Part 501 – Authorizations · 3. Job class I-V for all practices is limited to low hazard potential as defined in NEM Part 503. Any work identified as significant or high hazard

(MN210-501-M, 4th Ed., Amend. 7, April 2019) MN501-A

Part 501 – Authorizations

Subpart A – Review and Approval

MN501.1 Scope

B. (4) Operating under the technical supervision shall be interpreted as operating under engineering job approval authority which has been recommended by an NRCS employee who has authority (proper EJAA) to make such recommendations.

B. (5) Non-NRCS Employees assigned engineering job approval authority (EJAA) are delegated the same certification authority as NRCS employees with EJAA. The work of these employees will have the same review and spot check process as an NRCS employee with EJAA.

MN501.3 Compliance of Engineering Work with Laws and Regulations B. NRCS permits registered professional engineers to seal designs, construction plans, reports

and other engineering documents.

(1) Professional Engineers providing technical assistance for NRCS participants must seal or sign all documents as required by state law.

C. (1) (i) NRCS engineers are not required to seal plans (2016 Minnesota Statute, Chapter 326) as long as the work being done is solely as an employee of the United States. All other engineers are required to seal or sign plans as required by state statute. EJAA allows non-NRCS employees to certify work as meeting NRCS standards and specifications. It does not preclude non-federal employees from subjectivity to Minnesota law regarding professional licensure.

C. (2) (i) NRCS staff who are licensed professional engineers, having proper approval authority, may seal or sign plans for submittal to regulatory agencies if required. The SCE will be notified when any construction plans prepared by NRCS will need to be sealed or signed by a licensed professional engineer.

MN501.4 Engineering Job Approval Authority B. (2) (i) Projects must be approved by a person with appropriate engineering job approval

authority in all three categories, as appropriate: a) Planning; before alternatives are presented to the participant b) Design; after the design and construction plan is finalized, and before

construction is commenced. c) Construction; after the installation documentation is assembled, as-built

drawings have been developed and before the project is certified.

B. (3) (i) The level of EJAA which can be delegated to non-NRCS employees who are not Minnesota licensed professional engineers is limited to those practices which would not be considered the “practice of professional engineering” by the state licensing board.

(3) (ii) In delegating NRCS EJAA in Minnesota, those practices denoted with an asterisk in the Minnesota EJAA Chart, MN-ENG-13, will be considered by NRCS to be the “practice of professional engineering” and will not be delegated to any non-NRCS employee who is not a licensed engineer in the state of Minnesota.


(3) (iii) Assignment of engineering job approval authority will be made on the basis of demonstrated competency in planning, design, and/or inspection of the specific practice. A general rule of thumb is that the person seeking approval authority for a practice should have successfully and independently completed the technical work on at least two (2) projects prior to being assigned EJAA. When staff transfer from another area or state samples of their previous work may be utilized for that review.

B. (6) (i) The State Conservation Engineer (SCE) will recommend and delegate EJAA for Area Engineers (AE’s) and Engineering Team Leads (ETL’s) and state office engineering staff. AE’s and ETL’s will recommend and the SCE will delegate EJAA for all other GS-11 NRCS engineers. AE’s and ETL’s will recommend and the SCE will delegate for all licensed engineers who are not NRCS employees.

(6) (ii) Area Engineers and Engineering Team Leads will recommend and delegate for all others doing engineering work in their respective area.

(6) (iii) MN-ENG-13 electronic database is used when recommending, delegating, and obtaining supervisory concurrence.

(6) (iv) The electronic database is the official record of EJAA in Minnesota. EJAA is only considered active when delegated, approved and concurred in the database.

(6) (v) The delegating official as outlined in B(6)(i) and B(6)(ii), should review EJAA Definitions and Ethics (MN501-A.4) with the person receiving EJAA prior to approval of any delegation.

C. (4) Area engineers, Team Leads and partners providing technical assistance will consult with the State Conservation Engineer before commencing work on a potential job of Class VI or higher to reach agreement on design approaches, criteria, procedures, or related matters prior to the design of Class VI or higher jobs.

E. (iii) Signature and date of the person with proper EJAA is required on NRCS file copies

of the planning, design, construction as-built records. Initials are not acceptable. MN501.5 Engineering Job Review

A. Design Reviews

Policy for design reviews and checking apply to all parties (such as TSP’s, Private Consultants) providing engineering services.

