Geoysynthetics August/September 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
Mining and erosion control
E
rosion control, sediment control, revegetation and dewatering activities are common
at mining sites. The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) is a leading industry
organization home to top manufacturers of erosion and sediment control products,
component suppliers, material distributors and test laboratories. ECTC 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 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.
Expertise from ECTC members is applied to mine applications on a regular basis.
There is a plethora of different types of mines; erosion control applications vary across
them. ECTC's toolbox of specifications and applicable products, which have been
verified through standardized industry testing, are perfect fits for the challenges of
the mining world. ECTC's online toolbox also features CAD installation drawings,
installation instructions, " how-to " installation videos and fact sheets about each
technology type.
Revegetation is commonly required throughout various stages of the mining process.
HECPs and RECPs are solutions to many revegetation needs at mining sites. Both technologies
offer features and benefits to consider for basic revegetation requirements. For
example, HECPs may be more suitable for a tough-to-reach slope face, whereas RECPs
may be more suitable for longer or steeper slopes, areas of concentrated flow and longer
functional longevity requirements. HECPs and RECPs complement one another nicely
across the varying revegetation and erosion control needs at mines.
Channelized flow conditions are common at mining sites, where water needs to be
Kurt Kelsey is the president
of the Erosion Control
Technology Council and
division director of the Earth
Science Division at American
Excelsior Company.
conveyed safely without eroding the landscape. Degradable RECPs, known as erosion
control blankets (ECBs), have permissible shear stress ratings of 2.25 pounds/square foot
(10.9 kg/m2), according to ASTM D6460 testing per ECTC specifications. If long-term
protection and/or reinforcement is desired, turf reinforcement mats (TRMs) containing
stabilized synthetic components, provide a minimum unvegetated permissible shear stress
rating of 2.0 pounds/square foot (9.8 kg/m2), according to D6460. In addition, vegetated
TRMs have vegetated permissible shear stress ratings up to 14.0 pounds/square foot (68.4
kg/m2). Under verified conditions, TRMs may be suitable replacements to rock riprap
channels and down shoots at mines. TRMs are also regularly utilized to reinforce vegetation
in ditches next to haul roads at mining operations.
SRFRs and other sediment control products are also common tools used at mines.
Various forms of these sediment control products are often placed across slopes at mines
to break up the effective slope length and prevent concentrated flow conditions from
developing on the slopes. Areas of channelized flow at mines may also incorporate sediment
control products.

Geoysynthetics August/September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Geoysynthetics August/September 2023