Erosion's Solutions

ConstructionKnowedge Forum PanzRule posted the information below on the ConstructionKnowledge Forum last week and I thought it was too good not to share further. I used lime on a fast-track factory project a few years ago with excellent results. We finished the project on time, which couldn’t have happened without the lime soil mixing. The experience shared by PansRule below should be read by everyone who has to work to control construction schedules and wet/frozen soils. Post subject: Soil Modification/Stabilization by Panzrule  I have been working on a site project that began in early October of 2009. If you can remember this winter here in Pennsylvania, we had a record winter in terms of snowfall. In conjunction with the snowfall we had what I would consider a cold winter. Now this is coming from a guy who spent the last 11 years working in an office who now the acting site project superintendent, project manager, and occasional equipment operator. So needless to say my opinion ...

BoRit Asbestos Site One year ago this week, the Environmental Protection Agency placed the BoRit asbestos site on its Superfund National Priority List, setting in motion a process that will have a long-term impact on the area. Sites on the NPL have "known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants," according to the EPA's Web site. By placing the site on the NPL on April 8, 2009, the EPA began efforts to remove immediate risks at the site and started a long-term analysis of it to determine a final solution for the asbestos contamination. The EPA’s action to address immediate risks termed the removal stage, began last spring. The removal action has been divided into three phases, two of which have been completed with plans for the third being prepared. Phase I stabilized the stream banks of Wissahickon Creek by placing geotextile fabric and erosion mats along the banks. Phase II, which began in September and wrapped up last month, c...

"Green" Desalination Technologies The need for resource-saving, low-impact “green” desalination technologies is evident as the use of desalination accelerates in many parts of the world. The concept of “best available techniques” (BAT) aims at the identification of state-of-the-art technologies, processes, or methods of operation that indicate the practical suitability for preventing or reducing pollution of the atmosphere, water, and soil , as well as the quantities of waste, and for reducing the impact on the environment as a whole. This paper describes ... Read the full article Climate gentrification is a subset of climate migration, in which certain lower-socioeconomic communities are displaced in place of housing for more wealthy communities. Areas affected by this phenomenon are typically coastal cities, islands, and other vulnerable areas that are susceptible to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other climate-related disasters. Gentrification is a proc...

Money to Burn Given the state of the economy, you’d think they’d be pinching every penny but it appears that the State of Arizona has money to burn – perhaps literally. Last week the House voted in favor of a bill that would use old tires to fill abandoned mines. The bill’s supporters cite the growing problem of used tire dumps, but apparently, they don’t keep up with the latest business news.  Magnum D’Or and InfoSpi are just two of the rapidly growing number of companies that see the potential for recycling those tire dumps into real money – and creating more green jobs to boot. Read the entire story

Reduce Water Pollution COUNCIL BLUFFS — Those towering snowdrifts will soon melt into headaches for land developers and homeowners alike, but the Environmental Protection Agency will add a catch to the muddy mix. A final rule the agency issued in November to reduce water pollution from construction sites became effective in February. The regulations to improve water quality and reduce the amount of sediment washed from construction sites will be phased in over four years. Read more

Recycled Tires  Don't grind old tires; slice 'em and roll 'em up into rubber logs to use like lumber. From footwear to handbags and earthship homes, recycled tires have found various forms of an afterlife, but that doesn't come close to dealing with the vast numbers of waste tires generated each year. Most "recycling" of tires involves rubber grinding which is a source of pollution and a huge energy guzzler. But designed to be indestructible, tires have a useful afterlife. So how can millions of discarded Bridgestones and Goodyears help fortify the rebuilding of Haiti, and now earthquake-ravaged Chile? Tire Logs. Re-Tread Products produces a low-tech version of recycling tires that has several applications. With the advantage of the "bend don't break" flexibility of the material, Tire Logs have proven effective in various civil engineering projects, including earthquake-resistant buildings, sea walls, highway noise barriers, and sandbag replaceme...

Environmental Advancement in Ecuador Austin, Texas, 02/24/10 – Soils Control International establishes front lines for environmental advancement in Ecuador. SCI will be delivering dust control, soil stabilization, and erosion control to the advancing country. Soils Control International (SCI) has recently established a distribution point in Ecuador to provide dust control to the country and surrounding areas. The importance of dust control in the environment has been well studied and determined to be of utmost importance when dealing with dirt and gravel-type roads. It is the intention of SCI to help emerging countries manage their resources as well as their finances by offering a product that not only helps the environment but also their pocketbook. Soils Control International has been in the dust control and soil stabilization business for almost a quarter of a century. The majority of their operations have been with governments of third-world countries trying to make lives better f...