 |
|||
-April 2005- |
|||
Construction Season Under Way | |||
|
Essentially, any dirt that escapes a site is picked up by stormwater runoff and enters into streams. Dirt tracked into roads or washed off the construction site smothers streambeds, destroys habitat, and muddies the water, making it difficult for fish to see their prey. The current NPDES permit program, under the Clean Water Act, requires that soil be contained on site to the extent possible and that construction sites may not harm streams. To comply with the law, each construction site greater than one acre must develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). SWPPP's describe the steps the contractor will use to prevent soil from leaving the site. Unfortunately, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) does not always review these plans. Municipalities also to not frequently monitor sites to ensure that plans are followed. So what can I do?If you are concerned about runoff from a construction site, request a copy of the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan from the developer. These documents must be made available to citizens, and unless you request it, there is no guarantee that one has been developed. You can also conduct your own spot inspections of the site. When driving past, pull safely to the side of the road, and check each of the questions found on the attached list. Keep it in the glovebox of your car to use as reference when you drive by a construction site. If a violation is found, report it to your local municipality's public works department and your local IEPA field office. Can I get some help?If you'd like hands on assistance, Jane Li, the Volunteer Opportunities Coordinator gives presentations on this topic. She teaches the basics on construction site monitoring and how to report violations. Contact her for more information or to schedule a presentation for your organization. |
|||
With Construction season just beginning, you may have seen construction projects underway in your neighborhood and noticed a lot of dirt coming off the site. This is, without a doubt, a serious problem for rivers and wildlife. The EPA estimates construction site runoff rates to be typically 10-20 times greater than those from agricultural fields and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than those from forested lands (EPA, Jan 2000).