Clear and Strip a Building Site

A. Finished-Deliverable Specification

Deliverable: one cleared and stripped building site consisting of the approved clearing limits cleared of vegetation and debris, a topsoil stockpile established and stabilized outside drainage paths, excavation limits, and traffic routes, topsoil kept separate from structural fill, subsoil, rubble, and contaminated material, the cleared area rough-leveled to support safe access, every Project 03 control point re-confirmed or re-established, and a completed clearing and stripping record with photographs and unresolved conditions noted.

B. Clearing and Stripping Deliverable Schedule

Item	Quantity	Form	Content Requirement	Purpose
Marked clearing limits and tree-protection zones	1 set	Flagged or painted boundary	Matches approved plan; marked jointly with equipment operator	Confining clearing to the approved area and protecting retained vegetation
Installed erosion and sediment controls	As required by the erosion-control plan	Installed temporary controls	Installed before any soil disturbance; matches the erosion-control plan	Preventing sediment release before and during clearing and stripping
Cleared area	Full clearing-limit area	Vegetation and debris removed	Confined to approved limits; retained trees, fences, utilities, and neighboring improvements undamaged	Providing a safe, obstruction-free work surface
Sorted materials	All cleared and stripped material	Separated by disposition	Reusable, recyclable, vegetative, contaminated, and disposal materials kept separate	Supporting correct handling, reuse, and disposal
Topsoil stockpile	1	Stabilized stockpile	Located outside drainage paths, excavation limits, and traffic routes; kept separate from subsoil and fill	Preserving topsoil for the restoration performed in Project 17
Stripped area	Full building-pad and specified area	Rough-leveled subsoil surface	Stripped to specified depth or until suitable subsoil is exposed	Preparing the surface for excavation in Project 05
Re-confirmed control points	Every Project 03 control point	Verified or re-established mark	Matches the Project 03 layout record sheet; any disturbed point re-established from that record	Preserving the controlling layout for excavation
Completed clearing and stripping record	1 record set	Written record and photographs	Stripped limits, stockpile location, removed material, and unresolved conditions recorded	Documenting the completed work for the Project 05 inspection

C. Material Takeoff

• Tree-protection fencing or flagging: sufficient length to enclose every retained tree or vegetation feature identified in the approved plan, plus a reasonable reserve for repair.
• Erosion and sediment control materials: silt fence, inlet protection, or other materials specified in the erosion-control plan, in the quantity and configuration that plan requires.
• Stockpile-stabilization material: sufficient material to stabilize the exposed surface of the topsoil stockpile against erosion and runoff, as specified in the erosion-control plan.
• Marking materials: flags and marking paint sufficient to mark clearing limits, no-entry zones, tree-protection zones, and the stockpile boundary.
• Disposal and hauling containers: sufficient capacity for the debris, vegetative waste, and non-reusable material generated by the approved clearing limits.
• Waste allowance: the material quantities above are working allowances; record any material used beyond the planned quantity, and the reason, on the clearing and stripping record.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Clearing limits	Vegetation and debris removed only within the approved clearing limits; no disturbance beyond marked limits
Tree and property protection	Retained trees, fences, utilities, and neighboring improvements undamaged; tree-protection zones intact throughout the work
Erosion and sediment controls	Installed before soil disturbance and functioning as specified in the erosion-control plan throughout clearing and stripping
Material sorting	Reusable, recyclable, vegetative, contaminated, and disposal materials kept separate and handled according to the project requirement
Topsoil stockpile	Located outside drainage paths, excavation limits, and traffic routes; stabilized against erosion; kept separate from subsoil, structural fill, rubble, and contaminated material
Stripping depth	Topsoil and organic material removed to the specified depth, or until suitable subsoil is exposed, confirmed at regular intervals
Rough-leveled area	Cleared area rough-leveled sufficiently to support safe access and the next operation
Preserved control points	Every Project 03 stake, batter board, string line, and benchmark reference confirmed undisturbed, or re-established from the Project 03 layout record if disturbance is found
Documentation	Stripped limits, stockpile location, removed material, and unresolved conditions recorded; photographs completed before the clearing and stripping inspection

E. Preparation — Plan Review and Limit Marking

1. Review approved clearing limits, erosion-control requirements, protected areas, utility markings, and site-access routes. Confirm the clearing plan, erosion-control plan, and any tree-protection or utility marking against the current site condition before staging equipment.
2. Walk the limits with the equipment operator and mark no-entry, no-disturbance, and tree-protection zones. Flag or paint the approved clearing boundary, tree-protection zones, and no-entry areas jointly with the operator before equipment enters the site.
3. Install required temporary erosion and sediment controls before disturbing soil. Install every control identified in the erosion-control plan and confirm it is functional before any clearing, grubbing, or stripping begins.

F. Debris Removal and Vegetation Clearing

1. Remove loose trash, abandoned materials, and surface debris using the required handling method. Clear debris from the approved area first, sorting it by disposition as it is removed.
2. Cut and remove brush, weeds, and small vegetation within the approved limits. Clear vegetation only within the marked clearing limits, working outward from cleared debris areas.
3. Identify trees, stumps, roots, or structures requiring special removal approval or equipment. Flag any feature that requires approval or specialized equipment before attempting removal, and escalate for approval where required.
4. Remove approved vegetation without damaging retained trees, fences, utilities, or neighboring improvements. Use hand-clearing methods near tree-protection zones, fences, utilities, and property lines where machine clearing risks damage.

G. Material Sorting and Stockpile Establishment

1. Separate reusable, recyclable, vegetative, contaminated, and disposal materials. Direct each cleared and stripped material to its designated container or stockpile as it is generated, rather than sorting a mixed pile afterward.
2. Establish the topsoil stockpile outside drainage paths, excavation limits, and traffic routes. Confirm and mark the stockpile boundary against the Project 01 access and drainage records before placing any material.

H. Topsoil Stripping

1. Strip topsoil and organic material to the specified depth or until suitable subsoil is exposed. Strip in controlled passes, checking depth at regular intervals across the stripped area.
2. Keep topsoil separate from structural fill, subsoil, rubble, and contaminated material. Direct stripped topsoil to the established stockpile only, and route subsoil, rubble, or contaminated material to its own designated location.
3. Stabilize and protect stockpiles from erosion and runoff. Apply the specified stabilization method to the topsoil stockpile promptly after each addition of material.

I. Site Preparation, Control-Point Verification, and Documentation

1. Rough-level the cleared area enough to support safe access and the next operation. Level the stripped surface sufficiently for safe foot and equipment access without attempting final subgrade preparation.
2. Inspect preserved stakes, benchmarks, batter boards, and utility markings. Compare every Project 03 control point against the layout record sheet and confirm it remains in its recorded location and condition.
3. Re-establish any disturbed control point using the approved record. Where a control point cannot be confirmed, re-establish it from the Project 03 layout record sheet and the controlling reference identified there; do not re-create it from memory or from an adjacent stake.
4. Remove protruding hazards and clean equipment routes. Clear roots, stakes, debris, and other protruding hazards from equipment travel paths and pedestrian routes.
5. Document stripped limits, stockpile locations, removed material, and unresolved conditions. Record the final stripped area, stockpile boundary, sorted-material disposition, and any unresolved condition on the clearing and stripping record.
6. Complete the clearing and stripping inspection before excavation begins. Walk the completed work against the Acceptance Standards table, correct any failed item, and sign off the clearing and stripping record before Project 05 begins.