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Book Pollutant Load Reductions for Total Maximum Daily Loads for Highways

Download or read book Pollutant Load Reductions for Total Maximum Daily Loads for Highways written by Shahid A. Abbasi and published by Transportation Research Board. This book was released on 2013 with total page 71 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The intent of this synthesis is to collect information on the types of best management practices (BMPs) currently being used by state departments of transportation (DOTs) for meeting total maximum daily load (TMDL) water quality goals for stormwater runoff. The study approach includes two major components: interviews with 12 state DOTs to identify the existing state of the practice as it relates to TMDL implementation, and a review of selected literature sources based on the criteria of highways, TMDLs, BMP performance, and BMP cost to stay consistent with the goals of this synthesis. In particular, detailed quantitative BMP performance and cost data, including life-cycle costs, are presented, which builds significantly on previous studies of this nature. The impetus for this study was to help fill in a significant information gap on what types of BMPs are cost-effective for specific use in linear highway applications for TMDL implementation purposes. Even with the advent of new low-impact development/green infrastructure practices, there remain a lack of effective BMP technologies and nonstructural controls (e.g., source control and water quality credit trading) for DOTs to implement for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit compliance. This problem will only grow larger as new TMDLs are continually being developed, and many DOTs are unprepared both technically and economically to cope with the additional requirements (some states already have 60+ TMDLs in which they are a named stakeholder). In an effort to help state DOTs with TMDL implementation, a simple user-friendly BMP matrix/toolbox with quantitative performance and, where available, life-cycle cost data for various structural and nonstructural BMPs is presented. Some of the more common TMDL pollutants of concern (sediment, nutrients, fecal coliform, and metals) are focused to maximize applicability for state DOTs. The performance and cost data were derived from numerous literature sources including the International Stormwater BMP Database, which currently consists of more than 400 studies. This study is designed to help promote information exchange and technology transfer among DOTs for the mutual benefit of all highway managers faced with TMDL implementation. Conclusions from this synthesis are briefly highlighted here by general topic area, with more details provided in chapters four and five. Performance for structural BMPs varied by pollutant and BMP type; however, certain trends did emerge from the literature review. In general, total suspended solids (TSS) appear to be relatively easy to treat with a broad range of BMPs, including infiltration basins, sand filters, and bioretention. Nutrients (especially total nitrogen) can be more challenging to remove; nonetheless, some BMPs (e.g., Austin sand filters for total nitrogen and infiltration basins for total phosphorus) showed some promise. Fecal coliform data were limited; however, several BMPs were documented as being effective, including infiltration basins, and infiltration trenches, among others. Additional BMP performance data from the International Stormwater BMP Database support the view that media filters and retention ponds are consistently effective for a wide variety of TMDL pollutants, including TSS, nutrients, fecal coliform, and total metals. This conclusion is based on statistics that show that median concentrations of these pollutants were statistically lower in effluent concentrations compared with influent concentrations based on a large number of studies from around the country (although not all highway related). Overall, while these BMPs may be generally effective across a range of environmental conditions, obtaining local site-specific BMP monitoring data would be preferable for developing individual state DOT TMDL programs. Performance data are also presented for nonstructural practices such as street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, and tree planting. Quantitative performance data are generally lacking in the literature for these types of BMPs. The limited information found suggests that street sweeping and catch basin cleaning may potentially be effective strategies for reducing TSS, nutrients, and metals provided they are performed frequently enough and the right technology is used (in the case of sweeping). Tree planting and stream restoration were documented as having some water quality benefits for nutrients. Notably, anti-icing management has been successfully demonstrated in New Hampshire, where a 20% reduction in chlorides was achieved by upgrading the technology on snow plows in response to a chloride TMDL. In addition to performance, life-cycle cost data are presented where available. However, the cost information could not be adequately synthesized owing to differences in cost estimating approaches, reporting units, variability in costs among states and regions, and inconsistencies in BMP naming conventions. This also prevented a true cost-benefit analysis. However, numerous sources of life-cycle cost data, as well as sources for individual cost elements such as design, construction, and operation and maintenance, are provided where the interested reader may obtain more detailed information. Given the differences in cost from one region to another, the reader is encouraged to obtain cost data that are most relevant to their state. Hyperlinks are provided in the BMP matrix/toolbox where one may access examples of reports with detailed life-cycle cost data, and numerous additional cost sources are cited throughout the section on Highway Best Management Practices in chapter three. There appear to be several common elements to developing an effective TMDL implementation program, all of which have the potential to benefit DOTs by helping them receive a more equitable waste load allocation and developing a more manageable TMDL program. The key elements are listed here (although not all may apply to every DOT): Increase awareness and training within the DOT on TMDL issues, especially in cases where the DOT is named a stakeholder in only a few TMDLs (or none). Develop off-site watershed partnerships and collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure cost-effective approaches based on economies of scale and to promote information sharing and technology transfer among stakeholders. Collaborate with the state regulatory agency during the TMDL development process, especially early in the process. Estimate pollutant loads generated within the DOT right-of-way (either through water quality monitoring or modeling) and predict potential load reductions from various BMP implementation scenarios. Although some DOTs had relatively successful TMDL programs, others clearly faced a number of challenges. The primary challenges were limited financial resources, a lack of effective BMP technologies for linear highway applications, and difficulties in navigating complex regulatory environments where TMDL-related requirements were either inconsistently enforced or restricted the flexibility of the DOT in implementing BMPs of their choice. Further research is suggested on the following topics: long-term adverse environmental and cultural aspects of BMP implementation; new and innovative BMP technologies suitable for the highway environment; more studies on BMP longevity, life-cycle costs, and maintenance costs and standards; and alternative and creative solutions to addressing emerging TMDLs for less traditional pollutants such as biological integrity, sediment toxicity, and organic compounds (e.g., vehicle source control, water quality trading)"--Pages 1-2.

