What Are Construction Stormwater Permits?

Construction stormwater permits are a set of regulations that aim to eliminate pollutants in stormwater runoff at construction sites. Federal stormwater regulations have been around since the 1970s and have continued to become more and more stringent with each reissuance of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Construction Stormwater General Permit. These days, moststates have their own set of regulations described in their construction stormwater permitswhich owners and operators must abide by. Additionally, most large municipalities have ordinances, and many watershed districts also have their own set of regulations. State and local requirements often go above and beyond what the EPA construction stormwater permit requires, thus muddying the water even further on what requirements your site is actually subject to.

Construction Stormwater Permit Compliance Workflow

Although there are specific regulatory nuances (depending on what state or locality you’re working in), most follow the same high-level compliance workflow:

1. 创造综合雨水污染预防计划（SWPPP）
2. 申请并获得初始许可覆盖范围;通常称为意图通知（NOI）
3. Install initial Best Management Practices (BMPs) prior to construction
4. 完整的书面常规和降水触发（适用）雨水检查和识别缺陷
5. 继续安装，维护和修理BMPS
6. 当发现BMPS不充分或偏离原来的SWPPP计划时，修改SWPPP
7. 在允许的地区达到最终稳定
8. Apply for and confirm permit termination; typically called the Notice of Termination (NOT)

“How is land disturbance defined? The exact definition varies depending on what state you’re in. However, all definitions share the same basic principle that it is a human change to the land, which makes the disturbed soils more vulnerable to erosion from water and wind.”

Who Is Subject To Stormwater Regulations?

Companies and individuals involved in construction activities that disturb one or more acres of land must comply with federal, state and local stormwater regulations. Municipalities in densely-populated metropolitan areas may have a threshold much lower than an acre of disturbance – as low as 500 square feet – that triggers their stormwater regulations. How is land disturbance defined? The exact definition varies depending on what state you’re in. However, all definitions share the same basic principle that it is a human change to the land, which makes the disturbed soils more vulnerable to erosion from water and wind.

导致雨水污染以及你如何遵守法规？

雨水是来自雨或雪风暴的水，这些风暴流过陆地，建筑材料，街道，停车场等以及沿途拿起污染物。完全简单地，土壤侵蚀，暴露材料和建筑工地BMP不足的组合导致雨水污染。雨水计划不足和/或错误安装的BMP是导致下游雨水污染的最接近方式。

一个发达的雨水污染预防计划是避免污染雨水的最佳选择。适当准备的计划规定了将在所有阶段施工中防止侵蚀和沉积物径流的措施。一个好的SWPPP还考虑具体国家和地方的要求，建设活动，土壤类型，保存，地形，选择在何时何地骨形成蛋白是使用施工时，气候等的序列。同样，拥有精心设计的SWPPP并在该领域执行计划是降低项目雨水合规风险的最佳方式。

“A well-developed Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan is the best place to start to avoid discharging polluted stormwater. A properly-prepared plan specifies the measures that will be put into place to prevent erosion and sediment runoff throughout all phases of construction.”

有关如何符合联邦，州和当地暴风水法规的12个提示：

文书工作

1. 验证SWPPP适用于工作范围，位置，地形，土壤类型等。
2. 通过联邦/州/当地机构确认您的网站被妥善允许
   • Check local ordinances, watershed districts, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), etc. for specific permit requirements
   • Some states require the permit application and plans be sent 30 days prior to beginning construction
   • Some municipalities require the permit application and plans be sent 60 days prior to beginning construction
   • Get confirmation from the issuing authority the application has been accepted
   • Insert copies of all relevant environmental permits in the SWPPP
3. 在建设雨水烫发所需的频率下，在整个施工现场进行详细的雨水合规检查t
   • Some states require you to use state-approved inspection forms
   • 有些国家要求您将已完成的检查上传到.gov网站
   • Note deficiencies on the inspection and give yourself credit when they are repaired
   • 存储可以轻松访问的记录，不会丢失
4. Amend the SWPPP when there are changes made in the field that contradict what is in the original plan
   • Update maps showing the location of installed BMPs, staging areas, active construction areas, waste bins, etc.
   • 添加BMP规范，因为它们在现场实施
5. 在现场稳定后正确终止覆盖范围并结束施工
   • 从发行权限获取确认，即终止申请已被接受
6. Archive the SWPPP for at least three years

现场条件

1. Stabilize exposed soils as soon as possible
   • Stabilized soils are a critical first line of defense in eliminating sediment-laden stormwater
   • 大多数州都需要在七天内稳定暴露的土壤，如果土壤不会被重新打扰14天或更长时间
2. 在这些地区的梯度工作之前安装沉积物和雨水池/盆/陷阱
   • Construct these structures per plan to capture up gradient stormwater flows
3. 确认已正确安装和维护BMP
   • 大多数州都有一套具有设计规范的批准的BMP
4. 修复建筑雨水许可证所需的时间框架中的BMP
   • Time begins when deficiency is observed and ends when the BMP is installed/repaired
   • 时间范围从24小时变化到七天，具体取决于BMP
5. Phase construction projects appropriately
   • Don’t open up more land than what is needed for immediate construction, stabilize the land you open up as soon as possible after completion of construction
6. Make on-site subcontractors aware of stormwater requirements at the site

“……妥善管理你的站点的建设风暴water is a crucial part of being environmentally responsible and reducing your project’s overall financial risk.”

为什么建筑雨水的适当管理重要？

Regardless of where you are in the United States, properly managing your site’s construction stormwater is a crucial part of being environmentally responsible and reducing your project’s overall financial risk. Of the many pollutants that can become entrained in construction stormwater, the most commonly found and enforced is sediment. The EPA lists sediment from stormwater runoff as the most common pollutant in our rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs. Seventy percent of sediment loading is caused by human land use with the most concentrated sediment releases coming from construction activities. According to the EPA, sediment pollution causes $16 billion in environmental damages annually. Damages occur when sediment-laden stormwater enters our water resources and disrupts the natural food chain by destroying the habitat of our smallest stream organisms. Furthermore, sediment is shown to be harmful to fish gills and the filter-feeding apparatus of invertebrates, causing heightened stress in aquatic life, and negatively affect egg and larvae development of fish and other aquatic species. Because of these facts, massive declines in fish and other aquatic life populations occur when excessive sediment enters into our natural water bodies. Other harmful pollutants in stormwater that have an adverse effect on the environment include animal and human waste, bacteria, nutrients, and chemicals and oils, to name a few.

Every project is unique, and each comes with its own set of challenges when it comes to stormwater compliance. Partnering with a reputable consultant that is knowledgeable in SWPPP design, implementing BMPs and conducting thorough inspections can help save money, prevent project delays and avoid regulatory fines.

For more information about SWPPPs and construction stormwater permit compliance, contact Doug Bergstrom.