Page 67 - Highway Engineering Handbook Building and Rehabilitating the Infrastructure

50 CHAPTER ONE

lead content has increased as a result of paint removal activities, have been codified in
regulations.
A method for calculating debris recovery that has been used by the South Carolina
Department of Transportation is found in the Struchual Steel Painting Council (SSPC)
Guide 61, Guide for Containing Debris Generated during Paint Removal Operations
(SSPC 92-07, March 1992). The following equation is used in the SSPC guideline for esti-
mating debris recovery:

RE W d × 100
W a + W p

where RE efficiency of recovery
W dry weight of abrasive and paint debris collected
d
W dry weight of abrasive used
a
W calculated weight of paint to be removed
p
This estimation procedure has the limitation of not incorporating the weight of the var-
ious release media (air, soil, water), which influence the effectiveness of a containment. A
1 percent debris loss into the soil is not as significant as a 1 percent debris loss into the air.
Care must be taken when using this method to measure only the abrasive and paint from
the project and not to measure soil that may have come into contact with the debris.
The project designer should incorporate an environmental monitoring plan to evaluate
the effectiveness of the containment methods. Reporting and record keeping within the plan
should include the following data:

• Name and location of the site, along with a site plot plan
• Identification of the individual or company that is conducting the monitoring
• Name and qualifications of the analytical laboratory used
• Criteria and rationale for selecting monitoring and sampling sites and duration of
sampling
• Descriptions of sampling and monitoring methods
• Quality assurance and quality control plans
• Examples of reporting forms
• Acceptance criteria
• Reporting procedures and corrective actions if acceptance criteria are not met

1.5.7 Community Relations
Bridges are public structures. Lead poisoning caused by lead-based paint has come to the
forefront of public awareness. Any inconvenience to the public due to bridge mainte-
nance calls attention to the structure and ongoing operations. If not handled well, lead-
based paint removal from bridges can become a volatile community issue. Some states
have passed regulations requiring public notice. The highway agency should be prepared
to provide complete, accurate, and current documentation on the safety procedures that
are implemented to protect the public health and the environment.
Gaining regulatory agreement with the removal and containment methods will also be valu-
able in reducing public concern. Adjusting the timing for paint removal activities to be con-
ducted during off-peak hours also serves to diminish the attention that the operation receives.