Erosion & Sediment Pollution Control Program

• The proposed earth disturbance activity will result in a total disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more.
• The person proposing the earth disturbance activity is required to develop a plan under the direction of other PA Department of Environmental Protection permits or approvals (i.e. Chapter 105 stream and wetland permits, etc.)
• The proposed earth disturbance activity has the potential to discharge to waters classified as High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV).
• A written plan is required by Municipal or County ordinances, permits, zoning, watershed plan, or similar requirements.

Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Plans:

An erosion and sediment pollution control plan is a site specific plan identifying best management practices or ways in which accelerated erosion and sediment pollution will be minimized.  The erosion and sediment pollution control plan should be developed by an individual who has been trained or has experience in erosion and sediment control methods and techniques.  A plan typically includes a plan narrative and plan drawings.  The plan should be developed prior to any earth disturbance activities at the site. 

At a minimum, the plan should contain the following information:

• Identification of existing topographic features at the site and immediate surrounding area.  Includes a location map identifying the site location.
• Soils information including the soil types, depths, slopes, locations and characteristics of the soils present at the site.
• Characteristics of the earth disturbance activity including the past, present and proposed land uses as well as a description of the proposed alteration to the project site.
• The amount of runoff from the project and the upstream watershed area.
• Location of Waters of the Commonwealth which may receive discharges from the project.  The Chapter 93 and/or Existing Use water quality classification of the receiving waters should also be identified.
• The type of perimeter and on-site best management practices that will be used to minimize soil erosion and sediment pollution should be identified.
• A sequence of construction identifying the installation of erosion and sediment pollution control devices and facilities, schedule of earth disturbance activities, temporary and permanent stabilization, and removal of temporary erosion and sediment pollution control devices upon final stabilization.
• Supporting calculations.
• Plan drawings depicting existing and proposed site features, slope of land, Waters of the Commonwealth, locations of erosion and sediment control devices and facilities, existing and proposed stormwater conveyance systems and other necessary information.
• A maintenance plan which provides for inspection of erosion and sediment pollution control devices and facilities on a weekly basis and following precipitation events, as well as maintenance, replacement or repairs to inadequate or damaged controls and devices to ensure effective and efficient operation.
• Procedures which identify proper measures for recycling and disposal of construction wastes from the project site.

The erosion and sediment pollution control plan should be kept at the site throughout the duration of the earthmoving activities.  Inspectors from the County Conservation District and/or PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) may visit the site and request to see the plan.

Review and Approval of Erosion & Sediment Pollution Control Plans:

The plan may require review and approval from the Clinton County Conservation District prior to any earth disturbance activities at the site. Most Clinton County municipalities (Townships, City and Boroughs) require erosion and sediment pollution control plan review and approval before building permits or similar municipal permits will be granted.  DEP also requires erosion and sediment pollution control plan review and approval before other DEP permits will be issued.

The Clinton County Conservation District has an erosion and sediment pollution control plan review fee schedule.  The fees are based on category of earthmoving and extent of earth disturbance.  You may download the fee schedule from this website below.  Please note that residential subdivisions fall under the industrial/commercial fee schedule.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Permits:

Some earthmoving projects may require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities. This permit is required for all disturbances involving five (5) acres or more of disturbance over the life of the project.  The permit is also required for those projects involving between one (1) acre and five (5) acres of disturbance if the project will result in a point source discharge to surface waters of the Commonwealth.

There are two types of NPDES permits for stromwater discharges from construction activities.  Individual Permits are required for those projects that will occur in Special Protection Watersheds, such as streams classified in Chapter 93 or on the DEP Existing Use classification as High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV).  Exceptional Value wetlands and streams classified as “Class A Wild Trout” by the PA Fish & Boat Commission may also be considered as Special Protection Watersheds.  A significant history of non-compliance by an applicant and other special circumstances at the discretion of DEP may also result in the Individual Permit requirement.  General Permits are required for all other projects that meet the NPDES permit criteria but do not fall under the Individual Permit guidelines. 

The following is a list of requirements for NPDES permit applications:

• Notice of Intent (NOI) or Application Form

• General Information Form (GIF)   * only required for Individual Permits

• Cultural Resource Notice  * only required for Individual Permits disturbing 10 acres or more

• Permit Filing Fee  ($250 for General Permits, $500 for Individual Permits).

• Location Map

• Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Plans

• County and Municipal Notices

• Proof of Receipt of County and Municipal Notices

• Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) search results and clearances

• Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plans  *must be a separate stand-along document.  Should not be incorporated into the erosion and sediment pollution control plan documents.

• Consistency letter from County or Municipal engineer  * if applicable

• Appendix B Land Use Questions

• Completed Worksheets 1 through 5

In Clinton County, General Permits are issued by the Conservation District.  The Conservation District performs an administrative review of the Individual Permit applications, but the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s North Central Regional Office is responsible for final permit issuance for Individual Permits.  It is the policy of the Clinton County Conservation District that a pre-application meeting be scheduled for all NPDES Permits.  Please contact the Conservation District to schedule a meeting to discuss your project prior to submitting the permit application.

Periodically, workshops are held for earth moving contractors, developers, municipal officials, and others to explain the Rules and Regulations relating to the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law and PA Code, Tile 25, Chapter 102. If you have questions about these rules and regulations or about how to control accelerated erosion, please call Resource Conservationist, Jacob Mazzei, or  the Resource Technician at (570) 726-3798.

   FORMS:

Note: All forms are in PDF format.

Erosion & Sediment Control Plan Review Application – Click Here

Plan Review Fee Schedule (Effective January 1, 2010) – Click Here

Low Hazard Erosion & Sediment Pollution Control Plan– Click Here                This form is not to be used for commercial or industrial type projects.

Sample Completed Low Hazard Erosion & Sediment Control Plan – Click Here

General Definitions:

Accelerated Erosion – The removal of the surface of the land through the combined action of human activities and natural processes, at a rate greater than would occur because of the natural process alone.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) - Activities, facilities, and measures, or procedures used to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation to protect, maintain, reclaim and restore the quality of waters and the existing and designated uses of waters within the Commonwealth.

Channel - A natural or manmade water conveyance.

Disturbed Area - Unstabilized land area where earth disturbance activity is occurring or has occurred.

Earth Disturbance Activity - A construction or other human activity which disturbs the surface of the land, including, but not limited to, clearing & grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, land development, agricultural plowing or tilling, timber harvesting activities, road maintenance activities, mineral extraction, and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock or other earth materials.

Erosion - The natural process by which the surface of the land is worn away by water, wind, or chemical action.

Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Plan - A site specific plan identifying BMPs to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation.  For agricultural plowing or tilling activities, the erosion and sediment pollution control plan is that portion of a conservation plan identifying BMPs to minimize erosion.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) - The National system for the issuance of permits under section 402 of the Federal Clean Water Act including a state or interstate program which has been approved in whole or in part by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Point Source - Any discernable, confined and discrete conveyance, including, but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, CAFO, landfill leachate collection system, or vessel or floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged.

Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan – A site specific plan identifying stormwater management BMPs that improve water quality as well as reduce stormwater volume and rate.

Sediment - Soils or other materials transported by surface water as a product of erosion.

Surface Waters of the Commonwealth- Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches, water courses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, ponds, springs, wetlands and other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of this Commonwealth ( Pennsylvania ).

Waters of The Commonwealth - Rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches, watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands, ponds, springs and other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and underground water, or parts thereof, weather natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of this commonwealth (Pennsylvania).

Visitors since June 2003