Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

A Guide for Construction Sites

Who? 

Construction site operators (generally, the person who has operational control over construction plans and/or 

the person who has day-to-day supervision and control of activities occurring at the construction site)

Where?

 Construction sites required to comply with stormwater discharge requirements

What?

 A guide to help you develop a good Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

Why?

Stormwater runoff from construction sites can cause significant harm to our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters

A SWPPP is required (by your construction general permit) and will help you prevent stormwater pollution 

A SWPPP is more than just a sediment and erosion control plan. 

It describes all the construction site operator’s activities to prevent stormwater contamination, control 

sedimentation and erosion, and comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act

Purpose of this Guidance Document

This document provides guidance to construction site operators that need to prepare a SWPPP in order to 

receive NPDES permit coverage for their stormwater discharges. The Clean Water Act provisions, EPA regulations 

and EPA’s Construction General Permit described in this document contain legally binding requirements. This 

document does not substitute for those provisions, regulations or permit, nor is it a regulation or permit itself. It also 

does not substitute for requirements under State law or construction general permits issued by States. It does not 

impose legally-binding requirements on EPA, States, or the regulated community, and may not apply to a particular 

situation based upon the circumstances. EPA and State decisionmakers retain the discretion to adopt approaches 

on a case-by-case basis that differ from this guidance where appropriate. Any decisions regarding a particular 

construction site will be made based on the applicable statutes, regulations and/or permit terms. Therefore, interested 

parties are free to raise questions and objections about the appropriateness of the application of this guidance to 

a particular situation, and EPA—or the applicable NPDES permitting authority—will consider whether or not the 

recommendations or interpretations in the guidance are appropriate in that situation based on the law and regulations. 

This guidance document occasionally uses language describing mandatory requirements for construction 

site operators and those covered by a general permit for stormwater discharges from such sites. This language 

is generally intended to reflect requirements applicable where EPA is the NPDES permitting authority. Although 

requirements in jurisdictions where EPA is not the permitting authority may resemble these requirements, the reader 

should not assume that this guidance accurately describes those requirements. Rather, the reader should consult 

the applicable regulations and any applicable NPDES permit. 
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

A. Why Should You Use this Guide?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

B. What Is Stormwater Runoff and What Are Its Impacts?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

C. How Can Construction Site Operators Prevent Stormwater Pollution?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Chapter 2: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A. What Are the Federal Requirements for Stormwater Runoff from Construction Sites?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

B. Who Is Required to Get NPDES Permit Coverage?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

C. What Elements Are Required in a SWPPP?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

D. SWPPP Roles and Responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

E. Common SWPPP Objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 3: SWPPP Development—Site Assessment and Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

A. Assess Your Site and Proposed Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

B. Identify Approaches to Protect Natural Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

C. Develop Site Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chapter 4: SWPPP Development—Selecting Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Chapter 5: SWPPP Development—Selecting Good Housekeeping BMPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chapter 6: SWPPP Development—Inspections, Maintenance, and Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

A. Describe Your Plans and Procedures for Inspecting BMPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

B. BMP Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

C. Recordkeeping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Chapter 7: Certification and Notification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

A. Certification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

B. Notification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Chapter 8: SWPPP Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

A. Train Your Staff and Subcontractors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

B. Ensure Responsibility—Subcontractor Agreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

C. Implement Your SWPPP Before Construction Starts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

D. Conduct Inspections and Maintain BMPs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

E. Update and Evaluate Your SWPPP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Chapter 9: Final Stabilization and Permit Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

A. Final Stabilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

B. Permit Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

C. Record Retention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Appendices

Appendix A – SWPPP Template (available at www.epa.gov/npdes/swpppguide). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Appendix B – Inspection Report (available at www.epa.gov/npdes/swpppguide). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Appendix C – Calculating the Runoff Coefficient. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Appendix D – Resources List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
ii Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

How to Use This Guide

n	 This guide was developed as a helpful reference guide for construction site operators across

the country. We have tried to accommodate the wide range of knowledge and experience

about stormwater pollution prevention that currently exists among operators—from novice to

expert.

•	 If you are relatively new to managing stormwater at a construction site, you will probably

want to read this entire guide.

•	 If you are very experienced and familiar with the requirements in your state, this guide

may help you brush up on certain requirements or provide you with ideas to improve

your SWPPP. You might want to review the table of contents and skip around. Be sure to

take a look at the SWPPP template (Appendix A) to see if you can make improvements in

the way you develop and maintain your SWPPP.

n	 This guide is written in a general format and can be used at most construction sites in any

state, territory, or in Indian country. The document assumes that you will obtain discharge

authorization under an appropriate National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

construction general permit and use both the permit and this guidance to assist in developing

your SWPPP. In this guide, we make some references to the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency’s Construction General Permit for illustrative purposes. You should always consult 

your applicable NPDES permit for the exact requirements that apply to you.

n	 Remember that you are developing your SWPPP for both your use and for review by the

regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing your stormwater controls. As such, one of your

goals in developing your SWPPP should be to present the information in a way that clearly

demonstrates that it meets all the requirements of your NPDES permit.

n	 You can obtain an electronic copy of this guide (PDF format), the SWPPP template, and

inspection form (in Microsoft Word) at www.epa.gov/npdes/swpppguide

What is a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?

A SWPPP may be called many things. Your state may use terms like:

• Construction Best Practices Plan

• Sediment and Stormwater Plan

• Erosion, Sediment, and Pollution Prevention Plan

• Construction Site Best Management Practices Plan

• Erosion Control Plan and Best Management Practices

• Best Management Practices Plan

• Erosion and Sediment Control Plan

Regardless of the title used in your state, these documents—and the 

stormwater permits that require them—tend to have many common 

elements. This guide is intended to help you develop a better SWPPP for your 

construction site. Example sketch identifying various points to 

address in the SWPPP.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 

Chapter 1: Introduction  This chapter provides 

an orientation to this 

guide and its contents 

and describes why 

stormwater controls 

at construction sites 

are necessary. A. Why Should You Use this Guide?

If you are responsible for erosion and sediment control and stormwater management

at a permitted construction site, then this guide may be useful to you. This guide is

designed to walk you through the steps for developing and implementing an effective

stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP). The basic outline of the guide is

presented below:

Figure 1. SWPPP Process
 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

B. What Is Stormwater Runoff and What 

Are Its Impacts?

Stormwater runoff is rain or snowmelt that

flows over land and does not percolate into the

soil. Stormwater runoff occurs naturally, in

small amounts, from almost any type of land

surface, especially during larger storm events.

Impervious

surfaces, such

as buildings,

homes, roads,

sidewalks,

and parking

lots, can

significantly

alter the

natural

hydrology of

the land by

increasing the volume, velocity, and

temperature of runoff and by decreasing its

infiltration capacity. Increasing the volume

and velocity of stormwater runoff can cause

severe stream bank erosion, flooding, and

degrade the biological habitat of these streams.

Reducing infiltration can lower ground water

levels and affect drinking water supplies.

In addition, as stormwater runoff moves

across surfaces, it picks up trash, debris,

and pollutants such as sediment, oil and

grease, pesticides and other toxics. Changes

in ambient water temperature, sediment,

and pollutants from stormwater runoff

can be detrimental to aquatic life, wildlife,

habitat, and human health. Soil exposed by

construction activities is especially vulnerable

to erosion. Runoff from an unstabilized

construction site can result in the loss of

approximately 35–45 tons of sediment per

acre each year (ASCE and WFF, 1992). Even

during a short period of time, construction

sites can contribute more sediment to streams

than would be deposited naturally over several

Figure 2. Typical erosion rates from land-based activities. 

(Dunne, T. and L. Leopold, 1978; NRCS, 2000; NRCS, 

2006; ASCE and WEF, 1992)

decades. Excess sediment can cloud the water

reducing the amount of sunlight reaching

aquatic plants, clog fish gills, smother aquatic

habitat and spawning areas, and impede

navigation in our waterways.

The primary stormwater pollutant at a

construction site is sediment. To control

erosion at a construction site, it is important

to understand the different types of erosion

that can occur. Erosion begins when raindrops

break down the soil structure and dislodge

soil particles. Runoff carrying the soil particles

becomes sheet erosion which eventually forms

smaller rills and larger gullies. The best way

to stop erosion is to keep the soil in place

through vegetation, erosion control blankets,

or other methods that prevent the soil from

becoming dislodged during rain events.

The erosion process is typically influenced

by climate, topography, soils, and vegetative

cover. Understanding how these factors influence erosion will help you select and design

appropriate controls to minimize erosion from

your construction site.

What is a SWPPP?

A SWPPP is a site-specific, written document that:

• Identifies potential sources of stormwater pollution at the construction site

• Describes practices to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges from the 

construction site. Reduction of pollutants is often achieved by controlling the volume 

of stormwater runoff (e.g., taking steps to allow stormwater to infiltrate into the soil).

• Identifies procedures the operator will implement to comply with the terms and 

conditions of a construction general permit

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Failure to implement your SWPPP 

could result in significant fines 

from EPA or a state environmental 

agency. Therefore, it is important 

that you develop your SWPPP to 

address the specific conditions 

at your site, fully implement it, 

and keep it up-to-date to reflect 

changes at your site.

A SWPPP can have different names

A SWPPP may also be called a “construction 

best practices plan,” “sediment and stormwater 

plan,” “erosion, sedimentation, and pollution 

prevention plan,” or similar term. The SWPPP 

(or similarly named plan) is generally required 

to comply with EPA’s or the state’s stormwater 

construction general permit.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 

Climate. The frequency, intensity, and

duration of rainfall are the principal factors

influencing erosion from a construction site.

Know the weather patterns in your area and, if

possible, plan your soil disturbance activities

for periods of historically lower rainfall.

Topography. The longer and steeper a

slope, the greater the potential there is for

erosion from that slope. Use practices such

as diversions or fiber rolls to break up long

slopes. Consider minimizing soil disturbance

activities on steeper slopes.

Soils. Soil type can also impact erosion. Soil

texture, structure, organic matter content,

compaction, and permeability can all

influence erosion rates.

Vegetative cover. Vegetative cover provides

a number of critical benefits in preventing

erosion—it absorbs the energy of raindrops,

slows velocity of runoff, increases infiltration,

and helps bind the soil. Soil erosion can be

greatly reduced by maximizing vegetative

cover at a construction site.

C. How Can Construction Site Operators 

Prevent Stormwater Pollution?

An effective SWPPP is the key! If sediment

and erosion controls and good housekeeping

practices are not followed, construction activity

can result in the discharge of significant

amounts of sediment and other pollutants.

The term Best Management Practices or BMPs

is often used to describe the controls and

activities used to prevent stormwater pollution.

BMPs can be divided into two categories—

structural and non-structural BMPs. Structural

BMPs include silt fences, sedimentation ponds,

erosion control blankets, and temporary or

permanent seeding, while non-structural

BMPs include picking up trash and debris,

sweeping up nearby sidewalks and streets,

maintaining equipment, and training site staff

on erosion and sediment control practices.

In this document, the term “BMPs” is used

broadly and includes both structural and nonstructural controls and practices.

A SWPPP is more than just a sediment 

and erosion control plan. Most SWPPPs

are written documents that describe the

pollution prevention practices and activities

that will be implemented on the site. It

includes descriptions of the site and of each

major phase of the planned activity, the

roles and responsibilities of contractors and

subcontractors, and the inspection schedules

and logs. It is also a place to document

changes and modifications to the construction

plans and associated stormwater pollution

prevention activities.

Figure 3. Types of erosion.

Raindrop erosion

Dislodging of soil particles by raindrops

Sheet erosion

The uniform removal of soil without the development of visible 

water channels

Rill erosion

Soil removal through the formation of concentrated runoff that 

creates many small channels

Gully erosion

The result of highly concentrated runoff that cuts down into the 

soil along the line of flow

Streambank erosion

Flowing water that erodes unstable streambanks

Erosion versus Sedimentation

Erosion is the process by which the land surface 

is worn away by the action of water or wind. 

