Best Management Practices for the Ready Mixed Concrete and Aggregates Industries

The Maryland Center for Environmental Training (MCET) received an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant in Source Protection to work with small to medium-sized ready mixed concrete and aggregate operations in the State of Maryland.  The goal was to develop training materials on industry best management practices (BMPs) related to water quality.  

Over the grant period, MCET worked with and would like to thank the industry representatives from: Chaney Enterprises, Lafarge North America, Reliable Contracting, Inc., National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association who spent time with us in the field and providing feedback on the training materials that were developed during the grant period.  MCET would also like to thank representatives from EPA’s headquarters office, Region 1 office and their Region 3 office for providing their feedback on the materials.  We would like to acknowledge the contribution to this program given by the following MCET staff:  Program Management – Karen L. Brandt, Director; Curriculum Development and Delivery – Karen L. Brandt, Director and Debora Jones, Senior Environmental, Health and Safety Specialist; Desktop Publishing of Curriculum Materials – Linda M. Price.

Working with these industry representatives, MCET staff visited smaller operations where the company had both aggregates and ready mixed concrete either on-site or close by.  The training materials developed represents areas of interest to these companies and are captured in six training modules, which in turn can be broken out into distinct segments.  

Module 1:  Clean Water 

This first module, on Clean Water, is geared towards the ready mixed concrete and aggregates industries management and their employees.  Through an interactive training session, participants will review the hydrologic water cycle, watersheds and how to gather information on them using the EPA search engine.  Topics covered will include nonpoint source pollution and point source pollution.

Trainers can use this module, a total of 31 slides, to introduce new employees or lay persons to the language of the industry.  The course can be delivered as a ‘tailgate’ presentation, or as a refresher of the basics, for employees on how their lifestyles and work environments may be impacted by their daily activities.  Other uses of the module could be delivery at a staff meeting, earth day outreach to youth, or as a self-paced PowerPoint presentation.

Module 2:  Impairments to Water Quality

Module two defines and discusses process water and stormwater.  Topics will include the uses and monitoring requirements for process water. The stormwater portion will include the definition of stormwater, the mixing of process water and stormwater and the outcomes, and the monitoring requirements.

Although this module builds on the information in Module 1, trainers can use this module, a total of 20 slides, as a stand-alone presentation on water quality. Trainers will emphasis the need for clean water, building on expectations that Americans have the right to safe water for drinking, recreational and industrial use.

Module 3:  Compliance with Stormwater Regulations

The Clean Water Act (CWA) and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) will be covered in this third module.  Participants will be introduced to these regulations as they pertain to Water Quality Standards.  The roles of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State Agency will be covered in detail.  Permitting and testing of water discharges, in the ready mixed concrete industry and the aggregates industry, and what is allowable will be discussed.

Trainers can break this module out into 5 segments:

• The Clean Water Act (10 slides)

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program (19 slides)

• EPA’s Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) (7 slides)

• Testing and Sampling Requirements (24 slides)

• State Specific General Permit (11 slides)

Section 3, MSGP, will be helpful for the States that EPA regulates as the primary authority.  For State Run Plans, section 5 can be used as the footprint.  Other State trainers can replace the Maryland slides with information specific to their regulations by following the outline provided.  

Module 4:  Best Management Practices for the Ready Mixed Concrete Industry

It is estimated there are about 6,000 ready mixed concrete plants that produce the product in the U.S. and about 70,000 ready mixed concrete mixer trucks.  This fourth training module addresses the environmental concerns associated with water quality for this industry.  Pollution prevention BMPs and treatment BMPs will be discussed in detail.

Trainers can add site-specific slides to this presentation related to the operations of the Ready Mixed Concrete Industry in their State.  The module is broken out into 4 segments:

• The Ready Mixed Concrete Industry: Economic and Environmental Impacts (8 slides)

• Environmental Concerns Associated with Ready Mixed Concrete Operations (15 slides)

• Water Quality Best Management Practices (29 slides)

• Identifying BMPs for Your Facility (26 slides)

Module 5:  Best Management Practices for the Aggregates Industry

In the U.S., more than 1,450 companies produce crushed stone from some 3,620 quarries, and 4,100 companies produce sand and gravel from about 6,700 operations.  This fifth training module addresses the environmental issues related to water quality for this industry.  Pollution prevention BMPs and treatment BMPs will be discussed in detail.

Trainers can add site-specific slides to this presentation related to the operations of the above ground Aggregate operations in their State.  The module is broken out into 4 segments: 

• The Aggregates Industry: Economic and Environmental Impacts (8 slides)

• Environmental Concerns Associated with Aggregate Operations (11 slides)

• Water Quality Best Management Practices (31 slides)

• Identifying BMPs for your Facility. (26 slides)

Module 6:  Developing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

Module six, Developing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) covers the actual steps taken to establish and develop a working SWPPP.  This 78 slide presentation can be delivered as a stand-alone training program using the presentation slides as the handout, or delivered together with the EPA Publication 833-B-09-002: Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, A Guide for Industrial Operators.

Module 7:  Best Management Practices for the Ready Mixed Concrete and Aggregates Industries

This module combines the best management practices for each industry into one presentation.  The environmental issues related to water quality, pollution prevention BMPs and treatment BMPs will be discussed in detail.

Program Acknowledgements

Trainer's Toolkit