NRCS-Michigan Operation and Maintenance Plans

for Conservation Engineering Practices

Written Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plans are required for all practices installed with NRCS technical or financial assistance. The O&M Plan shall be prepared by the designer prior to the installation of the practice. Operation and Maintenance are defined as follows:

Operation - The administration, management, and performance of non-maintenance activities necessary to keep a practice safe and functioning as planned.
Maintenance - The recurring activities necessary to retain or restore a practice in a safe and functioning condition, including the management of vegetation, the repair or replacement of failed components, the prevention or treatment of deterioration, and the repair of damages.

O&M requirements are determined by the complexity of the practice, program requirements, safety concerns, and special requirements for potentially hazardous practices. In some instances, these requirements may refer to, or include, manufacturer instructions and operator manuals specific to the products being installed.

Implementing the O&M Plan is the responsibility of the landowner/producer and will require labor, funds, and management. Therefore, O&M Plan requirements shall be discussed and agreed to with the landowner/producer prior to beginning the installation of the practice.

O&M responsibilities begin when practice installation is completed and shall continue until the end of the design life of the practice. For potentially hazardous practices, O&M shall continue as long as the hazard exists or until the practice is decommissioned or as may be required by Federal, State, local and tribal laws and regulations.

Generic O&M Plans for NRCS-Michigan Conservation Engineering Practices are provided below in Microsoft Word format so that they can be modified by the designer. An individual O&M Plan should be customized for the conditions associated with the specific site where the practice will be installed.
 

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