SS Prerequisite 1: Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
Required: Intent
To reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation.
On December 1, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) and new source performance standards (NSPS) to control the discharge of pollutants from construction sites This rule requires construction site owners and operators to implement a range of erosion and sediment control measures and pollution prevention practices to control pollutants in discharges from construction sites as required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The disturbed soil generated by construction activities can easily be washed off of the construction site during storms and enter water bodies. Stormwater discharges from construction activities can cause an array of physical, chemical and biological impacts. The EPA believes the new rule, implemented February 2010, will help significantly improve water quality nationwide. (Click here to read the EPA press release).
The EPA ruling comes a full 11 years after the formation of the United States Green Building Council. Since the first version of LEED was issued in 1998 it has contained a requirement that all development projects seeking LEED certification must develop a Construction Site Pollution Prevention Plan. This pre-requisite requirement calls for the creation and implementation of an erosion and sedimentation control plan for all construction activities associated with the project. The plan must describe the measures implemented to accomplish the following objectives:
- To prevent loss of soil during construction by stormwater runoff and/or wind erosion, including protecting topsoil by stockpiling for reuse.
- To prevent sedimentation of storm sewers or receiving streams.
- To prevent pollution of the air with dust and particulate matter.
Images provided by http://www.stormwaterresourcesformunicipalities.com/monroe_county.htm
Strategies for addressing polluted construction runoff include temporary and permanent seeding, mulching, earthen dikes, silt fencing, sediment traps and sediment basins. Click here to view EPA Run-Off Control Poster. In pursuit of LEED Gold certification, the site of the new Academic Center will employ a variety of these pollution prevention strategies. These efforts will help to protect the water resources and aquatic habitats surrounding Charles Town, such as the beautiful and strategically important Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers.
External Links of Interest
EPA Fact Sheet Final Rule: Effluent Guidelines for Discharges from the Construction and Development Industry:
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/files/c_and_d_final_rule_factsheet.pdf
EPA Stormwater Discharges
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/const.cfm
EPA Guide to producing NPDES Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans
