EnviroTech Journal

Regardless of how much ice and snow this winter brings, your operation has to stay moving all season long. While deicing is of utmost importance to keep things rolling, many shy away from liquid deicers and anti-icers because the chemicals are too harsh on the metal equipment.

Nearly one-half of the estimated four million roads in the U.S. are unpaved; the reasons why range from lack of usage to the costs involved. One thing is certain: unpaved roads produce dust and lots of it as you already know. Those charged with dust control on such roads are always looking for efficient and cost-effective solutions. There are a number of products for each unique situation.

When seeking a low-chloride solution for dust control, consider BaseBind®, EnviroTech’s proprietary binder that stabilizes the road surface. Creating a barrier that resists evaporation of water, it rejuvenates itself by absorbing water from beneath. It requires a lot less chlorides because the binder holds moisture – preventing evaporation. BaseBind® is gentler to the soil and a better choice for roads in any sensitive area such as orchards, croplands, forests, protected wetlands and other ecologically sensitive environments.

The manager of the Larimer County Landfill, on the outskirts of Ft. Collins, Colorado, was looking for a method that would control the dust problem on the landfill's roads while reducing the drain on the city's water supply. The only dust-reduction in use at the time was plain water at an application rate of four to six truckloads per day, six days per week for a total of approximately 126,000 gallons per week. He consulted with EnviroTech Services Inc. and decided to implement their recommended plan of using X-Hesion Pro® (XPro). 

What does BioPreferred® mean?
The BioPreferred® program is managed by the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) and promotes the development, sale, and usage of products derived mainly from renewable resources rather than traditional petroleum-based products. The goal of the program is to preserve the health of the environment as well as us humans through the reduced distribution of harmful products.

Odors, leaching, rising costs, upset neighbors, and ever-changing EPA regulations: As you may already know, controlling your dust can help mitigate all of these problems.

Of course, the first step in controlling a dust problem is determining the scope of your problem and understanding how (and if) various factors can be limited.

Our roads take us where we need to go, but they are large open spaces vulnerable to erosion and other environmental hazards. They crack and deform with age, releasing dust and other debris into the surroundings. Thus, making the roads hazardous to everyone who lives and works near them. Fortunately, with proper care and planning, our roads can serve us for years without issue. However, each industry has its own environmental concerns.

The ongoing drought in the west is causing more problems than just a lack of rain for farmers. California set a new “low water” mark measurement (California Department of Water Resources). The statewide electronic reading of the snowpack’s water content stands at 5 percent of average, or 5 percent of the 28-inch average. The lowest previous reading since 1950 was 25 percent of average, so Water Year 2015 is the driest winter in California’s written record.

Whether your mine is open pit or underground, one of the keys to keeping it operating at peak capacity is maintaining the roads that transport your products, employees, and equipment to and from the mine site.

EnviroTech Services, Inc. is pleased to announce its latest joint venture, EarthTech Dust Suppressants LLC, with Canadian microbial technology company, Earth Alive Clean Technologies. EarthTech will combine ESI’s industry leading and environmentally focused dust control products with the unique microbial technology of Earth Alive. Together, ESI and Earth Alive will be opening an untapped and previously unmet need within the international dust control market. Many international mines, including an industry leader which is already doing business with the newly formed EarthTech, are facing unprecedented regulations in how their operations impact the environment. Notwithstanding regulations, mining companies are also taking a much more proactive approach to employee safety and health concerns and are starting to become environmental stewards .This, specifically, is true for the methods in which mines are required to manage dust disturbance and treat already affected soils.