CALTRANS MAINTENANCE STORM WATER - 2006
H FAMILY
BRIDGES
#
Video
Audio
Music
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Narrator: Bridge maintenance activities include work
such as repairing damage
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or deterioration in various bridge components;
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removing debris from piers, bearing seats, and
abutments;
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repairing expansion joints;
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cleaning and painting structural steel; and sealing
concrete surfaces.
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Also included are the maintenance of electrical and
mechanical equipment on moveable-span bridges and
the operation of the moveable spans.
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Welding and grinding are performed on structures,
including bridges, roads, and individual service facilities.
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Pollutants that may be present or generated include
removed paint, fuel, grit, eroded sediment, solder,
hydraulic fluid, and oil.
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These materials can become environmental concerns or
pollutants if they are discharged into the storm water
drainage system or receiving waters.
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Also, water applied during hydro blasting operations
must be controlled to prevent unpermitted non-storm
water discharges.
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To minimize the discharge of these pollutants into the
storm water drainage system,
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follow these Best Management Practices:
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Prevent foreign objects from being dropped into water
bodies by securing all equipment and tools;
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Use appropriate containment when welding over the side
of a bridge to capture slag and metal grindings;
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For welding work over a storm drain inlet, protect the
drain inlet to prevent grindings and debris from entering
the storm water drainage system;
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For welding work on the deck services or expansion
plates, use maintenance traveler or wing staging to
capture grindings and debris;
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Remove all slag and debris from the deck or other work
sites when the job is completed; and
Collect slag, excess materials, and solid waste in an
appropriate container and take it to the maintenance
facility for reuse, recycling, or proper disposal.
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For the safety of our workers and the environment, it is
important that only properly trained employees with the
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appropriate personal protective equipment work on
bridges containing lead-based paint.
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This activity removes graffiti and cleans concrete walls
and structural steel. Although the most common graffiti
removal practice is to paint over the area, at times,
Caltrans removes graffiti by sandblasting, wet blast with
sand injection and hydro blasting.
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The materials that may be present or generated during
these activities include:
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fuel, hydraulic fluid and oil, grit, lead contaminated
materials,
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and removed paint. All of these materials are potential
pollutants if not handled properly. Use the following Best
Management Practices to help keep these potential
pollutants out of the storm drainage system and
watercourses:
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Prevent foreign objects from being dropped into
watercourses by securing all equipment and tools;
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Protect drain inlets and watercourses from potential
spills and debris;
If chemicals are used for cleaning, consider safer
alternative products when practical and effective;
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When hydro blasting with a permanent traveler, use
control measures to prevent solid and liquid spills or
materials from entering watercourses;
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When sandblasting, use the minimum amount of sand
necessary;
Avoid excess use of water to minimize runoff;
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Use approved removal and disposal procedures when
sandblasting to remove lead-based paint;
Collect liquid waste in a container with a secure lid and
take it to the maintenance facility for proper disposal;
and
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Collect solid waste in an appropriate container and take
it to the maintenance facility for reuse, recycling, or
proper disposal.
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Bridge painting operations include the painting of bridge
surfaces, facilities, and highway structures
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as well as routine maintenance of painting equipment.
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The materials that may be present or generated during
painting activities include: paint, fuel, hydraulic fluid, and
oil.
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To prevent the discharge of these potential pollutants to
the storm drainage system or watercourses, use the
following Best Management Practices:
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Monitor the weather and wind. Do not paint in the rain or
immediately prior to forecasted rain events.
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Do not use spray equipment under windy conditions.
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To prevent spills, make sure paint containers are secure
during transport.
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Protect drain inlets and watercourses from potential
paint spills.
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Mix paint indoors away from storm drain inlets or in a
containment area.
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Load the paint spray equipment at the maintenance
facility.
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Use tarps or canvas under work areas to capture excess
paint or paint chips
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and transfer captured material into a waste container for
proper disposal at a maintenance facility.
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Do not remove original product label from paint or other
hazardous material containers since it has important spill
cleanup and disposal information.
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Use all of the paint before disposing of the container
and, if necessary, label all secondary containers
appropriately.
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Collect all paint equipment wash water and return it to a
maintenance facility for proper disposal.
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Bridge maintenance activities include repairing bent or
damaged steel beams, cracked or spalled concrete,
damaged expansion joints, and bent or damaged
railings. The materials that may be present or generated
during
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bridge repairs include: fuel, asphalt release agents,
hydraulic fluid, oil, sediment, aggregate material, and
asphalt grindings.
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Also, water used during grinding or post-sweeping
operations must be controlled to prevent unpermitted
non-storm water discharges.
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To minimize the discharge of these pollutants into the
storm water drainage system, follow these Best
Management Practices.
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When working over watercourses, plan and conduct the
operations to capture and collect as much debris as
possible; and
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When repairing cracked or spalled concrete, transport
collected waste materials including broken and damaged
treated bridge pier fender posts back to a maintenance
facility or approved storage site and dispose of properly.
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Draw bridge maintenance activities include maintaining
mechanical and electrical equipment, removing debris
and drift, and removing debris from sumps.
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The materials that may be present or generated while
performing draw bridge maintenance include lubricating
oils and grease, fuel, hydraulic fluid, and oil. The
following Best Management Practices should be
implemented for this activity: When greasing fittings, use
drip pans under the equipment when possible to capture
excess grease.
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After greasing fittings, clean up excess grease by wiping
down equipment, fittings, and metal surfaces.
Try to use the minimum amount of materials necessary
to complete the job.
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When working in the pit, clean by sweeping or
vacuuming when possible instead of hosing down the
area.
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Dispose of waste according to approved procedures.
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The Caltrans NPDES Permit issued by the State Water
Resources Control Board prohibits the dumping,
deposition, or discharge of waste by Caltrans either
directly into water bodies or adjacent to water bodies.
The Caltrans NPDES Permit is consistent with the State
Board’s anti-degradation policy.
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Both the state and federal antidegradation policies
acknowledge that
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any activity that impacts water quality, even if very small,
can result in a violation of the state’s antidegradation
policies. Also, the Caltrans NPDES Permit requires
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that storm water discharges from Caltrans maintenance
projects and facilities comply with water quality
standards provided in the Regional Water Quality
Control Boards’ Basin Plans. previously mentioned Best
Management Practices.
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So, in order to ensure that Caltrans bridge maintenance
projects comply with state and federal regulations, it is
important to follow the
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California has the largest number of rare plants and
animals of any state.
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Conservation of habitat and the natural processes that
occur throughout the state
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is essential for the protection of environmentally
sensitive areas.
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Furthermore, in the mid-1970s, thirty four areas on the
coast of California were designated as areas requiring
protection by the State Water Resources Control Board,
and were called Areas of Special Biological Significance.
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On October 18, 2004, Caltrans received a letter from the
State Water Resources Control Board concerning
discharges into these areas from Caltrans’ right-of-way.
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The letter states that Caltrans must cease storm water
discharges to all areas or, alternatively, apply for an
exception to the Ocean Plan.
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Caltrans found that immediate compliance with the
discharge prohibition was infeasible and submitted a
conditional request for an exception.
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Caltrans is also investigating the potential for ceasing
the discharges into these areas in some situations and
will pursue this option where viable.
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Therefore, when working on bridges near or adjacent to
Areas of Special Biological Significance, check with your
supervisor to see if there are any special procedures that
must be followed.
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The Best Management Practices that have been
presented are already widely used and they need to be
followed for all Caltrans activities to protect watercourses
and ensure worker safety.
Just remember to keep up the good work because your
water quality depends on you.
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