Sedimentation is the movement and settling out 

of suspension of soil particles. It is usually easier 

and less expensive to prevent erosion than it is to 

control sediment from leaving a construction site.
 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Chapter 2: Getting Started

EPA Permits vs. State-Issued Permits

At the time of publication, EPA was the NPDES permitting authority in 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Idaho, Alaska, the District 

of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. territories (except the Virgin Islands), 

most Indian country lands, and for federal facilities in four states. For an 

up-to-date list of NPDES permitting authorities, visit www.epa.gov/npdes/

stormwater/construction or www.cicacenter.org/swrl.html

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Because EPA and state-issued permits can 

be different, you should make sure you read 

and apply for the correct permit. Use the 

links on either of the web sites listed to the 

left to determine which agency issues NPDES 

permits where your construction activity will 

occur.

A. What Are the Federal Requirements for Stormwater Runoff from 

Construction Sites?

The Clean Water Act and associated federal regulations (Title 40 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations [CFR] 123.25(a)(9), 122.26(a), 122.26(b)(14)(x) and 122.26(b)(15)) require

nearly all construction site operators engaged in clearing, grading, and excavating

activities that disturb one acre or more, including smaller sites in a larger common 

plan of development or sale, to obtain coverage under a National Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System (NPDES) permit for their stormwater discharges. Under the

NPDES program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can authorize

states to implement the federal requirements and issue stormwater permits. Today,

most states are authorized to implement the NPDES program and issue their own

permits for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities.

Each state (or EPA, in the case

of states that are not authorized)

issues one or more NPDES

construction general permits. These

permits, generally, can be thought

of as umbrella permits that cover all

stormwater discharges associated

with construction activity in a

given state for a designated time

period, usually 5 years. Operators

of individual constructions sites

then apply for coverage under this

permit. Before applying for permit 

coverage, you should read and 

understand all the provisions of the 

appropriate construction general 

permit and develop a SWPPP.

Because authorized states develop 

their own NPDES requirements, 

you should carefully read your 

state’s construction general 

permit and follow the specific 

instructions it contains.

 This chapter 

describes some of 

the basic things you’ll 

want to determine 

(Do you need permit 

coverage? What 

permit applies to 

you?), as well as some 

of the materials and 

information you may 

need to develop your 

SWPPP. Collecting this 

information before 

you start will help you 

develop your SWPPP 

more efficiently. Keep 

in mind that you may 

also need to gather 

this information and 

develop your SWPPP 

before you complete 

your Notice of Intent 

(NOI) and file for 

permit coverage (note 

that filing an NOI is 

not discussed until 

Chapter 7).

Don’t forget about “common plans of 

development or sale”

A common plan of development or sale includes 

larger-scale plans for land development to be 

carried out by one or more entities. Examples 

include housing developments and subdivisions, 

industrial parks, and commercial developments. 

EPA has described this term in the fact sheet 

accompanying its Construction General Permit 

as including: any announcement or piece of 

documentation (including a sign, public notice 

or hearing, sales pitch, advertisement, drawing, 

permit application, zoning request, computer 

design, etc.), or physical demarcation (including 

boundary signs, lot stakes, surveyor markings, 

etc.) indicating construction activities may occur 

on a specific plot. Each permitting authority may 

review documentation to determine if common 

plan requirements apply. 
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 

Local Requirements

Operators of construction sites should keep in

mind that local governments (cities, towns,

counties) often have their own requirements

for construction sites (e.g., local permits for

grading, sediment and erosion, utilities).

Compliance with local requirements 

does not mean compliance with federal 

NPDES requirements or vice versa, unless 

the authorized state agency or EPA has 

specifically designated the local program a 

qualifying local program.

Qualifying Local Programs

In some states, the NPDES permitting agency

has identified certain local construction

stormwater control programs that have

requirements that are equivalent or more

protective than the state’s requirements. If

one of these local stormwater programs has

been designated by the permitting agency as a

qualifying local program, the construction site

operator may simply read and follow the local

requirements. The permitting agency (state or

EPA) might choose to waive the requirement

to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) or similar

application form for small construction

sites operating within the jurisdiction of a

qualifying local program. If waived, these

sites would be covered under the appropriate

construction general permit automatically.

Check your construction general permit

carefully.

The NPDES permitting authority must

identify any qualifying local programs in the

construction general permit. Violations of

the local requirements are also considered

violations of the NPDES requirements and

may be enforced accordingly.

Most construction general permits contain

similar elements:

•	 Applicability—describes the geographic

area covered and who is eligible to apply

•	 Authorization—describes the types

of stormwater (and non-stormwater)

discharges that are covered

•	 SWPPP requirements—outlines the

elements that should to be addressed to

prevent the contamination of storm­water

runoff leaving the construction site

•	 Application—includes instructions for

obtaining permit coverage, usually by filing

an application or Notice of Intent (NOI) form

•	 Implementation—BMP installation,

inspection, and maintenance requirements

•	 Other requirements—may include

additional requirements such as spill

prevention

•	 Standard conditions—list of conditions that

are applicable to most NPDES permits

•	 Termination—lists conditions for

terminating permit coverage after

construction is complete

What Construction Activities Require NPDES 

Permit Coverage?

In this document, “construction” refers to

actions that result in a disturbance of the

land, including clearing, grading, excavating,

and other similar activities. It also includes

“construction-related activities,” areas that

support the construction project such as

stockpiles, borrow areas, concrete truck

washouts, fueling areas, material storage

areas and equipment storage areas.

Construction activities that do not disturb

land, such as interior remodeling, generally

do not require NPDES permit coverage.

Are There Situations Where a Permit Is Not 

Needed?

Generally, permit coverage is not required

for activities that are considered routine

maintenance, such as landscaping, road

maintenance, and maintaining stormwater

BMPs. Some states and EPA offer the option

of a waiver for small sites (disturbing less

than 5 acres) in areas and times of the year

with low predicted rainfall. To be eligible

for the waiver, you would have to meet the

requirements specified in the regulations.

Read Your General Permit!

You should thoroughly read and understand 

the requirements in your general permit. This 

includes requirements on eligibility (whether 

your site qualifies for the general permit), 

application (how to notify EPA or the state that 

you’d like to be covered by the general permit), 

SWPPPs, and termination (stabilizing your site 

and notifying EPA or the state that your project 

is complete). By applying for coverage under 

the general permit, you are telling EPA or your 

state that you will comply with the permit’s 

requirements, so read your permit carefully!
 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

B. Who Is Required to Get NPDES Permit 

Coverage?

Construction site operators are responsible

for obtaining NPDES permit coverage

for their stormwater discharges. Each

state has its own definition of the term

operator. Operators may include owners

(e.g., developers), general contractors,

independent subcontractors, government

officials, companies, or corporations. This

section reflects EPA’s understanding of most

NPDES permit requirements for stormwater

discharges throughout the country. You

should, of course, consult your construction

general permit for the requirements that apply

to you. In some cases, states have defined the

operator as a single entity, usually the land

owner or easement holder. In other states,

several entities may meet the definition of

operator. For instance, the owner may control

the project’s plans and specifications, and

the general contractor may control the site’s

day-to-day operations. In such cases, both

may be defined as operators. If a site has

multiple operators, they may cooperate on the

development and implementation of a single

SWPPP. Operators generally obtain coverage

under an NPDES permit, often by filing a form

called a Notice of Intent (NOI).

EPA’s Construction General Permit (which

applies only where EPA is the permitting

authority—see Chapter 2 Section A) defines

operator as any party that:

•	 Has control over the construction plans and

specifications

	 and/or

•	 Has day-to-day operational control of

the site, including activities necessary to

implement the SWPPP

Regardless of whether or not the operator is a

corporation or governmental entity, someone

must direct the SWPPP’s preparation and

implementation and apply for NPDES permit

coverage for the stormwater discharges. In

most cases, this will be a high-level official,

such as a corporate officer, manager or elected

official, or a principal executive officer. For

specific instructions, refer to the appropriate

NPDES stormwater permit.

Multiple Operators

In many instances, there may be more

than one party at a site performing tasks

related to operational control and more than

one operator may need to submit an NOI.

Depending on the site and the relationship

between the parties (e.g., owner, developer,

general contractor), there can either be

a single party acting as site operator and

consequently responsible for obtaining

permit coverage, or there can be two or

more operators all needing permit coverage.

Exactly who is considered an operator is

largely controlled by how the owner of the

project chooses to structure the contracts with

the contractors hired to design and/or build

the project. The following are three general

operator scenarios (variations on any of these

three are possible, especially as the number of

owners and contractors increases):

•	 Owner as sole permittee. The property

owner designs the structures for the site,

develops and implements the SWPPP, and

serves as general contractor (or has an

on-site representative with full authority to

direct day-to-day operations). The owner

may be the only party that needs permit

coverage under these circumstances.

Everyone else on the site may be

considered subcontractors and might not

need permit coverage. Figure 4. Use signage to help educate construction staff.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 

Erosion Control vs. Sediment Control

When developing a SWPPP, it is important to understand the difference 

between erosion control and sediment control. Erosion control measures 

(e.g., mulch, blankets, mats, vegetative cover) protect the soil surface and 

prevent soil particles from being dislodged and carried away by wind or 

water. Sediment control measures remove soil particles after they have been 

dislodged (typically through settling or filtration). It is usually easier and less 

expensive to prevent erosion than it is to control sedimentation.

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

You should try to use erosion control 

BMPs as the primary means of preventing 

stormwater contamination, and sediment 

control techniques to capture any soil 

that does get eroded. Because no one 

technique is 100 percent effective, a 

good SWPPP will use both kinds of BMPs 

in combination for the best results.

•	 Contractor as sole permittee. The property

owner hires one company (i.e., a contractor)

to design the project and oversee all aspects

of the construction project, including

preparation and implementation of the

SWPPP and compliance with the permit

(e.g., a turnkey project). Here, the contractor

would likely be the only party needing a

permit. It is under this scenario that an

individual having a personal residence built

for his own use (e.g., not those to be sold

for profit or used as rental property) would

not be considered an operator. However,

individual property owners would meet

the definition of operator and may require

permit coverage if they perform general

contracting duties for construction of their

personal residences.

•	 Owner and contractor as co-permittees. The

owner retains control over any changes

to site plans, SWPPPs, or stormwater

conveyance or control designs; but the

contractor is responsible for overseeing

actual earth disturbing activities and daily

implementation of SWPPP and other permit

conditions. In this case, which is the most

common scenario, both parties may need

to apply for permit coverage.

However, you are probably not an operator

and subsequently would not need permit

coverage if one of the following is true:

•	 You are a subcontractor hired by, and

under the supervision of, the owner or a

general contractor (i.e., if the contractor

directs your activities on-site, you probably

are not an operator)

•	 The operator of the site has indicated in

the SWPPP that someone other than you

(or your subcontractor) is reponsible for

your activities as they relate to stormwater

quality (i.e., another operator has assumed

responsibility for the impacts of your

construction activities). This is typically

the case for many, if not most, utility

service line installations.

In addition, owner typically refers to the

party that owns the structure being built.

Ownership of the land where construction

is occurring does not necessarily imply

the property owner is an operator (e.g., a

landowner whose property is being disturbed

by construction of a gas pipeline). Likewise, if

the erection of a structure has been contracted

for, but possession of the title or lease to the

land or structure does not to occur until after

construction, the would-be owner may not be

considered an operator (e.g., having a house

built by a residential homebuilder).

Transferring Ownership

In many residential developments, an

overall developer applies for the stormwater

permit coverage, conducts grading activities,

and installs the basic infrastructure (e.g.,

utilities, roads). Individual lots are then sold

to builders who then construct the houses.

Unless the developer is still responsible for

stormwater on these individual lots (which

is typically not the case), it is likely that the

builder will need to apply for NPDES permit

coverage for stormwater discharges during

home construction.

