FLOOD04935

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Storm Water Management for Constructed Activities
• Date: 9/1/1992
• Prepared By: EPA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

Chapter 1-lntroduction

1.5 LIMITATIONS OF THIS MANUAL

This manual provides useful information on many sediment and erosion and storm water
management controls which you can use to prevent or reduce the discharge of sediment and other
pollutants in storm water runoff from your site. This manual describes the practices and controls,
tells how, when, and where to use them, and how to maintain them. Hc,wever, the effectiveness
of these controls lies fully in your hands. Although specific recommendations will be offered in the
following chapters, keep in mind that careful consideration must be given to selecting the most
appropriate control measures based on site-specific features, and on properly installing the controls
in a timely manner. Finally, although this manual provides guidelines 1101' maintenance, it is up to
you to make sure that your controls are carefully maintained or they will prove to be ineffective.

This manual describes some of the EPA Baseline General Permit requirements for pollution
prevention plans. However, requirements may vary from permit to permit. You should read your
permit to determine the required components of your pollution prevention plan. This manual does
describe "typical" permit requirements. However, do not assume that the typical permit
requirements described in this manual are the same as your permit requirements, even if you are
included under an NPDES general permit for storm water discharges from construction activities
that are classified as "Associated with Industrial Activities." Permit clJnditions may vary between
different permits and/or different versions of the permit.

This manual also does not describe State or local requirements for erosion and sediment control or
for storm water management. Although it is expected that, in most cases. plan requirements will
be similar, you should contact your State or local authorities to determinE' what their requirements
are,

EPA has issued a number of regulations addressing pollution control practices for different
environmental media (i.e., land, water, air, and ground water). However, this manual focuses on
identifying pollution prevention measures and BMPs specifically for stCll'm water discharges from
construction activities and provides guidance to industrial facilities on how to comply with storm
water permits.

Although Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans primarily focus on storm water, it is important to
consider the impacts of selected storm water management measures on other environmental media
(i.e., land, air, and ground water). For example, if the water table is unus.ually high in your area, a
retention pond for contaminated storm water may also lead to contaminal:ion of a ground water
source unless special preventive measures are taken. EPA strongly discourages this transfer of
pollution from one environmental medium to another and prohibits the adoption of any storm water
management practice that results in a violation of other Federal, State, or local environmental laws.

For instance, under EPA's July 1991 Ground Water Protection Strategy, 8tates are encouraged to
develop Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection Programs. Your facility's efforts to control
storm water should be compatible with the ground water protection objectives reflected in your
State's program.

1.6 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Although this manual describes many potential control measures for construction sites, there are
additional resources. Some references are listed in Appendix D of this manual. Many State and
local sediment and erosion control agencies have publiShed BMP documents specifically for
construction activities. A few of these are listed in Appendix D. For other documents, State and
local agencies should be contacted directly.

1-4

September 1992

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