Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In some areas, water is a limited resource, and complex water laws have been established to define rights to water. Every state has different laws and policies in place, and some of these laws are evolving to reflect the importance of green infrastructure. But if you are located in one of these states, how do […]
Avoid the pitfalls. According to Willobee, there are common design concerns that SWPPPs frequently overlook. He sees the following problems in many construction SWPPPs: Failure to specify appropriate stabilization measures for temporary diversion ditches Excessive reliance on sediment control practices such as silt fences, sediment basins, and inlet protection Lack of run-on controls Insufficient information […]
Sediment is usually the main pollutant of concern; according to the EPA, sediment runoff rates from construction sites are typically 10 to 20 times greater than the rates from agricultural lands, and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than those of forest lands. In fact, during a short period of time, construction sites can contribute more […]
First, what is LID? It is a stormwater management approach that, unlike conventional stormwater management which focuses on piping stormwater away from a site to large centralized stormwater treatment areas, concentrates on controlling stormwater by using small, decentralized methods to treat stormwater close to the source. LID practices are innovative practices that manage stormwater close […]
Location and site design. Stormwater management structures should be located and designed to minimize mosquito-breeding potential. First, sites should be designed to preserve natural drainage and natural treatment systems using low impact development (LID) principles to reduce the need for manmade stormwater control structures. Second, permanent pool ponds should be designed to minimize shallow depths […]
The intent of the No Exposure Exclusion is to provide industrial facilities regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) program, whose industrial activities and materials are completely sheltered, with a simplified method for complying with the Clean Water Act. Facilities that qualify for the No Exposure Exclusion are not required to be covered by […]
Here are ten problems inspectors commonly find at construction sites: Insufficient grading or lack of temporary or permanent cover. Construction site operators should phase their grading activities to minimize exposure of the site at any one time. Disturbed areas where there is no active work should have temporary cover, and areas that are at final […]
As snow melts, it is considered stormwater runoff, transporting road salt, sand litter, and other pollutants into surface water or through soil leading to groundwater, polluting waterways and drinking water supplies. But of course, making walking and driving areas safe is of high importance. Is it possible to maintain stormwater runoff quality while at the […]
Nancy Stoner, Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water, kicked off the presentation with a discussion of the environmental challenges ahead: population growth, development, climate change, and degradation of existing infrastructure. She emphasized that the greatest tool to overcome our obstacles is partnership, which was a recurring theme in many of this year’s presentations. […]
1. Ecology embankment. Also known as bioslopes, ecology embankments are modified filter strips that contain a soil mix to improve water quality, reduce runoff volume, and reduce erosion frequency. They are easily incorporated into standard fill slopes, are well proven and field tested, are nonproprietary, and largely last the life of the roadway. 2. Permeable […]