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Best Management Practices
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Construction Stormwater BMPs for Your Site

Storm water Best Management PracticesWhile the construction phase of a project is usually considered a temporary condition, soil erosion and sedimentation produced by land development impacts the environment, damaging our natural resources and aquatic life.  Choosing the best erosion and sediment controls means choosing the BMPs that are of sufficient size, strength and durability to handle the worst anticipated rainfall.  Most of all, construction BMPs need to last the periods of time that construction takes place, whether over several months, seasons or years.  Before you dive into the facts, find out what types of construction BMPs are acceptable in your state or locality. Then use this page to research the types of BMPs for site construction.

State Requirements
BMP Options

Your Legal Responsibilities

Local communities, states and environmental organizations are increasing pressure and scrutiny of owners and contractors to fulfill the responsibilities of stormwater treatment and ensure that the environmental impacts of construction are controlled.   Contractors and owners are responsible for implementing and maintaining controls for stormwater to ensure sediment and pollutants do not runoff into storm drains or surrounding water bodies during construction. 

Contractors and owners who do no comply with the stormwater regulations may be subject to lawsuits or other penalties which can be costly.  As a contractor or owner, you are responsible for:

  • All construction activities that disturb greater than one acre of land must be covered by a permit under the NPDES program.  In most cases, you are required to file a notice of intent to use the General Permit, and must develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan as part of the permit requirements.  Check your state and local regulations to determine your requirements.
  • Researching local ordinances and state laws first when developing BMPs.  Towns and counties may require specific BMPs during construction due to land use, topography, slope, water table elevation, and geology that may not be mentioned at the state level.   Usually, a combination of BMPs (otherwise known as a treatment train) are used to prevent as much soil erosion and sedimentation as possible during storm events.
  • Implementing appropriate erosion and sediment control best management practices.  Implementation of sediment and erosion control BMPs must also be accompanied by inspections and records for rainfall, etc.  Upon site stabilization, the permittee must file a Notice of Termination with the permitting authority, indicating that construction activities have ended. 
  • Keeping storm drains and other discharge points clear throughout the entire construction site, including perimeter areas where surface runoff exits the site.
  • Controlling waste such as discarded building materials, concrete truck washout, chemicals, litter, and sanitary waste at the construction site which may cause adverse impacts to water quality

Be responsible for ensuring the right BMP measures are in place when designing and implementing an erosion & sediment control plan for your construction site.  

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