scope:

INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

The successful implementation of an erosion and sediment control (ESC) program is a multifaceted undertaking that includes a mix of administrative, legal, and technical issues. This standard provides guidelines for personnel involved in the implementation of erosion and sediment control programs. These affected industries include land development and construction, engineering and environmental services, regulatory including plan reviewers, field inspectors, and administrative personnel.

The guidelines are organized into nine chapters that address the following topics:

• Importance of clean water (background)

• Regulations and permitting

• Erosion and sediment processes and site planning concepts

• Erosion and sediment control practices and standards

• Erosion and sediment control plan

• Erosion and sediment control guidance for specific development types

• Construction inspection and maintenance

• Enforcement.

Chapter 2, Background, summarizes the importance of clean water. It includes a brief summary of the environmental and economic impacts of sediment pollution. It also provides an overview of the environmental and economic advantages of compliance with erosion and sediment control regulations.

Chapter 3, Regulations and Permitting, summarizes the erosion and sediment control laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. This chapter also provides a summary of the recommended permitting procedures.

Chapter 4, Control Processes and Site Planning Concepts, provides an overview of a number of erosion and sediment control processes and site planning concepts. The erosion processes that are described include raindrop, sheet, rill, gully, and channel erosion. Factors influencing erosion that are described include climate/rainfall, soils, topography, vegetative cover, and management/conservation practices. Site planning concepts that are described include planning the development to fit the site, limits of clearing and grading, natural drainage areas, area and duration of exposure, perimeter control practices, preventing excessive on-site damage, runoff velocities and runoff retention, stabilizing disturbed areas, and maintenance and follow- up programs.

Chapter 5, Control Concepts, Practices, and Standards, provides an overview of erosion and sediment control practices and standards. The available control practices are organized into the following functional groupings:

• Erosion control for graded areas

• Erosion control for slopes

• Erosion control for drainage ways

• Sediment barriers

• Construction entrance

• Sediment traps

• Sediment basin.

Chapter 6, Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, provides guidance related to the preparation of an erosion and sediment control plan. This chapter describes the four main elements of an erosion and sediment control plan: narrative, map/site plan, construction details, and engineering calculations. Guidelines are provided on both the preparation and evaluation of an erosion and sediment control plan.

Chapter 7, Control Guidance for Specific Types of Development, provides guidelines for specific types of construction activities that include

• Road construction projects

• Utility construction

• Commercial / industrial development

• Residential development.

Chapter 8, Construction Inspection and Maintenance, provides guidance related to inspection and maintenance of erosion and sediment control practices. This chapter provides a summary of the standard operating procedures for inspection of soil erosion and sediment control. It provides guidance directed specifically at erosion control inspectors and addresses conduct, compliance, and handling violations. Guidance is also provided for conducting site inspections. The topics described here are the inspection, tolerances, preparation for an inspection, preconstruction conference, office preparation, site inspection, and causes of noncompliance. Guidelines are also provided on inspection of individual erosion and sediment control practices.

Chapter 9, Enforcement, provides a summary of the standard operating procedure on the enforcement of soil erosion and sedimentation control.

The units used in these guidelines are SI units followed by customary units in parenthesis, except for the Model Ordinance in Appendix A (only in customary units).