RAPID PROGRAM BORROW PIT MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

This document provides guidance on management of borrow pits. The Contractor should remain responsible for
managing borrow pit operations.
Borrow pit site reclamation (also called reinstatement) must be completed prior to handover of the road section to which
the borrow site was used.

1. Site assessment and selection

A preliminary site assessment prior to undertaking excavation works should be undertaken. Such assessment shall
include as a minimum the following:
1.1. Land tenure and approval for use
 A written approval for use of the proposed site shall be obtained from the local authorities. It is recommended to
commence discussion with relevant authorities as soon as possible to understand requirements and potential
limitations of the process. Negotiation may require preparation of the narrative that describes borrow pit
operations, outlines potential risk to the community, proposes mitigation measures to control and minimise such
risks and presents restoration plans.
1.2. Geotechnical site investigation
 Borehole drilling and/or excavation of test pits shall be carried out to confirm the extent and quality of the
materials within the proposed site. Test pits and boreholes shall be decommissioned unless used as a borrow
site.
 Hydrogeological information shall be obtained to determine the presence and depth of any groundwater table.
1.3. Site property lines and location
 Borrow pits should be preferably located in the areas with minimal volume of vegetation or
existing/decommissioned pits can be used.
 The borrow pit site shall have clearly defined property lines which will be surveyed and clearly marked to limit
excavation within the approved area of the site.
 The size of the area to be excavated shall be a maximum of 10,000 m2 (or 1 ha). Larger area may be excavated
upon written approval from the UNOPS representative.
 The borrow pit operational site must have an undisturbed buffer area of natural vegetation of a minimum of 25
meters in width around the perimeter of the site – excluding entry roadway with a maximum width of 5 meters.
 The property line of the site shall be a minimum of 100 meters from the nearest households and 100 meters
away from the nearest watercourse.
 Location of the borrow pit place shall be well documents. Documentation should include: a map showing the
location and a plan-view of the site, a photographic record of the site in its undisturbed state (photographs should
be taken from the geographic centre of the proposed site in 8 directions: north, northeast, east, southeast, south,
southwest, west, and northwest).

2. Borrow pit operations

During borrow pit operations as a minimum good management practices shall be followed:
2.1. Operational area

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 1

  Site area shall include: area of extraction, a buffer zone, perimeter berm, stockpiles (i.e. top soil and overburden)
and area for general operations.
2.2. Stockpiles
 Topsoil depth ranges between 150 mm and 500 mm. The exact depth shall be determined from the geotechnical
site assessment. Topsoil shall be stripped and stockpiled away from other materials. Topsoil shall be only used
for reclamation purposes when pit operation is complete.
 Overburden soil (i.e. the layer of soil below the topsoil and above the material of interest) shall be used as a
perimeter berm to direct drainage on the site or stockpiled separately from topsoil and later used to landscape
and backfill exhausted areas of the borrow pit.
2.3. Excavation slopes
 Pit excavations shall be a maximum of 6 meters in depth with a maximum allowable horizontal to vertical slope
(H:V) of 2:1 or 50% grade.
 One side of the excavation shall have a maximum horizontal to vertical slope (H:V) of 2.5:1 or 40% grade for
efficient operation of heavy equipment and to allow for ease of access.
 Pit excavations greater than 6 meters must be fenced all round.
2.4. Duration of operations
 An estimated lifespan of site should be given based on the geotechnical assessment, anticipated rate of
extraction and planned site reclamation.

3. Environmental and safety management

The Contractor must undertake the following environmental protection and public safety measures:
3.1. Site Access/Safety
 The extraction site should have a barrier such as yellow warning tape and/or perimeter berms to control or
discourage public access. Alternatively, the Contractor can post a local full-time guard until the site is reinstated.
 Any deep excavation site that has standing water greater than 0.75 meters deep must be protected from public
access by installing a fence and/or posting a full-time guard before the water level goes down.
 Entrances to the site should be gated so as to block ease of access and shall be designed to provide vehicles
with adequate sight distance to avoid a safety hazard.
 Durable warning signs shall be posted around the perimeter of the borrow site not more than 50 meters apart
which will provide symbols of danger and no trespassing (e.g. skull and crossbones).
 Liaison with the local community should be undertaken, which includes information on dangers within borrow pit
operational sites and that trespassing is not permitted.
3.2. Visual
 Ensure that existing vegetation within the minimum 25-meter buffer area is not disturbed, as it should provide
some visual screening of pit operations from the road and nearby residents.
3.3. Noise
 Ensure that existing vegetation within the minimum 25-meter buffer area is not disturbed, as it should screen
noise of pit operations from nearby residents.
3.4. Water