Subcontractors

It is typically a good idea to include specific

contract language requiring subcontractors

to implement appropriate stormwater

controls. Subcontractors should be trained

on appropriate BMPs and requirements in

the SWPPP and should not disturb or remove

BMPs. Some contractors will include specific

penalties in subcontractor agreements to

ensure subcontractors do not damage or

remove BMPs.
 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

C. What Elements Are Required in a 

SWPPP?

The SWPPP lays out the steps and techniques

you will use to reduce pollutants in

stormwater runoff leaving your construction

site. Therefore, proper development and

implementation of your SWPPP is crucial.

First and foremost, your SWPPP must be

developed and implemented consistent

with the requirements of the applicable

NPDES stormwater construction permit. The

following discussion describes requirements

that are contained in most of these permits.

Your SWPPP is used to identify all potential

pollution sources that could come into contact

with stormwater leaving your site. It describes

the BMPs you will use to reduce pollutants

in your construction site’s stormwater

discharges, and it includes written records

of your site inspections and the follow-up

maintenance that is performed.

Your SWPPP should contain the following

elements:

•	 Cover/title page

•	 Project and SWPPP contact information

•	 Site and activity description, including a

site map

•	 Identification of potential pollutant sources

•	 Description of controls to reduce pollutants

•	 Maintenance/inspection procedures

•	 Records of inspections and follow-up

maintenance of BMPs

•	 SWPPP amendments

•	 SWPPP certification

Chapters 3–6 of this guide describe how to

develop a SWPPP—from site evaluation and

data collection to selecting appropriate BMPs

and assigning maintenance and inspection

responsibilities.

D. SWPPP Roles and Responsibilities

The operator has the lead for developing and

implementing the SWPPP and commiting

resources to implement the BMPs. Stormwater

pollution control is typically the job of more

than a single person; the SWPPP development

process provides a good opportunity to

define roles and responsibilities of everyone

involved. Roles and responsibilities are to

be documented clearly in the SWPPP and

subcontractor agreements as necessary. Your

SWPPP should describe:

•	 Who is on the stormwater pollution

prevention team?

•	 Who will install structural stormwater

controls?

•	 Who will supervise and implement

good housekeeping programs, such as

site cleanup and disposal of trash and

debris, hazardous material management

and disposal, vehicle and equipment

maintenance, and so on?

•	 Who will conduct routine inspections

of the site to ensure all BMPs are being

implemented and maintained?

•	 Who will maintain the BMPs?

•	 Who is responsible for documenting

changes to the SWPPP?

•	 Who is responsible for communicating

changes in the SWPPP to people working

on the site?

When you apply for your stormwater permit,

the application may ask for a SWPPP

contact. This could be the construction

site operator, but in many cases it’s a staff

person (e.g., project superintendent, field

manager, construction manager, stormwater

compliance officer) at the construction site

who is responsible for conducting inspections,

ensuring BMPs are installed and maintained,

and updating the SWPPP when necessary.

Erosion Control Certification

Several programs promote the training and 

certification of individuals in erosion and sediment 

control. Some states have developed certification 

programs and require construction sites to have a 

certified individual on-site at all times. The Soil and 

Water Conservation Society and the International 

Erosion Control Association sponsor a national 

certification program, the Certified Professional in 

Erosion and Sediment Control (www.cpesc.org)
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 

E. Common SWPPP Objectives

The SWPPP outlines the steps you will take

to comply with the terms and conditions of

your construction general permit. Keeping the

following objectives in mind as you develop

your SWPPP will help guide you in addressing

your permit requirements and in protecting

water quality.

•	 Stabilize the site as soon as possible.

Get your site to final grade and either

permanently or temporarily stabilize all

bare soil areas as soon as possible. Take

into consideration germination times for the

grasses or other vegetation selected, and

provide additional stabilization (mulches,

matrices, blankets, soil binders) on erosionprone areas such as slopes and drainage

ways. Also consider seasonal limitations

to plant establishment and growth, such

as drought or cold temperatures, and

make an effort to ensure that areas that

are not showing adequate vegetation

establishment are reseeded or mulched

immediately. Areas needed for future roads,

construction, or other purposes should be

temporarily stabilized (see your permit for

requirements related to areas of the site

not currently under active construction).

Establishing a vegetated cover on as much

of the site as possible will help to minimize

erosion and sediment problems. Perimeter

controls should remain in place until final

stabilization has been achieved.

•	 Protect slopes and channels. Convey

concentrated stormwater runoff around

the top of slopes and stabilize slopes as

soon as possible. This can be accomplished

using pipe slope drains or earthen berms

that will convey runoff around the exposed

slope. Avoid disturbing natural channels

and the vegetation along natural channels,

if possible.

•	 Reduce impervious surfaces and promote 

infiltration. Reducing impervious surfaces

will ultimately reduce the amount of

runoff leaving your site. Also, divert

runoff from rooftops and other impervious

surfaces to vegetated areas when possible

to promote infiltration.

•	 Control the perimeter of your site. Divert

stormwater coming on to your site by

conveying it safely around, through, or

under your site. Avoid allowing run-on to

contact disturbed areas of the construction

site. For the runoff from the disturbed

areas of the site, install BMPs such as silt

fences to capture sediment before it leaves

your site. Remember—“Divert the clean

water, trap the dirty water.”

•	 Protect receiving waters adjacent to your 

site. Erosion and sediment controls are

used around the entire site, but operators

should consider additional controls

on areas that are adjacent to receiving

waters or other environmentally sensitive

areas. Remember, the primary purpose 

of erosion and sediment controls is to 

protect surface waters.

•	 Follow pollution prevention measures.

Provide proper containers for waste and

garbage at your site. Store hazardous

materials and chemicals so that they are

not exposed to stormwater.

•	 Minimize the area and duration of exposed 

soils. Clearing only land that will be under

construction in the near future, a practice

known as construction phasing, can reduce

off-site sediment loads by 36 percent for

a typical subdivision (Claytor 2000).

Additionally, minimizing the duration of

soil exposure by stabilizing soils quickly

can reduce erosion dramatically.

Incentives to preserve open space

It should be the goal of every construction 

project to, where possible, preserve open 

space and minimize impervious surfaces 

through practices such as clustering houses. 

Open space preservation can provide 

significant water quality and economic 

benefits to property owners.

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

From a marketing perspective, studies have shown that lots abutting 

forested or other open space are initially valued higher than lots with 

no adjacent open space, and over time their value appreciates more 

than lots in conventional subdivisions (Arendt 1996). For example, lots 

in an open space subdivision in Amherst, Massachusetts, experienced 

a 13 percent greater appreciation in value over a comparable 

conventional development after 20 years even though the lots in the 

conventional development were twice as large (Arendt 1996).
10 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Chapter 3: SWPPP Development—Site 

Assessment and Planning

This chapter describes a number of steps that will help provide a good foundation for

your SWPPP, including:

•	 Assessing current conditions at the site

•	 Establishing pollution prevention and water quality protection goals for your

project

•	 Developing a framework to help you meet those goals

A. Assess Your Site and Proposed Project

The first step in developing your SWPPP is to evaluate your

proposed construction site. Your SWPPP should describe the

undeveloped site and identify features of the land that can

be incorporated into the final plan and natural resources

that should be protected. Understanding the hydrologic and

other natural features of your site will help you develop a

better SWPPP and, ultimately, to more effectively prevent

stormwater pollution.

Visit the Site

The people responsible for site design and drafting the

SWPPP should conduct a thorough walk-through of the entire

construction site to assess site-specific conditions such as soil

types, drainage patterns, existing vegetation, and topography.

Avoid copying SWPPPs from other projects to save time or

money. Each construction project and SWPPP is unique,

and visiting the site is the only way to create a SWPPP that

addresses the unique conditions at that site.

Assess Existing Construction Site Conditions

Assess the existing conditions at the construction site, including topography,

drainage, and soil type. This assessment, sometimes called fingerprinting (see text

box on page 11) is the foundation for building your SWPPP and for developing your

final site plan. In this assessment, use or create a topographic drawing that:

•	 Indicates how stormwater currently drains from the site, and identify the location

of discharge points or areas

•	 Identifies slopes and slope lengths. The topographic features of the site are a major

factor affecting erosion from the site

•	 Identifies soil type(s) and any highly erodible soils and the soil’s infiltration

capacity

•	 Identifies any past soil contamination at the site

•	 Identifies natural features, including trees, streams, wetlands, slopes and other

features to be protected

 The first step in 

developing a SWPPP 

is assessing the 

site and identifying 

measures to protect 

natural features.

A SWPPP is a detailed plan that:

• Identifies potential sources of stormwater 

pollution

• Describes the practices that will be used 

to prevent stormwater pollution. These 

should include: erosion and sediment control 

practices, good housekeeping practices, 

conservation techniques, and infiltration 

practices (where appropriate), and

• Identifies procedures the operator will 

implement to comply with all requirements 

in the construction general permit
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 11

In most cases, the site designer can compile

all this information on a digitized drawing

that can then be adapted to show the

planned construction activity, the phases of

construction, and the final site plan.

Topographic maps are readily available on

the Internet (e.g., www.terraserver.com or

www.mapquest.com) or by contacting the

U.S. Geological Survey store (http://store.

usgs.gov). If you need help determining

your soil type, contact your local Natural

Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) office

or extension service office. To find the NRCS

office nearest to your site, visit the U.S.

Department of Agriculture’s Service Center

Locator website (http://offices.sc.egov.usda.

gov/locator/app). Soil information is also

available online from NRCS (http://soils.

usda.gov).

Identify Receiving Waters, Storm Drains, and 

Other Stormwater Conveyance Systems

Your SWPPP should clearly identify the

receiving waters and stormwater systems

through which stormwater from your site

could flow. Many states require planning

for a specific storm event or storm events.

These storm events are referred to by their

recurrence interval and duration such as

1-year, 6-hour storm or a 100-year, 24-hour

storm. These events then translate into a

specific rainfall amount depending on

average conditions in your area.

If your site’s stormwater flows into a

municipal storm drain system, you should

determine the ultimate destination of that

system’s discharge. This may be obvious and

easy to document. However, in some systems,

you may have to consult with the local agency

responsible for the storm drain system to

determine the waterbody to which you are

discharging.

If your site’s stormwater runs off to areas

not connected to the storm drain system,

you should consider your land’s topography

and then identify the waterbodies that it

could reach. Many sites will discharge some

stormwater to a storm drain system and some

to other areas not connected to the system.

If your site’s stormwater could potentially

reach two or more waterbodies, note that

in your SWPPP. Remember, stormwater can

travel long distances over roads, parking lots,

down slopes, across fields, and through storm

sewers and drainage ditches.

Describe Your Construction Project

Your SWPPP should contain a brief

description of the construction activity,

including:

•	 Project type or function (for example,

low-density residential, shopping mall,

highway)

•	 Project location, including latitude and

longitude

•	 Estimated project start and end dates

•	 Sequence and timing of activities that will

disturb soils at the site

•	 Size of the project

•	 Estimated total area expected to be

disturbed by excavation, grading, or other

construction activities, including dedicated

off-site borrow and fill areas

•	 Percentage of impervious area before and

after construction

Fingerprinting Your Site

When you evaluate your construction site, you should clearly identify 

vegetation, trees, and sensitive areas, such as stream buffers, wetlands, 

highly erodible soils, and steep slopes at your site. You should protect these 

areas from disturbance. Inventorying a site’s natural features is a technique 

called fingerprinting. Fingerprinting identifies natural features that you can 

protect from clearing and heavy equipment by signage or physical barriers.

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Fingerprinting your site will help 

ensure that you don’t damage natural 

features such as waterways or wetlands. 

Conducting construction activity in a 

waterway or wetland without the proper 

permits can result in significant penalties.
12 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

1 The runoff coefficient is the partial amount of the total rainfall which will become runoff. Runoff coefficients generally range from 0.95 (highly impervious) to 0.05 (vegetated surface that 

generates little runoff). For more information on calculating the runoff coefficient for your site, see Appendix C.

