Improving Traps/Basins on ODOT Construction Projects

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's (OEPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit requires that sediment traps/basins be designed to store 104 cubic yards per acre of disturbed area tributary to the traps/basins. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) makes every effort to meet the intent of this requirement by installing erosion and sediment control devices. However, due to the limited available footprint of linear transportation projects, it is difficult to create the required volume. Without specific guidance sediment basin design with space limitations, contractors tend to use smaller traps/basins which do not perform as well addressing sediment control per the permit. As a result, some ODOT construction projects are at risk of enforcement action from OEPA. This could result in substantial project delays, costly fines and other environmental consequences. Sediment in storm water runoff from construction projects is an important environmental consideration for ODOT. Research is needed to create improved compliance strategies for satisfying the requirements of the OEPA's NPDES Construction General Permit to the maximum extent possible while still enabling ODOT to provide efficient and cost-effective transportation projects. The goal of this research is to provide improvements to the design and implementation of sediment traps and basins on transportation construction projects. The objectives of this research include the following: (1) Identify and evaluate products and retrofit options to improve efficacy of sediment traps/basins designed with volumes smaller than 104 cubic yards per acre of tributary area and compare with typical sediment basin performance in order to meet the intent of the NPDES Construction General Permit. (2) Identify critical design elements of proposed solutions based on specific construction project parameters. (3) Develop construction standards for standard traps/basins with retrofit design criteria that can be used by ODOT, ODOT contractors and storm water practitioners.

• Record URL:
  https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/SPR/Research/reportsandplans/Lists/Final%20Reports%20All/AllItems.aspx?View={7D4D0273-6FC5-48A5-AD17-9CC3A7E83DA0}&FilterField1=State%5fx0020%5fJob%5fx0020%5f%5fx0023%5f&FilterValue1=136515

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $1148056
• Contract Numbers:

  37845

  136515

  115880

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Planning, Environment and Realty (HEP)
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  Research Program
  1980 West Broad Street
  Columbus, OH  United States  43223
• Project Managers:

  Fout, Vicky

• Performing Organizations:

  The Ohio State University

  2036 Neil Avenue
  Columbus, OH  United States  43210
• Principal Investigators:

  Winston, Ryan

• Start Date: 20230822
• Expected Completion Date: 20270222
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction projects; Design; Drainage basins; Erosion control; Runoff; Traps (Drain pipe)
• Identifier Terms: Ohio Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01892113
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Ohio Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 37845, 136515, 115880
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 2023 1:36PM