RESTON, VA. — The American Society of Civil Engineers’ Environmental and Water Resources Institute (ASCE/EWRI) announced it will conduct a public comment period on the professional standard, Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Guidelines for Investigation of Land Subsidence Due to Fluid Withdrawal. The public comment period will be held from Aug. 2, 2010, through Sept. 17, 2010.

This standard establishes guidelines for researching the global phenomenon of land subsidence, which occurs as a result of the removal of subsurface support by natural or anthropogenic causes. Groundwater, oil, and gas withdrawal from subsurface zones, sediment compaction, and oxidation of organic soils are some causes of land subsidence. Subsidence is often discovered only after a building collapses or other infrastructure fails, threatening lives, property, and necessary services in developed areas around the world. These guidelines are compiled from various published scientific and engineering studies along with publications by UNESCO.

The guidelines provide preparatory information for developers, informing them of possible hazards and effects of land subsidence which have caused millions of dollars worth of damage in the United Sates.

To participate in the public comment period, contact Lee Kusek, ASCE Codes & Standards administrator at lkusek@asce.org or 703-295-6176. For more information on this standard or ASCE’s standards program, please contact Leikny Johnson at ljohnson@asce.org or 703-295-6413.