Public Works

Construction Activities

In order to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, Stanislaus County Public Works department will be coordinating efforts with the Planning department in developing construction design standards to help reduce pollutants in runoff from new development and redevelopment projects to the maximum extent practicable (MEP).

These standards will require the County to specify control measures for post-construction runoff from new developments and redeveloped area. The Stormwater Quality Control Criteria Plan will help provide development standards on these controls, including general site control measures, site-specific source control measures and treatment control measures for the following:

• Home subdivisions with 10 or more housing units
• Commercial developments with impervious areas greater than 100,000 sq. ft
• Automotive repair shops with impervious areas greater than 5,000 sq. ft.
• Restaurants
• Parking lots greater than 5,000 sq. ft. or with 25 or more parking spaces
• Streets and roads with one acre or more of impervious area; and
• Retail gas outlets with 5,000 or more sq. ft. of impervious area.
• The County's development standards are currently in the preliminary planning stages and a draft copy will be completed in the 2009-2010 calendar year.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

The County requires owners and developers to implement a program to control the pollution of storm water discharges effectively during construction projects as is mandated by the State General Permit for construction activities. Furthermore, federal regulations for controlling pollutants in storm water runoff discharges were issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1990. These regulations require that a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit be obtained for storm water discharges associated with significant construction activities.

In California, the EPA has delegated its authority to issue NPDES permits to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB).

The General Permit requires developers/owners of land where construction activity disturbs one acre or more to develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).

Each construction site is required to be inspected by the County for compliance with the Stormwater NPDES Permit at least once a month until a Notice of Termination for Coverage under the General Construction Permit is issued by the RWQCB.

Coverage is obtained by filing with the SWRCB a Notice of Intent (NOI) to comply with the General Permit. Failure to obtain coverage violates any permit condition of this General Permit and is subject to a civil penalty up to $27,500.00 per calendar day of such violation, as well as any other appropriate sanction provided by section 309 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act also provides for civil and criminal penalties which in some cases are greater than those under the CWA.

The State of California has provided a Model Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan review sheet for Construction Activities.

Download review sheet [PDF]

The Form to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) is on page 98 & 99.

Find out more about the State of California requirements for construction sites.