NPDES Permits
A federal regulation that works in conjunction with the state E&S program
is the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program.
While these regulations require discharges from many types of facilities, we
will discuss only the discharges from construction activities here. These regulations, the implementation of
which has been delegated to DEP, require a permit be obtained for any
earthmoving activities disturbing more than 1 acre with a concentrated
discharge to a water course or any site disturbing greater than 5 acres
regardless of the type of discharge.
It is
recommended that anyone disturbing between one and five acres of land during
the life of an earthmoving project contact the Conservation District to
determine if an NPDES permit will be required. Disturbance over the
life of the project is defined as any earth disturbance that will occur to
fully complete the planned land use.
For example, a housing development would include the disturbance associated
with the road construction, installation of utilities, and construction of
individual houses and accessory structures on the lots although the original
applicant may only be building the roads.
The
Conservation District has agreed to be the local contact for this permit. We are available to answer questions
concerning permit requirements and regulations and are the designated agency to
accept applications for the permit in
Under
the requirements of the NPDES program, these activities must have an approved
erosion control plan. Columbia County Conservation District conducts the
reviews of these plans for DEP to assure compliance with Chapter 102 and the
Clean Streams Law. The NPDES permit program also requires a Post
Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) Plan to address concerns about ground
water recharge, long term stream base flows, and water quality issues.
During
construction of the site, the Conservation District conducts periodic
inspections of the site to assure that the plan is being followed.