Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 38

ECTC NEWS
The Erosion Control
Technology Council
(ECTC) is committed to
promoting cost-effective
erosion and sediment
control solutions through
leadership, standardization
and education. ECTC
assists agencies, engineers,
designers, contractors and
other entities in the proper
application, installation and
specification of erosion and
sediment control technologies
while establishing guidelines
for product quality, testing
and performance.
By Kurt Kelsey
Erosion control history and evolution
I
'm always excited at the opportunity to write this column in Geosynthetics magazine
on behalf of the industry, but this issue's focus on erosion control is extra special because
" it's in our name " : Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC). ECTC is a leading
industry organization whose members are dedicated to advancing the knowledge,
experience and expertise of erosion and sediment control. The nonprofit organization's
mission is to develop performance standards, uniform testing procedures and guidance
on the application and installation of hydraulic erosion control products (HECPs),
rolled erosion control products (RECPs) and sediment retention fiber rolls (SRFRs).
ECTC recently expanded its reach to other technologies as well, and it promotes the use
of erosion and sediment control products through industry leadership and education
in the hope of making a substantial contribution to the science of erosion control and
environmental preservation.
Sediment is only one of the many pollutants that can be carried by stormwater runoff.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that sediment
is the largest pollutant of our nation's water bodies on a volume basis. Sediment causes
many deleterious effects on waterways; it clogs the gills of fish, hinders photosynthesis by
clouding the water column, eliminates precious spawning areas, smothers the eggs of many
water organisms, and increases heat absorption. Sediment also commonly transports various
nutrients, insecticides and herbicides, which all impair receiving water bodies when
concentrated. Disturbed soil can be a major source of sediment, if not addressed properly.
The need for sediment control practices can be reduced greatly by implementing sound
erosion control products that keep the soil in place and prevent it from ever becoming
entrained in runoff as sediment.
In 1972, the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was creKurt
Kelsey is the president
of the Erosion Control
Technology Council and
division director of the Earth
Science Division at American
Excelsior Company.
ated in Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Under the new NPDES, discharges
of pollutants from any point source into the nation's waters were prohibited unless the
discharge was covered by a NPDES permit. One of the main keys that would begin to
advance erosion control awareness was that the program gave the EPA authority to
regulate discharges into the nation's waters. The EPA began regulating discharges by
setting limits on the effluent introduced into a body of water from an operating and
permitted facility.
In 1977, Congress amended the CWA to enhance the NPDES program. The amendment
made the program more in-depth with a focus from conventional pollutants to
toxic discharges. Congress passed the Water Quality Act (WQA) in 1987, which required
increased monitoring and assessing of water bodies. The goal of the changes was to
take the NPDES water quality standards from paper to measurable improvements in the
nation's waters. Additional amendments to the CWA in 1987 required the EPA to address
stormwater runoff in two phases. Phase I of the NPDES Stormwater Program began in
1990 and applied to large and medium municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4)
and 11 industrial categories including construction sites disturbing 5 acres (2 h) of land or
more. Phase II of the NPDES Stormwater Program was to apply to additional MS4s and
construction sites disturbing less than 5 acres (2 h) to 1 acre (.4 h) of land.

Geosynthetics February/March 2023

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