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 2

  If water is needed for borrow pit operations, a water extraction points such as a borehole, shall be established
within the site, ideally located near the perimeter of the property for use by the local community once the site is
reinstated.
 Borrow pits shall not be located within a wetland area.
 Excavation below the water table is not permitted.
 Standing water in the borrow pit is not permitted and shall be removed either through drainage structures and/or
pumping. Alternatively, any pits with deep (greater than 0.75 meter) pools of water must be secured by a fence
and/or full-time guards to prevent public access.
 Under no circumstances shall community members be allowed to use water at an active borrow pit site for any
purpose (e.g. watering their animals, washing clothes, etc.).
3.5. Water discharge
 Overburden soil can be used as a perimeter berm to direct drainage away from the site.
 Efforts shall be made to reduce the amount of runoff into the borrow pit.
3.6. Erosion
 Erosion control measures must be undertaken in all aspects of pit operations including stockpiles and access
roads. These measures include reduced slopes, seeding, and stockpile covers to protect stockpiles and the
adjacent land.
 Topsoil stockpiles shall be protected from wind and water erosion by reducing slopes (i.e. less than 50% grade),
using a covering, and/or spraying with water.
3.7. Dust
 In all operation of the borrow pits, measures shall be undertaken to minimise dust emission and spreading (water
sprinklers, covering stockpiles, introducing speed limit, etc).
 If a rock crusher is used, the dust control measures shall be undertaken by using a water truck or fixed sprinklers
on crushing equipment.

4. Site reclamation
Site reclamation (reinstatement) should be completed prior to handover of completed road section.
4.1. Stockpile reuse
 Overburden stockpiles and perimeter berms shall be placed on the excavated site and graded to the desired
slopes and drainage paths.
 Reserved topsoil shall be spread on top of the overburden with more topsoil focused on sloping land (minimum
depth on slopes: 150 mm).
4.2. Final slope and drainage
 Suitable surface slopes together with drainage ditches and conduits – as needed – shall be constructed to
prevent water from collecting at the site.
 Final slopes within the site shall be a maximum horizontal to vertical slope (H:V) of 3:1 or 33% grade.
4.3. Final cover
 The borrow pit operational site including access roads shall be thoroughly scarified as needed to help establish
adequate vegetative cover.

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 3

  A minimum of 75% of vegetative cover should be established and maintained following the first rains after
reclamation.
 Particular focus shall be given to vegetation cover on the side slopes of the excavated area to minimize erosion.
Any required seeding used shall be of local plant varieties.
4.4. Interim reclamation
 When excavation activities are going to cease for longer than 60 days, interim reclamation measures should be
undertaken to protect the environment and public safety.
 Interim reclamation measures include a minimum of seeding of topsoil stockpiles and grading the site to reduce
erosion potential.

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 4

 Project Title

Project Location

Project Manager

Contractor

Reporting Month Revision

I. Adverse Environmental impacts associated with borrow pits

Borrow pits are an essential part of road building. However, they may also present potential adverse environmental and
social impacts:

Potential impact Mitigation measure Monitoring

1. Additional habitat for water borne disease vectors;

During construction of a specific road segment, the
borrow pit will remain open and operational, and during  Minimize the number of borrow pits by  Verify that
rainy seasons, it will collect water. The borrow pit may increasing free haul distance in BOQ subsequent use of
then become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other borrow pit, whether for
water-borne disease vectors. This may be of additional maintenance or by
concern in proximity of towns  Establish conditions for borrow pit others, meets
construction, including defined standards defined
reinstatement/closing of the borrow
pits
• Verify natural
2. safety issues for people and livestock regeneration on
If they are too deep, and sides too steep, people and restored borrow pit
livestock could be injured falling into the pit or even drown
 Require contractor to establish and sites and if necessary,
implement a borrow pit management
3. visual impact, loss of natural habitat, run-off and plan replant
erosion, loss of productive lands, including grazing
lands along the road corridors as a result of over-zealous
borrow pit construction  Engage local community authorities to
take responsibility for long-term • Verify conformance
borrow pits in their areas with Borrow Pit
4. Longer-term management of borrow pits Management Plan
Communities may favour keeping borrow pits open, even
once construction is complete, as a source of dry season
drinking water for their livestock.

In general, the contractor will be expected to carry out the construction works in such a way as to minimize the need for
the use of borrow materials, including careful attention to re-use of excavated material as sub-base/base where
technically feasible. Contractors shall “Observe a minimum allowable offset of borrow pits from the road (set back out of
sight of the road) and minimum longitudinal spacing in relation to the allowable free-haul in the BoQ”

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 5

 The contractor is also required to prepare a borrow pit management plan which takes account of these activities and
follows them through to handing over. These plans need to take account of the potential environmental & social impact
and health & safety hazard; including drowning hazards, water-borne disease vectors, impact on local land holdings, land-
use and visual impacts.
The borrow pit management plan will include restoration measures for the site after decommissioning, such as removal
and stockpiling of topsoil layers. If monitoring determines that natural regeneration is insufficient on restored sites, the
contractor should use direct seeding of native leguminous species, such as some of the leguminous creepers that exist in
South Sudan or a perennial shrub species like Sesbania sesban (common to the area and a prolific seeder).

Where borrow pits are to be left open, for their use in regular maintenance programs, the responsibility for their
management should be assigned to the government entity / local authority in charge of road maintenance and compliance
with the borrow pit management plan monitored.

