FUGITIVE DUST EMISSIONS FROM CONSTRUCTION HAUL ROADS

In Fiscal Year 1972, a study was initiated (1) to examine the nature of environmental degradation resulting from construction, and (2) to formulate both a Contract Specification Writer's Guide containing environmentally protective specifications and a Resident Engineers' Guide with similar information to allow proper enforcement of the environmental specifications. These two guides were published as CERL Technical Reports E-72 (July 1975) and E-57 (May 1975), respectively. During the development of these documents, two areas were noted to have a paucity of available information: (1) solid waste generation from construction and demolition activities, and (2) fugitive dust emissions from unimproved construction haul roads. This report provides details on a study which developed a model for predicting dust emissions from haul roads. The study examines the use of water as a palliative to control dust emissions. The study was conducted in two phases, and comparative data were obtained from a third, independently conducted phase. This study indicates that soil water potential, along with vehicle speed, vehicle weight, and soil type, are significant in the determination of dust emission rates. A relationship involving these parameters was developed which could prove useful in controlling dust emissions from construction sites.