UG Underground UG-12 Step 12 of 13

Restoration and Cleanup

Dispose of spoils and drilling fluid legally, backfill and compact, and restore every surface to the permit specification.

Watch Checklist On the Map

Crew

Foreman
Restoration Crew
Equipment Operator
Inspector or Property Owner (Walk-Through)

Hazards

Work Zone Traffic
Respirable Crystalline Silica from Saw Cutting
Open Excavations
Heavy Equipment

UG-12 · OSP Hub Shorts

Watch the Video

Restoration and Cleanup
Duration 1:03
Watch on YouTube: Restoration and Cleanup (external site)

Crew: Foreman · Restoration Crew · Equipment Operator · Inspector or Property Owner (Walk-Through)
Hazards: Work Zone Traffic · Respirable Crystalline Silica from Saw Cutting · Open Excavations · Heavy Equipment
Governing Rules: OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P · OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 (respirable crystalline silica) · MUTCD Part 6 · Local and state environmental regulations · permit conditions

Job / route		Date
Location / station		Locate ticket

Purpose

Leave the site as good as or better than you found it, per the permit. Restoration is what the public and the inspector see, and it decides when the permit closes and the bond is released. Settled backfill and patched concrete bring callbacks that cost more than doing it right the first time.

When to Do It

Trigger: placement is complete in an area and the pits and potholes are no longer needed.
Prerequisites: the permit’s restoration specification, disposal arrangements for spoils and fluid, and pre-construction photos (UG-02) to compare against.
Previous step: UG-11 Cable Placement Underground.
Next step: UG-13 Documentation and Closeout.

Roles

Foreman: checks restoration against the permit and arranges inspections.
Restoration crew: backfills, compacts and restores surfaces.
Equipment operator: runs compaction and paving equipment.
Inspector or property owner: walks the restored areas where the permit or owner requires it.

Equipment and Materials

Vacuum truck and spoil containers.
Compaction equipment suited to the lift and material.
Backfill material per spec.
Concrete and asphalt saws with dust control.
Concrete, asphalt and tack coat per the permit.
Sod, seed and mulch.
Street sweeper or brooms.
Camera for after photos.

Safety

Procedure

Contain, haul and dispose of spoils and drilling fluid per local and state regulations: per local and state regulations and permit. Never discharge to storm drains or waterways.
Backfill pits and potholes with the specified material in lifts. Compact each lift to spec: per permit. Run density tests where the permit requires them.
Restore surfaces to the permit specification:
- Turf: sod, or seed and mulch.
- Concrete: replace joint to joint, not a patch in the middle of a panel.
- Asphalt: sawcut the edges, apply tack coat and compact.
Remove temporary traffic control and debris. Sweep the streets.
Remove paint marks where the permit requires it.
Photograph restored areas from the same spots as the pre-construction photos.
Walk the restored areas with the inspector or property owner when required.

Hold Points

Records to Keep

Before and after restoration photos from matching spots.
Inspection sign-offs.
Density test results where required.
Disposal tickets for spoils and drilling fluid.

Common Mistakes

Settling backfill. Backfill dumped in one lift settles, and the surface on top of it fails.
Partial concrete panels. Owners and cities expect joint-to-joint replacement.
Fluid in storm drains. It can bring fines and a stop-work order.
No after photos. You cannot prove the restoration met the permit.

Standards and References

Permit restoration specifications.
Local and state regulations for spoil and drilling fluid disposal.
29 CFR 1926 Subpart P: open excavations.
29 CFR 1926.1153: respirable crystalline silica in construction.
MUTCD Part 6: temporary traffic control.

On the Map

Surface Restoration: backfill, compaction and surface repair to permit spec.
Entry Pit: backfilled and restored once pullback is complete.
Exit Pit: backfilled and restored once pullback is complete.
Drilling Fluid and Recovery: fluid that must be contained and disposed of per regulations.

Not applicable: no FAHMY tool covers restoration.

UG-12 · Field Checklist

Checklist

0/8items ticked

Tick each procedure step and hold point as the crew completes it. Ticks stay on this device only. They are a personal aid, not a hold-point release or a project record; follow the owner’s sign-off process.

Procedure

Step 1: Contain, haul and dispose of spoils and drilling fluid per local and state regulations: per local and state regulations and permit. Never discharge to storm drains or waterways.
Step 2: Backfill pits and potholes with the specified material in lifts. Compact each lift to spec: per permit. Run density tests where the permit requires them.
Step 3: Restore surfaces to the permit specification:Turf: sod, or seed and mulch.Concrete: replace joint to joint, not a patch in the middle of a panel.Asphalt: sawcut the edges, apply tack coat and compact.
Step 4: Remove temporary traffic control and debris. Sweep the streets.
Step 5: Remove paint marks where the permit requires it.
Step 6: Photograph restored areas from the same spots as the pre-construction photos.
Step 7: Walk the restored areas with the inspector or property owner when required.

Hold Points

Hold PointStop and Verify before Surface RestorationBefore placing concrete, asphalt or sod, confirm the backfill is compacted to spec and any required density tests have passed. Settled backfill ruins the surface on top of it.

Records to Keep

Before and after restoration photos from matching spots.
Inspection sign-offs.
Density test results where required.
Disposal tickets for spoils and drilling fluid.

Completed by		Signature
Checked by		Notes

UG-12 v1.0.0 · https://fahmy.io/underground/ug-12/ · Printed from FAHMY. Check the page for the current version before use. FAHMY is a reference, not a substitute for owner specifications, the authority having jurisdiction, manufacturer instructions, training or qualified supervision. Follow your employer's safety program and all applicable laws.

OSP Map · HDD Bore

On the Map

Surface RestorationBackfill, compaction and surface repair to the permit and owner specification.Drawn in the route profile
Entry PitExcavation where the drill head enters the ground, with drilling fluid containment.
Exit PitExcavation where the drill head surfaces and the pullback string is assembled.
Drilling Fluid and RecoveryFluid that carries cuttings and holds the hole open; contained and disposed of per regulations.