Stormwater Program for Construction Activity

Program Update: Federal Construction and Development Effluent Limit Guideline

On January 4, 2011, the U.S. EPA stayed the numeric limitation of 280 NTU in the Final Construction and Development Effluent Limitation Guideline rules that were published on December 1, 2009. EPA plans to propose a revised NTU limit in a future rulemaking. The Final Rule on Effluent Guidelines for Discharges from Construction and Development Sites is now available on the EPA's website.  At a minimum, the state permit must be as stringent as the new federal regulations. In the interim, permittees should comply with the existing Construction Stormwater Permit.

Overview

When stormwater drains off a construction site, it carries sediment and other pollutants that harm lakes, streams and wetlands. According to the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory, stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 20 to 150 tons of soil per acre is lost every year to stormwater runoff from construction sites.

Many studies indicate that controlling erosion can significantly reduce the amount of sedimentation and other pollutants transported by runoff from construction sites. To keep Minnesota’s valuable water resources clean the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issues permits to construction site owners and their operators to prevent stormwater pollution during and after construction.

Site owners and their construction operators must sign off on a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/State Disposal System (SDS) Construction Stormwater General Permit. As part of the application for this legal document, the owner and operator must create a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) that explains how they will control stormwater.

Once they complete their stormwater pollution prevention plan, applicants may choose to apply online in order to receive quicker permit coverage and prevent errors in their application.

Who Needs an NPDES/SDS Permit

You need an NPDES/SDS permit if you are the owner or operator for any construction activity disturbing:

• One acre or more of soil.
• Less than one acre of soil if that activity is part of a "larger common plan of development or sale" that is greater than one acre.
• Less than one acre of soil, but the MPCA determines that the activity poses a risk to water resources.

Most construction activities are covered by the general NPDES stormwater permit for construction activity, but some construction sites need individual permit coverage. Owners and operators are both responsible for submitting the permit application.

How to Apply for a NPDES/SDS Permit

Owners and operators of construction activity must complete several steps before completing a permit application and beginning construction. Owners and operators determine their eligibility for coverage under the general NPDES permit by following these steps:

• Steps to Construction

Permit and Program Forms

Permit/Application	Summary	Instructions and Fact Sheets
General Stormwater Permit for Construction Activity (MN R100001)	Permit Number: MN R 100001, issued on August 1, 2008
Online Stormwater Permit Application	This is the online version of the General Stormwater Permit Application (listed above) that can be completed and submitted electronically using MPCA's Online Services. Advantages of using the online application: Get permit coverage quicker - In most cases, you may start work in only two days. Avoid delays - The online application prevents inaccuracies and omissions in applications. Join other professionals - A growing number of companies and agencies are using the online application.	Complete the Steps to Construction before beginning the online process because partially completed applications cannot be saved. Visa or Master cards are accepted for fee payment A project is NOT eligible for online processing and must complete a paper form if: The project includes treatment methods for permanent stormwater management, which requires application submittal 90-day prior to the anticipated construction start date. The project will disturb 50 or more acres AND has a discharge point within one mile of an impaired or special water listed in Appendix A of the construction stormwater general permit AND the discharge flows to these waters. Applications are due 30-days before the anticipated construction start date. The project already has a permit.  The online form is for new permit applications only. The project is owned by a Tribal unit, which obtain permit coverage from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
General Stormwater Permit Application	A General Stormwater Permit is necessary for owners and operators of construction activities disturbing: One acre or more of soil Less than one acre of soil if that activity is part of a “larger common plan of development or sale” that is greater than one acre Less than one acre of soil, but the MPCA determines that the activity poses a risk to water resources	Construction Stormwater Permit Overview (wq-strm2-05) How to Determine Latitude and Longitude (wq-strm2-23)
Notice of Termination/Permit Modification Form	Use the Notice of Termination application to terminate permit coverage of the original Stormwater Permit number or the Subdivision Registration permit number.	How to Use the Notice of Termination/ Permit Modification Form (wq-strm2-60i)
Construction Stormwater Permit Search	View the status of your permits online.	Search by: Permit ID (Complete Permit ID) Owner Name (any portion of name) Contractor Name (any portion of name) City (any portion of name) County (any portion of name) Search results: Permit ID Project Name County City Owner Name Contractor Name Coverage Start Date Status (active or inactive)

Special Waters and Impaired Waters

NPDES/SDS permits for construction sites near specially-protected and impaired waters require additional controls, conditions or an individual permit:

• Sites that discharge near waters with qualities that warrant extra protection (special waters) must use additional best management practices and enhanced runoff controls.
• Sites that discharge near an “impaired water,” impaired for phosphorous, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and biotic impairment, must meet special conditions.
• Sites that discharge to calcareous fens, need a letter of approval from the Department of Natural Resources.

