W. Va. Code R. agency 58, tit. 58, ser. 58-35, app A
Road Construction Guidelines.
1. The maximum grade limitation, Manual, Section II.A.1.a(1), does not apply to state forests. The final center line grade of the road must be 10% or less, with three exceptions set out below.
A. Final center line gradients not exceeding 15% are permissible for distances up to 200 feet.
B. The 10% gradient may be exceeded for the purpose of installing broad based dips as provided elsewhere in this rule.
C. The Director may waive these requirements if necessary to allow the use of a pre-existing road or in the case of exceptional environmental concerns.
2. The stacking and piling of timber shall be done pursuant to directions by the Director.
3. The clearing of woody material back from the roadway far enough to allow entrance of sunlight and wind with the goal of assisting in accelerating drying of the road surface which is given consideration in Manual, Section II.A.1.b(2) (commonly called daylighting) is prohibited unless waived by the Director in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection.
4. Regarding the requirements for road surface stabilization in Manual, Section II.A.1.b(3), it is recognized that the second paragraph of the introductory language to Section II of the Manual states that some of the standards for structures may not be used during the actual drilling operations, when a large amount of heavy equipment traffic is occurring, but rather will be utilized during the reclamation phase.
A. The exception set out immediately above applies only to water bars and cross drains, and to temporary vegetation of roads and sites.
B. Additional structures or practices may be required by the Director during actual drilling operations as set out in these guidelines.
C. Road stabilization with gravel and/or fiber mats is required on slopes greater than 10% on existing roads. This requirement is not necessary if the average center line slope of a section is less than 10%, but slopes up to 14% may be used to allow for properly constructed broad-based dips.
D. Road stabilization with gravel and/or fiber mats is required where the road will remain wet at times other than after rainfall.
E. Where roads will be or become muddy or rutted during actual drilling operations, particularly during wet seasons, the Director may require one or more of the following during actual drilling operations that are consistent with the planned use of the road and provide the least permanent disruption to the forest:
i. Graveling with limestone or graveling with sandstone on roads that will generally be open to public access;
ii. Graveling with sandstone on roads that will generally be gated to the public; and iii. Siltfencing and straw bales and other sediment and runoff controls along affected roadways and sites.
5. Care must be taken to increase drainage ditch capacities in Manual, Section II.A.2.a(2) for water running off adjacent slopes and water seeping out of side slopes created when the road or site was or is excavated.
6. The clearing of trees and brush specified in Manual, Section II.A.2.b(2) shall be minimized.
7. Cross drains and water bars described in Manual, Section II.A.3 shall not be used where a broad based dip described in Manual, Section II.A.4 can be installed.
8. Instead of the spacing of culverts as set out in Table II-7, the following shall apply:
| Road Grade Percentage (%) | Culvert Spacing (feet) |
| 2-10 | 200 |
| 12 | 150 |
| 14 | 100 |
9. The spacing of cross drains/water bars, broad-based dips, and culverts set forth in the Manual, Tables II.4, II.5, and II.7 are starting points. Where water is coming from surface run-off, subsurface water brought to the surface by excavation, or where soil conditions or surrounding vegetative conditions will increase water or soil run-off, then closer spacing must be used.
10. In addition to the requirements of Manual, Section II.A.6.b(7), adequate sediment control, and in the case of culvert outlets, riprap or other materials, shall be provided at all erosion and sediment control outfalls and culvert outlets.
W. Va. Code R. agency 58, tit. 58, ser. 58-35, app A