2-1 DIVISION 200 EARTHWORK SECTIO N 201 – CLEARING 201.0 1 DESCRIPTION . This work shall consist of performing all clearing, grubbing, thinning, and trimming within the limits of the project . 201.0 2 GENERA L CONSTRUCTIO N REQUIREMENTS . The Contractor shall protect all trees, shrubs, and vegetation as identified in the Contract or as dire cted by the Engineer, in accordance with Subsection
656.09 The Contractor shall take care to avoid damaging trees, shrubs, and vegetation that is to remain
standing and that is otherwise unprotected or outside of the limits of clearing items. Where any tr ees that are to be left standing have been damaged through the Contractor’s operations, the Contractor shall be responsible for repairing all damage caused to trees in accordance with the VTrans Technical Landscape Manual at no additional compensation. The Contractor shall protect public utilities, buildings, or other property in accordance with Subsection
104.04 and Section 107 .
All branches of trees overhanging the roadway surface shall be removed to a minimum height of 20 feet above finished grade. Th is work will not be paid for directly but will be considered incidental to other clearing items. Where branches are to be removed from trees that are to remain standing, the branches shall be removed in accordance with the VTrans Technical Landscape Manual . Work associated with the removal of branches shall be considered incidental to other clearing items. Where stumps are not to be removed, they shall be cut flush with existing ground, or as close as practical. In performing the work under this section, the Contractor shall not use any chemical growth retardants, herbicides, poisons, or defoliants unless otherwise specified on the Plans. 201.0 3 CLEARIN G AND GRUBBING .
a.Clearing . Clearing shall consist of cutting and disposing of all trees, down timber, brush, bushes, and debris from all areas extending from the centerline to 10 feet beyond the limits of all cut or fill sections, or to applicable right-of-way limits, whichever is less. Clearing areas shall also include any other areas shown in the Contract. Any trees designated for removal under another Contract item are excluded from this work . 2-2 Where structures are to be constructed, clearing shall include the area within the structure limits and 20 feet beyond the structure limits. Except for vegetation, trees, and shrubs that are to remain standing, all trees, shrubs, down timber, brush , and other objectionable material shall be removed and disposed of pri or to grading operations beginning. If it is deemed impractical to fell the tree as a whole, it shall be removed in sections according to standard practices of professional tree removal.
b.Grubbing . Grubbing shall consist of removing and disposing of al l stumps, roots, grass, turf, debris, or other objectionable material within the construction limits. Grubbing areas shall also include any other areas shown in the Contract. The grubbing shall progress in such a manner to prevent erosion as required in Subsection 105.23 . Any voids left through grubbing operations shall be backfilled with approved excavated material or borrow and compacted to conform to the surrounding area. 201.0 4 REMOVIN G TREE S AND STUMPS . Removing trees and stumps shall consist of removing and disposing of single trees and stumps as shown in the Contract or as directed by the Engineer. Removing trees shall include the removal and disposal of the entire tree including the stump, limbs, and brush. A stump is designated as that portion of the tree remaining after the trunk has been severed. Tree and stump siz e will be determined by circumferential measurement at a height 4.5 feet above the ground line or at the point of cutoff, whichever applies. Small trees and stumps will be classified as having a circumference of 40 inches or less (approximately 12 inches i n diameter ). Medium trees and stumps will be classified as having a circumference greater than 40 inches (approximately 12 inches in diameter ) and less than 120 inches (approximately 38 inches in diameter ). Large trees and stumps will be classified as having a circumference 120 inches (approximately 38 inches in diameter ) or greater. The work shall be in accordance with Subsection 201.02 and Subsection 201.03 . 201.0 5 THINNIN G AND TRIMMING .
a.Thinning and Trimming . Thinning and trimming shall consist of selective cutting and trimming beyond the limits of clearing and grubbing to clear brush , remove undesirable growths, dead trees, vegetation, and stumps , thin out trees , trim branches , allow for passage of overhead wires , or improve visibility at locations shown on the Plan s or directed by the Engineer. 2-3 (b) Thinning and Trimming f or Signs . Thinning and trimming for signs shall consist of selective cutting and trimming to provide full visibility for a sign at a single designated sign location. The Contractor shall remove all woody stemmed growth including brush, saplings, trees, and tree limbs growing within or projecting into the required clear viewing area for the designated sign to the minimum horizontal and vertical dimensions shown on the P lans or as directed by the Engineer. The dimensions are for the standard area of sign visibility, however , the Contractor shall not cut, trim or clear any vegetation outside the right-of-way limits. The Engineer will designate the right- of-way limits.
201.06 Disposal .
a.General Requirements . Unless otherwise specified in the Contract or herein , all trees, limbs, stumps, and other vegetation removed through this work shall become the property of the Contractor.
b.National Forest Lands . On National Forest lands, the Contractor shall comply with the requirements included in the Contract for the specific project and with the requirements of Subsection 107.14 .
c.Dutch Elm Disease . To prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease, w henever elm trees are trimmed or removed, all portions removed shall be chipped and remain on site.
