ECTC: 14 YEARS OF GUIDING AND GROWINGTHE ROLLED EROSION CONTROLPRODUCTS INDUSTRY

摘要

Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECPs) represent the fastest growing and “hightech” segment within the erosion control industry. RECPs were first used in the form of jutemats imported from Asia back in the mid 1950s, but have quickly evolved to include a widevariety of temporary degradable open weave textiles and erosion control blankets, as well aspermanent turf reinforcement mats. As the use of RECPs began to escalate in the early1990s with the advent of the U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System(NPDES) and the increased awareness of the environmental impacts of soil erosion andsedimentation, so did the need for standardization of a blossoming RECP industry. At thattime, several progressive RECP manufacturers realized the industry’s need for standardtesting protocol, proper design specifications and installation uniformity for RECPs. In July1992 they formed the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) and set out to createthese standards and promote the continued growth of the industry through education andleadership.Today, the ECTC’s mission remains unchanged and has grown even more importantas new end-users look for guidance in employing RECPs to comply with more stringenterosion/sediment control regulations, such as those mandated in Phase II of the NPDES.This paper will highlight the accomplishments of the ECTC over the past 14 yearsin guiding and growing the RECP industry, and provide a glimpse into the current and futureactivities of this leading organization.