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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.10 Fire prevention & suppressionFire Prevention & Suppression 1. Introduction 2. Purpose 3. Responsibilities and Coordination 4. Fire Prevention 4. I Pre-construction & Construction 4.1.1 Training 4.1.2 Smoking 4.1.3 Spark Arrestors 4.1.4 Parking, Vehicle operation & Storage Areas 4.1.5 Equipment 4.1.6 Road Closures 4.1.7 Refueling 4. 1.8 Burning 4.1.9 Fire Guard 4.1.9.1 Fire Guard Communications 4.1.10 Welding 4. I .11 Restricted Operation 4.1.12 Monitoring 5. Fire Suppression 5.1 Suppression 5.2 Monitoring 6. Notification 6.1 Notification Procedures 1. INTRODUCTION The Fire Prevention and Suppression Plan (plan) identifies measures to be taken by ETC Canyon Pipeline, LLC (Company) and its contractors (Contractor) to ensure that fire prevention and suppression techniques are carried out in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. Measures identified in this plan apply to work within the project area defined as the right-of-way (ROW), access roads, all work and storage areas, and other areas used during construction of the project. 2. PURPOSE The risk of fire danger during pipeline construction is related to smoking, refueling activities, operating vehicles and other equipment off roadways, welding activities and the use of flammable liquids. During pipeline operation, risk of fire is primarily from unauthorized entry onto the ROW. During maintenance operations, risk of fire is from vehicles and pipeline maintenance activities that require welding. This plan establishes standards and practices that will minimize the risk of fire danger and, in case of fire, provide for immediate suppression. 3. RESPONSIBILITIES AND COORDINATION This plan will be implemented by the Company and the Contractor on the project. The Company and the Contractor have the responsibility for providing all necessary fire-fighting equipment on the project site to their respective employees, and operating under the requirements of this plan. Prior to construction, the Company will contact the appropriate authorities to establish communications, obtain permits (if applicable), and/or fulfill other obligations as directed by fire control authorities. In addition to the above, the Company will: • Ensure that prevention, detection, pre-suppression, and suppression activities are in accordance with this fire plan and federal, state and county laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to fire. • Accompany agency representatives on fire tool and equipment inspections and take corrective action upon notification of any fire protection requirements that are not in compliance; and The fire prevention and suppression measures described in this plan will be in effect from June 1 to the end of construction. These dates may change by advance written notice by fire control authorities. However, required tools and equipment will be kept in serviceable condition and be immediately available for fire suppression at all times. 4. FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES 4.1 PRECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION Methods and procedures that will be implemented prior to and during the construction period to minimize the risk of fire are described below. 4.1.1 Training Contractor will train all personnel about the measures to take in the event of a fire. Contractor will also inform each construction crewmember of fire dangers, locations of extinguishers and equipment, and individual responsibilities for fire prevention and suppression during regular safety briefings. Smoking and fire rules will also be discussed with the Contractor and all field personnel during the project's environmental training program. 4.1.2 Smoking Smoking is prohibited in areas cleared and graded a mmlmum of 10 feet in diameter to mineral soil. All buruing tobacco and matches will be extinguished before discarding. Smoking is also prohibited while operating equipment or vehicles, except in enclosed cabs or vehicles. 4.1.3 Spark Arresters During construction, operation, maintenance, and termination of the ROW, all Contractor and Company equipment operating with an internal combustion engine will be equipped with federally approved spark arresters. Spark arresters are not required on trucks, buses and passenger vehicles (excluding motorcycles) that are equipped with an unaltered muffler or on diesel engines equipped with a turbocharger. A BLM fire prevention officer will have full authority to inspect spark arresters on project equipment prior to its use on the project on federal lands and periodically during the construction project. 4.1.4 Parking, Vehicle Operation and Storage Areas In no case will motorized equipment, including worker transportation vehicles be driven or parked outside of the designated and approved work limits. Equipment parking areas, the ROW, staging areas, designated vehicle-parking areas, and small stationary engine sites, where permitted, will be cleared of all flammable material. Clearing will extend a minimum of 10 feet beyond the edge of the area to be occupied, but not beyond the boundaries of the approved ROW, extra workspace, or ancillary site. Glass containers will not be used to store gasoline or other flammables. 4.1.5 Equipment All motor vehicles and equipment will carry one long-handled (48-inch minimum) round-point shovel, and one dry chemical fire extinguisher (5 pounds minimum). Individuals using power saws and grinders will have a shovel as described above, and an 8-ounce capacity fire extinguisher immediately available. The Fire Guard will operate a truck equipped with a 125 gallon slip-on pump unit designed for wildlife firefighting. All equipment will be kept in a serviceable condition and readily available. 4.1.6 Road Closures Contractor will notify the appropriate fire suppression agency of the scheduled closures prior to the open-cut crossing of a road. If required, Contractor will construct a bypass prior to the open-cut installation of a road crossing, unless a convenient detour can be established on existing project approved roads or within project approved work limits. All by passes will be clearly marked by the Contractor. During road closures the Contractor will designated one person, who knows the bypass, to direct traffic. Contractor will minimize, to the extent possible, the duration of road closures. 