Research Idea Details

Identify Cost-Effective Options to Control and Quantify PM-10 Emissions from Extremely Low Volume Native-Surfaced Roadways.

  • Focus Area: Air Quality
  • Status: Archived
  • Subcommittee: Air Quality
  • Cost: Unknown
  • Timeframe: 1-2 years

Research Idea Scope

Research and quantify existing PM-10 emissions from a range of extremely low volume native surfaced roadways typical of County, US Forest Service and utility company ownership.  Treat sections of those roadways with a limited set of commercially viable dust pallatives and/or surfacing materials.  Evaluate subsequent PM-10 emissions and score relative to cost and already-known approximate life expectancy of treatment method.

Urgency and Payoff

Counties are ramping up enforcement of PM-10 emission control under auspicies of the Clean Air Act.  Such action will impact entities which own/operate ‘dirt roads’.  Often such native surfaced roads are uneconomic to operate as paved roads–that’s why they are ‘dirt roads’.  Identification of the maximum benefit-to-cost alternaives relative to PM-10 compliance will provide nationwide benefits to transportation economics and also allow accomplishment of the maximum PM-10 reduction through maximizing the lane-miles treated per year.

Suggested By:
Walt Keyes, US Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture
[email protected]
Submitted:
06/15/2007