•	 Runoff coefficient1 before and after

construction

•	 Soil types

•	 Construction site location and any nearby

waters or wetlands

•	 Describe and identify the location of

other potential sources of stormwater

contamination, such as asphalt and

concrete plants, stucco operations, paint

and concrete washout, and such

Identify Pollutants and Pollution Sources

Identify the pollutants and sources that are

likely to be found on the site. The principle

pollutant of concern, of course, is sediment.

There are, however, other pollutants that

may be found, usually in substantially

smaller amounts, in stormwater runoff from

construction sites. These can include nutrients,

heavy metals, organic compounds, pesticides,

oil and grease, bacteria and viruses, trash and

debris, and other chemicals. After identifying

the pollutants and sources, be as specific as

possible in your SWPPP about the BMPs you

will use to address them. The table at the left

lists the sources of pollutants at construction

sites, including sediment, the primary

pollutant and other pollutants that may be

present at construction sites.

Figure 5. Make sure storm drain inlets 

are protected.

Construction Site Pollutants

Areas of Consideration

Primary 

Pollutant

Other Pollutants

NutrientsHeavy metalspH (acids & bases)Pesticides & herbicidesOil & grease

Bacteria & virusesTrash, debris, solids

Other toxic chemicals

Sediment

Clearing, grading, 

excavating, and 

unstabilized areas ü ü

Paving operations ü ü

Concrete washout and 

waste ü ü ü

Structure construction/

painting/cleaning ü ü ü ü

Demolition and debris 

disposal ü ü

Dewatering operations ü ü

Drilling and blasting 

operations ü ü ü

Material delivery and 

storage ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü

Material use during 

building process ü ü ü ü ü ü ü

Solid waste (trash and 

debris) ü ü

Hazardous waste ü ü ü ü ü

Contaminated spills ü ü ü ü ü ü

Sanitary/septic waste ü ü ü ü

Vehicle/equipment fueling 

and maintenance ü ü

Vehicle/equipment use 

and storage ü ü

Landscaping operations ü ü ü
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 13

Non-Stormwater Discharges

Most permits will require you to identify any

non-stormwater discharges in your SWPPP.

Certain non-stormwater discharges may be

allowed under the terms and conditions of

your permit, however, you should make every

effort to eliminate these discharges where

possible. You should identify these sources in

your SWPPP and identify pollution prevention

measures to ensure that pollutants are not

introduced to these discharges and carried to

nearby waterbodies.

EPA’s CGP identifies these allowable nonstormwater discharges: discharges from

fire-fighting activities, fire hydrant flushings,

waters used to wash vehicles, buildings,

and pavements where detergents are not

used, water used to control dust, potable

water (including uncontaminated water line

flushings), uncontaminated air conditioning

condensate, uncontaminated ground water

or spring water, among others. The permit

goes on to say that non-stormwater discharges

should be eliminated or reduced to the extent

feasible and that the SWPPP should identify

and ensure the implementation of appropriate

pollution prevention measures for these

discharges. More discussion of pollution

prevention measures for some of these nonstormwater sources can be found in Chapter 5.

Permanent Stormwater Controls 

(Post-Construction)

The topic of designing, installing, and

maintaining permanent or post-construction

stormwater controls, although a requirement,

is beyond the scope of this SWPPP guide. A

SWPPP compiled in support of coverage under

EPA’s Construction General Permit, however,

needs to include a description of all permanent

stormwater controls that will be constructed

along with the buildings, roads, parking lots,

and other structures. You should incorporate

sediment and erosion controls into your

SWPPP for areas where permanent stormwater

controls, such as wet ponds, swales, and

bioretention cells are to be constructed.

Effectively managing stormwater over the

long-term—long after the actual construction

process is over—is a significant challenge.

Many communities (and a few states) have or

are developing comprehensive requirements

to better manage permanent (or postconstruction) stormwater runoff. To be most

effective, you should consider integrating your

design process for your permanent stormwater

controls into your overall design for your

site. Planning for your permanent stormwater

controls could affect your decisions about

site design, location of buildings and other

structures, grading, and preserving natural

features. By preserving natural drainage

patterns, trees, native vegetation, riparian

buffers, and wetlands, you might need to

construct fewer or smaller structural stormwater controls to cope with runoff from your

site. Permanent stormwater controls should be

designed with two important goals in mind:

(1) reduction of the volume and velocity of

runoff, and (2) reduction of the pollutants in

the stormwater that does leave your site.

Techniques, such as Low Impact Development,

Better Site Design, or Conservation 

Develop­­ment, which emphasize addressing

stormwater where it falls, infiltrating it,

preserving natural drainage patterns, and

Specimen Trees and Natural Vegetation

Before a site plan is prepared, identify and 

clearly mark existing trees and vegetation you 

want to preserve. Some communities have tree 

preservation ordinances, and local extension 

service offices and foresters will often provide free 

advice on tree and plant preservation. Remember 

to notify all employees and subcontractors about 

trees and areas you intend to preserve and mark 

them clearly.

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Large trees and other native vegetation can represent significant value 

in the long term to property owners and the community at large. 

Many studies document that the presence of trees on residential and 

commercial sites provide many benefits including improved aesthetics, 

habitat for birds and other wildlife, and energy savings (shade) that 

ultimately enhance the economic value of the site. Trees also provide 

shade and act as windbreaks, which can reduce energy costs over the 

long term. By protecting existing trees, you can reduce landscaping 

costs and improve the appearance of a newly developed property. 

According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, trees around a home 

can increase its value by 15 percent or more.
14 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

preserving natural vegetation offer the best

opportunity to protect nearby rivers, lakes,

wetlands, and coastal waters. Incorporating 

these ideas and concepts into the design for 

your project before it is built also offers the 

opportunity to reduce capital infrastructure 

and long-term maintenance costs.

At the neighborhood or even at the watershed

scale, Smart Growth techniques can help

us design neighborhoods that minimize

impacts on water quality, reduce air pollution,

and improve the general quality of life for

residents. In the Resources list in Appendix 

D, you will find a list of suggestions on this 

topic, including how to incorporate Smart 

Growth and Low Impact Development 

techniques into the design of your site.

B. Identify Approaches to Protect Natural 

Resources

Preservation of natural areas, waterbodies, and

open space has numerous economic, aesthetic,

community, and environmental benefits.

Preservation efforts also often increase the

value of lots and homes and help to reduce

overall expenditures on infrastructure.

Specifically, these kinds of conservation efforts

can help to significantly reduce the volume

and velocity of stormwater runoff and the

pollutants that may be carried with it.

Protect Nearby Waters

Your SWPPP should describe how you will protect and preserve any streams, wetlands, ponds

or other waterbodies that are on your property

or immediately adjoining it. Riparian areas

around headwater streams are especially important to the overall health of the entire river

system. Many states and communities have

buffer or shoreline protection requirements to

preserve sensitive areas around waterbodies.

Many states apply special designations to

high-value or high-quality waters. Check with

your state water pollution control agency to

determine if your project could discharge

to outstanding or special protection waters

(such as wetlands, or salmon and trout

streams). You might be subject to additional

requirements to protect these waterbodies.

Wetland areas, including bogs, marshes,

swamps, and prairie potholes may be found

in areas adjacent to rivers, lakes, and coastal

waters but may also be found in isolated

places far from other surface waters. Many

types of wetlands are protected under the

Clean Water Act and construction activities

in and around these areas may require an

additional permit from the Army Corps of

Engineers. Construction site operators should

make every effort to preserve wetlands and

must follow applicable local, state, and federal

requirements before disturbing them or the

areas around them.

To ensure the protection of natural areas

during the construction period, you should

use a combination of techniques, including

temporary fencing, signage, and educating

staff and subcontractors.

Assess Whether Your Project Impacts an 

Impaired Waterbody

Under the Clean Water Act, states are required

to determine if rivers, lakes, and other waters

are meeting water quality standards. When

a waterbody does not meet water quality

standards because of one or more sources

of pollution, the state lists the water as

impaired. When a water is determined to be

impaired, the state or EPA develops a plan for

correcting the situation. This plan is called

a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). If

stormwater from your project could reach an

impaired water with or without an approved

TMDL (either directly or indirectly through a

municipal storm drain system), your permit

Tree Preservation Resources

For more on tree preservation, contact your 

local extension service office or forester. Also, 

American Forests has useful information and 

tools at their website, 

www.americanforests.org/

resources/urbanforests. The 

Center for Watershed Protection 

in cooperation with the U.S. 

Forest Service has developed 

a series of manuals on urban 

forestry. Part two, titled 

Conserving and Planting Trees 

at Development Sites will be of 

particular interest. You can find 

these manuals at www.cwp.org
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 15

may include additional requirements to

ensure that your stormwater discharges do

not contribute to that impairment and your

stormwater controls are consistent with plans

to restore that waterbody. Your SWPPP should

describe the specific actions you will take to

comply with these permit requirements for

impaired waters.

You should determine, before you file for

permit coverage, if the receiving waters for

your project are impaired and if so, whether a

TMDL has been developed for this waterbody.

Visit EPA’s Enviromapper website (www.

epa.gov/waters/enviromapper) or contact

your state environmental agency for more

information.

Assess Whether You Have Endangered Plant or 

Animal Species in Your Area

The federal Endangered Species Act protects 

endangered and threatened species and their 

critical habitat areas. (States and tribes may

have their own endangered species laws.) In

developing the assessment of your site, you

should determine whether listed endangered

species are on or near your property. Critical

habitat areas are often designated to support

the continued existence of listed species. You

should also determine whether critical habitat

areas have been desig­nated in the vicinity

of your project. Contact your local offices of

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS),

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),

or your state or tribal heritage centers. These

organizations often maintain lists of federal

and state listed endangered and threatened

species on their Internet sites. For more

information and to locate lists for your state,

visit www.epa.gov/npdes/endangeredspecies

Additionally, your state’s NPDES stormwater

permit may specifically require that you

address whether the activities and the

stormwater discharged by your construction

site have the potential to adversely affect

threatened or endangered species or the

critical habitat areas. You might need

to conduct a biological investigation or

assessment and document the results of the

assessment in your SWPPP. The state may

reference federal, state, or tribal endangered

species protection laws or regulations.

EPA’s Construction General Permit contains

detailed procedures to assist construction site

operators in determining the likely impact of

their projects on any endangered species or

critical habitat. Construction site operators in

areas covered by EPA’s Construction General

Permit are required to assess the impact of

their activities and associated stormwater

discharges on species and habitat in the

“project area” which may extend beyond the

site’s immediate footprint.

Assess Whether You Have Historic Sites that 

Require Protection

The National Historic Preservation Act,

and any state, local and tribal historic

preservation laws, apply to construction

activities. As with endangered species, some

permits may specifically require you to assess

the potential impact of your stormwater

discharges on historic properties. However,

whether or not this is stated as a condition

for permit coverage, the National Historic

Preservation Act and any applicable state or

tribal laws apply to you. Contact your State

Historic Preservation Officer (www.ncshpo.

org/stateinfolist/fulllist.htm) or your Tribal

Historic Preservation Officer (grants.cr.nps.

gov/thpo/tribaloffices.cfm).

C. Develop Site Maps

The final step in the site evaluation process

is to document the results of your site

assessment and your planned phases of

construction activity on a detailed site map

or maps. This includes developing site maps

showing planned construction activities and

stormwater practices for the various major

stages of construction, protected areas,

natural features, slopes, erodible soils, nearby

waterbodies, permanent stormwater controls,

and so on. You must keep your SWPPP and

your site maps up-to-date to reflect changes at

your site during the construction process.

Location Maps

A general location map is helpful to identify

nearby, but not adjacent, waterbodies in

proximity to other properties. You can use any

easily available maps or mapping software to

create a location map.

Site Maps

The detailed construction site maps should

show the entire site and identify a number

of features at the site related to construction

activities and stormwater management

practices.
16 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Map of undeveloped or existing site. For

many sites, a map of the undeveloped or

existing site, noting the features that you

identified in Section A of this Chapter, will

help you develop your SWPPP and identify

current site features that you want to

preserve. On this map note current drainage

patterns, storm drains, slopes, soil types,

waters and other natural features. Also note

any existing structures, roads, utilities, and

other features.

