If you are in the
Construction industry, chances are you have heard about Clean Construction or
Demolition Debris, also known as CCDD but you may not know exactly what it is
or how it impacts you. First we need to
back up a little and look at what practices have been used in handling soil and
construction debris in previous years. Previously
the rules for handling the construction debris were not as clear and during the
construction process could go to any number of places. If the soil and debris were uncontaminated,
that may have been okay, however since no one was testing it there was a
concern of this material moving harmful contaminates to places where it could
affect ground water and public health.
This was part of the reason why regulations regarding the disposal and
use of these materials were recently made more specific.
What is Clean Construction and Demolition Debris [CCDD]?
According to the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency [IEPA] Website, the definition of CCDD
is:
CCDD: Uncontaminated broken
concrete without protruding metal bars, bricks, rock, stone or reclaimed
asphalt pavement generated from construction or demotion activities. When uncontaminated soil is mixed with any of
these materials, the uncontaminated soil is also considered CCDD – but only
when mixed. Uncontaminated Soil by
itself is not considered CCDD.
Uncontaminated Soil: Soil generated during
construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of utilities, structures and
roads that does not contain contaminates in concentrations that pose a threat
to human health and safety and the environment.
So what does this
mean? How does this affect the way soil
and construction debris are handled today?
The basic question to begin with on a construction project is to find
out if there is a potential impact for contaminates from the property or a
nearby potentially impacted property [Also known as a PIP]. Land Owners need to know what the property
has been used for and if there are nearby industrial properties that could potentially
leak harmful substances onto their property.
Is there a gas station or service nearby? A Dry Cleaners? A Paint Store? If a property owner needs assistance in determining
if their property is impaired an investigation by a trained Environmental
Professional can help.
Uncontaminated Soil – No
Potential Threat Nearby
Uncontaminated soil from a site that has not been used for
commercial or industrial purposes, such as residential and agricultural soil [except
orchards where arsenic and pesticides may have been applied] and that does not
have a PIP nearby may be certified by either the site owner or operator or by a
licensed professional engineer. In
order to dispose of this Clean Construction and Demolition Debris [CCDD] in a
CCDD Fill operation, a pH test is still needed to prove the acidity is within
the required range. If the acidity is
not within tolerance the material may need to go to a non-hazardous special
waste landfill.
If the CCDD is from a Commercial or Industrial Property or there
is a nearby Potential Impacting Property (PIP), certification must be made by a
licensed professional in order to send the material to a CCDD Fill
Operation. This includes most roadway,
utility and right of way projects as well.
The Environmental Professional will need to analyze samples for
contaminates and proper pH levels in order for it to be deemed appropriate for
CCDD Fill operations. If it is impacted,
then it will need to go to a landfill or other operation that receives impacted
Materials.
Clean Construction and Demolition Debris is not difficult once you
understand the rules that are in place to protect our water and
environment. At MeritCorp Group we strive to help our
clients with all aspects of their Site Civil Projects from Planning thru
completion. Not sure where to
start? Give us a call!
