UTRC Press Release
Friday, February 7, 2014
Contact: Nadia Aslam
Assistant Director for Technology Transfer
University Transportation Research Center - Region 2
Tel: 212-650-8051
Email: nadia@utrc2.org
The University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) Publishes the Final Report: "Field Methods for Determining Lead Content in Bridge Paint Removal Waste"
UTRC has released a final report for the research titled: "Field Methods for Determining Lead Content in Bridge Paint Removal Waste", funded by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). The principal investigator was Dr. Lisa B. Axe, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
The removal of paint from bridges and other structures is a significant issue facing transportation agencies because of the presence and potential for release of lead and other contaminants upon disposal. A large percentage of the bridges are reaching a critical level of deterioration, resulting in management issues for paint waste. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) applies a conservative approach by assuming all waste generated from bridges previously painted with lead-based paint (LBP) is hazardous. Therefore, an approach that provides accurate in-situ characterization of the waste classification would be beneficial. The goal of this project is to develop a rapid and cost-effective method that can provide an accurate characterization of waste classification. With 11 Regions and 2,385 bridges rehabilitated and subsequently repainted after NYSDOT stopped using LBP on bridges (after1988), 24 bridges from across the NYS were selected for this study based on Sampling Theory (Deliverable Task 1).
The full report is available for a free download at the UTRC website: http://www.utrc2.org/publications/final-lead-content-bridge-paint
About the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC)
The University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) is a USDOT Regional Transportation Center addressing surface transportation operations, management, design economics and planning. The Region 2 University Transportation Research Center is one of ten original National Centers, established in 1987, in recognition that transportation plays a key role in the nation’s economy and in the quality of people’s lives. Located at the City University of New York, the Center is a Consortium of 17 major Academic Institutions in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. Through the Grant supporting the Center, the mission incorporates research, education and the transfer of technology in the field of transportation. Academically based, the work of Faculty and Students – graduate and undergraduate provide a critical link in resolving our national and regional transportation problems while training the future and current professionals who address our transportation system and their customers on a daily basis. For more information, visit www.utrc2.org.