At the time that construction plans are delivered to a cooperator, a cooperator acceptance statement must be signed and dated by the cooperator. Required wording for this cooperator statement is:

I have reviewed and understand the construction plans and specifications and agree to complete the work accordingly. Failure to meet these plans and specifications may jeopardize any continued NRCS technical assistance or program financial assistance. I understand that it is my responsibility to secure all necessary permits and licenses, and to complete the work in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws. Modification of these construction plans or specifications must be approved by the NRCS before installation. I assume all responsibility for negotiations and contract agreements with the construction contractors.


This statement may be on a separate sheet not attached to the construction plan. The cooperator’s acceptance must be kept in the cooperators file.

(3) (i) Classes I-V – No review is required. All designs and plans, Classes I – V, must be checked. Checking should be completed by an individual other than the person who prepared the design or plans. Checking is defined in NEM Section 511.

(3) (ii) Class VI shall be reviewed by the State Conservation Engineer.

B. Post Reviews

(1) (i). Post reviews will be made in accordance with requirements in Titles 450 and MN450, GM Part 407.

MN501.7 Classification of Engineering Jobs

E. The engineering job class of each project must be clearly shown on the construction drawings and the design documentation. This policy extends to all work – the work of NRCS and non-NRCS engineers including certified Technical Service Providers.


DEFINITIONS OF INDIVIDUAL ENGINEERING JOB APPROVAL AUTHORITY CATEGORIES

INVESTIGATION / PLANNING - Technical work required to complete steps 3 through 6 of the conservation planning process for alternatives involving engineering practices. This may include field investigations, evaluation of existing infrastructure, planning level survey work, and preliminary computations required to determine feasibility, technical eligibility, material quantities, and estimate costs for engineering alternatives. May require assistance, or review and approval, from higher levels for complex or unusual practices. NEM 501, NEM 510

DESIGN - All work required to produce final design documents for engineering practices in accordance with practice standards and other agency engineering requirements. Includes final survey work, field investigations, engineering analysis (hydrologic, hydraulic, structural, geotechnical, etc.) as necessary to produce final design report, drawings, construction specifications, inspection plan, and operation and maintenance plan. May require assistance, or review and approval, from higher levels for complex or unusual practices. NEM 501, NEM 511

CONSTRUCTION - Technical work required to determine construction of conservation practices has or is being performed in accordance with design drawings and specifications. Includes surveys for construction staking, layout, materials evaluation/testing, recording inspection notes, producing final as built drawings and final certification of quality and quantity. May require assistance, or review and approval from higher levels for complex or unusual practices. NEM 501, NEM 512

ETHICS STATEMENT

By signing this form, I agree to utilize my assigned engineering job approval authority only for work that I am competent and qualified to perform. I will seek assistance from others when complicating factors warrant.

NOTES

1. Engineering job approval authority is delegated based on employee's training, experience, and demonstrated competence. 2. Employees will not approve the planning, design, or construction of engineering practices which exceed their individual job approval

authority for the practice by practice stage. 3. Job class I-V for all practices is limited to low hazard potential as defined in NEM Part 503. Any work identified as significant or high

hazard must be approved by the state conservation engineer and is automatically a minimum Job Class VI. 4. The controlling factor resulting in the highest classification determines the job class for the work. The listed quantity is the maximum

allowed under that Job Class. For example, an Irrigation pipeline with a design capacity of 2,200 gpm and a maximum design pressure of 45 psi is a Job Class V.

5. Planning, design, or construction of engineering work not incorporated into a MN Conservation Practice Standard, or more complex than a Job Class V, must be approved by the state conservation engineer.

6. All jobs to be constructed under a formal (FAR) contract must be approved by the state conservation engineer. 7. Planning documentation, design drawings, and as built/ inspection notes must include clear documentation of the practices involved, job

class for each, and the approving MN NRCS employee with appropriate engineering job approval. 8. Functional review and acceptance of conservation activity plans (CAP) containing engineering practices may be completed only when

the practices involved are within the MN NRCS employee's individual job approval authority for planning. 9. Functional review and acceptance of planning, design and construction of work completed by technical service providers may be

completed only when the practices involved are within the MN NRCS employee's individual job approval authority for the appropriate stage of work.

10. Practices identified with an asterisk are considered to be professional engineering practices. This was determined based on complexity and potential hazards associated with the practice. Approval authority for these can only be issued to MN NRCS employees or those licensed to practice engineering in the state of Minnesota.

