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CHARACTERIZATION OF MUD/DIRT CARRYOUT ONTO PAVED ROADS FROM CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION ACTIVITIES
Citation:
Raile, M. CHARACTERIZATION OF MUD/DIRT CARRYOUT ONTO PAVED ROADS FROM CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION ACTIVITIES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-95/171 (NTIS PB96-129028), 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report characterizes fugitive dust generated by vehicular traffic on paved streets and highways resulting from mud/dirt carryout from unpaved areas as a primary source of PM-10 (particles = or < 10 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter), and evaluates three technologies for effectiveness in controlling the carryout from an unpaved construction access area onto the adjacent paved road. The first control used a street sweeper to mechanically sweep the dirt and debris from the paved road surface. The second applied a 6 to 12 in. (15 to 30 cm) layer of woodchip/mulch material onto the access areas of the construction site to a distance 100 ft (30 m) from the paved road. The third applied a 6 in. layer of gravel over the access area. Street sweeping was found to be only marginally effective (approximately 20%) in reducing average silt loading on the paved road lanes. Treatment of the access area with a buffer of woodchip/mulch was moderately effective, reducing the average silt loading by 38 to 46%. The gravel buffer showed the greatest effectiveness, reducing the average silt loading by 57 to 68%. These silt loading reductions result in the following calculated PM-10 reductions: street sweeping, 14%; woodchip/mulch, 27 to 33%; and gravel, 42 to 52%.