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Protection <br />Protection measures for landslides primarily focus on containment and/or diversion of the <br />moving debris. Such measures include walls, berms, ditches and catchment basins, which can be <br />low to moderate in cost. However, considerable long-term maintenance costs are often associated <br />with these measures to clean out and dispose of accumulated debris. BNSF currently employs a <br />number of timber and steel containment walls (Figure 8). <br />Figure 8. Debris containment wall along BNSF rail line consisting of steel "H" piles with precast concrete lagging to <br />facilitate cleanout (photograph courtesy of BNSF). <br />Avoidance <br />Avoidance measures constitute a permanent solution to a landslide hazard. Measures include <br />realignment away from the slope, relocation of the facility, tunnels and elevated structures that <br />allow passage of debris beneath the facility. The typically high cost of these measures is offset <br />by the elimination of further landslide -related maintenance costs and exposure to landslide risk. <br />Maintenance and Monitoring <br />Maintenance and monitoring measures may involve proactive cleanout of available catchment <br />areas, routine observation and assessment of slope conditions, landslide -warning (slide) fences, <br />monitoring slope and weather instrumentation and preemptive closures. Generally, these <br />measures are relatively low cost and can be highly effective in reducing public exposure to slide <br />risk. With the exception of cleaning existing catchment areas, these measures do not reduce the <br />likelihood of a landslide event or the potential of landslide debris reaching the tracks. Slide <br />fences are used extensively through the corridor to warn of the potential for debris on the tracks <br />p. 18 <br />