EPA has finalized its 2012 Construction General Permit
Posted by John McAllister on Mon, Apr 09, 2012 @ 10:27 AM
The US EPA issued its final 2012 Construction General Permit on February 16, 2012. The new permit will replace the expired 2008 permit, and will be in effect until 2017. The Permit provides coverage for new and existing construction projects that exceed the thresholds of disturbance. The permit's goal are to reduce sedimentation and pollution from stormwater runoff from large construction projects.
The original draft permit included a numerical limit for Turbidity, however that was not included in the final permit. The final permit required Best Management Practices be prescribed. A guide on how to meet the Best Management Practices is included as an appendix to the Permit.
Another change is for construction sites that discharge to impaired waterbodies (from sediment or nutrients) are subject to more rapid stabilization and more frequent site inspections. The new permit requires the preparation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan prior to submitting a Notice of Intent with EPA. The Notice of Intent must be submitted electronically, and more information can be found by visiting the EPA's NPDES Construction General Permit website.
Erosion Control is necessary to prevent runoff from affecting downgradient resource areas.