Soilworks products are the industry’s top standard due to our insistence on creating high performance soil stabilization and dust control products that stand up to rigorous testing – both in the lab and in the field. Our commitment to quality and performance has led to our involvement and testing in hundreds of real-world situations. The following library of reports, presentations, specifications, approvals and other similar documents provide you, our customer, the transparency and dependable assurance that is expected from Soilworks.
The Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Lease Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) outlines environmental management strategies, including dust control and soil stabilization for the Mauna Kea Access Road, scientific research facilities, and surrounding lands. Due to the region’s high-altitude volcanic terrain, effective erosion control and dust suppression are critical to maintaining air quality, preserving cultural and environmental resources, and ensuring safe access to observatories. The plan emphasizes the need for non-water-dependent dust suppressants like Durasoil for long-term control on unpaved roads and access areas, reducing windborne dust that could affect sensitive research equipment and ecological habitats.
Additionally, Soiltac, a biodegradable synthetic copolymer, is recommended for soil stabilization and erosion control, particularly for unsealed surfaces exposed to high winds and vehicle traffic. These solutions support sustainable land management practices, ensuring the preservation of Mauna Kea’s unique environment while facilitating safe and reliable transportation for researchers, maintenance crews, and visitors. Contact Soilworks for specialized dust control solutions tailored to scientific research, conservation, and high-altitude infrastructure projects.
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3.11.1.4 Mauna Kea Access Road Maintenance
The portion of the Mauna Kea Access Road above Halepōhaku is maintained by Maunakea Observatory Support Services (MKSS), which is made up of representatives of IFA, OMKM and the telescope operators. Although there is no official road maintenance plan, the unpaved portion of the road is graded approximately two times a week by MKSS to keep it drivable, and when necessary, cinder pieces fallen from the roadside are collected and used to fill in ruts. In the spring of 2008, MKSS brought in basalt gravel from a quarry at Pōhakuloa to use as a substitute for the cinder on the most severely washboarded areas.43 This was the first time outside gravel has been used to cover the road surface (Koehler 2008) and this practice continues periodically. Other maintenance of the lower Mauna Kea Access Road that is either in progress or planned includes cleaning rocks and cinder from culverts, repairing retaining walls, and repairing erosion damage. In addition, soil additives designed to control dust (Durasoil® and EK-35) have been approved by the MKMB Environmental Committee and applied to limited stretches of the unpaved road, all of the well below the summit (Koehler 2008). While both additives were found to reduce dust, they did not enable MKSS to decrease the frequency of grading, and MKSS does not intend to continue using them once the existing supply has been exhausted.
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