Guidelines for Handling Excavated Acid-Producing Materials

摘要

The study addresses handling of acid-producing materials excavated in the process of road building. Guidelines for detecting potential AD problems and for dealing with the acidic drainage (AD) problem, generated through literature review, case studies, and research, are organized for use during the pre-design, and construction phases of a project. Due to the diversity among construction sites, there can be no generic plan for coping with the potential AD problem. Site variables, including, topography, volume of material to be excavated, climate, and hydrology, necessitate site-specific planning. Embankments designed for encapsulating acid-producing material are recommended based upon testing performed during the study. All rock to be exposed through excavation should be considered suspect for AD production until proven otherwise through geologic and/or geophysical investigations.