Specifications include, but are not limited to: Seedlings must be protected from drying, heating, smothering, freezing, crushing, drowning, abrasion, rapid temperature fluctuation or contact with injurious substances. Seedlings stored in boxes, bags, or bundles must not be exposed to direct sunlight. Punctured or torn bags or boxes must be promptly resealed. Bundles, bags or boxes must be separated to provide free air movement. Seedlings shall not be removed from shipping containers until needed for preparation for planting. Seedlings that are frozen shall not be handled until completely thawed. Frozen trees will not be exposed to any heat, but rather, will be allowed to thaw under normal ambient conditions, as directed by Contract Supervisor. Seedlings in planting bags or trays shall have only their tops exposed. No tree shall be removed from the planting bag or tray until immediately before planting in a prepared hole. Seedlings shall be gently removed, one at a time, to prevent stripping or other injury and quickly and gently inserted into the planting hole. Seedlings carried in planting bags or trays shall not exceed the amount that can be carried and removed without injury or which can be planted before critical heating or drying occur. Upon delivery of the daily planting quantity of trees by DNRC and acceptance of the trees by the Contractor, the Contractor shall satisfactorily field store, handle, prepare and plant all trees within 24 hours after acceptance, unless the Contract Supervisor notifies the Contractor that weather and ground conditions are unacceptable for tree survival. In such situations, the Contractor shall properly rebox and store all unplanted trees as directed by the Contract Supervisor. The Contractor shall not permit pruning, cutting, stripping, or shortening of the root system in any manner. Seedlings that may be cull or damaged in processing, shall be replaced in the original packaging and returned to the Contract Supervisor for inspection. Seedlings that exhibit signs of mold, dry roots, or evidence of injury or poor vigor shall be replaced in the original packaging and returned to the Contract Supervisor for inspection. (D) Spacing, Spot Selection and Protection: 1) Spacing Requirements: Trees shall be planted in spots distributed over the area at the specified spacing, provided that for individual trees the average spacing may vary as much as fifty percent (50%) in any direction to locate a plantable spot. The specified spacing, however, shall be immediately resumed and the number of trees per acre shall not be increased or decreased by the method of selecting planting spots. No tree shall be spaced closer than fifty percent (50%) of the spacing requirement to another planted tree or acceptable established tree. 2) Planting Spot Selection and Protection: Whenever possible within the tree spacing requirements, planting spots shall be selected in microsite locations where stationary stumps, logs, dead brush, rocks or terrain features provide partial protection from wind, animals, moving debris and the midday to afternoon sun. The largest material or feature available is preferred as the protection source. The planted seedling shall be located on the north to east side and as close as possible to the stationary source of protection (Attachment B). (E) Plant Spot Preparation: 1) Clearing: Before preparing the planting hole, the planter shall remove all surface debris down to mineral soil in a spot at least 6 inches in diameter. Debris to be removed includes grass, brush, duff, litter, rotten and charred wood, loose rock, ash, snow and surface frost. Areas requiring planting spot preparation to a depth of more than 6 inches will be designated unplantable. If the clearing can be done with a reasonable effort, the spot shall be considered plantable.