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EPA CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS GUIDELINES. Tim Ryan, P.E. Water Resources Engineer Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (608) 266-5239 tim.ryan@wisconsin.gov. FINAL EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS GUIDELINES Published in Federal Register December 1, 2009.
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EPACONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS GUIDELINES Tim Ryan, P.E. Water Resources Engineer Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (608) 266-5239 tim.ryan@wisconsin.gov
FINAL EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS GUIDELINESPublished in Federal RegisterDecember 1, 2009 • All construction sites will be required to meet a series of non-numeric effluent limitations (stormwater control measures) • Construction sites that disturb 10 or more acres of land at one time will be required to monitor discharges from the site and comply with a numeric effluent limitation • Turbidity – 280 NTUs • Phased in over 4 years
NON-NUMERIC EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS • Erosion and Sediment Controls • Control stormwater volume and velocity to minimize erosion • Control stormwater discharges (peak flow/volume) to minimize erosion at outlets/channel erosion • Minimize exposed soil • Minimize disturbance of steep slopes • Minimize sediment discharges from the site • Provide and maintain natural buffers around surface waters & direct water to vegetated areas • Minimize soil compaction and preserve topsoil
NON-NUMERIC EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS • Soil Stabilization – Performed immediately when land disturbing construction activities have: • Permanently ceased on any portion of the site • Temporarily ceased on any portion of the site and will not resume for a period exceeding 14 calendar days • Dewatering – Prohibited unless treated • Pollution Prevention • Wash waters • Building materials and waste • Spills and leaks
NON-NUMERIC EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS • Prohibited Discharges: • Wastewater from washout of concrete, unless managed by an appropriate control • Wastewater from washout and cleanout of stucco, paint, form release oils, curing compounds and other construction materials • Fuels, oils, or other pollutants used in vehicle and equipment operation and maintenance; and • Soaps or solvents used in vehicle and equipment washing
NON-NUMERIC EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS • Surface Outlets - When discharging from basins and impoundments, utilize outlet structures that withdraw water from the surface, unless infeasible
TURBIDITY EFFLUENT LIMIT • Turbidity limit of 280 NTUs (Nephelometric turbidity units) applies to sites with 10 or more acres of disturbance
TURBIDITY EFFLUENT LIMIT • The 10 acres do not need to be contiguous • The 10 acres threshold applies to the total area disturbed at a given point in time (encourages phased construction and stabilization) • EPA recommends that permitting authorities require notification when the permittee has exceeded the 10 acre threshold
TURBIDITY EFFLUENT LIMITMonitoring • 280 is a maximum daily discharge. The average of all readings taken during a given event in a 24-hour period must be less than 280 NTU. EPA expects at least 3 samples per event per discharge point • The specifics of the monitoring requirements are being left up to the permitting authority • The numeric limitation applies to all concentrated discharges from C&D sites. EPA is encouraging dispersion of stormwater to vegetated areas and infiltration of stormwater instead of discharging it from the site.
TURBIDITY EFFLUENT LIMITMonitoring • EPA expects any storm event or snowmelt event that generates a discharge from the construction site should be monitored • The 280 NTU limit only applies for storms not exceeding the 2-yr, 24-hr event. • EPA expects sampling would be done during normal business hours at a project (6:00 AM to 6:00 PM) • Sampling is not expected during unsafe weather conditions • Linear projects may be allowed to do representative sampling due to the potential large number of sample points
TURBIDITY EFFLUENT LIMITImplementation • The rule becomes effective on February 2, 2010. • Any disturbance of 20 acres or more will require monitoring beginning August 2, 2011. • Any disturbance of 10 acres or more will require monitoring beginning February 2, 2014 • States will be required to incorporate these requirements into their new construction site storm water discharge permits (Wisconsin’s permit expires in September 2011)
THE TAKE • Keep site disturbance below 10 acres • Minimize the disturbance • Stabilize quickly • Phase construction to minimize disturbance at any point in time • Minimize concentrated discharges • Utilize diffused discharge to vegetated areas • Monitoring specifics are still to be worked out To view the rule go to: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/