Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
Conveyance and treatment of post-construction stormwater runoff is a key aspect of any development. If required for your project, have MNTM design a cost-effective, low maintenance practice for your site.
Addressing Stormwater Runoff Concerns
One of the most important factors to consider in site plan development is the treatment and mitigation of stormwater runoff. Not only are stormwater discharges regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), but proper design and maintenance of stormwater treatment facilities is essential to ensure a site continues to operate as designed long after construction has been completed. A SWPPP can range from a temporary erosion and sediment control plan used during construction, to a plan including permanent post-construction stormwater management practices.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is the governing agency for all-things runoff related. The NYSDEC regulates stormwater runoff based upon the requirements of a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES). The SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities (“General Permit”), specifies the legal criteria that a project is required to meet. A majority of residential and commercial development falls under the regulations of the General Permit.
The General Permit that is currently effective, GP 0-15-002, was released to address updated technologies relating to stormwater treatment and detention. The old method of “pipe to basin” mitigation is gone. Instead, it has been replaced with specifications for Green Infrastructure, stormwater treatment practices designed to treat runoff at the source and infiltrate it back into the ground. The General Permit also requires post-construction peak runoff flows from the project site do not exceed pre-development conditions. Separate detention facilities may need to be designed to accommodate any increases in runoff from the proposed development.
As it is with most things in life, there is more than one way to design a SWPPP. NYSDEC provides options and alternatives for different practices that can be implemented on a project site.
These best-management practices (BMPs) are not created equal. MNTM thoroughly investigates the constraints of each project site and meticulously reviews each of the available practices to find a cost effective solution to the treatment and detention requirements. All too often engineers will utilize practices that are easy to design and will not consider the construction and long term maintenance costs of such practices. MNTM keeps the short and long term costs at the forefront when considering stormwater practices for a site. The practices chosen may not always be cheap, but they will be the most cost effective solution to the current regulations.
Stormwater regulations are constantly being updated. Knowledge of what practices are capable of being implemented at a site, and how to properly design and analyze them, is paramount in developing a functional site plan. Our years of experience makes us experts in stormwater analysis and the design of treatment facilities. We know the code, and we know what works.
If a SWPPP is required for a development, strict adherence to the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan developed for the site is a must. NYSDEC has the right to fine a contractor and property owner up to $37,500.00 per day of non-compliance. These fines can be issued retroactively, meaning you could incur substantial fines if your site isn’t kept to the standards required by the state. Keep yourself out of trouble and in compliance with NYSDEC inspection requirements by hiring MNTM to complete the required site inspections during construction.
We can be your eyes and ears for any potential issues and advise you and your contractor on alterations that should be made to keep NYSDEC happy and the money in your pocket.