Map or series of maps for construction plans. 

Site maps should show the construction

activities and stormwater management

practices for each major phase of construction

(e.g., initial grading, infrastructure,

construction, and stabilization). The site maps

should legibly identify the following features:

•	 Stormwater flow and discharges. Indicate

flow direction(s) and approximate

slopes after grading activities, as well as

locations of discharges to surface waters or

municipal storm drain systems.

•	 Areas and features to be protected. Include

wetlands, nearby streams, rivers, lakes,

and coastal waters, mature trees and

natural vegetation, steep slopes, highly

erodible soils, etc.

•	 Disturbed areas. Indicate locations and

timing of soil disturbing activities (e.g.

grading). Mark clearing limits.

•	 BMPs. Identify locations of structural

and non-structural BMPs identified in

the SWPPP, as well as post-construction

stormwater BMPs.

•	 Areas of stabilization. Identify locations

where stabilization practices are expected

to occur. Mark areas where final

stabilization has been accomplished.

•	 Other areas and roads. Indicate locations

of material, waste, borrow, or equipment

storage.

You should complete your site maps after

reviewing Chapters 4 and 5 and any

applicable BMP design manual to select

appropriate BMPs for your site.

Use Site Maps to Track Progress

Develop and keep up-to-date site maps

showing non-structural BMPs that change

frequently in location as the work on a

construction site progresses. Your permit

requires that you keep your SWPPP upto-date, so mark up the site map with the

location of these BMPs. Indicate the current

location of the following:

•	 Portable toilets

•	 Material storage areas

•	 Vehicle and equipment fueling and

maintenance areas

•	 Concrete washouts

•	 Paint and stucco washouts

•	 Dumpsters or other trash and debris

containers

•	 Spill kits

•	 Stockpiles

•	 Any other non-structural non-stormwater

management BMPs

•	 Any temporarily removed structural BMPs

•	 Any changes to the structural BMPs

If a marked-up site map is too full to be easily

read, you should date and fold it, put it in

the SWPPP for documentation, and start a

new one. That way, there is a good hard copy

record of what has occurred on-site.

Construction sites are dynamic. As conditions

change at the construction site, such as the

locations of BMPs, your SWPPP must reflect

those changes.

Figure 6. Example site map.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 17

Chapter 4: SWPPP Development—Selecting 

Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs

This document is not intended as an engineering or design manual on BMPs. The

engineer or other qualified person that develops the details of your sediment and

erosion control plan should be using the appropriate state or local specifications.

The descriptions below provide a kind of checklist of the things to look for and some

helpful installation and maintenance hints.

Erosion and sediment controls are the structural and non-structural practices used

during the construction process to keep sediment in place (erosion control) and to

capture any sediment that is moved by stormwater before it leaves the site (sediment

control). Erosion controls—keeping soil where it is—are the heart of any effective

SWPPP. Your SWPPP should rely on erosion controls as the primary means of

preventing stormwater pollution. Sediment controls provide a necessary second line

of defense to properly designed and installed erosion controls.

The suite of BMPs that you include in your SWPPP should reflect the specific conditions at the site. The information that you collected in the previous steps should help

you select the appropriate BMPs for your site.

An effective SWPPP includes a combination

or suite of BMPs that are designed to work

together.

Ten Keys to Effective Erosion and 

Sediment Control (ESC) 

The ultimate goal of any SWPPP is to protect

rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters

that could be affected by your construction

project. The following principles and tips

should help you build an effective SWPPP.

Keep in mind that there are many BMP 

options available to you. We have selected 

a few common BMPs to help illustrate the 

principles discussed in this chapter.

 This chapter presents 

a brief discussion of 

erosion and sediment 

control principles and 

a discussion of some 

commonly used BMPs.

Erosion Control (keeping the dirt in place) and 

Minimizing the Impact of Construction

1. Minimize disturbed area and protect natural features and soil

2. Phase construction activity

3. Control stormwater flowing onto and through the project 

4. Stabilize soils promptly

5. Protect slopes

Sediment Controls (the second line of defense)

6. Protect storm drain inlets

7. Establish perimeter controls

8. Retain sediment on-site and control dewatering practices

9. Establish stabilized construction exits

10. Inspect and maintain controls

BMPs in Combination

BMPs work much better when they are used in 

combination. For instance, a silt fence should not be 

used alone to address a bare slope. An erosion control 

BMP should be used to stabilize the slope, and the silt 

fence should serve as the backup BMP.

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Wherever possible, rely on erosion controls to keep sediment 

in place. Back up those erosion controls with sediment 

controls to ensure that sediment doesn’t leave your site. 

Continually evaluate your BMPs. Are they performing 

well? Could the addition of a supplemental BMP improve 

performance? Should you replace a BMP with another one 

that might work better? Using BMPs in series also gives you 

some protection in case one BMP should fail.
18 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Erosion Control and Minimizing the Impact of 

Construction

ESC Principle 1: Minimize disturbed area 

and protect natural features and soil. As you

put together your SWPPP, carefully consider

the natural features of the site that you

assessed in Chapter 3. By carefully delineating

and controlling the area that will be disturbed

by grading or construction activities, you can

greatly reduce the potential for soil erosion

and stormwater pollution problems. Limit

disturbed areas to only those necessary for the

construction of your project. Natural vegetation

is your best and cheapest erosion control BMP.

Protecting and

preserving topsoil

is also a good

BMP. Removing

topsoil exposes

underlying layers

that are often

more prone to

erosion and have

less infiltration

capacity. Keeping

topsoil in place

preserves the

natural structure

of the soils

and aids the

infiltration of

stormwater.

ESC Principle 2: Phase construction 

activity. Another technique for minimizing

the duration of exposed soil is phasing. By

scheduling or sequencing your construction

work and concentrating it in certain areas,

you can minimize the amount of soil that is

exposed to the elements at any given time.

Limiting the area of disturbance to places

where construction activities are underway

and stabilizing them as quickly as possible

can be one of your most effective BMPs.

ESC Principle 3: Control stormwater 

flowing onto and through your project. Plan

for any potential stormwater flows coming

onto the project area from upstream locations,

and divert (and slow) flows to prevent

erosion. Likewise, the volume and velocity of

on-site stormwater runoff should be controlled

to minimize soil erosion.

Example BMP: Diversion Ditches or Berms

Description: Diversion ditches or berms

direct runoff away from unprotected

slopes and may also direct sediment-laden

runoff to a sediment-trapping structure.

A diversion ditch can be located at the

upslope side of a construction site to prevent

surface runoff from entering the disturbed

area. Ditches or berms on slopes need to be

designed for erosive velocities. Also, ensure

that the diverted water is released through a

stable outlet and does not cause downslope

or downstream erosion or flooding.

Installation Tips:

•	 Divert run-on and runoff away from

disturbed areas

•	 Ensure that the diversion is protected

from erosion, using vegetation,

geotextiles, or other appropriate BMPs

•	 Divert sediment-laden water to a

sediment-trapping structure

•	 Use practices that encourage infiltration

of stormwater runoff wherever possible

Maintenance:

•	 Inspect diversions and berms, including

any outlets, regularly and after each

rainfall

•	 Remove any accumulated sediment

Figure 8. Illustration of a construction berm to divert 

stormwater away from the disturbed construction 

area.

Figure 7. Protect vegetated buffers by using silt fence 

or other sediment controls.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 19

ESC Principle 4: Stabilize soils promptly. 

Where construction activities have

temporarily or permanently ceased, you

should stabilize exposed soils to minimize

erosion. You should have stabilization

measures in place after grading activities have

ceased (many permits require stabilization

within a specified time frame). You can

provide either temporary or permanent

cover to protect exposed soils. Temporary

measures are necessary when an area of a site

is disturbed but where activities in that area

are not completed or until permanent BMPs

are established. Topsoil stockpiles should also

be protected to minimize any erosion from

these areas. Temporary-cover BMPs include

temporary seeding, mulches, matrices,

blankets and mats, and the use of soil binders

(there may be additional state and local

requirements for the use of chemical-based

soil binders). Permanent-cover BMPs include

permanent seeding and planting, sodding,

channel stabilization, and vegetative buffer

strips. Silt fence and other sediment control

measures are not stabilization measures.

Example BMP: Temporary Seeding

Description: Temporarily seeding an area

to establish vegetative cover is one of the

most effective, and least expensive, methods

of reducing erosion. This approach, as a

single BMP, might not be appropriate on

steep slopes, when vegetation cannot be

established quickly enough to control erosion

during a storm event, or when additional

activities might occur soon in the area.

Installation Tips:

•	 Seed and mulch area (the mulch

provides temporary erosion protection by

protecting the soil surface, moderating

temperature, and retaining moisture

while seeds germinate and grow)

•	 Water regularly, if needed, to ensure

quick growth

•	 Maintain backup BMPs, such as silt fence

or settling ponds

ESC Principle 5: Protect slopes. Protect

all slopes with appropriate erosion controls.

Steeper slopes, slopes with highly erodible

soils, or long slopes require a more complex

combination of controls. Erosion control

blankets, bonded fiber matrices, or turf

reinforcement mats are very effective options.

Silt fence or fiber rolls may also be used to

help control erosion on moderate slopes and

should be installed on level contours spaced

at 10- to 20-foot intervals. You can also

use diversion channels and berms to keep

stormwater off slopes.

Example BMP: Rolled erosion control products

Description: Erosion control products

include mats, geotextiles, and erosion

control blankets and products that provide

temporary stabilization and help to

establish vegetation on disturbed soils.

Such products help control erosion and help

establish vegetation and are often used on

slopes, channels, or stream banks.

Figure 9. Illustration of erosion control blankets 

installed on slope.

Wind Control BMPs

In areas where dust control is an issue, your 

SWPPP should include BMPs for wind-erosion 

control. These consist of mulching, wet 

suppression (watering), and other practices.

Final Stabilization

Once construction activity in an area is 

completed and the area is stabilized (typically 

by achieving 70 percent permanent vegetative 

cover), you can mark this area on your SWPPP 

and discontinue inspections in that area. By 

bringing areas of your site to final stabilization, 

you can reduce your workload associated with 

maintaining and inspecting BMPs. For more 

information on final stabilization, see Chapter 9.
20 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Installation Tips:

•	 Use rolled erosion-control products on

slopes steeper than 3 to 1 (horizontal to

vertical) and in swales or long channels

•	 Trench the top

of the blanket

into the ground

to prevent runoff

from flowing

under the blanket

•	 Overlap the lower

end of the top mat

over the top of the

downslope mat to

ensure that runoff

stays on top of the

blankets and mats

•	 Staple blankets

and mats

according to

specifications

Maintenance: 

•	 Periodically inspect for signs of erosion

or failure

•	 Repair the blanket or mat if necessary

•	 Continue inspections until vegetation

is established at the level required to

qualify as final stabilization

ESC Principle 6: Protect storm drain 

inlets. Protect all inlets that could receive

stormwater from the project until final

stabilization of the site has been achieved.

Install inlet protection before soil-disturbing

activities begin. Maintenance throughout

the construction process is important. Upon

completion of the project, storm drain inlet

protection is one of the temporary BMPs

that should be removed. Storm drain inlet

protection should be used not only for storm

drains within the active construction project,

but also for storm drains outside the project

area that might receive stormwater discharges

from the project. If there are storm drains on

private property that could receive stormwater

runoff from your project, coordinate with the

owners of that property to ensure proper inlet

protection.

Example BMP: Storm Drain Inlet Protection

Description: Storm drain inlet protection

prevents sediment from entering a storm

drain by surrounding or covering the inlet

with a filtering material. Several types

of filters are commonly used for inlet

protection: silt fence, rock-filled bags, or

block and gravel. The type of filter used

depends on the inlet type (for example, curb

inlet, drop inlet), slope, and volume of flow.

Many different commercial inlet filters are

also available. Some commercial inlet filters

are placed in front of or on top of an inlet,

while others are placed inside the inlet

under the grate.

