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1 <br />1 <br />~l <br /> <br />• Practical Approa~for Effective E ~ S Coowl - ~8 <br />DEFINITION OF VARIABLES <br />ACCEPTANCE <br />EC Environmental Compatibility <br /> <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br />L_J <br />1 <br />lrtvuonmental compatibility, or how well a technique or material "fiu" into iu <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 />three-dimensional, turf reinforcement mau ('TRIvn and other bioterhnical <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 aze chemically <br />constructed so as to photodegrade over specific periods of time: The Wettings <br />commonly used on most erosion control blankets (ECB) aze typically <br />manufactured with this idea in mind. <br />However, some Wettings, 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 />© 1995 iECA <br />