11. Practices not included in the engineering job approval authority chart require project-specific assignment of EJAA by the state conservation engineer.

Signature Date

Conservation Practice Lead Discipline Controlling Factor Units .Job Class

Has KSA II Ill IV V VI

ENG

410 Grade Stabilization Eng CED-DE CFS None so• 100• 200• 300* All* Structure

Eng CED-DE Feet 3 4 5• 6* All* All*

Eng CED-DE CFS 50 100 150* 200• 250* All*

Eng CED-DE Feet 6 8 10 12• 16* All•

Eng CED-DE Inches 12 18 24 36* 48* All*

412 Grassed Waterway Eng CED-AE CFS 25 50 100 200 soo• AJJ•

430 Irrigation Pipeline Eng CED-WM GPM 10 30 300* "2,000*" "5,000*" All*

Eng CED-WM PSI None 100 soo• "1.000*" "3,500•" All*

441 "Irrigation System, Eng CED-WM Acres 0.1 5 25 50 100 All M icroi rrigation"

442 Sprinkler System Eng CED-WM Acres None 80 160 320 640 All

449 Irrigation Water Eng CED-WM Acres None 80 160 320 All All Management

460 Land Clearing Eng CED-AE Acres 5 10 40 All All All

466 Land Smoothing Eng CED-WM Inches None 6 10• 16* 20• All*

Eng CED-WM Acres 30 60 100* 200• 300* All*

468 Lined Waterway or Outlet Eng CED-WM CFS IO 30 100• 200• 300* All*

500 Obstruction Removal Eng CED-HE Each Brush Brush and Trees Concrete Concrete and All All Steel

516 Livestock Pipeline Eng CED-AE PSI 40 50 70 90* 300* All*

Eng CED-AE

"D3. Reinforced Concrete Structural Spillways (Box, Type B or Type C) - Weir Capacity"

EI . Vegetated or Concrete Block Chute - Net Drop (3)(4)

E2. Vegetated or Concrete Block Chute - Weir Capacity ( 4)

F l. Side Inlets to Drainage Ditch (Net Drop) (3)

F2. Side Inlets to Drainage Ditch (Pipe Diameter)

Design Capacity

Pipeline Capacity< 50 psi maximum pressure

Pipeline Capacity? 50 psi operating pressure

Irrigated Area

Area Irrigated

Irrigated Area

Arca Treated

Maximum Cut

Area Smoothed

Design Capacity

Type of Material Removed

Pressure (5)

Length (6) Feet "1,000" "2,000" "3.000" "5,000" "10,000*" All*

Thursday, January 24, 2019 Page 4 of 9

Conserva lion Practice Lead Discipline Controlling Factor Units .Job Class

I-las KSA II Ill IV V VI

ENG

516 Livestock Pipeline Eng CED-AE Diameter Inches 1.5 2 4• All* All*

520 Pond Sealing or Lining - Eng CED-DE Surface Arca Acres 0.1 • o.5• , . 3• s• All* Compacted Soil

521 Pond Scaling or Lining- Eng CED-DE Surface Arca Acres 0.1 • o.5* , . 3• 5• All* Gcomembranc or Gcosynthctic Clay Liner

522 Pond Scaling or Lining - Eng CED-DE Surface Area Acres 0.1 • o.s• , . 3• 5• All* Concrete

527 Karst Sinkhole Treatment Eng CED-EG Longest distance Feet None None None 20• All* All* underground - must contact the state geologist

Eng CED-EG Surface Area Opening - Feet None None None 30• All* All* must contact the state geologist

533 Pumping Plant Eng CED-WM Axial now pump capacity GPM None None None None "50,000*" "100,000*"

Eng CED-WM Centrifugal & turbine pump GPM 500 "1,000*" "1,800*" "3,000*" "3,500*" "5,000*" capacity

Eng CED-WM Centrifugal pump static head feet 50 100 205* 265* 350* 500•

Eng CED-WM Turbine pump static head feet 100 165 265* 400* soo• "1,000*"

554 Drainage Water Eng CED-WM Total Area Controlled Acres 10 20 50 100• All* All* Management

558 Roof Runoff Structure Eng CED-DE Roof Area SQ FT 1000 2000 4000 8000 All All

560 Access Road Eng CED-DE Maximum Grade Percent Grade 3 5 10• 15* 20• All•

Eng CED-DE Surface Treatment Type Soil Gravel Soil Over Gravel Over All* All• Geotcxtile* Geotextilc*