Installation Tips:

•	 Install inlet protection as soon as storm

drain inlets are installed and before

land-disturbance activities begin in areas

with existing storm drain systems

•	 Protect all inlets that could receive

stormwater from your construction

project

•	 Use in conjunction with other erosion

prevention and sediment control BMPs—

remember, inlet protection is a secondary

BMP!

•	 Design your inlet protection to handle

the volume of water from the area being

drained. Ensure that the design is sized

appropriately.

Maintenance:

•	 Inspect inlets frequently and after each

rainfall

Figure 11. Illustration of a storm drain inlet with 

rock-filled bags filtering stormwater.

Figure 10. Illustration of a fiber roll installation 

along a slope.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 21

•	 Remove accumulated sediment from

around the device and check and remove

any sediment that might have entered

the inlet

•	 Replace or repair the inlet protection if it

becomes damaged

•	 Sweep streets, sidewalks, and other

paved areas regularly

ESC Principle 7: Establish perimeter 

controls. Maintain natural areas and

supplement them with silt fence and fiber

rolls around the perimeter of your site to

help prevent soil erosion and stop sediment

from leaving the site. Install controls on the

downslope perimeter of your project (it is

often unnecessary to surround the entire

site with silt fence). Sediment barriers can

be used to protect stream buffers, riparian

Storm drain inlet protection should never be 

used as a primary BMP! Use erosion control 

techniques such as hydromulching or erosioncontrol blankets to prevent erosion. Use inlet 

protection and other sediment control BMPs as 

a backup or last line of defense.

areas, wetlands, or other waterways. They are

effective only in small areas and should not

be used in areas of concentrated flow.

Example BMP: Silt Fence and Fiber Rolls

Description: A silt fence is a temporary

sediment barrier consisting of a geotextile

attached to supporting posts and trenched

into the ground. Silt fencing is intended to

retain sediment that has been dislodged by

stormwater. It is designed only for runoff

from small areas and is not intended to

handle flows from large slopes or in areas

of concentrated flow. Fiber rolls serve the

same purpose and consist of an open mesh

tubular sleeve filled with a fibrous material

which traps sediment. Fiber rolls are

generally staked to the ground.

Installation Tips:

DO:

•	 Use silt fence or fiber rolls as perimeter

controls, particularly at the lower or

down slope edge of a disturbed area

•	 Leave space for maintenance between toe

of slope and silt fence or roll

•	 Trench in the silt fence on the uphill side

(6 inches deep by 6 inches wide)

•	 Install stakes on the downhill side of the

fence or roll

•	 Curve the end of the silt fence or fiber

roll up-gradient to help it contain runoff

DON’T:

•	 Install a silt fence or fiber rolls in ditches,

channels, or areas of concentrated flow

•	 Install it running up and down a slope or

hill

•	 Use silt fencing or fiber rolls alone in

areas that drain more than a quarter-acre

per 100 feet of fence

Maintenance: 

•	 Remove sediment when it reaches onethird of the height of the fence or onehalf the height of the fiber roll

•	 Replace the silt fence or roll where it is

worn, torn, or otherwise damaged

•	 Retrench or replace any silt fence or

roll that is not properly anchored to the

ground

Figure 12. Illustration of proper techniques to use 

in installing silt fence.
22 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

ESC Principle 8: Retain sediment on‐site 

and control dewatering practices. Sediment

barriers described in ESC Principle 7 can

trap sediment from small areas, but when

sediment retention from a larger area

is required, consider using a temporary

sediment trap or sediment basin. These

practices detain sediment-laden runoff for a

period of time, allowing sediment to settle

before the runoff is discharged. Proper design

and maintenance are essential to ensure that

these practices are effective.

You should

use a sediment

basin for

common

drainage

locations that

serve an area

with 10 or

more acres

disturbed

at any one

time. The

basin should

be designed

to provide

storage for

the volume of runoff from the drainage area

for at least a 2-year, 24-hour storm (or 3,600

cubic feet of storage per acre drained, which

is enough to contain 1 inch of runoff, if the

2-year, 24-hour calculation has not been

performed). Check your permit for exact basin

sizing requirements. Sediment basins should

be located at low-lying areas of the site and

on the down-gradient side of bare soil areas

where flows converge. Do not put sediment

traps or basins in or immediately adjacent to

flowing streams or other waterways.

Where a large sediment basin is not practical,

use smaller sediment basins or sediment

traps (or both) where feasible. At a minimum,

use silt fences, vegetative buffer strips, or

equivalent sediment controls for all downgradient boundaries (and for those side-slope

boundaries deemed appropriate for individual

site conditions).

Dewatering practices are used to remove

ground water or accumulated rain water from

excavated areas. Pump muddy water from

these areas to a temporary or permanent

sedimentation basin or to an area completely

enclosed by silt fence in a flat vegetated area

where discharges can infiltrate into the ground.

Never discharge muddy water into storm

drains, streams, lakes, or wetlands unless the

sediment has been removed before discharge.

Keep in mind that some states and local

jurisdictions require a separate permit for

dewatering activities at a site.

ESC Principle 9: Establish stabilized con‐

struction exits. Vehicles entering and leaving

the site have the potential to track significant

amounts of sediment onto streets. Identify

and clearly mark one or two locations where

vehicles will enter and exit the site and focus

stabilizing measures at those locations.

Con­struction entrances are commonly made

from large crushed rock. They can be further

stabilized using stone pads or concrete. Also,

steel wash racks and a hose-down system

will remove even more mud and debris from

vehicle tires. Divert runoff from wash areas to

a sediment trap or basin. No system is perfect,

so sweeping the street regularly completes

this BMP.

Example BMP: Stabilized Construction Exit

Description: A rock construction exit can

reduce the amount of mud transported onto

paved roads by vehicles. The construction

exit does this by removing mud from

vehicle tires before the vehicle enters a

public road.

Figure 14. Illustration of a stabilized construction 

exit.

Figure 13. Illustration of a sediment basin.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 23

You might also want to install a wheel

wash when mud is especially difficult to

remove or space doesn’t allow sufficient

tire revolutions (four or five are needed)

before exiting the site. Direct wash water to

a suitable settling area—do not discharge

wash water to a stream or storm drain!

Installation tips:

•	 Ensure that the exit is at least 50 feet

long (generally, the length of two dump

trucks) and graded so runoff does not

enter the adjacent street

•	 Place a geotextile fabric under a layer of

aggregate at least 6–12 inches thick. The

stones or aggregate should be 3–6 inches

in diameter

•	 Train employees and subcontractors to

use the designated construction exits.

Empower your employees to provide

directions to subcontractors and others

that are not on the site every day

Maintenance: 

•	 Replenish or replace aggregate if it

becomes clogged with sediment

•	 Sweep the street regularly

ESC Principle 10: Inspect and maintain 

controls. Inspection and maintenance is just

as important as proper planning, design, and

installation of controls. Without adequate

maintenance, erosion and sediment controls

will quickly fail, sometimes after just one

rainfall, and cause significant water quality

problems and potential violations of the

NPDES construction general permit. Your

permit likely requires you to maintain your

BMPs at all times. To do this effectively,

you should establish an inspection and

maintenance approach or strategy that

includes both regular and spot inspections.

Inspecting both prior to predicted storm

events and after will help ensure that controls

are working effectively. Perform maintenance

or corrective action as soon as problems are

noted. Inspection and maintenance of BMPs 

are addressed in more detail in Chapter 6.

Other Sediment and Erosion Control 

Techniques

As mentioned at the beginning of this

chapter, there are many other erosion and

sediment control techniques that can be used

effectively. The BMPs highlighted in this

chapter are among those more commonly

used and highlight many general erosion and

sediment control principles for which other

BMPs may be used effectively. Check to see if

your state or local government has developed

a BMP design manual for detailed information

on any BMP you are considering. Appendix D

lists several good BMP design manuals. You

can also find out more about various BMPs

by visiting EPA’s Menu of BMPs at www.epa.

gov/npdes/menuofbmps

The following BMPs are also commonly used

at construction sites.

Erosion control measures:

•	 Surface roughening, trackwalking,

scarifying, sheepsfoot rolling, imprinting

•	 Soil bioengineering techniques (e.g., live

staking, fascines, brush wattles)

•	 Composting

•	 Sodding

Sediment control and runoff management

measures:

•	 Gravel bag barrier

•	 Compost berm

•	 Rock or brush filters

•	 Baffles or skimmers in sediment basins to

increase effectiveness

•	 Lowering soil levels near streets and

sidewalks to prevent runoff

•	 Level spreaders

•	 Energy dissipaters

•	 Check dams
24 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Chapter 5: SWPPP Development—Selecting Good 

Housekeeping BMPs

Six Key Pollution Prevention Principles for Good Housekeeping

Construction projects generate large amounts of building-related waste, which can

end up polluting stormwater runoff if not properly managed. The suite of BMPs

that are described in your SWPPP must include pollution prevention (P2) or good

housekeeping practices that are designed to prevent contamination of stormwater

from a wide range of materials and wastes at your site. The six principles described

below are designed to help you identify the pollution prevention practices that should

be described in your SWPPP and implemented at your site.

1.	Provide for waste management

2.	Establish proper building material staging areas

3.	Designate paint and concrete washout areas

4.	Establish proper equipment/vehicle fueling and maintenance practices

5.	Control equipment/vehicle washing and allowable non-stormwater discharges

6.	Develop a spill prevention and response plan

P2 Principle 1: Provide for waste management. Design proper management

procedures and practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to stormwater

from solid or liquid wastes that will be generated at your site. Practices such as trash

disposal, recycling, proper material handling, and cleanup measures can reduce the

potential for stormwater runoff to pick up construction site wastes and discharge them

to surface waters.

Provide convenient, well-maintained,

and properly located toilet facilities.

Provide for regular inspections, service,

and disposal. Locate toilet facilities

away from storm drain inlets and

waterways to prevent accidental spills

and contamination of stormwater. Treat

or dispose of sanitary and septic waste in

accordance with state or local regulations.

Proper material use, storage, waste

disposal, and training of employees and

subcontractors can prevent or reduce

the discharge of hazardous and toxic

wastes to stormwater. Implement a

comprehensive set of waste-management

practices for hazardous or toxic

materials, such as paints, solvents,

petroleum products, pesticides, wood

preservatives, acids, roofing tar, and

other materials. Practices should include

storage, handling, inventory, and cleanup

procedures, in case of spills (see the

following P2 principles).

 This chapter presents 

a brief discussion of 

good housekeeping 

principles to consider 

to ensure your 

construction site 

does not contaminate 

stormwater runoff.

As noted in Chapter 3, 

sediment is the 

principal pollutant of 

concern in stormwater 

discharges from 

construction sites. But, 

EPA’s CGP and many 

state construction 

general permits 

require that the 

SWPPP describe good 

housekeeping measures 

for other pollutants 

that might be found 

on construction sites.

This chapter discusses 

these measures.

Figure 15. Illustration showing construction materials 

with secondary containment and overhead cover to 

prevent stormwater contamination.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 25

P2 Principle 2: Establish proper building 

material handling and staging areas.

Your SWPPP should include comprehensive

handling and management procedures for

building materials, especially those that

are hazardous or toxic. Paints, solvents,

pesticides, fuels and oils, other hazardous

materials or any building materials that have

the potential to contaminate stormwater

should be stored indoors or under cover

whenever possible or in areas with secondary

containment. Secondary containment

prevents a spill from spreading across the

site and include dikes, berms, curbing, or

other containment methods. Secondary

containment techniques should also ensure

the protection of ground water. Designate

staging areas for activities such as fueling

vehicles, mixing paints, plaster, mortar, and

so on. Designated staging areas will help

you to monitor the use of materials and to

clean up any spills. Training employees and

subcontractors is essential to the success of

this pollution prevention principle.

P2 Principle 3: Designate washout areas.

Concrete contractors should be encouraged,

where possible, to use the washout facilities

at their own plants or dispatch facilities.

