FEDERAL-AID POLICY GUIDE
September 30, 1992, Transmittal 5

NS 23 CFR 650B

OPI: HNG-31

1. PLANNING AND LOCATION 23 CFR 650.207

   1. Potential erosion, sedimentation and pollution problems should be considered in route selection.

      (1) Factors to be considered include soil erodibility, drainage patterns, geology, manmade features, landslide areas, stream crossings and encroachments, and the magnitude of cuts and ills. Attachment 1 contains a discussion of these factors.

      (2) Water quality standards and existing and potential uses of surface and ground water resources in the corridor should be considered in evaluating alternate locations.

   2. Federal, State, and local agencies having respon-sibility for surface and ground water resources, fish and wildlife, and soil conservation should be consulted for technical information, data, guidelines, standards and regulations.

2. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ESTIMATES (23 CFR 650.207)

   1. Effective measures for the removal of sediment from surface runoff are more difficult and expensive than measures for the reduction of erosion. Therefore, these measures should be included in plans, specifications, and estimates.

   2. Complete designs for erosion and sediment control and abatement of water pollution should be developed for highway construction projects, including the following:

      (1) Plan details for temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control measures.

      (2) Specifications for temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control measures with provisions provisions may be modified to meet individual State or project conditions.

   3. Separate pay items should be included in the contract provisions for temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control measures to the extent practicable.

   4. Provisions for early acceptance of completed portions of erosion and sediment control items should be included in contracts to relieve the contractor of responsibility for damages to completed work from causes beyond his control.

3. CONSTRUCTION (23 CFR 650.209)

   1. One of the first construction activities should be the placement of permanent and temporary erosion and sediment control measures around the perimeter of the project or the initial work area to protect the project, adjacent properties and water resources.

   2. Exposed soil surface area limitations set forth in the contract documents may be adjusted by the contracting agency on the basis of contract progress considerations and other factors such as climatic conditions, soil characteristics and conditions, topography, and project size.

   3. Construction materials such as falsework, piling, dikes, or other obstructions in watercourses should be removed as soon as practicable after completion of the operation.

   4. Construction operations in rivers, streams, lakes, or other bodies of water should be restricted to:

      (1) areas where channel changes are shown on the plans,

      (2) areas which must be entered to construct structures or erosion and sediment control measures, and

      (3) areas where waters must be forded occasionally during construction, as approved by the contracting agency. Frequent fording should not be permitted; temporary bridges or other structure should be constructed where frequent crossings are necessary.

   5. The use of chemicals such as soil stabilizers, dust palliatives, sterilants, growth inhibitors, fertilizers, and deicing salts during highway con struction and operation should be limited to the best estimate of optimum application rates. All feasible measures should be taken to avoid excess applicationand consequent intrusion of such chemicals into surface runoff.

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