Geosynthetics February/March 2023 - 39

Litigation that " forced " maturity and
evolution of the erosion control industry
the most was perhaps the implementation
of NPDES Phase II in March 2003.
Phase II required NPDES permits for
disturbed sites as small as 1 acre (.4 h).
NPDES permits for construction sites
now required the owners and operators
to implement programs and practices
to control polluted stormwater runoff.
This was a great shot in the arm for
the erosion control industry because it
was well documented by this time that
unprotected soil was a major source of
sediment-laden (polluted) runoff. Thus,
with NPDES Phase II, it was no longer
an option to implement best management
practices (BMPs) on disturbed
sites as small as 1 acre (.4 h) unless
the owner was willing to risk potential
NPDES fines for noncompliance. Today,
erosion control requirements after disturbance
is " part of everyday life " and
our nation's waters are benefiting. EPA
litigations over the past 50 years are a
major reason the erosion control industry
has successfully evolved.
Erosion control products and practices
were used during the 1970s and
1980s (the first erosion control blanket
[ECB] was invented in the 1960s and the
first turf reinforcement mat [TRM] was
invented in the 1970s), but in the 1990s
industry activity skyrocketed (additional
versions of ECBs and TRMs evolved,
and bonded fiber matrix [BFM] mulch
was invented). With the further migration
away from historical options such
as straw bales and blown straw, the use of
engineered, manufactured products and
practices increased, and with it came the
need for standardization means. Several
progressive RECP manufacturers recognized
that standardized testing protocol,
design specifications and installation
methods were essential to the continued
development of the expanding industry.
In July 1992, ECTC was formed with
a goal and vision to increase the use
of performance-based erosion control
products so our precious soil and water
resources would be protected at a higher
level. Almost everything is connected
to the soil or to water resources. Thus,
their protection and preservation is
paramount for all. Many advancements
have occurred within ECTC since its
inception 30 years ago. Today, ECTC
membership includes manufacturers
of erosion control, sediment control
and stormwater products; fabricators
of products; component manufacturers;
equipment manufacturers; distributors;
consulting engineers; and testing laboratories.
ECTC is a nonprofit organization
that is funded mainly through
membership dues. Over the years, ECTC
has provided the industry with many
tools such as specifications, installation
guidelines and test methods, and it will
continue to be an integral arm contributing
to the advancement of the erosion
control industry into the future.
Contact ECTC to learn more about
our members, tools and services. In addition,
find a complete toolbox of specifications,
CAD files, installation videos, fact
sheets, etc. online at www.ECTC.org.
Please contact Jon Curry (jcurry@
ectc.org), ECTC executive director, with
any questions or comments regarding
this article. He will be sure to communicate
your feedback to ECTC membership,
then provide a timely response. G
>> For more, search ECTC at
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com.
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
39
FIGURE 1 Curlex, the first ever erosion control
blanket (ECB), was invented in the 1960s. Photo
courtesy of American Excelsior Co.
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Geosynthetics February/March 2023

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