Soil Handling Review Questionnaire

Soil Handling Review Questionnaire

Dear Participant:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, is conducting a research project identifying the best soil handling practices which minimize the potential for soil erosion and degradation, focusing on agricultural land. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation in this questionnaire. The objective of this questionnaire is to obtain expertise on soil handling practices, from the contractors who are doing this work on a day to day basis. With the information gathered from the interviews, and by the literature review, the best soil handling practices for wellsite, road and pipeline construction in the Peace River Area, will be developed.

A timely response is being requested and will be appreciated. Any questions or concerns may be addressed to Margi Twomey of Northern Rockies Environmental Services Ltd., at (250) 785-6340. The questionnaire may be returned by email margit@bvland.com, or by mail to:

c/o Margi Twomey

Northern Rockies Environmental Services Ltd.

9807-100^th Ave.

Fort St. John, BC

V1J 1Y4

We appreciate that all questionnaires be in by January 31, 2008. If additional space is needed to answer questions, please attach additional pages to your questionnaire. Amended questionnaire completion date: March 31, 2008.

Name of Participant: ________________________________

Affiliation/Company: ________________________________

Wellsites:

1) What are your current soil handling procedures for wellsite construction (lifts taken, depth of lifts, stockpiling soil)?

Number of lifts taken: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Criteria for Lift Taken: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Stockpiling Soil: (Where do you stock topsoil vs. subsoil?) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Other:

______________________________________________________________________________________

2) What low cost, efficient methods, during construction/and upon completion, do you use to limit erosion and soil loss on wellsites and salvaged soil piles? Are these methods effective? Do you recommend any additional methods? Are they effective?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Please rank what you think are the biggest soil erosion, soil loss and soil degradation factors influence wellsite construction. (1 being the biggest influence – 7 being the least)

Soil Erosion Soil Loss Soil Degradation

-Wind

-Water

-Admixing

-Over stripping

-Compaction

-Salinity

-Rocks/Gravel

4) What steps are taken to prevent soil dormancy of long term salvaged soil? Are these methods effective? What would/could be done differently (ie. mulch or landscape fabric)?

5) In your experience, what should be the minimum first lift depth in areas of thin topsoil, to have a sufficient amount of salvaged soil for reclamation purposes?

Pipelines:

6) During pipeline construction, does the average right of way width (15 m) allow for proper soil salvage and storage for the standard two lifts?

7) What are the standard procedures for pipeline construction and reclamation?

Construction - Thawed soil conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Construction - Frozen soil conditions:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Reclamation - Thawed soil conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Reclamation - Frozen soil conditions:

8) Please rank what you think are the biggest soil erosion, soil loss and soil degradation factors influence pipeline construction. (1 being the biggest influence – 7 being the least)

Soil Erosion Soil Loss Soil Degradation

-Wind

-Water

-Admixing

-Over stripping

-Compaction

-Salinity

-Rocks/Gravel

9) What are the main soil “problems” encountered during construction and reclamation of any surface disturbance?

a) Construction

10) Are there any special equipment or equipment adaptations that are used that minimize impact (under what situations?)

11) Questions or Comments