NASLR – National Association of State Land Reclamationists’ Spring 2017 Newsletter highlights ERTEC S-FenceTM in an article about Innovation. Used very successfully for many years by the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining & Safety in its land reclamation efforts, NASLR takes an opportunity to spread the news to other states.
S-FenceTM
Cut project costs by 50%
- Will not deteriorate or blow down
- Lasts many years
- High reusability
- Fast installation, lightweight
Better Performance
- High sediment retention via filtration
- Negligible maintenance
The Challenge:
The current best practice is to use traditional silt fence to keep sediment from moving off-site. Unfortunately, it is common to see silt fence topple in the wind, break down in UV light or allow ponding and undercutting during storms. Mine Reclamation projects often last 18 months or more and it is typical for a large percentage of the silt fence installation to require comprehensive maintenance or even complete replacement more than once. Estimators often overlook the cost of silt fence maintenance, removal and waste handling. Proper installation, removal and disposal is costly. On multiphase projects, it is also desirable to relocate and reuse the BMP as reclamation activities progress, rather than dispose and start a new phase with new materials.
Article excerpt: INNOVATION
The National Association of State Land Reclamationists (NASLR) was formed to promote the use of research, innovative technology, and professional development to foster superior restoration of land and waters affected by mining.
Activities such as material logistics, equipment cleaning, processing or other operations that occur at mining locations are often exposed to stormwater. The runoff from these areas may discharge pollutants directly into nearby water bodies or indirectly via storm sewer systems, thereby degrading water quality. In 1990, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed permitting regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to control these stormwater discharges.
Pollution Control Measures such as site specific best management practices (BMPs) must be identified in a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and implemented on site with regular maintenance and inspections to assure NPDES compliance.
The Colorado Department of Mining, Safety and Reclamation (DRMS) is actively reclaiming and stabilizing many of its sites using many different BMPs. Several years ago, DRMS began using a new technology for protecting site perimeters and stabilizing slopes rather than continuing to use traditional silt fence. ERTEC’s S-Fence™ is a silt fence substitute which enhances their program in several ways. S-Fence has significant functional longevity, very low maintenance requirements, higher sediment capture performance, low total cost, reusable and zero waste. DRMS likes the way it resists UV exposure, snow loads, high winds and high stormwater flows which would normally destroy silt fence quickly at high altitudes and harsh environments. Traditional perimeter or slope protection BMPs rapidly degrade from UV or are degraded by animals.
Since 2012, DRMS deployed thousands of feet of ERTEC S-Fence throughout the Colorado Rockies on many projects. During that period, DRMS often reclaimed S-Fence, once revegetation occurred, to redeploy on new projects. S-Fence will continue to perform for years.
“ERTEC’s S-Fence™ has proven to be an efficient and effective BMP for sediment control on both coal and hard-rock reclamation sites. S-Fence performs especially well in coal fire environments, where the vegetation was removed to minimize the surface fire danger. The product is durable, and effective for up to three years without maintenance, and it is reusable and recyclable. These benefits also make the product cost-effective. S-Fence is superior to traditional silt fence due to its longevity, UV resistance, and ease of installation.” – Tara Tafi, Project Manager – Inactive Mines Program
Many operating mines also take advantage of ERTEC’s S-Fence™. Light weight and easily deployed, mine technicians like to work with it. Most importantly, there is virtually no maintenance in most cases, even on multi-year projects. Some of the largest operating surface mines rotate S-Fence through several locations over many years. S-Fence™ is made from HDPE, is 100% recyclable and is 100% American Made.
Return to S-FenceTM Product Page
NASLR – National Association of State and Land Reclamationists
Download NASLR 2017 Newsletter PDF
http://naslr.org/about-naslr