The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has many mandates to ensure that manufacturing, construction, and dredging projects adhere to all regulations and requirements. When constructing near waterways, as is the case with dredging projects, the use of a turbidity barrier, turbidity curtain, silt barrier, or silt curtain is essential so as not to allow erosion to run off and disturb or contaminate water.
When water is stirred by construction operations, it creates turbidity, which is muddiness created by stirring up the ground and sediment. If precautions are not taken with solutions such as a silt curtain, water pollution can occur. A silt curtain is a barrier that when used in combination with erosion controls is meant to prevent or minimize contamination. Failure to take these precautions would be a violation of the Environmental Protection Agencys Clean Water Act. The EPA monitors these activities via National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Compliance.
Best practices for erosion and sedimentation control, as outlined by Government agencies, include sediment barriers such as a silt curtain. Keep in mind that an effective silt curtain will not be more than 36 inches as this could compromise the structures integrity and cause the structure to fail. If in the event of a spill, items such as an oil containment boom or oil skimmer are required.
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