Mitigating Contaminant Transport in Utility Installation

About the report:

In recent years, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has experienced problems with various forms of contamination (primarily from underground storage tanks, USTs) migrating into its right-of-way. In many cases VDOT has had to install culverts, pipes or other utilities through these contaminated areas. Utility installation in VDOT's construction projects includes laying telephone lines, power lines, and construction of sanitary and storm sewers. When installed through contaminated areas, these utilities or utility corridors may serve as conduits or preferential pathways for the migration of contaminants offsite, thereby introducing the possibility of liability for VDOT. Because little information exists regarding ways of preventing such contamination from migrating along preferential pathways created by the installation of utilities, the primary objective of this project, and the resulting document, is to classify the typical types of contamination problems and outline mitigation measures to prevent or minimize them. Emphasis is placed on presenting real-world and practical mitigation methods, guidelines, and procedures. Although the manual is intended for use by field operatives and designers primarily as a guide for obtaining additional, more detailed information, it also presents some methods that can be applied directly.

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