North Carolina Stabilized Construction Entrance

North Carolina places a high value on its natural resources, including rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Federal and state programs collaborate to prevent pollution sources from construction and industrial activities from degrading water quality or harming local ecosystems.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead agency responsible for protecting the state’s natural resources. DEQ administers regulatory programs through divisions that address air quality, marine fisheries, waste management, and water resources. To protect surface waters, DEQ administers the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program under the Clean Water Act for most areas within the state. For sites located within the tribal lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the United States Environmental Protection Agency remains the NPDES permitting authority.

DEQ Construction Stormwater Program (NCG01 and NCG25)

The NPDES Construction Stormwater Program applies to construction activities that disturb one acre or more of land, or that are part of a larger common plan of development that will ultimately disturb one acre or more of land. North Carolina uses two construction stormwater general permits. The NCG010000 permit, referred to as NCG01, applies to projects that are subject to the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act and the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) Sediment Program. The NCG250000 permit, referred to as NCG25, applies to projects that are not regulated under the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act but are still subject to federal Clean Water Act stormwater requirements. For covered projects, permit coverage must be obtained before commencing land-disturbing activities.

In North Carolina, the approved Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan serves as the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for construction sites covered under NCGS 01. The plan identifies potential pollution sources and specifies the Best Management Practices that will be used to control sediment and stormwater runoff on the site.

Because storm drains typically discharge directly to surface waters without treatment, care is taken to prevent sediment from reaching paved roadways, where rainwater can wash soil into storm drain systems. For this reason, one of the earliest Best Management Practices installed on a construction project is the Temporary Construction Entrance. This measure helps reduce off-site tracking of sediment onto public roads.

FODS Trackout Control Mats Rockless Reusable Construction Entrance SWPPP Compliant Construction Entrance 10 Years Life Span Charlotte North Carolina Eastern Carolina University

North Carolina Temporary Gravel Construction Entrance and Exit

The Erosion and Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual provides a standard example for a Temporary Gravel Construction Entrance and Exit. This entrance consists of a graveled pad placed at locations where vehicles enter or leave the construction site and connect to public roadways. The gravel pad should use two to three-inch washed stone and should be constructed to a minimum thickness of six inches. The pad should be at least twelve feet wide, or the full width of the access point, and at least fifty feet long. The entrance should be placed in an area that avoids steep grades, and exit points should not be located on sharp roadway curves. The pad requires periodic topdressing to remain effective, and any material tracked or spilled onto public roadways must be removed through regular sweeping.

If site conditions result in mud or sediment continuing to leave the site despite the gravel entrance, the operator should incorporate additional Best Management Practices to improve containment. Wheel wash systems are commonly added as a supplemental measure. Washing should occur on a stabilized surface that drains to a sediment trap or another approved containment area. A wash rack may also be used when appropriate.

FODS Trackout Control Mat Rockless Reusable Construction Entrance SWPPP Compliant Amazon Data Center Apex North Carolina

FODS Track out Control Mats

The FODS Trackout Control System provides an alternative to traditional gravel construction entrances. The system consists of high-density composite mats that use a pyramid-shaped surface to flex vehicle tires and release sediment from the tread. The displaced material collects at the base of the mat, where it can be removed as part of routine maintenance. When sediment accumulates or during wet conditions, the mats can be cleaned using a skid steer broom attachment or by hand tools.

The system is designed to provide effective trackout control, and when incorporated into a project’s erosion and sediment control plan, can reduce or eliminate the need for long gravel pads, wheel wash systems, or additional sediment traps at the entrance. The standard 1x5T layout is commonly used to replace approximately fifty to seventy feet of rock entrance while also allowing adequate turning space for exiting vehicles. FODS mats can be installed on soil, concrete, or asphalt without the need for excavation or heavy machinery. The rockless design enhances site safety, simplifies maintenance, and prevents loose aggregate from being carried onto active public roadways. The mats are designed for easy relocation between phases of work and have an expected service life of ten years or more under typical construction conditions.

North Carolina DOT Acceptance

FODS Trackout Control Mats have met initial evaluation requirements from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and are currently accepted for field trial use. This designation reflects completion of NCDOT’s initial evaluation and indicates that FODS has met NCDOT’s criteria for performance, technical data review, and field evaluation potential. The mats have been and continue to be successfully utilized on active NCDOT construction projects.