NRCS Practice Standard: Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (373)

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NRCS Practice Standard: Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (373)

About the Company:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s primary private lands conservation agency. The NRCS helps producers protect and conserve natural resources on private lands through voluntary conservation programs. Through Practice Standards and technical guides, the NRCS provides information about the conservation, energy resources, and provides personalized advice to individual producers.

The NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to producers as they implement NRCS Conservation Practice Standards.

Technical guides used in each field office are localized so that they apply specifically to the geographic area for which they are prepared. Thus, while national guidelines have been provided as a framework for each standard, each state has adopted and modified the conservation practice standards to suit their individual landscape.

To find a local NRCS Service center click here.

To find the specific guideline for each state click here.

About the Solution:

Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (373)

The treatment of unpaved roads and surfaces to reduce dust (airborne particulate matter) produced by vehicle and machinery traffic or wind action.

Practice Information

The objective of this practice is to reduce or eliminate dust (direct particulate matter) emissions from either the mechanical action of vehicles and machinery, or from high winds on unpaved roadways or other surfaces. Control of dust generated by the activity of animals is handled under the Dust Management for Pen Surfaces conservation practice (375).

Dust from roads can lead to visibility and safety issues along and near roadways. It can be deposited on nearby vegetation, resulting in poor plant health. It also can deposit on water bodies or streams leading to increased sedimentation and reduced aquatic organism health.

There are a variety of dust suppressants that can be used to reduce dust from unpaved travel ways. These include substances that require rather frequent reapplication (such as water), and those with relatively long control lifetimes (such as petroleum emulsions). Some suppressants contain chemicals that can have deleterious effects on nearby streams and water bodies from runoff from treated areas.

The benefits of this practice can be significant and immediate. Dust is reduced or eliminated, as well as the consequent impacts. Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces will require maintenance over the expected life of the practice.

Common Associated Practices NRCS Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (Code 373) is commonly applied with other conservation practices such as:

Critical Area Planting (342)

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (380)

Dust Management for Pen Surfaces (375)

Mulching (484)

To view the national NRCS standard for Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces please click here.

Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC United States 1-833-ONE-USDA [email protected] Visit Company Website

Solution Type

General Support and Other

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Others

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Other

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Newtrient Evaluation & Assessment
Expert Review | 9-Point Scoring

Solution Strengths, Weaknesses and Critical Indicators

NOTE: There are multiple technologies that are used as part of integrated manure management systems and yet are not manure management types on their own. The impact of these technologies on their own would be minimal or very difficult to quantify.

General Support & Other:

Can be an integral part of many manure management systems
Most projects have at least some equipment that supports operations of the main technology
This technology is not evaluated on its own, the NEAT Matrix for this technology is neutral unless utilized with other technologies.

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Newtrient Comments/Opinions:

Newtrient is using the USDA-NRCS conservation practice standards as tools to assist dairy producers in understanding the standards and how they can be used to address resources concerns.

To establish a Practice Standard a system or practice must be thoroughly vetted, approved, and standardized by the USDA at the federal and state level. These conservation practices have been developed to address various environmental resource concerns. Newtrient has developed a 9-point scoring process for ranking additives, practices, services, and technologies for the dairy industry. Recognizing the rigorous approval procedure used during the development of the NRCS Practice Standards, many of them score very highly and are worthy of consideration on any dairy where they apply.

The information provided here is a summary of the selected conservation practices. For up to date and detailed information related to the full Practice Standards, please see the USDA NRCS website, linked above.

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