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Green Burials-PVCBG Search CriteriaPioneer Valley Conservation Burial Ground Property Search Criteria Location Upper Valley from Northampton to Greenfield Relatively accessible to Interstate 91 and/or Rte 2 Within 2-2.5 hour drive from Boston and Southern Vermont Criteria •50+ acres •Scenic views •Soils with good drainage •Minimal water issues •Combination of field and forest •Road frontage required (500'-1000’) •No properties in the 100 to 500 year flood zone •Slope should not exceed 3:1 Other Important Considerations •Fallow farm no longer used for active ag •Adjacency to conservation land •Existing habitat •Opportunities for restoration •Access into the property •Existing infrastructure: roads, buildings •Noise level from road and neighbors •Neighboring activities •Neighboring land trusts may be collaborating on this project •Not Amherst as Wildwood Cemetery already offers green burial Soils See information attached Geological Evaluation per DEP A geologic evaluation should be done within the burial plot dimensions [cemetery] to determine: 1. The estimated seasonal high groundwater level (ESHWT) 2. Soil profile description to a depth of 4 feet 3. Soil variability 4. Depth to bedrock 5. The plot should not be within a FEMA Velocity Zone or 100 or 500 year flood zone 6. The slope should not exceed 3:1 Soil Types Use the websoilsurvey layer for ""Catastrophic Event, Large Animal Mortality, Burial” as a planning tool. https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx "Catastrophic Event, Large Animal Mortality, Burial", is a method of disposing of deceased animals as a result of a large scale natural disaster such as a hurricane. The animals are disposed of by placing the carcasses in successive layers in an excavated and sloped pit. The carcasses are spread, compacted, and covered daily with a thin layer of soil that is excavated from the pit. When the pit is full, a final cover of soil material at least 2 feet thick is placed over the burial pit. Soils are rated based on their limitation for burial of large animals following a catastrophic event. Catastrophic events include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, and tornados. Limitations for burial of large animals during a catastrophic event are based primarily on contamination of groundwater, trafficability of excavation equipment, site selection, and site reclamation. While some general observations may be made, onsite evaluation is required before the final site is selected. Improper site selection, design, or installation may cause contamination of ground water, seepage, and contamination of stream systems from surface drainage or floodwater. Potential contamination may be reduced or eliminated by installing systems designed to overcome or reduce the effects of the limiting soil property. The rating is for soils in their present condition and does not consider present land use. Ratings are based on properties and qualities to the depth normally observed during soil mapping (approximately 6 or 7 feet). However, because pits may be as deep as 15 feet or more, geologic investigations are needed to determine the potential for pollution of ground water as well as to determine the design needed. These investigations, which are generally arranged by the pit developer, include the examination of stratification, rock formations, and geologic conditions that might lead to the conducting of leachates to aquifers, wells, watercourses, and other water sources. The presence of hard, nonrippable bedrock, bedrock crevices, or highly permeable strata in or immediately underlying the proposed pit bottom is undesirable because of the difficulty in excavation and the potential contamination of underground water. Properties that influence the risk of contamination of groundwater, ease of excavation, trafficability, and revegetation are major considerations. Soils that flood or have a water table within the depth of excavation present a potential contamination hazard and are difficult to excavate. Slope is an important consideration because it affects the work involved in road construction, the performance of the roads, and the control of surface water around the pit. It may also cause difficulty in constructing pits for which the pit bottom must be kept level and oriented to follow the contour. The ease with which the pit is dug and with which a soil can be used as daily and final covers is based largely on texture and consistence of the soil. The texture and consistence of a soil determine the degree of workability of the soil both when dry and when wet. Soils that are plastic and sticky when wet are difficult to excavate, grade, or compact and difficult to place as a uniformly thick cover over a layer of carcasses. The uppermost part of the final cover should be soil material that is favorable for the growth of plants. It should not contain excess sodium or salt and should not be too acid. In comparison with other horizons, the A horizon in most soils has the best workability and the highest content of organic matter. Thus, for a Large Animal Disposal, Burial operation it may be desirable to stockpile the surface layer for use in the final blanketing of the filled pit area. Numerical ratings indicate the severity of the individual limitations. The ratings are shown in decimal fractions ranging from 0.01 to 1.00. They indicate gradations between the point at which a soil feature has the greatest negative impact on the use (1.00) and the point at which the soil feature is not a limitation (0.00). The ratings are both verbal and numerical. Rating class terms indicate the extent to which the soils are limited by all of the soil features that affect these uses. Not limited (rating index equals 0) - The limitation for large animal disposal during a catastrophic event is insignificant. This soil is able to support standard excavation equipment, the soil has minimal contamination of groundwater, and soil reclamation using conventional processes is possible. Not limited soils have features that are very favorable for the specified use. Very good performance and very low maintenance can be expected of a properly designed and installed system. Slightly limited (rating index greater than 0 but less than 0.30) - The limitation for large animal disposal during a catastrophic event is slightly limited. There are one or more soil properties that pose a slight limitation for contamination of groundwater, site reclamation, or excavation equipment. Slightly limited indicates the soil have features that are favorable for the specified use. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, or installation. Good performance and low maintenance can be expected. Somewhat limited (greater than 0.30 but less than 0.80) - The limitation for large animal disposal during a catastrophic event is somewhat limited. There are more than one soil properties that pose a limitation for contamination of groundwater, site reclamation, or excavation equipment. Any corrective measures taken to overcome these limitations are considered economical however, special care must be taken to overcome limitations. Somewhat limited indicates that the soil has features that are moderately favorable for the specified use. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, or installation. Fair performance and moderate maintenance can be expected. Severely limited (greater than 0.80 but less than 0.99) - The limitation for large animal disposal during a catastrophic event is severely limited. There are many soil properties that pose a limitation for contamination of groundwater, site reclamation, or excavation equipment. Additionally, corrective measures will be needed to overcome these limitations. Corrective measures taken may be costly to overcome limitations that pose a severely limited rating. Severely limited indicates that the soil has features that are unfavorable for the specified use. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, or installation however, it is costly to do so. Poor performance and high maintenance can be expected. Very severely limited (rating index equals 1.0) - The limitation for large animal disposal during a catastrophic event is severely limited. There are one or more soil properties that pose a very severe limitation for contamination of groundwater, site reclamation, or excavation equipment. The limitations generally cannot be overcome without major soil reclamation, special design, or expensive installation procedures. Very poor performance and very high maintenance can be expected. The map unit components listed for each map unit in the accompanying Summary by Map Unit table in Web Soil Survey or the Aggregation Report in Soil Data Viewer are determined by the aggregation method chosen. An aggregated rating class is shown for each map unit. The components listed for each map unit are only those that have the same rating class as listed for the map unit. The percent composition of each component in a particular map unit is presented to help the user better understand the percentage of each map unit that has the rating presented. Other components with different ratings may be present in each map unit. The ratings for all components, regardless of the map unit aggregated rating, can be viewed by generating the equivalent report from the Soil Reports tab in Web Soil Survey or from the Soil Data Mart site. Onsite investigation may be needed to validate these interpretations and to confirm the identity of the soil on a given site.