Berm and method of construction thereof

Abstract

A berm comprises fill material, a covering portion, and a drainage system. The fill material comprises contaminated fill material fully encapsulated by an impermeable membrane. The covering portion comprises structural fill material and at least partially covers the fill material. The drainage system is within the impermeable membrane.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A berm comprising:
 fill material comprising contaminated fill material fully encapsulated by an impermeable membrane;   a covering portion comprising structural fill material, the covering portion at least partially covering the fill material; and   a drainage system within the impermeable membrane;   wherein the contaminated fill material comprises one or more of fossil fuel combustion product, fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, flue gas desulphurization material, non-hazardous contaminated soil, contaminated crushed glass, contaminated crushed concrete, contaminated crushed asphalt, sand blast grit, foundry sand, properly de-watered dredge spoils, or combinations thereof; and wherein the contaminated fill material is contaminated with one or more of a metal, an acid, a base, a volatile organic compound, a semi-volatile organic compound, a petroleum product, selenium, mercury, lead, boron, cadmium, thallium, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compound, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The berm of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable membrane comprises a geomembrane. 
     
     
         3 . The berm of  claim 2 , wherein the geomembrane comprises one of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurea or polypropylene (PP). 
     
     
         4 . The berm of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable membrane comprises a plurality of impermeable membrane sections joined with impermeable seams. 
     
     
         5 . The berm of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of impermeable membrane sections are joined using extrusion welding or fusion welding. 
     
     
         6 . The berm of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage system comprises a perforated pipe surrounded by a granular fill material. 
     
     
         7 . The berm of  claim 6 , wherein the drainage system further comprises at least one drainage pipe leading from the perforated pipe to an area outside of the berm; and
 wherein the at least one drainage pipe exits the impermeable membrane through a corresponding boot that is joined to the impermeable membrane and to the corresponding drainage pipe with impermeable seams.   
     
     
         8 . The berm of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drainage layer adjacent an inner surface of the impermeable membrane and contacting the drainage system.   
     
     
         9 . The berm of  claim 8 , wherein the drainage layer comprises a geocomposite. 
     
     
         10 . The berm of  claim 1 , wherein the covering portion comprises a plurality of reinforcing members disposed therein. 
     
     
         11 . The berm of  claim 1 , wherein the covering portion fully covers the fill material. 
     
     
         12 . A method of constructing a berm, the method comprising:
 fully encapsulating fill material by an impermeable membrane, the fill material comprising contaminated fill material;   at least partially covering the fill material with a covering portion comprising structural fill material; and   placing a drainage system within the impermeable membrane;   wherein the contaminated fill material comprises one or more of fossil fuel combustion product, fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, flue gas desulphurization material, non-hazardous contaminated soil, contaminated crushed glass, contaminated crushed concrete, contaminated crushed asphalt, sand blast grit, foundry sand, properly de-watered dredge spoils, or combinations thereof; and wherein the contaminated fill material is contaminated with one or more of a metal, an acid, a base, a volatile organic compound, a semi-volatile organic compound, a petroleum product, selenium, mercury, lead, boron, cadmium, thallium, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compound, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the impermeable membrane comprises a geomembrane. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the geomembrane comprises one of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurea or polypropylene (PP). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the impermeable membrane comprises a plurality of impermeable membrane sections joined with impermeable seams. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of impermeable membrane sections are joined using extrusion welding or fusion welding. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the drainage system comprises a perforated pipe surrounded by a granular fill material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the drainage system further comprises at least one drainage pipe leading from the perforated pipe to an area outside of the berm; and
 wherein the at least one drainage pipe exits the impermeable membrane through a corresponding boot that is joined to the impermeable membrane and to the corresponding drainage pipe with impermeable seams.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 placing a drainage layer adjacent an inner surface of the impermeable membrane and contacting the drainage system.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the drainage layer comprises a geocomposite. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 disposing a plurality of reinforcing members within the covering portion.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least partially covering the fill material with a covering portion comprises fully covering the fill material with the covering portion.