Eng CED-DE Use Type Private Private Private Private Public* All•

561 Heavy Use Arca Protection Eng CED-ENV Area Treated Acres 0.1 0.5 1.5 3 s• All•

Eng CED-ENV Surface Protection (7) Type Gravel Gravel With Non Structural Structural All* All* Geotextilc Concrete Concrete•

570 Stormwatcr Runoff Eng CED-HE Site Size Acres 2• 5• 10* All• All* Control

574 Spring Development Eng CED-WM Spring Flow GPM 5 10• 20• 30• All*



Has KSA II I JI IV V VI

ENG

575 Trails and Walkways Eng CED-DE Type Earth Gravel Concrete• All* All* All*

578 Stream Crossing Eng CED-DE FPS 2 4 6• s• 15• All*

Eng CED-DE Inches 12 18 24 48* 60* All*

Eng CED-DE feet 2 8 10• 12• 26* All*

580 Streambank and Shoreline Eng CED-DE Trout No No No No Yes• Yes• Protection

Eng CED-DE CFS 50 250 soo• "1,000*" "5,000*" "20,000*"

Eng CED-DE FPS 2 4 6* s• 10• 12•

Eng CED-DE feet 0.5 1.5 2• 2.s• 3• s•

Eng CED-DE feet 3 s• s• 20• All*

582 Open Channel Eng CED-DE

Surface Treatment

Maximum Design Velocity (Fording the stream)

Culvert - Inside Diameter

Box Culvert - Horizontal Span

Stream Type

Bankfull capacity

Bankfull velocity

Wave Protection Height (8)

Raw Bank Height (9)

Design capacity CFS 50 100 400* 700* "1,000*" "2,000*"

Eng CED-DE Design velocity FPS None None 4 8* 10• 12*

584 Channel Bed Stabilization Eng CED-DE Design capacity CFS 25 35 100• 400* "1,000*" "2,000*"

Eng CED-DE Design velocity FPS 2 4 6* g• 10• 12•

587 Structure for Water Eng CED-DE A I. Effective Height Feet 8 12 16* 25* 35* so•

Control

Eng CED-DE A2. Drainage Arca Acres 100 300* 640* 1200• 12800* 25600* -----

Eng CED-DE A3. Embankment over NIA None None None None None None active fault

Eng CED-DE A4. Conduit Diameter Inches 12 18* 24• 36* 48* All•

Eng CED-DE B I . Rein forced Vegetated Feet None None 4 s• 10• All* Chute - Net Drop

Eng CED-DE B2. Reinforced Vegetated Feet None None 1.5 2• 2.5• All* Chute - Weir Depth

Eng CED-DE 83. Reinforced Vegetated CFS None None 50 100 175* All* Chute - Weir Capacity

Eng CED-DE CI. Rock Chute - Net Drop Feet None None 4• 8• 10• All*


Conservation Practice Lead Discipline Controlling Factor Units .lob Class

Has KSA II Ill IV V VI

ENG

587 Structure for Water Eng CED-DE C2. Rock Chute - Weir CFS None None so• 150* 350* All* Control Capacity

Eng CED-DE DI. Articulated Concrete Feet None None None g• 10• All* Block - Net Drop

Eng CED-DE D2. Articulated Concrete CFS None None None 150* 300* All* Block - Weir Capacity

Eng CED-DE EI. Aluminum or Steel Feet None 2• 3• 4• 6* All* Drop Inlet (Toewall) - Net Drop

Eng CED-DE E2. Aluminum or Steel CFS None so• 150* 250* 350* All• Drop Inlet (Toewall) - Weir Capacity

Eng CED-DE "Fl . Reinforced Concrete Feet None 2• 4* 6• s• All• Structural Spillways (Box, Type B or Type C) - Net Drop"

--- -

Eng CED-DE "F2. Reinforced Concrete Feet None 1 • 2• 3• 4• All* Structural Spillways (Box, Type B or Type C) - Weir Depth"

Eng CED-DE "F3. Reinforced Concrete CFS None so• 100• 200• 300* All* Structural Spillways (Box, Type B or Type C) - Weir Capacity"

