Use of Sustainable Materials for Erosion and Sediment Control Practices (2025)
Chapter: Appendix D: Selected Guidance Materials
APPENDIX D
Selected Guidance Materials
Excerpt from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency CGP (Expiration July 31, 2028) Encouraging use of Plastic-Free Materials
If permittees will be using some type of erosion control netting on the site as part of the soil stabilization techniques, permittees are encouraged to use products that have been shown to minimize impacts on wildlife. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recommends using types of netting practices that are considered “wildlife friendly,” including those that use natural fiber or 100 percent biodegradable materials and that use a loose weave with a non-welded, movable jointed netting. Products that are not wildlife friendly include square plastic netting that are degradable (e.g., photodegradable, UV degradable, oxo-degradable), netting made from polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene, or polyester. Other recommendations include removing the netting product when it is no longer needed. More information may be found at: https://www.fws.gov/initiative/protecting-wildlife/make-change-wildlife-friendly-erosion-control-products. There also may be State, Tribal, or local requirements about using wildlife friendly erosion control products. See Minnesota Department of Transportation requirements at: https://www.mndot.org/environment/erosion/rolled-erosion-prevention-products.html. [Minn. R. 7050]
Source:Minnesota Construction Stormwater General Permit: Authorization to Discharge Stormwater Associated with Construction Activity under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/State Disposal System (SDS) System (2023), MNR100001, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minneapolis, MN.
Excerpt from Washington DOT Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Manual on the Removal of non-biodegradable Materials prior to Notice of Termination.
4-1.6.5 Final Stabilization and Notice of Termination Final stabilization is achieved when all construction is complete, all nonbiodegradable temporary BMPs (e.g., fencing, plastic, inlet socks) have been removed, and all erodible soils have been fully stabilized with permanent BMPs (e.g., vegetative cover, rock, concrete). BMPs designed to be left in place and biodegrade do not need to be removed if they will not interfere with WSDOT maintenance activity such as mowing or other land use needs. Some BMP products may be advertised as using “biodegradable plastic” but the science and long-term impact to the environment is debatable. To help ensure
products commonly left in place after construction (e.g., compost socks, erosion control blankets) will degrade safely into the environment, several of the Division 9-14 specifications require products be made of natural plant fibers
Source:Washington Department of Transportation (2019). Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Manual, Engineering and Regional Operation, Olympia, WA.
Excerpts from Colorado DOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction - Section 216 Soil Retention Covering
Soil retention blanket shall be composed of degradable natural fibers mechanically bound together between two slowly degrading synthetic or natural-fiber nettings to form a continuous matrix and shall conform to the requirements of Tables 216-1 and 216-2.
When biodegradable blanket is specified, the thread shall be 100 percent biodegradable; polypropylene thread is not allowed. When photodegradable netting is specified, the thread shall be polyester, biodegradable or photodegradable.
Soil Retention Blanket (Straw-Coconut) shall be a machine-produced mat consisting of 70 percent certified weed free agricultural straw or Colorado native grass straw and 30 percent coconut fiber. The blanket shall be either biodegradable or photodegradable. Blankets shall be sewn together on a maximum 2-inch centers. Netting shall be as follows: When biodegradable netting is specified, the top and bottom netting shall be 100 percent biodegradable organic jute fiber. Netting shall be constructed using a weave unattached at intersections, which allows the strands of the net to move independently of each other. When photodegradable netting is specified, the bottom side shall be lightweight polypropylene. The top side shall be heavyweight or lightweight polypropylene.
When biodegradable netting is specified, the top and bottom netting shall be 100 percent biodegradable organic jute fiber. Netting shall be constructed using a weave unattached at intersections, which allows the strands of the net to move independently of each other.
When biodegradable netting is specified, the top and bottom netting shall be 100 percent biodegradable organic jute fiber. Netting shall be constructed using a weave that is unattached at the intersections, and which allows the strands of the net to move independently of each other.
When photodegradable netting is specified, the bottom and top side shall be heavyweight polypropylene.
Source:Colorado Department of Transportation (2023). Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, Denver, CO.
Abbreviations and acronyms used without definitions in TRB publications:
| A4A | Airlines for America |
| AAAE | American Association of Airport Executives |
| AASHO | American Association of State Highway Officials |
| AASHTO | American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials |
| ACI–NA | Airports Council International–North America |
| ACRP | Airport Cooperative Research Program |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act |
| APTA | American Public Transportation Association |
| ASCE | American Society of Civil Engineers |
| ASME | American Society of Mechanical Engineers |
| ASTM | American Society for Testing and Materials |
| ATA | American Trucking Associations |
| CTAA | Community Transportation Association of America |
| CTBSSP | Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program |
| DHS | Department of Homeland Security |
| DOE | Department of Energy |
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency |
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration |
| FAST | Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (2015) |
| FHWA | Federal Highway Administration |
| FMCSA | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration |
| FRA | Federal Railroad Administration |
| FTA | Federal Transit Administration |
| GHSA | Governors Highway Safety Association |
| HMCRP | Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |
| ISTEA | Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 |
| ITE | Institute of Transportation Engineers |
| MAP-21 | Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (2012) |
| NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| NASAO | National Association of State Aviation Officials |
| NCFRP | National Cooperative Freight Research Program |
| NCHRP | National Cooperative Highway Research Program |
| NHTSA | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| NTSB | National Transportation Safety Board |
| PHMSA | Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration |
| RITA | Research and Innovative Technology Administration |
| SAE | Society of Automotive Engineers |
| SAFETEA-LU | Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (2005) |
| TCRP | Transit Cooperative Research Program |
| TEA-21 | Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (1998) |
| TRB | Transportation Research Board |
| TSA | Transportation Security Administration |
| U.S. DOT | United States Department of Transportation |