The MPCA has several documents and an interactive map called Special Waters Search to help project planners identify those waters near their site that may require extra protections or an individual permit. The specific requirements are outlined in the General Stormwater Permit.

• Special Waters List (wq-strm1-05)
• Known Calcareous Fens List (wq-strm1-06)
• General Information about Impaired Waters and the Current TMDL List of Impaired Waters
• Special and Impaired Waters Search: This is an electronic map tool using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Find the construction site location, draw the site boundaries and create a list of special waters.
  Note: This is best viewed using Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher or Netscape 6.0 or higher, with pop-up blockers disabled and screen resolution set to 1024x768 or higher.

Guidance

Pollution prevention guidance

Of the top 5 common violations, see how you can prevent environmental impacts and enforcement.

•  Vehicle tracking
•  Perimeter control
•  Slope and Site Stabilization
•  Storm Drain Inlet Protection
•  Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs)

Topic specific guidance

• Agricultural Conservation Practice Projects
• Alternative Stormwater Treatment Methods
•  Buffer Zone Requirements
• Common Plans of Development
• Concrete Washout Guidance
  • EPA guidance on concrete washout requirements 
•  Drainage Ditch Projects
•  Emergency Application Overview
•  Feedlot Construction Sites
•  Forest Road Exemption Guidance
•  Linear Utility Projects
•  Owner Responsibilities Under the Construction Stormwater Permit
•  Permit Overview
•  Permit Training Requirements
•  Preventing Further Damage After Floods
•  Untreated Stormwater Runoff to Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands

Compliance guidance

• Homeowner Fact Sheet
•  2012 Compliance Calendar (call the Small Business Assistance Program at 800-657-3938 for a paper copy) (p-sbap5-06)
•   Construction SWPPP Template
• SWPPP Checklist – Construction Stormwater Permit Program (wq-strm2-47)
• How to Determine Latitude and Longitude
• How to Use the Notice of Termination/Permit Modification Form
•  Stormwater Compliance Assistance Toolkit for Small Construction Operators (wq-strm2-09)
•  Stormwater Construction Inspection Guide
•  Stormwater Construction Inspector's Field Guide
• Inspection Checklist

General stormwater management guidance

• Minnesota Stormwater Manual
• Stormwater Best Management Practices- Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas
•  Stormwater and Wetlands: Planning and Evaluation Guidelines
• Plants for Stormwater Design

Presentations/Slide Shows

• Bluffland Erosion from Urban Stormwater
• General Construction Permit Requirements for Discharging to Wetlands, Special and Impaired Waters and Limitations of the Permit

Ordinance Examples

• Introduction to Model Stormwater Ordinances
• MPCA Model Stormwater Ordinances
• National Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Model Ordinances:
  • Model Stormwater Ordinance
  • Model Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance
  • Model Subdivision Ordinance
  • Model Shoreland Management Ordinance

Training Opportunities

Non-MPCA stormwater related training opportunities are available from the following organizations*:

• Minnesota Erosion Control Association
• University of Minnesota Stormwater Erosion/Sediment Control Certification Program

* Disclaimer: Links to non-MPCA sites are provided as a convenience to site visitors. The MPCA is not is not responsible for the information at these sites and does not necessarily endorse the opinions, products or services found there.

Links to Additional Information

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Phase II Final Rule.
• National Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database
• Minnesota Department of Transportation Erosion Control Handbook for Local Roads
• University of Minnesota, Center for Transportation Studies, Local Technical Assistance Program, Erosion Control Resources
• U.S. EPA Roads, Highways and Bridges Erosion Control Resources
• Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies

File a Complaint about an Observed Pollution Problem

If you have information concerning an observed pollution problem, we strongly encourage you to submit it to the MPCA at the Incident Management page.

Application Packet Information and Status

For status on your application, you may find out by clicking in the following link that is connected to a database:

• Construction Stormwater Permit Search

For other information, please call the MPCA Stormwater Hotline at 651-757-2119 or 800-657-3804.

Construction Program Contact Information

Construction Stormwater — Compliance and Enforcement Staff Territories

For complaints or technical assistance, please contact by phone or email the inspector listed by county in the map above.

General construction stormwater program questions may be directed to the Statewide Compliance Coordinators listed below.

Statewide Compliance Coordinator

• Lisa Woog — 218-316-3891