600 Terrace Eng CED-AE Area of the System Acres 10 20 50 100 200 All

Eng CED-AE Feet 3 5 8 10• 12• All*

604 Saturated Buffer Eng CED-AE Inches 6 8 12 18* All* All*

Fill Height - Distance from top of ridge to ground surface at ridge line

Subsurface Drain Diverted

(10)

605 Denitrifying Bioreactor Eng CED-ENV Volume of Wood Chips Cubic Feet None None None None 370• All*

Eng CED-ENV Number of Bioreactor Each None None None None All

Chambers in ParaBel

606 Subsurface Drain Eng CED-WM Diameter - No Pressure Inches 6 12 15 18* 24* All*

Pennitted

614 Watering Facility Eng CED-AE Volume Gallons 200 400 600 1200• All* All*



Has KSA II Ill JV V

ENG

670 Lighting System Eng CED-ENE Design based on Fann Each None All All All All Improvement Energy Audit

Recommendations - Non Livestock areas

Eng CED-ENE One-for-one replacement of Each None None All All All lighting fixtures in Livestock Housing

Eng CED-ENE Modified Lighting System Each None None None Ail• All* in Livestock Housing

672 Building Envelope Eng CED-ENE Design based on Farm Each None None None Ail• All* Improvement Energy Audit

Recommendations

(I) Water table is identified by the presence of'rcdoxymorphic features or other evidence of saturation. The pond bottom the is lowest elevation of the floor of the waste storage structure.

(2) Effoctive Height is the ditTcrenee in elevation between the settled top of the embankment or auxiliary spillway crest and the lowest point in the cross section taken along the centerline of the embankment (3) Net drop is the ditTcrcncc in elevation between the inlet invert and the outlet invert(4) Includes all precast concrete block, articulated and non-articulated.

(5) Maximum pressure in the line

(6) Length of longest reach of pipe in the system

(7) Non-Stnictural Concrete may include temperature and shrinkage steel but is not designed for vehiclular or stnictural loading.

(8) WPH = Wave Protection Height= Height above mean highwatcr, sec MN-TR2.

(9) Raw Bank Height = DitTcrence in feet from top of raw bank to water surface. See MN-TR2.(10) The surface drain diverted is the subsurface tile main coming into the system.


VI

All

All

All•

All*

(MN210-501-M, 4th Ed., Amend. 7, April 2019) MN501-C

Subpart C – Variances and Changes

MN501.31 National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP)

In some cases, compensating conditions may justify a variance from a conservation practice standard. Variances from the requirements of the NHCP cannot be approved at the state level but are handled according to GM Part 450-401.16. Variances from the requirements of Minnesota Practice Standards as contained in the Field Office Technical Guide, Minnesota Supplements to the NEM, Minnesota Engineering Field Handbook Supplement, and other Minnesota technical references may be granted by the State Conservation Engineer.

a. The request for a variance will be made by the responsible area engineer or project engineer on a case-by-case basis. The decision to grant a variance must be based on complete documentation showing the variance is justified and will result in an effective and acceptable practice. The area engineer or project engineer is responsible for providing the documentation. The level of documentation depends on the complexity of the request. The following may be required.

i. Project name, location, and sponsor/owner name and address. ii. Description of the project, including purpose, protected features, existing

problems, and physical features, etc. iii. Reason for the requested variance. iv. Hydrology and hydraulic analysis for the design required by the standard and for

the proposed design if different from the standard. v. Geology and/or soil descriptions for the site.

vi. Photographs of the site. vii. Proposed design, including design documentation, drawings and specifications.

viii. Cost and benefit economic analysis for both proposed and standard design. ix. Description of the operation and maintenance requirements for the proposed design. x. Supporting evidence that shows the proposed design will work, especially

existing successful installations.

The detail and extent of the documentation should be commensurate with the size and estimated cost of the proposed project.

b. A variance may result in increased levels of operation and maintenance and/or a decreased level of protection. The owner/sponsor must understand the level of protection being provided and their responsibility for maintenance and repair.

c. Variances will not be granted when:

i. Failure of a structural measure would create an immediate hazard to life or result in serious damage to property.

ii. Installation of the proposed measure would have a significant adverse effect on the environment or other natural or cultural resources.

iii. The proposed design is not in accordance with the laws and regulations of federal, state, and local governments (e.g., dam safety rules).

Documents

Part 501 – Authorizations · 3. Job class I-V for all practices is limited to low hazard potential as defined in NEM Part 503. Any work identified as significant or high hazard