Book Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply WARSSS

Download or read book Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply WARSSS written by David L. Rosgen and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual

Download or read book Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This manual contains overview information on treatment technologies, installation practices, and past performance."--Introduction.

Book The Environmental Protection Agency s Proposed Regulation Regarding Total Maximum Daily Loads the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and the Federal Antidegradation Policy

Download or read book The Environmental Protection Agency s Proposed Regulation Regarding Total Maximum Daily Loads the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and the Federal Antidegradation Policy written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 476 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Gallatin National Forest N F Noxious and Invasive Weed Treatment Project

Download or read book Gallatin National Forest N F Noxious and Invasive Weed Treatment Project written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Research Results Digest

Download or read book Research Results Digest written by and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Report of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Total Maximum Daily Load TMDL Program

Download or read book Report of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Total Maximum Daily Load TMDL Program written by Federal Advisory Committee on the Total Maximum Daily Load Program (U.S.) and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Flathead National Forest N F Logan Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project

Download or read book Flathead National Forest N F Logan Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 592 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book EPA Publications Bibliography

Download or read book EPA Publications Bibliography written by United States. Environmental Protection Agency and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 754 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Joint Participating Intermodal Surface Transportation Planning Research Work Program

Download or read book Joint Participating Intermodal Surface Transportation Planning Research Work Program written by Wisconsin. Department of Transportation and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Monitoring and Early Warning Technologies on Karst Lands

Download or read book Monitoring and Early Warning Technologies on Karst Lands written by Xiaozhen Jiang and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Salmon Challis National Forest N F Travel Planning and OHV Route Designation

Download or read book Salmon Challis National Forest N F Travel Planning and OHV Route Designation written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 816 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Urban Stormwater Management in the United States

Download or read book Urban Stormwater Management in the United States written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-03-17 with total page 611 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The rapid conversion of land to urban and suburban areas has profoundly altered how water flows during and following storm events, putting higher volumes of water and more pollutants into the nation's rivers, lakes, and estuaries. These changes have degraded water quality and habitat in virtually every urban stream system. The Clean Water Act regulatory framework for addressing sewage and industrial wastes is not well suited to the more difficult problem of stormwater discharges. This book calls for an entirely new permitting structure that would put authority and accountability for stormwater discharges at the municipal level. A number of additional actions, such as conserving natural areas, reducing hard surface cover (e.g., roads and parking lots), and retrofitting urban areas with features that hold and treat stormwater, are recommended.