

workspace. 

 

4.0 EROSION CONTROL

Temporary and permanent erosion control and stabilization methodologies shall be 

implemented in accordance with the POD. Erosion control structures and other BMPs will be 

closely monitored during snow melt.