Kentucky Stabilized Construction Exit Details

The Division of Water (DOW) in the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers the Clean Water Act throughout the state. The Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water administers the Clean Water Act program in Kentucky through the Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (KPDES), including stormwater permits for construction activity. Point sources of pollution that discharge into the waters of the Commonwealth. The DEP Division of Water determines the effluent limitations included in KPDES permits, taking into account water quality and current technology.

The KPDES regulates all water dischargers, including Municipal Wastewater Dischargers, Discharges from Separate Storm Sewer Systems, Manufacturing and Industrial Sites, and Construction Sites. These dischargers are known as point sources of pollution because the pollution is contained within a well-defined area.

Construction sites that disturb one or more acres of land are required to obtain a KPDES stormwater permit to operate. Contractors must obtain coverage under KYR100000 and develop and implement a SWPPP that identifies pollution sources and BMPs to minimize polluted stormwater discharges. A Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted at least seven days before commencing activity, and the eNOI website can be used to submit a Notice of Intent as well as a Notice of Termination (NOT). KFor projects that do not submit a Notice of Termination (NOT), coverage may terminate automatically two (2) years after authorization to discharge, unless the operator submits a new NOI-SWCA to extend or renew coverage.

Wastewater Discharge Permits for each industry are listed on the Energy & Environment Cabinet website, which includes multiple Industrial and Construction Permits. For each permit type, there are additional resources to aid in developing a SWPPP, such as General Instructions and Guidance Documents to help contractors create a SWPPP and obtain a permit.

KPDES Construction General Permits & BMPS

All construction sites that disturb an area of one acre or more are required to obtain a Kentucky KPDES Permit. Contractors applying for a General Permit (KYR100000) must submit a SWPPP plan with their application, which describes potential pollution sources on the job site and the Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be used to minimize polluted stormwater discharges.

The Kentucky DEP has collaborated with the University of Kentucky to create an Erosion, Sediment, and Pollution Runoff BMP Manual that informs contractors on common strategies to prevent pollution on the job. This manual explains various BMPs that can help to contain pollution and reduce or eliminate polluted stormwater discharges. In many cases, multiple BMPs are offered to address the same pollution source.

KDOT Stabilized Construction Exit BMP Details

Stabilized Construction Exits are described as a Site Preparation BMP in Section 4.3.2 of the Manual. This BMP should be installed “before clearing and grading work begins” and should be maintained until the site is fully stabilized. The purpose of Stabilized Construction Exits is to reduce off-site tracking of mud, sediment, and contaminants onto impermeable surfaces, which can then wash into storm drains and cause sedimentation or other pollution damage. Construction exits are placed at all points of egress, and all traffic is required to use them as they leave the job site.

The manual outlines the traditional method for reducing trackout: the use of an aggregate-based rock-tracking pad. An aggregate construction exit is a 12'-12-foot-wide by 50-foot-long pad of aggregate at least 6 inches deep. The aggregate must be 2-3 inch stone (KYTC No. 1 or No. 2, not 57s or DGA). Geofabric material is typically placed below the rock to improve stability and prevent soil from seeping up into the rock pad.

Stone construction requires inspection and maintenance to remain “in a condition that will prevent tracking or flowing of sediment.” The permittee (or designee) must conduct inspections at least every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of a storm event producing 0.5 inch or more of precipitation, and perform maintenance/repairs as needed. The effectiveness of a stone construction exit depends on the roughness of the tracking pad and will no longer be effective when rock becomes compacted or soil builds up between the aggregate voids. To refresh the construction exit, additional rock is added as a top dressing to restore voids in the aggregate. Maintenance frequency is influenced by total vehicle traffic, weather, and soil conditions.

Other BMPs mentioned in the manual for reducing vehicle tracking include shaker plates and wheel wash stations. Shaker plates use aggressive agitation to remove sediment from tires and are installed over an excavated void that captures the sediment as vehicles drive over it. Shaker plates, also called rumble plates or rumble strips, are typically used to supplement a rock-tracking pad exit.

Wheel wash stations, on the other hand, can serve as a standalone solution for vehicle tracking. Wheel wash stations require a sediment basin or other water-containment system to capture runoff laden with sediment from vehicle tires. Some wheel wash stations filter and recycle water, eliminating the need for a constant water supply. Wheel wash stations cause vehicles to exit the job site with excess water, which can freeze in cold conditions and create a road hazard.

FODS Construction Exit System offers a different approach to traditional techniques to prevent vehicle trackout. This effective system is designed to be used as a standalone solution that does not compact or degrade over time, even in wet weather. This system is a durable, reusable method for creating a stabilized construction exit.

FODS Reusable Construction Exit

FODS Stabilized Construction Exit System consists of modular 12’ wide by 7’ long high-density composite mats. As a modular system, the mats can be arranged in various layouts to fit soil conditions and space constraints on the job. FODS can be installed without excavation and over a variety of substrates, including soil, asphalt, and concrete. Installation, relocation, and maintenance can be completed without heavy equipment.

FODS Added Kentucky Product Evaluation List

FODS has been added to the Kentucky Product Evaluation List (KYPEL) and is ready for use on projects in the State of Kentucky.

The FODS Trackout Control System is well-suited for phased construction projects, such as highway and pipeline projects, where construction entrances must be installed at the start of each phase. The portable entrance can be relocated as needed, reducing costs on each deployment. The entrance does not introduce aggregate and can reduce the risk of rocks entering the active lanes, thereby reducing hazards to vehicles.

Please contact us if you need any assistance in using FODS on your project.