If it is necessary to provide for concrete

washout areas on-site, designate specific

washout areas and design facilities to handle

anticipated washout water. Washout areas

should also be provided for paint and stucco

operations. Because washout areas can be

a source of pollutants from leaks or spills,

Material Staging Area Measures

Your SWPPP should include procedures for storing materials that can 

contribute pollutants to stormwater. Consider the following:

• Train employees and subcontractors in proper handling and 

storage practices

• Designate site areas for storage. Provide storage in accordance 

with secondary containment regulations and provide cover 

for hazardous materials when necessary. Ensure that storage 

containers are regularly inspected for leaks, corrosion, support or 

foundation failure, or any other signs of deterioration and tested 

for soundness

• Reuse and recycle construction materials when possible

Waste Management Checklist

Solid or Construction Waste 

 Designate trash and bulk waste-collection areas on-site

 Recycle materials whenever possible (e.g., paper, wood, concrete, oil)

 Segregate and provide proper disposal options for hazardous material wastes

 Clean up litter and debris from the construction site daily

 Locate waste-collection areas away from streets, gutters, watercourses, and storm drains. Waste-collection areas (dumpsters, and such) are often best located near construction site entrances to minimize traffic on disturbed soils. Consider 

secondary containment around waste collection areas to further minimize the likelihood of contaminated discharges.

Sanitary and Septic Waste

 Provide restroom facilities on-site

 Maintain clean restroom facilities and empty porta-johns regularly

 Provide secondary containment pans under porta-johns, where possible

 Provide tie-downs or stake downs for porta-johns in areas of high winds

 Educate employees, subcontractors, and suppliers on locations of facilities

 Do not discharge or bury wastewater at the construction site

 Inspect facilities for leaks, repair or replace immediately

Hazardous Materials and Wastes

 Develop and implement employee and subcontractor education, as needed, on hazardous and toxic waste handling, storage, disposal, and cleanup

 Designate hazardous waste-collection areas on-site

 Place all hazardous and toxic material wastes in secondary containment

 Hazardous waste containers should be inspected to ensure that all containers are labeled properly and that no 

leaks are present
26 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

EPA recommends that you locate them at

least 50 yards away from storm drains and

watercourses whenever possible.

Several companies rent or sell prefabricated

washout containers, and some provide

disposal of waste solids and liquids along

with the containers. These prefabricated

containers are sturdy and provide a more

reliable option for preventing leaks and

spills of wash water than self-constructed

washouts. Alternatively, you can construct

your own washout area, either by digging a

pit and lining it with 10 mil plastic sheeting or

creating an aboveground structure from straw

bales or sandbags with a plastic liner. If you

create your own structure, you should inspect

it daily for leaks or tears in the plastic because

these structures are prone to failure.

Regular inspection and maintenance are

important for the success of this BMP. Both

self-constructed and prefabricated washout

containers can fill up quickly when concrete,

paint, and stucco work are occurring on large

portions of the site. You should also inspect

for evidence that contractors are using the

washout areas and not dumping materials onto

the ground or into drainage facilities. If the

washout areas are not being used regularly,

consider posting additional signage, relocating

the facilities to more convenient locations, or

providing training to workers and contractors.

P2 Principle 4: Establish proper equipment/

vehicle fueling and maintenance practices. 

Performing equipment/vehicle fueling and

maintenance at an off-site facility is preferred

over performing these activities on the site,

particularly for road vehicles (e.g., trucks,

vans). For grading and excavating equipment,

this is usually not possible or desirable. Create

an on-site fueling and maintenance area that is

clean and dry. The on-site fueling area should

have a spill kit, and staff should know how

to use it. If possible, conduct vehicle fueling

and maintenance activities in a covered area;

outdoor vehicle fueling and maintenance is a

potentially significant source of stormwater

pollution. Significant maintenance on vehicles

and equipment should be conducted off-site.

P2 Principle 5: Control equipment/vehicle 

washing and allowable non-stormwater 

discharges. Environmentally friendly washing practices can be practiced at every construction site to prevent contamination of

surface and ground water from wash water.

Procedures and practices include using off-site

facilities; washing in designated, contained

areas only; eliminating discharges to the

storm drain by infiltrating the wash water

or routing to the sanitary sewer; and training employees and subcontractors in proper

cleaning procedures.

Equipment/Vehicle Fueling and 

Maintenance Measures

Consider the following practices to help prevent 

the discharge of pollutants to stormwater from 

equipment/vehicle fueling and maintenance. 

Include the locations of these areas and your 

inspection and maintenance procedures in your 

SWPPP. 

• Train employees and subcontractors in proper 

fueling procedures (stay with vehicles during 

fueling, proper use of pumps, emergency shutoff valves, and such)

• Inspect on-site vehicles and equipment daily 

for leaks, equipment damage, and other service 

problems

• Clearly designate vehicle/equipment service 

areas away from drainage facilities and watercourses to prevent stormwater run-on and runoff

• Use drip pans, drip cloths, or absorbent pads 

when replacing spent fluids

• Collect all spent fluids, store in appropriate 

labeled containers in the proper storage areas, 

and recycle fluids whenever possible

Washout Area Measures

When concrete, paint, or stucco is part of the construction process, 

consider these practices which will help prevent contamination 

of stormwater. Include the locations of these areas and your 

maintenance and inspection procedures in your SWPPP.

• Do not washout concrete trucks or equipment into storm drains, 

streets, gutters, uncontained areas, or streams

• Establish washout areas and advertise their locations with signs

• Provide adequate containment for the amount of wash water that 

will be used

• Inspect washout structures daily to detect leaks or tears and to 

identify when materials need to be removed

• Dispose of materials properly. The preferred method is to allow 

the water to evaporate and to recycle the hardened concrete. Full 

service companies may provide dewatering services and should 

dispose of wastewater properly. Concrete wash water can be highly 

polluted. It should not be discharged to any surface water, storm 

sewer system, or allowed to infiltrate into the ground. It should not 

be discharged to a sanitary sewer system without first receiving 

written permission from the system operator
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 27

P2 Principle 6: Develop a spill prevention 

and response plan. Most state and EPA

construction general permits require the

preparation of spill prevention and response

plans. Generally, these plans can be included

or incorporated into your SWPPP. The plan

should clearly identify ways to reduce the

chance of spills, stop the source of spills,

contain and clean up spills, dispose of

materials contaminated by spills, and train

personnel responsible for spill prevention

and response. The plan should also specify

material handling procedures and storage

Equipment/Vehicle Washing Measures

The following equipment/vehicle washing 

measures will help prevent stormwater pollution. 

Include the location of your washing facilities and 

your inspection and maintenance procedures in 

your SWPPP.

• Educate employees and subcontractors on 

proper washing procedures

• Clearly mark the washing areas and inform 

workers that all washing must occur in this area

• Contain wash water and treat and infiltrate it 

whenever possible

• Use high-pressure water spray at vehicle 

washing facilities without any detergents 

because water can remove most dirt adequately

• Do not conduct any other activities, such as 

vehicle repairs, in the wash area

Non-Stormwater Runoff

A construction site might have sources of runoff that are not 

generated by stormwater. These non-stormwater discharges 

include fire hydrant flushing, vehicle or equipment wash water (no 

detergents!), water used to control dust, and landscape irrigation. 

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Take steps to infiltrate these sources of uncontaminated water into the ground. You can also route these 

sources of water to sediment ponds or detention 

basins or otherwise treat them with appropriate BMPs.

Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan

Construction sites may be subject to 40 CFR Part 112 regulations that require the preparation and implementation of a SPCC 

Plan to prevent oil spills from aboveground and underground storage tanks. Your facility is subject to this rule if you are a 

nontransportation-related facility that:

• Has a total storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons or a completely buried storage capacity greater than 42,000 gallons 

and

• Could reasonably be expected to discharge oil in quantities that 

may be harmful to navigable waters of the United States and 

adjoining shorelines

Furthermore, if your facility is subject to 40 CFR Part 112, your 

SWPPP should reference the SPCC Plan. To find out more about SPCC 

Plans, see EPA’s website on SPPC at www.epa.gov/oilspill/spcc.htm

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Reporting Oil Spills

In the event of an oil spill, you should contact the 

National Response Center toll free at 1-800-424-

8802 for assistance, or for more details, visit their 

website: www.nrc.uscg.mil/nrchp.html

Spill Prevention Measures 

Additional spill prevention measures that will help prevent spills and 

leaks include the following:

• Describe and list all types of equipment to be used to adequately 

clean up the spill

• Provide proper handling and safety procedures for each type of 

waste

• Establish an education program for employees and subcontractors 

on the potential hazards to humans and the environment from spills 

and leaks

• Update the spill prevention plan and clean up materials as changes 

occur to the types of chemicals stored and used at the facility

requirements and ensure that clear and concise

spill cleanup procedures are provided and

posted for areas in which spills may potentially

occur. When developing a spill prevention plan,

include, at a minimum, the following:

•	 Note the locations of chemical storage areas,

storm drains, tributary drainage areas,

surface waterbodies on or near the site, and

measures to stop spills from leaving the site

•	 Specify how to notify appropriate authorities,

such as police and fire departments,

hospitals, or municipal sewage treatment

facilities to request assistance

•	 Describe the procedures for immediate

cleanup of spills and proper disposal

•	 Identify personnel responsible for

implementing the plan in the event of a spill
28 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Chapter 6: SWPPP Development—Inspections, 

Maintenance, and Recordkeeping

A. Describe Your Plans and Procedures for Inspecting BMPs 

Earlier discussions in this manual pointed out that the effectiveness of erosion and

sediment control BMPs and good housekeeping and pollution prevention measures

depend on consistent and continual inspection and maintenance. This step focuses on

developing a plan for BMP inspection and maintenance to ensure that a schedule and

procedures are in place.

Inspections

Your responsibility does not stop after BMPs are installed. Your BMPs must be maintained

in good working order at all times. Further, your permit requires that you conduct regular

inspections and document the findings of those inspections in your SWPPP.

Your construction general permit describes the minimum frequency of inspections,

which is typically weekly or bi-weekly and after each rainfall event exceeding onehalf inch. To meet the requirement to maintain all BMPs in good working order, EPA

recommends that you develop an inspection schedule that goes beyond these minimums

and is customized for your site and the conditions affecting it.

In developing your inspection schedule consider the following:

•	 Consider using spot inspections. You may want to inspect certain parts of your

site more frequently or even daily. Target places that need extra attention, such as

areas around construction site entrances, check nearby streets for dirt, check inlet

protection, and so on.

•	 Consider using informal inspections. Your

permit outlines the minimum requirements

for formal inspections that must be

documented and included in your SWPPP.

You can also add informal inspections that

wouldn’t require documentation, unless

of course, a problem is identified. Always

document any problems you find and those

that are identified by staff.

•	 Consider adding inspections before or even 

during rain events. Many permits require

inspections of BMPs after rain events. You

should consider adding inspections before 

or during predicted rain events. Consult a

local weather source and initiate inspections

before predicted storm events as a way to

ensure that controls are operational.

•	 Train staff and subcontractors. Use your staff and subcontractors to help identify any

potential problems with your BMPs. Again, document any issues that are confirmed

problems.

EPA recommends that you develop an inspection schedule that meets the needs of

your site. You’ll probably also want to update and refine this schedule based on your

experiences, the findings of your inspections, and the changing conditions at your site.

Inspection Guide 

The State of Minnesota has 

developed a Stormwater 

Construction Inspection Guide to 

assist municipal site inspectors 

in procedures for conducting 

a compliance inspection at 

construction sites. This guide can 

also be useful for construction 

operators conducting selfinspections. Available at 

www.pca.state.mn.us/water/

stormwater/stormwatr-c.html

 This chapter 

describes the 

inspection and 

maintenance 

procedures your 

SWPPP should 

include, as well 

as recordkeeping 

requirements.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 29

Inspection Reports

Complete an inspection report after each

inspection. You should retain copies of all

inspection reports and keep them with or

in your SWPPP. Generally, the following

information is required to be included in your

inspection report:

•	 Inspection date

•	 Inspector information, including the

names, titles, and qualifications of

personnel conducting the inspection

•	 Weather information for the period

since the last inspection (or for the first

inspection since commencement of

construction activity) including a best

estimate of the beginning of each storm, its

duration, approximate amount of rainfall

for each storm (in inches), and whether any

discharges occurred. You may create a log

to record the basic weather information or

you may keep copies of weather information

from a reliable local source, such as the

internet sites of local newspapers, TV

stations, local universities, etc.

