The Environmental Protection Agency’s has proposed new National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit requirements regulating stormwater discharges from construction activities.
The proposal applies to construction sites of one or more acres, or less than one acre, but part of a larger development. The proposal would:
- Prohibit hazardous substances, such as paint or caulk containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from authorized non-stormwater discharges of external building washdown waters.
- Require permittees to include the EPA’s contact information in public notices that are already required to be posted in a prominent location near construction sites.
- Require permittees to cover or use another method of temporary stabilization for inactive soil stockpiles and land clearing debris piles where the piles will be unused for 14 or more days.
- Require permittees to keep waste container lids closed (or provide some other secure cover where containers do not have lids).
- For demolition of structures with at least 10,000 sf of floor space built or renovated before 1980, require permittees to implement controls to minimize the exposure of PCB-containing building materials to precipitation and stormwater.
- Require permittees to state on their Notice of Intent (NOI) form the type of construction activities that will be involved.
These potential permit changes could significantly increase the time, effort, and resources required to comply with stormwater management obligations, according to an article by the law firm Dykema, Gossett PLLC.
Related Stories
| Sep 26, 2012
Automatic budget cuts in January would slash federal agencies' construction budgets
Sequestration, or the implementation of automatic budget cuts as of January 2013, would slash government agencies' already reduced construction budgets further, and require agencies to shelve some repair and maintenance projects.
| Sep 26, 2012
Investment in greener data centers to reach $45 billion by 2016
Investment in data centers built to green standards will increase from the $17.1 billion predicted for this year to $45 billion by 2016, according to Pike Research.
| Sep 26, 2012
OSHA fines on fall-protection violations challenged by New York contractor
A New York masonry contractor is contesting an OccupationalSafety and Health Administration $136,290 fine for violations of fall-protection standards.a
| Sep 26, 2012
Construction workplace deaths decline nearly 7% in 2011
There were 721 construction-workplace deaths in 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, down 6.8% from 2010.
| Sep 26, 2012
Contractors save $9 billion due to revised California emissions rule
The California Air Resources Board made changes to a rule limiting off-road diesel emissions that could result in contractors saving about $9 billion.
| Sep 20, 2012
Smithtown, N.Y. considers bigger fines for building code violations
After a Suffolk County grand jury recommended stiffer fines for illegal demolitions, Smithtown, NY officials are weighing tougher penalties for developers who violate the town building code.
| Sep 20, 2012
AGC awarded federal grant to provide fall-protection safety program
The Associated General Contractors of America will continue to provide fall protection safety training next year after being awarded a federal safety grant.
| Sep 20, 2012
East Lansing officials accused of ignoring unauthorized project that led to partial building collapse
The unauthorized construction of a fifth-floor penthouse on a downtown East Lansing, Mich. mixed-use development led to a partial building collapse earlier this year.
| Sep 20, 2012
Reflective roofs could reduce rainfall in Arizona
Green standards may have to take into account the impact of reflective roofs on rainfall in the desert Southwest.
| Sep 20, 2012
Earth Advantage Institute offers green certification for small commercial buildings
Earth Advantage Institute announced a new green building certification aimed at new or substantially remodeled small commercial buildings built to green standards.
