|
|
CORP OF ENGINEERS
Well vegetated drain channel
Silt Fence
Geotextile blanket
Crop residues absorb energy of raindrops
to reduce the soil splash. Plants and close
growing crops minimize raindrop impact as
well as hold the soil together and act a filter
.They also reduce the amount of runoff as do
subsurface drainage system.
Mulch is a type of protective covering such
as sawdust, compost, burlap, shredded
wood or paper strips used on the ground to
reduce water evaporation, control weeds,
enrich the soil. It is also very important in
preventing water erosion in newly formed
waterways and other areas where vegetation
still has not had enough time to establish
itself. The mulch intercepts the erosive forces
of raindrops, thus reducing erosion until the
seeding produces its own protective cover.
Mulch Medium
|
Section 1. RULE 5
General Permit for Construction
Activity Stormwater Runoff Control
(How to Comply, Copy of the
Rule, NOI Letter Requirements)
"Rule 5" (327 LAC 15-5), adopted in 1992 by the State Water Pollution
Control
Board and administered by the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management
(IDEM), applies to all sites
where construction activity disturbs five acres or more.
Reproduced here is (1) a brief summary of how to comply, (2) a copy of
the rule itself, and (3) the content requirements of a
notice-of-intent letter.
Questions concerning this rule should be addressed to:
Chief, Permits Section
Operations Branch, Office of Water Management
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
105
South Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015
Phone
(317) 232-8704, FAX (317) 232-5539
LOW
IMPACT DEVELOPMENT
Concrete Isn’t the Same Ole Concrete This Year
SMART GROWTH
ARMY CORP OF
ENGINEERS/LOUISVILLE
STOP THE MUDNESS
New Storm Water Rules
For
Construction Sites
June 9, 2004
IDEM decided to change their internal process for submittal
of Rule 5 NOIs and fees. NOIs and checks should be mailed:
IDEM/Cashier
100 Senate Ave.
PO Box 7060
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7060
A revised rule governing Stormwater
discharges from construction sites became effective on November 26, 2003. General Permit rule 327 IAC 15-5,
Indiana’s Stormwater Quality from Construction Sites regulation, is part of
the State’s effort
to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
through the Clean Water Act. The revised rule is part of the Phase 2
implementation of the
NPDES program. The intent of the NPDES program is to reduce
pollutants entering our surface waters.
Specifically, 327 IAC 15-5 is
intended to regulate Stormwater discharges from construction sites, which disturb one (1) acres or more, or are
part of a larger common plan of development or sale.
The rule requires that potential Stormwater pollutants be minimized, throughout construction, along with the inherent pollutants associated
with the new land use. In addition, a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, meeting
the requirements of the rule, must be submitted to the Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD) in the county where the project is being proposed. Also, a
Notice of Intent (NOI) form, along with a permit fee, must be sent to the Indiana
Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the agency that administers
and enforces the regulation.
To comply with the new
regulation, construction projects that will disturb one (1) acre or more are required to develop a Construction Plan,
including a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, meeting the requirements of the
rule. It is a requirement that the plan be submitted to the Soil and Water Conservation
District (SWCD) in the county where the project is being proposed at least 28
days prior to the expected start date for the project. Staff at the SWCD
office will review the plans, and if no changes are necessary for the plans to comply with
the requirements, the project may begin. If changes are necessary, the project
designer must make the appropriate changes before construction operations are
started.
The rule also requires that
potential Stormwater pollutants be minimized in Stormwater discharges from the site by implementing measures
to prevent the transport of the pollutants. These measures include the
installation of erosion and sediment control practices to minimize sediment discharges,
changes in sequencing to reduce the amount of exposed soils, self-monitoring
procedures to make sure adequate protections are in place and functioning properly,
material handling and storage procedures to reduce the chance of spills of
hazardous materials, modification of the project design to minimize potential
pollutants from the completed project among others.
Construction sites that disturb five
(5) acres or more have been required to draft erosion and sediment control plans, and to implement those
plans on their sites since September of 1992 to minimize Stormwater pollutants
during construction. SWCD and Division of Soil Conservation of the Indiana Department of
Natural Resources staff have been reviewing plans, providing
technical assistance and
inspecting the construction sites for compliance, which will
continue. The new rule reduces the land disturbance threshold to one (1) acre and
adds several other requirements to better reduce potential pollutants leaving
construction sites in storm runoff. For more information regarding the new rule
requirements, contact Norma Duckworth, CPESC in the Soil and Water Conservation District
office (812) 867-0729.
How to Comply with 327 IAC 15-5 ("Rule5")
You must:
-
Pay the NOI letter fee of $100.00 made payable to
the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
-
Prepare a soil erosion control plan that contains
the required elements in 327 IAC 15-5-7.
-
Send the plan to the Soil and Water Conservation
District office in the county where the construction activity will
take place and to any appropriate state, county, and local soil
erosion control authority. The SWCD will review the plan and
make recommendations when necessary.
