Turbidity Reduction and Monitoring Strategies for Highway Construction Projects

In 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) promulgated the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Point Source Category (40 CFR Part 450), known and the “C&D Rule”, requiring turbidity monitoring for larger construction sites and establishing a numeric effluent limitation of 280 NTU. Due to subsequent legal challenges, the numeric effluent limitation and monitoring requirements were stayed. Monitoring requirements were included in the USEPA’s 2011 proposed construction general permit, but were stricken from the finalized permit. Nevertheless, in January 2012, the USEPA solicited data and information on turbidity monitoring, implying that it is considering a potential future revision and reinstatement of some kind that would require turbidity monitoring that may be subject to a numeric effluent limitation or numeric action level. This report seeks to prepare state departments of transportation (DOTs) and others planning and implementing transportation-related construction projects for this potential eventuality by providing them with information on traditional and state-of-the-art turbidity reduction and monitoring practices. Two surveys were sent to state DOTs in an effort to gain information on the current state of the practice. Survey questions covered current erosion and sediment control practices, as well as turbidity monitoring practices in use in each state. These surveys provided detailed information for state DOTs desiring to compare their programs to those of other states. An analysis of these surveys is included in Appendix A. This appendix includes a number of references to documents produced by state DOTs that may assist others in the development of their programs.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/docs/NCHRP25-25(74)_FR.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3117
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This study was requested by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and conducted as part of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 25-25. Project 25-25 is intended to fund quick response studies on behalf of the AASHTO Standing Committee on the Environment.
• Corporate Authors:

  Geosyntec Consultants

  621 SW Morrison Street, Suite 600
  Portland, OR  United States  97205

  Venner Consulting

  9947 West Oregon Place
  Denver, CO  United States  80232-6359
• Authors:
  • Strecker, Eric
  • Lawler, Ken
  • Leisenring, Marc
  • Christman, Marty
  • Rea, Matthew
  • Venner, Marie
• Publication Date: 2012-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 177p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction sites; Effluents; Erosion control; Guidelines; Monitoring; Road construction; Standards; State departments of transportation; State of the art studies; Surveys; Turbidity
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Uncontrolled Terms: Sediment control
• Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Highways; I15: Environment; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01497096
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NCHRP 25-25 Task 74
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2013 10:39AM