d.Emerald Ash Borer . The presence of emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis , has b een confirmed in Vermont. Known EAB infestation areas are changing rapidly. Therefore, to ensure compliance with state and federal EAB laws, the Contractor shall consult the current EAB Infested Area Map on the same calendar day cutting is to occur. If the project is located with an EAB infested area, all tree material, regardless of species, within the project area shall be handled in accordance with the Recommendations to Slow the Spread of Emerald Ash Borer as dev eloped by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture , Food, and Markets . Tree material shall not be moved out of state. Alternatively, the Contractor may choose to hire a qualified professional (an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or a licensed forester), at their own expense, to identify the presence of ash trees. Those identified ash trees would be subject to the above referenced requirements, howeve r, other tree species would not. 2-4 201.0 7 METHO D OF MEASUREMENT . The quantity of Clearing and Grubbing, Including Individual Trees and Stumps to be measured for payment will be on a lump sum basis for providing clearing and grubbing in the complete and a ccepted work . If limits are changed an adjustment for the increased or decreased area will be measured in acres. No adjustment will be made for changes involving less than 0.1 acres. Clearing and grubbing completed for the convenience of the Contractor wil l not be considered for adjustment. When specified to be measured by area, t he quantity of the Clearing and Grubbing, Including Individual Trees and Stumps to be measured for payment will be the number of acres cleared and grubbed in the complete and accep ted work . Clearing and grubbing completed for the convenience of the Contractor will not be included in the measurement for payment. The quantity of Removing Medium Trees, Removing Large Trees, Removing Medium Stumps, and Removing Large Stumps to be measur ed for payment will be for the number of each removed, for the various classes, in the complete and accepted work . The quantity of Thinning and Trimming to be measured for payment will be the number of acres thinned and trimmed in the complete and accepted work , as determined by using horizontal measurements. The quantity of Thinning and Trimming for Signs to be measured for payment will be the number of each sign’s viewing area cleared in the complete and accepted work . 201.0 8 BASIS OF PAYMENT . The accept ed quantity of Clearing and Grubbing, Including Individual Trees and Stumps will be paid for at the Contract lump sum price or Contract unit price per acre. Progress payments will be made based on the percentage of the total area cleared. When the clearing and grubbing limits are changed, an adjustment for the increased or decreased area will be made by change order . The accepted quantity of Removing Medium Trees, Removing Large Trees, Removing Medium Stumps, and Removing Large Stumps will be paid for at the Contract unit price for each. Small trees and stumps will not be paid for dire ctly but will be considered incidental to other Contract items. The accepted quantity of Thinning and Trimming will be paid for at the Contract unit price per acre . The accepted quantity of Thinning and Trimming for Signs will be paid for at the Contract unit price for each location designated in the Contract. 2-5 If the Contract does not contain a quantity for a Contract item listed in this section, but such work is required, the work will not be paid for directly but will be considered incidental to all other Contract items. Payment as indicated will be full compensation for performing the work specified, including disposal, and for furnishing all labor, material s, tools, equipment , and incidentals necessary to complete the work . Payment will be made under: Pay Item Pay Unit
201.10 00 Clearing and Grubbing, Including Individual Trees and Stumps ............. Lump Sum
201.11 00 Clearing and Grubbing, Including Individual Trees and Stumps ............. Acre
201.15 00 Removing Medium Trees ................................ ................................ ......... Each
201.16 00 Removing Large Trees ................................ ................................ .............. Each
201.20 00 Removing Medium Stumps ................................ ................................ ......Each
201.21 00 Removing Large Stumps ................................ ................................ ........... Each
201.30 00 Thinning and Trimming ................................ ................................ ............ Acre
201.3100 Thinning and Trimming for Signs ................................ ............................ Each 2-6 SECTIO N 202 – DEMOLITIO N AND DISPOSA L OF BUILDINGS 202.0 1 DESCRIPTION . This work shall consist of the removal, in whole or in part, and the satisfactory disposal of all buildings, including accessories and appurtenances, erosion prevention and sediment control, and the backfilling of holes and pits when required. 202.0 2 GENERA L CONST RUCTIO N REQUIREMENTS . Basements shall be completely cleared of all unsuitable material s, debris, partition walls, and supports. Concrete or masonry floors or foundations shall be removed to a depth not less than 2 feet below subgrade or 1 foot below final ground level. Floors below these levels shall be broken or holes approximately 1 foot 1 foot shall be provided at 10 f oot intervals to provide vertical drainage . Septic tanks, cesspools, or appurtenant pipes shall be emptied of their contents and filled with suitable material or removed. Underground fuel storage tanks shall be removed, unle ss otherwise approved by the Engineer and the Agency’s Hazardous Materials and Waste Coordinator. All work related to all underground storage tanks shall be in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations. The removal of any underground storag e tank shall be coordinated through the Agency’s Hazardous Materials and Waste Coordinator prior to commencing the removal of any underground storage tank. Basements or cavities left by building removal shall be either filled with suitable material to the level of the existing ground and thoroughly compacted, or the area shall be regraded to present a smooth, free - draining surface. A combination of filling and regrading methods may be used. Where filling and regrading operations occur within the limits of c onstruction, manipulation, and placement of material shall conform to Subsection 203.11 . All regraded areas shall be seeded and mulched in accordance with Section 651 and to the satisfaction of the Engineer. All debris shall be removed from the parcel, and the area shall be cleaned up and graded to the satisfaction of the Engineer. All material s resulting from the demolition shall become the property of the Contractor and shall be disposed of or recycled in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, regula tions, and protocols. If applicable, the Contractor shall provide for the discontinuance of all utility services including, but not limited to, electricity, telephone, sewer, water, and gas lines and utility meters. The Contractor shall be responsible for any claim arising from failure to provide for the discontinuance of such utility services. If permission has been given to the previous owner to occupy a building until a specified date, the previous owner shall not be required to pay rent to the Contracto r or to move on a date earlier than that specified. The Contractor shall provide for the discontinuance of all utility services after the specified date.
Source: Vermont Standard Specifications for Construction, 2024 Edition. Pages 141–145 of 1,380.