Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Requirements

1. Site Description

a.    A description of the nature of the construction activity.

b.      A description of the intended sequence of major activities which disturb soils for major portions of the site. (e.g. excavation, grading, utilities, and infrastructure).

c.      Estimates of the total area of the site and the total area of the site that is expected to be disturbed by excavation or other activities including off site borrow and fill areas.

d.      Estimate of the runoff coefficient of the site for both the pre-construction and the post-construction conditions and data describing the soil or the quality of any discharge from the site.

e.      A general location map (city or county map) and a site map indicating the following: drainage patterns and approximate slopes anticipated after major grading activities, areas of soil disturbance, location of major structural and non-structural controls identified in the SWPP, locations of where stabilization practices are expected to occur.

f.        Location of off-site material, waste, borrow or equipment storage areas.

g.      Impacts to surface waters (including wetlands) and location where storm water discharges to a surface water.

h.       The location and description of asphalt plants and concrete plants providing support to the construction site and authorized under this general permit.

i.        The name of receiving water at or near the site that will be disturbed or that will receive discharges form disturbed areas of the project.

j.         A copy of the TPDES general permit TXR150000

k.      Information on whether listed endangered or threatened species or critical habitats are found in proximity to the construction activity and whether such species may be affected by the applicant’s storm water discharges or storm water discharge-related activities.

l.         Information on whether storm water discharges or storm water discharge-related activities would have an affect on a property that is listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

2.      The SWP3 must describe the best management practices that will be used to minimize pollution in runoff. The description must identify the general timing or sequence for implementation. At a minimum, the description must include the following components:

a.      Erosion and Sediment Controls must be designed to retain sediment on site to the maximum extent practicable with consideration for local topography, soil type and rainfall. Controls must also be designed and utilized to reduce the offsite transport of suspended sediments and other pollutants if it is necessary to pump or channel standing water from the site.

b.      Control measures must be properly selected, installed, and maintained according to the specifications of the manufacturer or designer.  If periodic inspections or other information indicates a control has been used incorrectly, is performing inadequately, or is damaged, the operator must replace or modify the control as soon as practicable after discovery.

c.      Sediment must be removed from sediment traps and sedimentation ponds prior to the time that design capacity has been reduced by 50%.

d.      If sediment escapes the site, accumulations must be removed at a frequency to minimize further negative effects and whenever feasible, prior to the next rain event.

e.      Controls must be developed to limit to the maximum extent practicable, offsite transport of litter, construction debris and construction materials.

3. Stabilization Practices

The SWP3 must include a description of interim and permanent stabilization practices for the site, including a schedule of when the practices will be implemented. Site plans should ensure that existing vegetation is preserved where it is possible.

1. Stabilization practices may include but are not limited to; establishment of temporary vegetation, establishment of permanent vegetation, mulching, geo-textiles, sod stabilization, vegetative buffer strips, protection of existing trees and vegetation, and other similar measures.

2. The following records must be maintained and either attached to or referenced in the SWP3, and made readily available upon request to the TCEQ inspector or the University Personnel of EH&S.

1. The dates when major grading activities occur.

2. The dates when construction activities temporarily or permanently cease on a portion of the site and the dates when stabilization measures are initiated.

3. Stabilization measures must be initiated as soon as practicable in portions of the site where construction activities have temporarily or permanently ceased and except as described below and must be initiated no more that fourteen (14) days after the construction activity in that portion of the site has temporarily or permanently ceased.

a.      Where the initiation of the stabilization measures by the 14^th day after the construction activity temporarily or permanently cease is precluded by snow cover or frozen ground conditions stabilization measures must be initiated as soon as practicable.

b.      Where construction activity on a portion of the site is temporarily ceased, and earth disturbing activities will be resumed within twenty-one (21) days, temporary stabilization measure do not have to be initiated on that portion of the site.

c.      In arid areas 10” of rain annually and semiarid areas 10”-20” of rain annually and areas experiencing droughts where the initiation of stabilization measures by the 14^th day after construction activity has temporarily or permanently ceased is precluded by seasonably arid conditions, stabilization measures must be initiated as soon as practicable.

3. Structural Control Practices

      The SWP3 must include a description of any structural control practices that will be implemented to divert flows away from exposed soils, to limit the contact of runoff with disturbed areas or to lessen the off-site transport of eroded soils.

a.      Sediment basins are required, where feasible for common drainage locations that serve an area with ten (10) or more acres disturbed.

