What You Need to Know Before You Begin Construction
Develop Your SWPPP First, File for Your Permit Second
When you begin construction, you’ll need a permit before you break ground. With the SWPPP, you can file your Notice of Intent or NOI, which is your permit. Your permit allows you to discharge stormwater from your site. Once you have your SWPPP and permit you can get approval from the city to begin construction. All required BMPs per your SWPPP should be in place prior to construction activities. Remember, no permit means an illegal discharge!
BMP Definition
BMP stands for Best Management Practices. A BMP is a control used to prevent erosion and to assure that sediment and pollutants do not leave the perimeter boundary of the construction site.
Best Management Practices for Construction Site Stormwater Runoff
When planning for pollution prevention you must properly plan your site activities, considering slope, soils, proximity to other properties, proximity to water bodies, and so forth. The goal is to retain sediment and pollutants on site. Methods to use include:
- Proper planning.
- Preventing erosion on the site.
- Use of good housekeeping practices.
- And using structural BMPs as the last defense.
Categories of BMPs for Stormwater Compliance
There are 13 categories of BMPs in the Stormwater Construction General Permit. These categories apply to all sites and are:
- Minimize Disturbance
- Preserve Vegetation
- Natural Buffers
- Perimeter controls
- Sediment Track-out
- Stockpiles
- Dust control
- Preserve Topsoil
- Minimize Soil Compaction
- Protect Storm Drain Inlets
- Concrete, Paint, and Stucco Washouts
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Sanitary Waste