-
Be sure that the personnel responsible for
installing and operating the plan know what they are doing.
This may require some training for some.
-
Prepare and submit a complete Notice of Intent
letter to the Office of Water Management, Permits Section. All
of the requirements in 327 IAC 15-3-2 and 327 IAC 15-5-5 must be
included in the NOI letter to be considered complete. Do not
send a copy of the soil erosion control plan to IDEM.
-
Construction can begin immediately after fulfilling
the requirements in 327 IAC 15.
EROSION CONTROL
Soil erosion in Vanderburgh County falls
primarily in two categories. The first
category is when there is
any land disturbing activity that leaves the soil exposed to
the
elements. This happens during development in urban areas, and
during normal
tillage practices in agricultural areas. Urban
erosion is best controlled by prevention. Prevention can
be achieved in a number of ways known to us as Best Management
Practices.
Conserving Soil in Developments
Some of these practices include: Disturbing only
the areas where current construction
is taking place, Re-seeding areas
with temporary cover immediately after the disturbance is complete and
installing barriers across the slope to catch sediments
before they
leave a site. Once erosion has occurred on a development, it
should be
addressed as soon as possible to protect the soil from
additional erosion. The cost of
treating the impacts of erosion
in a development is much greater than preventing it.
The
sediments from eroded soil will be deposited in new storm sewers,
roads, drainage -ways, and on others’ property. These
sediments can accumulate and plug storm sewers and drainage-ways and
contribute to flooding problems.
Conserving Soil in Agriculture:
Soil erosion during farming practices is best controlled by leaving as
much of the previous year’s crop residue on the surface as
possible.
This dead plant material will shield the soil from the impact of
falling
raindrops. Leaving residue on the surface requires
abandoning any practice that
destroys residue or turns residue under
the surface of the soil. This method of
planting crops is known
as No-till or Conservation Tillage. In areas of the field
water concentrates and flows down-slope may require mechanical
practices such as
Terraces, Waterways, Grade Stabilization Structures,
etc., even with Conservation Tillage gullies may occur in areas of
concentrated flow.
Technical Assistance: The
Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) with
the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can provide
assistance on all types of erosion control. There are many
resources available to evaluate erosion problems, and provide
alternative measures for controlling erosion. There is also
assistance available for preventing erosion in
developing areas.
See the Home Page for office phone number and address information.
LOCAL ORDINANCE:
In 1997 the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water
Conservation District completed work on a local ordinance, developed
to address soil erosion and sediment concerns
within Vanderburgh
County.
The ordinance was passed within the county, city
and the town of Darmstadt with the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water
Conservation District in charge of implementation and enforcement.
The birth of the ordinance was necessitated due
to rapid development and the need for consistent erosion and sediment
control on small parcels of land. This ordinance differs from
other federal rules by always making the property owner the
responsible party regardless of the size of the property.
For information about property in the City of
Evansville contact the City Engineers office (812) 436-4990 and ask
for Karen Barnhill. For information about property in the
county call the County Engineer's office (812) 435-5773 and ask for
Mike Wathen.
NATURAL RESOURCES: “Land is a community involving soil, water,
wildlife, woodland and man. They must all work together.”
Aldo Leapold
Natural Resources are typically separated into
six (6) categories: Soil, Water, Air,
Plants, Animals and People.
SOIL which is the outer layer of the
earth in which plants grow, have many characteristics due to its
development and historic treatment or use. These characteristics
determine proper uses and also may require the resource user to develop special precautions to insure the soil is not degraded or
eroded. Detailed soils information can be obtained at your local
SWCD office in the form of the
Vanderburgh County Soil Survey Manual.
WATER is a major constituent of all living
matter and is not being created but is cycled and recycled day after
day. This resource is used readily and may become contaminated
easily. The SWCD office has information on rainfall rates, water
quality issues and the water cycle.
AIR surrounds the earth and carries odors
and particles such as dust as it blows. Your SWCD has a
Technical Guide which depicts best management practices (BMP’s) which
will reduce pollution caused by odors and soils.
PLANTS possess cellulose cell walls and
lack the ability to move thus become susceptible to deterioration or
depletion due to abuse. Plants in turn provide many benefits to
most aspects of our quality of life. Your local SWCD office has
plant lists suitable for your area and varieties best suited for
various land-uses.
ANIMALS both domesticated and wild are
prevalent in this area. Habitat determines species variety and
survival. Your local SWCD has Job Sheets which help to guide
development of various habitats for both wild and domestic animals.
PEOPLE have the greatest effect and
impact on ALL of the above mentioned resources. The primary goal
of your local SWCD is to assist you in sustaining and managing these
natural resources.
The SWCD provides technical assistance to you as
a natural resource user and decision-maker.
The SWCD technical assistance is ecosystem based
and can help you develop sound
resources management plans.
Top of Page
|
