NID Response relative to MMRP issues

1.    Medically fragile people not identified prior to construction starting on Madrone Forest

Ø  The ombudspersons are notifying property owners by phone or written notices and sometimes both when the construction will be within 500 feet of a residence.  The ombudspersons are asking if there are any medical issues that we should be aware of when this call is made.  If there is an issue with the property owners, NID will put the property owner in a local hotel while the construction is in front of their house.

2.    Construction workers personal vehicles parked in resident areas

Ø  This happened the first two days of the construction and has not happened since.

3.    Construction vehicles belching smoke

Ø  All of Teichert’s construction equipment operates under the new California Air Resources Board Tier III regulations for particulate emissions.

4.      Kids walking alone through construction zone.

Ø  All of the flagmen and inspectors are trained that if kids or adults walk up to the construction zone, these people need to be escorted through the work area by a member of the construction team.

5.      Trucks parking in school bus loading zone.

Ø  A couple of trucks were parked in front of the mail boxes for a short time before they were to be loaded on Banner Lava Cap. The contractor told them to move as soon as they were spotted.  We do not believe that this has happened when a school bus arrived.  Please note that school buses can stop anywhere and that all traffic is directed to stop when children will be crossing the street.

6.      Excess dust making it impractical to open windows on hot days and affecting solar panels

Ø  There was more dust than currently in the first couple of days of construction. Adjustments were made in procedures to deal with varying conditions to reduce dust.

7.      Lack of a fire plan

Ø  Nevada County Consolidated reviewed and accepted the fire protection plan submitted by Teichert at the beginning of this project.

8.    Lack of reconstruction plan prior to start of construction – what is the plan and timeline for reconstructing slopes on banner? Will it be done before it starts raining? When will the gravel be cleaned up?

Ø  The Banner Cascade Project has numerous restoration segments that have been completed.

1)    All trees have been identified within the pipe area. Trees that are to be removed as part of the project have been identified to the landowners, either at public meeting or during one on one meetings. Numerous trees have been avoided during design.

2)    Prior to construction, video and photographs were taken to confirm existing conditions of the road and private property along the alignment.

3)    Adjustments have been made in Right of Way Agreements to deal with special landscape issues.

4)    Our current contract with Teichert includes installation of erosion control such as jute netting and reseeding of all areas.

5)    We have contracted a tree specialist and a plant expert for consultation relating to the plant and tree restoration.

6)    We are in the process of finishing a restoration contract for the plant and tree restoration and expect to have it ready for review in two weeks.

7)   We are also working on a contract with a tree farm in Oregon to grow and ship all of the trees for this project.

9.      Missing pre-meetings to provide community with overview of project, and notices of what is about to happen are not being provided proactively (telephone poles being moved, roads being closed for part of or for an entire day, etc.)

Ø  We have had numerous public meetings to review the design drawings and one on one meetings with property owners to review the pipeline location and how the pipe would be installed.  
Ø  We plan to have a meeting with the individuals of the community as a group prior to construction in the Wings of Morning area and other areas. These meetings will discuss the construction plan and logistics of the traffic patterns and other issues during the installation of the pipeline.

10. Excessive noise from Jackhammers

Ø  Unfortunately, there will be noise generated from the construction of this project.  According to the MMRP, the contractor is allowed to perform their duties between the hours of 7a.m. and 7p.m. The contractor has in a couple of instances gone beyond this time during cleanup in efforts to provide a highest possible level of clean up for the day.  In some cases there will be jack hammers, excavators, and trucks operating during these working hours.  The contractor is trying to install the pipe as quickly as possible and the work in front of any individual residence will be temporary in nature.