Most locations on the Texas Tech Campus do utilize more than 10 acres and sediment basins are not feasible within University Properties.

b.  Sediment traps and basins may also be used to control solids in storm water runoff for drainage location serving less than ten (10) acres. At a minimum, silt fences, vegetative buffer strips, or equivalent sediment controls are required for all down slope boundaries of the construction.

4.  Permanent Water Controls.

a.        A description of any measures that will be installed during the construction process to control pollutants in storm water discharges that will occur after construction operation has been completed must be included in the SWP3.  Permittees are only responsible for the installation and maintenance of storm water management measures prior to final stabilization of the site or prior to submission of an NOT.

5.  Other Controls.

a.      Off-site vehicle tracking of sediments and the generation of dust must be minimized.

b.      The SWP3 must include a description of construction and waste materials expected to be stored on site and a description of controls to reduce pollutants from these materials

c.      The SWP3 must include a description of pollutant sources from areas other that construction (including storm water discharges from dedicated asphalt plants and dedicated concrete plants), and a description of controls and measures that will be implemented at those sites to minimize pollutant discharges.

d.      Velocity dissipation devices shall be placed at discharge locations and along the length of any outfall channel to provide a non-erosive flow velocity from the structure to a water course so that the natural physical and biological characteristics and function are maintained and protected.

6.   Approved State and Local Plans

a.      Permittees must ensure that the SWP3 is consistent with requirements specified in applicable sediment and erosion site plan or site permits, or storm water management site plans or site permits approved by federal, state, or local officials.

b.      SWP3’s must be updated as necessary to remain consistent with any changes applicable to protecting surface water resources in sediment erosion site plans or site permits, or storm water management site plans or site permits approved by state or local officials for which the permittee receives written notice.

7. Maintenance

All erosion and sediment control measure and other protective measures identified in the SWP3 must be maintained in effective operating condition. If through inspection the permittee determines that BMP’s are not operating effectively, maintenance must be performed before the next anticipated storm event or as necessary to maintain the continued effectiveness of storm water controls. If maintenance prior to the next anticipated storm event is impracticable, maintenance must be scheduled and accomplished as soon as practicable. Erosion and sediment controls that have been intentionally disabled, run-over, removed, or otherwise rendered ineffective must be replaced or corrected immediately upon discovery.

8. Inspection of Controls

                In the event of flooding or other uncontrollable situations which prohibit access to the inspection sites, inspection must be conducted as soon as access is practicable.

a.      Personnel provided by the permittee and familiar with the SWP3 must inspect disturbed areas of the construction site that have not been finally stabilized, areas used for storage of materials that are exposed to precipitation and structural controls for evidence of, or the potential for, pollutants entering the drainage system. Sediment and erosion control measures identified in the SWP3 must be inspected to ensure that they are operating correctly. Location where vehicles enter and exit the site must be inspected for evidence of off-site tracking. Inspection must be conducted at least once every fourteen (14) calendar days and within twenty four (24) hours of the end of a storm event of 0.5 inches or greater.

b.      The SWP3 must be modified based on the results of inspection, as necessary, to better control pollutants in runoff. Revision to the SWP3 must be completed within seven (7) calendar days following the inspection. If existing BMP’s are modified or if additional BMP’s are necessary, an implementation schedule must be described in the SWP3 and wherever possible those changes implemented before the next storm event. If implementation before the next anticipated storm event is impracticable, these changes must be implemented as soon as practicable.

c.      A report summarizing the scope of the inspection, names and qualifications of personnel making the inspection, the dates of the inspection and major observations relating to the implementation of the SWP3 must be made and retained as part of the SWP3. Major observations should include: the location of discharges of sediment or other pollutants from the site , location of BMP’s that need to be maintained, location of BMP’ that failed to operate as designed or proved inadequate for a particular location and location where additional BMP’s are needed.

d.      Actions taken as a result of inspections must be described within, and retained as part of the SWP3. Reports must identify any incidents of non-compliance. Where a report does no identify any incidents of non-compliance, the report must contain a certification that the facility or site is in compliance with the SWP3 and this permit. The report must be signed by the person in the manner required by 30 TAC § 305.128 relating to Signatories to Reports)

9.  The SWP3 must identify and ensure the implementation of appropriate pollution prevention measures for all eligible non-storm water components of the discharge.