Compaction and Rutting. A. Unless the Landowner opts to do the restoration work, after the topsoil has been replaced, all areas that were traversed by vehicles and Construction and/or Deconstruction equipment will be ripped at least 18 inches deep, and all pasture and woodland will be ripped at least 12 inches deep to the extent practicable. The existence of tile lines or underground utilities may necessitate less depth. The disturbed area will then be disked. Decompaction shall be conducted according to the guidelines provided in Appendices A and B.
Compaction and Rutting. The Company will rip or pay to rip all areas within the ROW that were traversed by vehicles and/or construction equipment according to the following, unless otherwise stated in an Underlying Agreement between the Company and the Landowner: cropland shall be ripped to a depth of 18-inches, pasture land shall be ripped at least 16-inches deep, and woodland shall be ripped at least 12-inches deep if stumps were removed from the ROW during clearing/grading activities. The existence of tile lines, underground utilities, or shallow topsoil and subsoil horizons may necessitate less depth. Decompaction shall be conducted according to the guidelines provided in Appendices A and B. When done correctly, with the proper equipment and soil conditions, ripping across any Agricultural Land should only take one pass. Additional passes should only be conducted with Landowner’s approval and if the previous pass did not sufficiently shatter the soil and is not precluded by the Landowner’s Underlying Agreement. Decompaction of compacted ROW topsoil shall occur after the replacement of topsoil, importing of topsoil (if needed), and land leveling to return the ROW to pre-construction contours. The entire ripped area may then be disced in preparation for seeding, if necessary; however, any additional tracking/driving on the ROW after decompaction activities risks re-compacting or rutting the area. The Company shall use its Best Efforts to restore all compacted or rutted land as a result of the Pipeline Project to its pre-construction condition, in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. All ripping and discing shall be done at a time when the soil is dry enough for normal tillage operations to occur on undisturbed farmland adjacent to the areas to be ripped or disced. If there is a dispute between the Landowner and the Company with regard to compaction, rutting, which areas need to be ripped, or the depth at which ripping should occur, the Landowner and the Company shall consult the local SWCD.
