EROSION & SEDIMENT CONTROL

 NPDES PERMIT PROGRAM

Program Updates      Forms & Applications     Glossary & FAQ

 

Program Updates

Please be advised effective July 18, 2007, Montgomery County Conservation District will only be accepting the Notice of Intent 5/2007 version.  Your package will be considered Administratively Incomplete without the newest version.

Please be advised effective April 1, 2007, Antidegradation forms are required to be submitted with all applications for Individual NPDES permits.

PROJECTS 1-5 ACRES WITH A POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE TO SURFACE WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, AS WELL AS ALL PROJECTS DISTURBING OVER 5 ACRES WILL REQUIRE AN NPDES PERMIT FOR EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITIES.  FOR DEFINITIONS OF POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE AND SURFACE WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, PLEASE SEE BELOW.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE DEP PAG-2 FACT SHEET , LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT CENTER'S WEBPAGE, OR AT THE REGIONAL STORMWATER BMP SITES DIRECTORY

***Please be advised you can now run Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) searches through the ER Tool found under our Forms and Applications section.***

As of July 15th, 2006, Montgomery County Conservation District no longer accepts NPDES permit applications with PNDI hits unless PNDI clearance letter from applicable reviewing agency is included with submission.

Montgomery County Soil Survey can be found at: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

ONLINE SOILS DATA CAN BE FOUND AT: http://soilmap.psu.edu/

Stormwater BMP Manual

*****THE PENNSYLVANIA STORMWATER BMP MANUAL (Final Version)*****

Forms and Applications

                                           What Is Erosion?                     

Erosion is a natural process by which the surface of the land is worn away by water, wind or chemical action.  Accelerated erosion is the removal of the surface of the land through the combined action of human activities and natural processes at a rate greater than would occur from natural processes alone.

What is Chapter 102?

Montgomery County Conservation District, under a delegation agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, is responsible for reviewing Erosion and Sediment Control Plans and inspecting sites for Chapter 102 compliance.  For complete guidelines, refer to the Pennsylvania Code, Title 25. Environmental Protection, Chapter 102 Erosion and Sediment Control

What is an Erosion & Sediment Control Plan?

An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, which meets the requirements of the Chapter 102 regulations must be properly designed, implemented, and available on site for all earth disturbance activities over 5000 sq. ft.  All construction activities proposing to disturb between one and five acres with point source discharge to surface waters of the Commonwealth, or projects disturbing five or more acres of land must be authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

What is National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)?

The National system for issuance of permits under section 402 of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.A. § 1342) including a state or interstate program which has been approved in whole or in part by the Environmental Protection Agency.

       When do I need an N.P.D.E.S. Permit?

Disturbed area Written E&S plan E&S plan approval NPDES Permit PCSM Plan Submitted PCSM Plan Approval

0 - 5000 Sq. ft.

Not required unless in HQ, or EV watershed, or other DEP permit required Not required, but may be a municipal requirement.**

No

Not required, but may be a municipal requirement. Not required, but may be a municipal requirement.

   5000 sq. ft to < 1 acre

Yes

Not required, but may be a municipal requirement.**

No

Not required, but may be a municipal requirement. Not required, but may be a municipal requirement.

1 to < 5 acres w/o point source to surface waters

Yes

Not required, but may be a municipal requirement.**

No

Not required, but may be a municipal requirement. Not required, but may be a municipal requirement.

1 to < 5 acres with point source to surface waters

Yes

Required

Yes

Yes

Individual - Yes

General - No*

5 acres or greater Yes

Required

Yes

Yes

Individual - Yes

General - No*

*Note: If the permitted activity is in an MS4 municipality, the municipality must ensure the approval of the Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) plan.  The applicant should send the PCSM plan to the MS4 municipality along with the municipal notification.  Even where the approval of the PCSM plan is not required, the permittee must develop and implement the PCSM and certify that the BMPs were implemented in accordance with the PCSM plan when the Notice of Termination (NOT) is submitted.

**Although the E&S plan approval is not required under the Chapter 102 Regulations for these activities, E&S approval may be required by the municipal ordinance, or another DEP permit (i.e. - Chapter 105 Joint Permit, or GPs).

What is a Point Source Discharge?

Point Source is defined in Chapter 92 Section 92.1 as any discernable, confined and discrete conveyance, including, but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, CAFO, landfill leachate collection system, or vessel or floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged.

What are Surface Waters of the Commonwealth?

Surface waters are defined by Chapter 92 Section 92.1 as perennial and intermittent streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, wetlands, springs, natural seeps and estuaries, excluding water at facilities approved for wastewater treatment such as wastewater treatment impoundments, cooling water ponds and constructed wetlands used as part of a wastewater treatment process.

What is a Water of the Commonwealth?

Waters of the Commonwealth are defined in Chapter 102 Section 102.1 as rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches, water courses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, ponds, springs, wetlands and all other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of this Commonwealth.

What is a Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan (PCSM Plan)?

A site specific plan identifying Best Management Practices (BMPs) to manage stormwater runoff after construction activities have ended and the project site has been permanently stabilized to protect and maintain existing and designated uses. The PCSM plan should be designed to maximize volume reduction technologies, eliminate or minimize point source discharge to surface waters, preserve the integrity of stream channels, and protect the physical, biological and chemical qualities of the receiving surface water.  The PCSM Plan must contain a written narrative, including calculations or measurements, and justifications for each  BMP.
 

 

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