4.1. 7 Refueling Fuel trucks will have a large fire extinguisher charged with the appropriate chemical to control electrical and gas fires. The extinguisher will be a minimum size 35-pound capacity with B.C. or higher rating. 4.1.8 Burning No burning of slash, brush, stumps, trash, or other project debris will be permitted on the project. 4.1.9 Fire Guard Contractor will designate a Fire Guard for the construction spread prior to construction activities. The Fire Guard must be physically able, vigilant, and suitably trained to detect fires and use required fire-fighting equipment. The Fire Guard may not perform other functions during pipeline construction in addition to hislher Fire Guard responsibilities. The Fire Guard will be identified by a hardhat decal and/or other appropriate designation. An alternate or back-up Fire Guard will be designated to assume responsibility, if the primary guard is unable to perform their duties. Contractor will provide, if required by the Company, additional fire watch-people with radio communication to the Fire Guard should construction activities be too widely spread for one Fire Guard to manage effectively. 4.1.9.1 Fire Guard Communications: The Fire Guard will be responsible for maintaining contact with fire control agencies, and will be equipped with a radio or cellular telephone so immediate contact with local fire control agencies can be made. If cellular phone coverage is not available, the Fire Guard will use the Contractor's frequency to contact their radio base at the Contractor's yard. From there, yard personnel will telephone emergency dispatch. 4.10 Welding One 5-gallon backpack pump will be required with each welding unit in addition to the standard fire equipment required in all vehicles. All equipment will be kept in a serviceable condition and readily available. 4.11 Restricted Operations The Contractor will restrict or cease operation on federal lands during periods of high fire danger at the direction of the responsible BLM or USFS Fire Management Officer. The Contractor will restrict or cease operations during periods of high fire danger at the direction of the Mesa County Sheriffs Office Fire Marshal. Restrictions may vary from stopping certain operations at a given time to stopping all operations. The company may obtain approval to continue some or all operations if acceptable precautions are implemented. 4.12 Monitoring Construction and Environmental Inspectors for the Company will inspect the job site and the Contractor's operations for compliance with all provisions of this plan. In addition, federal, state, and local fire control agencies may perform inspections in areas under their jurisdiction at their discretion. 4.2 PIPELINE OPERATION During pipeline operation, the risk of fire danger is minimal. The primary causes of fire on the ROW result from unauthorized entry by individuals utilizing the ROW for recreational purposes and from fires started outside of the ROW. In the latter case, the ROW can be used by authorities as a potential fire break. During pipeline operation, access to the ROW will be restricted, in accordance with landowner requirements, to minimize recreational use of the ROW. 4.3 PIPELINE MAINTENANCE During maintenance operations, the Company or its Contractor will equip personnel with basic fire-fighting equipment including fire extinguishers, and shovels as described in Section 4.1.5 Equipment. Maintenance crews will also carry emergency response/fire control contact phone numbers. 5. FIRE SUPPRESSION 5.2 SUPPRESSION Contractor will take the following actions should a fire occur within the project area during construction. • Take immediate action to suppress fires using all available manpower and equipment. Notify the Fire Guard. • Immediately notify the nearest fire suppression agency of the fire location, action taken, and status (refer to Fire Suppression Contacts for a list of fire suppression agencies and emergency phone numbers). • Relinquish the Fire Guard's direction of fire suppression activities to agency fire management officers upon their arrival. If a reported fire is controlled, the Fire Guard will note the location and monitor the progress in extinguishing the fire. The Fire Guard, or their designee, will remain at the fire scene until it is fully extinguished. The extinguished fire will be monitored in accordance with procedures described in Section 5.2 below. Fire Suppression Contacts Construction Phone Number Office Location BLM Lands, Colorado Garfield County (970) 257-4800 Grand Junction Interagency Fire Dispatch Center Private and State Lands, Colorado Garfield County (970) 285-9127 Garfield County Sheriffs Office in Parachute Rifle Fire Department 911 Rifle, CO Grand Valley Fire Protection 911 Parachute, CO District Environmental Inspector-Greg 435-621-0285 Job Site Norton Fire Guard-801-309-5359 Job Site Ingrid Norton 5.2 MONITORING Contractor will mark the location and boundaries of all extinguished fires. The extinguished fire site will be monitored by the Contractor for a minimum of 24 hours. Monitoring includes walking the fire site perimeter, as well as crossing through the site. The Fire Guard will maintain a log of all extinguished fire locations for future reference. 6. NOTIFICATION 6.1 NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES Construction crewmembers will report all fires, whether extinguished or uncontrolled, to the Fire Guard. If the fire is uncontrolled, Contractor's Fire Guard will call the nearest fire suppression agency (refer to Fire Suppression Contacts), and the Company. Information regarding the location of the fire, property ownership, and closest access roads should be provided to the Dispatch Office and the Company. If a reported fire is controlled, but not extinguished, the Fire Guard will call to notify the nearest fire suppression agency to alert them of the situation. The status of the fire will be monitored by the Fire Guard and when extinguished, the nearest fire suppression agency will be notified. See table for a list of fire suppression contacts.