Portwide Storm Water Pollution Prevention and Dust Control Program

Abstract

The Port of Long Beach has approximately 3,400 acres of landside area in the cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Within this area, Port staff identified approximately 100 acres of undeveloped areas that require stabilization for soil erosion and dust control. In early 2005, the Port initiated a Portwide Storm Water Pollution Prevention and Dust Control Program to implement storm water and fugitive dust control measures in these areas. The program was divided into two phases, short-term (temporary measures) and long-term measures. The temporary measures phase began in early 2005 and will continue until the permanent measures are in place. Under the long-term program, a combination of different types of sustainable mitigation measures including, but not limited to, hydroseeding, placement of crushed miscellaneous base, hardscape, and sustainable landscape are being developed and implemented. Both the short and long-term mitigation measures are consistent with Port of Long Beach Master Storm Water Program and Green Port Policy for air and water quality. This paper describes both the short and long-term mitigation measures used for erosion control and storm water management in these undeveloped areas. Discussion focuses on the implementation of sustainable Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the challenges faced with the design and installation of the BMPs in those areas. Site preparation work included cleanup of the Port undeveloped areas by removing debris, abandoning utility poles, filling holes and abandoning water wells, as well as removing miscellaneous obstructions in these large dirt lots. Most of the areas required rough grading for storm water drainage prior to the installation of BMPs. The BMPs applied as temporary mitigation measures included silt fences, sand bags, rock barriers, and sediments control rolls for mitigating storm water runoff. This paper also includes the discussion of different types of soil stabilization materials used in stabilizing the surface dirt layer as a temporary dust mitigation measure. The Port of Long Beach considers the “Triple Bottom Line”, the idea that economic vitality should be on an equal footing with environmental stewardship and community responsibility, as part of the decision making process in conducting Port business. The main discussion of the paper will be focused on the application of the principles of sustainability to the design and implementation of BMPs for the long-term mitigation measures.