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• Practid Approach~r Effecti~•e E & S Coouvl - %8 <br />DEFINITION OF VARIABLES <br />ACCEPTANCE <br />EC Environmental Compatibility <br />Environmental compatibility, or how well a technique or material "fin" into its <br />surroundings is becoming more of an issue in erosion control applications. <br />One might be inclined to believe that organic, biodegradable materials might <br />have higher environmental acceptance than synthetic, non-biodegradable <br />materials, but this is not always the case. <br />For example, it is absolutely essential to use plastics in the manufacture of <br />thret-dimensional, turf reinforcement mats ('I'RM) and other biotechnical <br />composites (BC): The structural component provided by the synthetic matrix <br />must be long-lived in order for the system to function. A biodegradable matrix <br />would simply breakdown too quickly and the benefits afforded to reinforcing <br />vegetation roots and shoots would be lost. Some plastics are chemically <br />constructed so as to photodegrade over specific periods of time: The nettings <br />commonly used on mos[ erosion control blankets (ECB) aze typically <br />manufactured with this idea in mind. <br />However, some nettings, hydraulic components or structural systems have the <br />potential for short-term detrimental effects on fish and wildlife. While <br />widespread, significant impacts have not been documented to date, it is always <br />important when planning the erosion control system to consider the public's <br />perceptions of the environmental impact of erosion control technology <br />nonetheless. <br />Finally, environmental acceptance also relates to the compatibility of a selected <br />erosion control approach in the extreme physical, chemical and biological <br />conditions in which it is applied. Acid or alkaline soils may reduce the <br />effectiveness of a material by accelerating decomposition; specific synthetics <br />may chemically react with constituents of landfill leachates; fabrics or <br />composites may lose their drainage efficiencies through clogging with soil fines <br />and grazing wildlife may find certain materials in erosion control blankets an <br />acceptable and readily available forage. <br />O 1995 fECA <br />