South Dakota Stabilized Construction Access
The Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) administers the Clean Water Act (CWA) in the state of South Dakota. Construction sites that disturb an area of 5 acres or greater are requried to obtain a NPDES stormwater permit to operate. Contractors, MS4s and Industrial sites each must obtain a permit from DENR. A Notice of Intent (NOI) is submitted before constrution or operation begins. The SD DENR resource page includes links to the SDR100000 CGP and the EPA Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) template and other forms to help contrators create a SWPPP and obtain a permit.
South Dakota SDR100000 NPDES Stormwater Permits
To obtain a Construction Stormwater Permit, SDR100000, contractors will submit a SWPPP which identifies the person responsible for managing the pollution control measures that will be taken on the job. The SWPPP also contains a site map which details Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will be used to mitigate stormwater pollution. One essential BMP is the use of a Stabilized Construction Access. These access points are designed to minimze any polluted sediment that is tracked out of the jobsite onto impermiable surfaces like asphalt roadways. Polluted sediment on roadways will wash down stormdrains and enter protected rivers and streams.
Stabilized Construction Access Detail in South Dakota
The Construction General Permit states that contractors “must minimize the track-out of sediment from the construction site where vehicles leave the site.” Contractors are also advised to restrict all vehicle access to the construction entrances and use “appropriate stabilization techniques at all construction site access point(s) so sediment removal occurs prior to vehicle exit.”
The DOT lists techniques that are traditionally used in South Dakota, including:
- Log/Timber
- Cattle Guard
- Stone
- Wash Rack
- FODS Trackout Control Mats
Stone pads consist of an excavated area which is lined with a geotextile filter fabric and topped with 6” - 8” of crushed stone and are commonly used to mitigate track-out. Stone entrances can quickly degrade during a rain event or when the jobsite has high traffic volume. Exits must be periodically reviewed to ensure proper functionality. When dirt builds up on the rock, the top layer is scraped and replaced with clean rock which can be costly if the site needs to be refreshed frequently. The other techniques listed are typically used in conjunction with stone when there is expected to be a high volume of traffic, inclement weather, or other factors which could cause stone entrances to quickly degrade.
FODS Manufactured Stabilized Construction Access Mats offer a different approach to traditional methods. FODS is designed to be used as a stand alone solution that does not degrade over time.
FODS Manufactured Construction Exit
FODS Trackout Control System a modular system is linked together with hardware and anchored to the ground. The mats can be installed without excavation and over a variety of substrates. Installation, relocation, maintenance and even removal can all be completed without heavy equipment.
FODS mats consist of a high density composite material which are formed into pyramids that are designed to remove sediment from vehicle tires. The unique design of the mats deforms vehicle tires and removes sediment stuck inside tire tread. As debris is removed from tires it falls to the base of the pyramids and does not come into contact with other vehicles. When a rain event occurs, or when sediment builds up to the tops of the pyramids, the mats can be easily cleaned to completely restore functionality.
FODS is a modular sediment control device which is easy to customize for each project. A standard layout is a 1x5T which provides a wide turning radius and 35’ of length. FODS are more effective than aggreagte construction entrances so this layout is commonly used to replace a 70’ stone contruction exit.
A unique advantage of using FODS is that it can be easily reused & relocated throughout various phases of a construction project. Engineered to be extremely durable, FODS mats are designed for 10+ years of service life.
FODS Approved For Use By SD DOT
The FODS Trackout Control System has been approved for use by the South Dakota DOT and are listed in the Section D - Erosion Control Notes. Similar to the Colorado and other state DOTs, the South Dakota DOT recommends using a 1x5 or 1x5T FODS configuration to create a stabilized entrance. The FODS Stabilized Construction Access is ideal for highway projects and linear project where one or more entrances are required during each construction phase. The FODS Mats can be relocated and reused throughout the project helping to reduce costs on each deployment. In addition, the FODS system is highly effective at containing trackout and does not introduce aggregate to the site access points. The rockless system can help to reduce the risk of rocks entering active lanes of travel.
Contact us to learn more about using FODS on a DOT project in South Dakota.
Additional Resources:
SD DENR Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Guide
List of South Dakota DOT Construction Entrance/Exit BMPs
South Dakota DOT Construction Field Manual
South Dakota DENR Construction General Permit SDR100000
South Dakota DOT File Downloads