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The Law

The Clean Water Act

Permits

Fines

The Process

Process & Methods

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Important Guidelines


 

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Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Some examples of product BMPs are silt fence, erosion control blankets, hydroseeding, gravel bags at drain inlets, and storage containers for preventing rain from coming in contact with chemicals. These are sometimes referred to as structural BMPs.

Non-structural BMPs are good habits, practices, or strategies. Some examples are doing routine vehicle maintenance under controlled shop conditions rather than on a construction site, educating employees on stormwater issues upon hire and as jobsite issues arise, scheduling soil disturbing activities for the dry season or between storms, and stabilizing the ground as soon as possible to prevent erosion from rain and wind.

BMPs are also divided into categories of temporary and permanent. An example of a temporary BMP would be the temporary straw applications that are used until permanent sod is installed. An example of a permanent BMP would be a grassy swale that receives stormwater from a new parking lot and commercial building roof before it flows into a creek. As stormwater moves through the swale, some pollutants in the runoff may be trapped in the grass. Additionally, some of this runoff will filter into the soil, thus recharging the groundwater table and protecting the creek from increased levels of erosive runoff. Temporary and permanent BMPs are increasingly required on new projects.

Generally, regulators do not require that specific BMPs be used, although operators are obligated to select the BMPs that will be most effective for their operations. Selecting BMP solutions can be challenging, as one site may differ greatly from the next.

While regulators emphasize actual results over the use of specific BMPs, through time certain BMPs have gained acceptance in the stormwater industry for delivering results and are now expected to be standard procedure. One example of a BMP that should be standard procedure is not placing a portable toilet on top of a drain inlet; a 50-foot buffer zone should be used in case of leaks or spills during servicing, etc.

To this end, many different agencies and associations across the country have developed manuals of BMPs. Sharing and borrowing generally are common. This has improved industry practices and minimized the need to "re-invent the wheel."

BMP documents typically include the following:
  1. a description
  2. typical applications
  3. limitations
  4. specifications
  5. inspection, maintenance, and repair requirements

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