Excavation through sulfidic geologic materials during construction activities has resulted in acid rock drainage (ARD) related problems at numerous (>40) locations across all five geologic regions of Virginia, USA. Potential acidities ranging from >100 to <10 mg caco3 equivalent per 1000 mg of material have been documented in various geologic settings. the vast majority of these potentially acidic materials occur outside of the coalfield region where acid drainage related issues have historically been concentrated. we have worked cooperatively with the virginia department of transportation to: develop a statewide sulfidic materials risk map; document ard impacts to soil and water quality and engineered structures; and develop methods to assess site-specific risk potentials within a given highway corridor. a statewide sulfidic materials gis risk map was developed based upon the state digital geology map which assigned four levels of relative risk to all mapped strata based upon predicted lime requirements and probabilities of encountering highly reactive materials. non-highway construction activities have also routinely disturbed sulfidic materials, and a recent airport project in northern virginia resulted in over 150 ha of extremely acidic (ph><3.5) post-construction soil materials that remained barren for over two years before being recognised as sulfidic. acidic (ph 3.0; fe>45 mg/L) run-off from this site heavily damaged a receiving stream, partially due to the fact that it dissolved the galvanised steel water control structures in stormwater detention basins, leading to direct discharge of run-off and sulfidic sediments. The airport area was treated and revegetated in 2002 with a combination of lime-stabilised biosolids, straw mulch, and acid-tolerant grasses. Water quality in a receiving second-order stream quickly responded to the treatment, but some release of N was also noted as a secondary effect. Collectively, these results point out the importance of accurately assessing the potential for excavation of sulfidic materials in construction environments, and the necessity of developing toxic materials handling strategies similar to those employed in mining environments.