The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has awarded a contract to safely and effectively remove debris deposited by Hurricane Helene on federally owned lands and waters within the Cherokee National Forest.
Late Friday, July 24, USACE awarded the $33.76 million contract to DRC Emergency Services, a pre-approved contractor on standby under an active emergency response agreement. Authorized through an Economy Act interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, this partnership uses USACE’s specialized contracting capabilities to clean up federally owned lands and waters. This cleanup operation targets non-recoverable debris, defined specifically as construction and demolition debris and vegetative materials that restrict water flow or pose public health and safety risks.
The Corps of Engineers contract conducts debris operations on Jackson Island, Tennessee, which is a land area adjacent to the Nolichucky River.
The contract features a 240-day period of performance covering all phases, including permitting, mobilization, active cleanup, demobilization, and closeout The contractor is working to obtain all necessary local, state, and federal permits, and onsite debris remo
To safeguard natural and cultural resources, the project adheres to strict guidelines.
Sensitive Habitats: Crews remove debris in sensitive areas using low-impact equipment and matting to minimize ground disturbance as much as possible.
Tree Removal: Crews remove hazardous trees, including trees that fell because of the storm; most of these trees have the root-ball exposed at ground level.
Wildlife Monitoring: On-site monitors document standing tree removal, observe the area for bats and endangered species, and report findings directly to Forest Service biologists.
Archaeological Oversight: Site organizers coordinate with qualified archaeologists who monitor all ground-disturbing work.
Erosion Control: Following cleanup activities, contractors stabilize disturbed areas using a native seed mix to prevent erosion and support recovery.
The original announcement can be found here.