SWPPP Inspections

Construction activities can have a major and immediate environmental effects on the areas around jobsites if not protected, so the Federal Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created rules and regulations that contractors, developers, and site owners need to follow. One of those requirements is putting together a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) which highlights all of the requirements contractors on site have to comply with.

When storm water flows through an active jobsite, it can pick up all kinds of pollutants from debris, chemicals, and construction materials that will eventually transport to the city’s storm sewers or worse, local waterways.  This runoff can kill plants and wildlife, as well as block drainage lines requiring costly cleanup.

Besides the transport of pollutants, following SWPPP guidelines slows down the flow of water off of the jobsite, which helps reduce localized flooding and erosion.

Construction sites that disturb at least one acre of land are required to obtain a SWPPP permit before starting any construction activities.  The process for obtaining that permit, however, is on a state-by-state basis.

The Federal EPA sets the standards for states to follow with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit from Construction Activities.  This is also known as the Construction General Permit (CGP). 

Some state agencies, like Idaho’s and New Mexico’s, have not developed their own storm water permit for construction and default to the most current Federal CGP.  Most other states do have their own construction permit requirements, however.  In most cases, the states have much more stringent requirements than the US EPA requires.

Many cities, counties, and other governmental agencies will have even more stringent rules than both the Federal and State permits when it comes to storm water discharge.  Filing for a state level permit is a must before starting construction activities, but local jurisdictions can be hit or miss if they require an additional permit to be filed. Your project’s civil engineer of record should be the best source to determine the local requirements.

Once you are officially covered under the permit for storm water discharges, one of the most important steps is setting up inspections.  The intent of the inspections is to ensure that all protections required by the permit are in place and in proper working conditions.  Here at SCS, these inspections will be completed by the Site Safety person or a 3rd party inspector hired by SCS or the Developer depending on the jobsite in question.

At a minimum, the federal permit requires inspection reports to contain the inspection date, inspector name, a summary of findings, any necessary maintenance or correction actions, rain amounts in between inspections, and it any part of the site is unsafe to inspect. Some states and local jurisdictions have their own inspection forms that must be filled out in order to comply with the permit.  

Keeping good records of your inspections, including pictures and dates of repairs made is extremely important, because it’s one of the only ways to prove after the fact that your company has complied with the regulations.