II. Borrow pit management plan

Stage Measures Responsibility

Standards Generic definition of  Identify the most environmentally sound source of materials that UNOPS
definition materials required for the is within budget
road rehabilitation  Use material from local road cuts first, but only if it produces a
fairly suitable, durable aggregate for either embankment fill or
surface stabilization material. Local borrow material can be very
cost-effective. Upon removal of material, the area should be
restored and receive erosion control measures
 Identify indicative quantities of material required from the borrow
pits
Define the needs, in  Minimize the number of borrow pits by increasing free haul UNOPS
terms of borrow pits, for distance in BOQ
effective road  Cost estimates of the borrow-pit management plan included in
rehabilitation with minimal the BOQ
environmental impact  Estimate the number of borrow pits to be opened
 Define the standard maximum size to be excavated for each
borrow pit
 Define the standard buffer area around the borrow pits (proximity
to dwellings, water course, and presence of natural vegetation)
 Review the preliminary site assessment, undertaken by the
contractor (below)
Site selection Complete a preliminary  Outreach to the community leadership (e.g. operation, hazards, Contractor
site assessment prior to restoration)
undertaking excavation  Written approval from community leadership for use of the
proposed site
 GOSS clearance for land use
 Discuss with local community the option of retaining quarry pits
as water collection ponds for watering cattle, irrigating crops or
similar uses. Highlight issues of disease transmission and the
need to prohibit its use for drinking, bathing, and clothes washing
 When siting borrow pit areas, avoid using sensitive areas or sites Contractor
that drain directly into a sensitive area
 Borrow pits will not be located in wetland or densely vegetated
areas
 Test pits/excavations to confirm the quantity and quality of Contractor
material in the proposed site
 Determine presence of any groundwater

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 6

  Map of the location and a plan of the site, including buffer zone, Contractor
perimeter berm, stockpiles, operational area
 Borrow pit design must comply with standards defined (above),
unless specifically approved by UNOPS
 Photographic record of the site in its undisturbed state
Excavation Excavation will take into  Ensure that excavation is accompanied by well-engineered Contractor
account the following drainage
Operation measures  Topsoil is stripped and stockpiled away from other materials and
is to be used only for reinstatement, once pit operations are
complete
 Overburden soil (layer between topsoil and material of interest) to
be used as a perimeter berm to direct drainage or stockpiled
separately to backfill the pit
 Pit excavations maximum 6 metres in depth, with a vertical slope
of 2:1
 Excavation below the water table is not permitted
 Heavy machinery access and operation
Site access and safety  Barrier (e.g. warning tape, perimeter berms, fencing) to control or Contractor
discourage public access to the pit
 Fence all sites with standing water deeper than 0.75 metres , to
prevent public access
 Install signposts warning of danger and no trespassing, at no
more than 50 meters’ distance from the pit
 Community awareness and outreach on the dangers of borrow
pits and that trespassing is prohibited.
Vegetation  Avoid or reduce to a minimum vegetation clearance Contractor
 Existing vegetation within the buffer area should provide some
visual and physical screening of the pit operations
Water  If water is required for borrow pit operation, a water extraction Contractor
point (e.g. borehole) will be established within the site are and will
be planned for use by the community once the site is reinstated
 Drainage structures or pumping will remove any standing water
in the borrow pit. Alternatively any pits with 0.75 metres or more
of standing water will be fenced
 Overburden soil can be used as a perimeter berm to direct water
drainage away from the site
 Use drainage features in flatter areas, such as mitre drains and
sumps, to remove water from around the road ditches
 Community members are not allowed to use water at an active
borrow pit, for any purpose
Erosion  Erosion control measures undertaken in all aspects of the Contractor
borrow-pit operation, including: reduced slopes, seeding, etc
 Protect topsoil stockpiles from wind and water erosion by
reducing slopes, using a cover, and/or spraying with water
Dust and noise  If a rock crusher is used, dust control measures shall be put in Contractor
place (water truck or sprinklers on crushing equipment)
 Vegetation within the buffer area will screen noise of pit
operations
Reinstatement Reinstatement will be  Fill excavated site with overburden stockpiles and perimeter Contractor
completed prior to berms, and graded to the desired slope and drainage path
handover of the  Spread topsoil on top of the overburden
completed road section

 Develop/construct suitable surface slopes, drainage ditches and Contractor

conduits to prevent water from collecting at the sites

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 7

  Scarify the borrow pit operational site to encourage vegetation
cover
 Establish a vegetation cover corresponding to at least 75% of the
cover present prior to excavation (supporting photographs) and
maintain following the first rains after reinstatement
 Minimize erosion by focusing vegetation cover on side slopes of
the excavated area
 Any required seeding will make use of local plant varieties
Review Ensure the Borrow pit  Review borrow pit management / monitoring reports UNOPS
management plan  Review reinstated borrow pit areas prior to handover of
implementation completed road sections
 Engage local community authorities to take responsibility for long-
term borrow pits in their areas
 Ensure that the responsibility for management of borrow pits left
open is assigned to the government entity / local authority
 Verify conformance with Borrow Pit Management Plan

RAPID PROGRAM generic borrow pit management plans and guidelines 8