•	 Current weather information and a

description of any discharges occurring at

the time of the inspection

•	 Descriptions of evidence of previous or

ongoing discharges of sediment or other

pollutants from the site

•	 Location(s) of BMPs that need to be

maintained

•	 Location(s) of BMPs that failed to operate as designed or proved inadequate for a

location

•	 Location(s) where additional BMPs are

needed but did not exist at the time of

inspection

•	 Corrective action required, including any

necessary changes to the SWPPP and

implementation dates

•	 Reference to past corrective actions

documenting follow-up actions taken

Consider taking digital photographs during

inspections to document BMPs, problems

identified, and progress in implementing the

SWPPP.

Appendix B includes an example stormwater inspection report. You should use this

report, or a similar report, to document your

stormwater construction site inspections.

Check to see if your state or local authority

has developed an inspection checklist for

your use. The inspection report is broken up

into two main sections—site-specific BMPs

and overall site issues. For the site-specific

BMPs, you should number the structural and

non-structural BMPs in your SWPPP on a

copy of your site map (preferably in the order

in which you would inspect them on the

site). Then as you conduct your inspections,

you can verify whether each BMP has been

installed and maintained. If a BMP has not

been installed or needs maintenance, describe

this in the corrective action section and list

a date for when the corrective action will

be completed and who will be responsible

for completing the action. The overall site

issues section describes 11 common issues at

construction sites you should inspect for. You

can customize this form to meet the needs of

your particular situation.

Make sure each inspection report is signed

and certified consistent with your permit’s

requirements.

Chapter 8, Section D contains more 

information on implementing an inspection 

program. Also, see the suggested inspection 

report form in Appendix B.

Selecting BMP Inspectors

A BMP inspection is only as good as the inspector. 

Therefore, it is important to select qualified 

personnel to conduct BMP inspections. The 

SWPPP should identify who has the responsibility 

for conducting inspections. Personnel selected 

to conduct inspections should be knowledgeable 

in the principles and practices of erosion and 

sediment controls, possess the technical skills 

to assess conditions at the construction site that 

could impact stormwater quality, and assess the 

effectiveness of any sediment and erosion control 

measures selected.

Several states and other organizations offer 

training that will help prepare inspectors 

to accurately evaluate BMPs, decide when 

maintenance is appropriate, or when a different 

BMP should be substituted. (Several states 

require that sites be inspected by someone that 

the state certifies as a qualified inspector.) One 

national organization offers two certification 

programs that would be useful for personnel 

who are developing and implementing SWPPPs 

and conducting inspections. These certification 

programs are called: “Certified Professional in 

Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)” and 

“Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality 

(CPSWQ).” You can find more information on 

these programs at www.cpesc.org
30 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

B. BMP Maintenance

Implementing a good BMP maintenance

program is essential to the success of your

SWPPP and to your efforts to protect nearby

waterways. You should conduct maintenance

of BMPs regularly and whenever an

inspection (formal or informal) identifies a

problem or potential issue. For instance, trash

and debris should be cleaned up, dumpsters

should be checked and covered, nearby streets

and sidewalks should be swept daily, and so

on. Maintenance on erosion and sediment

controls should be performed as soon as site

conditions allow. Consider the following

points when conducting maintenance:

•	 Follow the designers or manufacturer’s

recommended maintenance procedures for

all BMPs

•	 Maintenance of BMPs will vary according

to the specific area and site conditions

•	 Remove sediment from BMPs as

appropriate and properly dispose of

sediment into controlled areas to prevent

soil from returning to the BMP during

subsequent rain events

•	 Remove sediment from paved roadways

and from around BMPs protecting storm

drain inlets

•	 Ensure that construction support activities,

including borrow areas, waste areas,

contractor work areas, and material storage

areas and dedicated concrete and asphalt

batch plants are cleaned and maintained

•	 Replace damaged BMPs, such as silt fences,

that no longer operate effectively

You should keep a record of all maintenance

activities, including the date, BMP, location,

and maintenance performed in your SWPPP.

C. Recordkeeping

You must keep copies of the SWPPP,

inspection records, copies of all reports

required by the permit, and records of all data

used to complete the NOI to be covered by

the permit for a period of at least 3 years from

the date that permit coverage expires or is

terminated.

Records should include:

•	 A copy of the SWPPP, with any

modifications

•	 A copy of the NOI and Notice of

Termination (NOT) and any stormwaterrelated correspondence with federal, state,

and local regulatory authorities

•	 Inspection forms, including the date, place,

and time of BMP inspections

•	 Names of inspector(s)

•	 The date, time, exact location, and a

characterization of significant observations,

including spills and leaks

•	 Records of any non-stormwater discharges

•	 BMP maintenance and corrective actions

taken at the site (Corrective Action Log)

•	 Any documentation and correspondence

related to endangered species and historic

preservation requirements

•	 Weather conditions (e.g., temperature,

precipitation)

•	 Date(s) when major land disturbing

(e.g. clearing, grading, and excavating)

activities occur in an area

•	 Date(s) when construction activities are

either temporarily or permanently ceased

in an area

•	 Date(s) when an area is either temporarily

or permanently stabilized

Consider More Effective BMPs

During inspections, consider whether the installed 

BMPs are working effectively. If you find a BMP 

that is failing or overwhelmed by sediment, you 

should consider whether it needs to be replaced 

with a more effective BMP or enhanced by the 

addition of another, complimentary BMP. Ensure 

that you record such changes in your SWPPP and 

on your site map.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 31

Chapter 7: Certification and Notification

A. Certification

Signature and Certification

The construction site operator must sign the permit application form, which is often

called a Notice of Intent or NOI. (In some instances, the construction general permit

may not require the submission of an NOI or application. Construction activities may

be covered automatically.)

All reports, including SWPPPs and inspection reports, generally must be signed by

the construction site operator or a duly authorized representative of that person.

The authorized representative is typically someone who has direct responsibility

for implementing the SWPPP. If the operator chooses to designate an authorized

representative, a signed letter or statement to that effect must be included in the

SWPPP. Check your permit for exact requirements.

Your SWPPP must include the signature of the construction site operator or

authorized representative and the certification statement provided in the general

permit. An example of the certification language from EPA’s Construction General

Permit follows:

“I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were

prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed

to assure that qualified personnel properly gathered and evaluated the information

submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the

system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the

information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate,

and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false

information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing

violations.”

This ensures that the SWPPP was developed and reviewed by a

responsible party with the ability to implement the BMPs and

other commitments described in the SWPPP.

Copy of Permit Requirements

Most general permits require you to keep a copy of the

permit and your NOI with your SWPPP. This allows you to

quickly check the permit if a question arises about a permit

requirement.

Other State, Tribal, and Local Programs

Include in your SWPPP a description of any other federal, state,

tribal, or local requirements for erosion and sediment control

and stormwater management that apply to your site. Many local governments also impose erosion and sediment control requirements; your SWPPP should comply with both

the general permit and any applicable local requirements.

 This chapter 

describes how, 

after developing 

your SWPPP, you 

can obtain permit 

coverage for 

your stormwater 

discharges.

Posting a sign at the construction 

entrance

EPA and many state general permits require that 

you post a sign or other notice conspicuously 

near the main entrance of the construction site. 

EPA’s permit requires that the sign contain a 

copy of the NOI, the location of the SWPPP, and 

a contact person for viewing the SWPPP.
32 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

B. Notification

Now that you have developed your SWPPP

and before you begin construction, you

must begin the process of obtaining permit

coverage from your authorized state or EPA.

Authorized states and EPA use general permits

to cover all construction sites. These broadly

written general or umbrella permits apply to

all construction activities in a given state.

Obtaining Coverage Under a General Permit 

Important! Before obtaining permit 

coverage, you should read a copy of the 

appropriate construction general permit and

develop your SWPPP.

To obtain coverage under a state or EPA

construction general permit, you will typically

need to fill out and submit an application

form, often called a Notice of Intent or NOI.

Submitting this form to the permitting

authority indicates your intent to be

authorized to discharge stormwater under the

appropriate general permit for construction

activities. Depending on the permit, you may

be authorized to discharge immediately or at

some later time. In some cases, you are not

authorized to discharge until the state has

notified you accordingly. EPA’s Construction

General Permit requires a 7-day waiting

period after a complete NOI is received and

posted on EPA’s website (www.epa.gov/

npdes/noisearch). The waiting period expires

when the permit’s status changes from

waiting to active.

Information on the Application or Notice of 

Intent (NOI)

The NOI provides the permitting authority with 

pertinent information about your construction 

site, such as owner/operator information, site 

location, estimated project start and completion 

dates, approximate area to be disturbed, 

information about your SWPPP, receiving waters, 

and endangered species review certification. 

An appropriate person who is authorized to 

represent your organization must sign and verify 

that the facts contained in the NOI are true and 

accurate. For businesses, a certifying official is 

typically a corporate officer, such as a president, 

vice president, or manager of operations. For 

municipalities, it’s typically a principal executive 

officer or ranking elected official. Check your 

permit for exact signature requirements.

In general, the only information you need to 

submit to the permitting authority is the NOI. 

EPA and most authorized state agencies do not 

require you to submit your SWPPP for approval. 

However, many local governments review and 

approve at least the erosion and sediment control 

component of your SWPPP.

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

There are significant penalties for failing 

to obtain authorization to discharge or 

for submitting inaccurate information. If 

you are the certifying official, make sure 

you are authorized to discharge before 

construction activities begin.

Making your SWPPP available

While EPA and most states do not require you 

to submit a copy of your SWPPP for review, your 

SWPPP must be available to these and other 

government agencies for inspection. Your permit 

may also require you to make your SWPPP 

available to the public, if requested. If you have 

the ability, you should consider posting your 

SWPPP on the Internet and publicizing the URL. 

Check your permit for exact requirements.

Deadline for submitting NOIs under 

EPA’s Construction General Permit

For EPA’s construction general permit, the 

fastest and easiest way to obtain permit 

coverage is to use EPA’s electronic permit 

application system, called “eNOI” at www.epa.

gov/npdes/stormwater/enoi. Using this approach, 

you may be authorized to discharge in as little as 

7 days after submission of your electronic NOI. 

If you choose to submit your NOI by mail, EPA 

recommends that you send it at least one month 

before you need permit coverage.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 33

Chapter 8: SWPPP Implementation

A. Train Your Staff and Subcontractors

Your site’s construction workers and subcontractors might not be familiar with

stormwater BMPs, and they might not understand their role in protecting local

rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Training your staff and subcontractors in the basics

of erosion control, good housekeeping, and pollution prevention is one of the most

effective BMPs you can institute at your site.

Basic training should include

•	 Spill prevention and cleanup measures, including the prohibition of dumping any

material into storm drains or waterways

•	 An understanding of the basic purpose of stormwater BMPs, including what

common BMPs are on-site, what they should look like, and how to avoid damaging

them

•	 Potential penalties associated with stormwater noncompliance

Staff directly responsible for implementing the SWPPP should receive comprehensive

stormwater training, including

•	 The location and type of BMPs being implemented

•	 The installation requirements and water quality purpose for each BMP

•	 Maintenance procedures for each of the

BMPs being implemented

•	 Spill prevention and cleanup measures

•	 Inspection and maintenance

recordkeeping requirements

You can train staff and subcontractors

in several ways: short training sessions

(food and refreshments will help increase

attendance), posters and displays explaining

your site’s various BMPs, written agreements

with subcontractors to educate their staff

members, signs pointing out BMPs and

reminders to keep clear of them. Every

construction site operator should try to train

staff and subcontractors to avoid damaging

BMPs. By doing so, operators can avoid the

added expense of repairs.

 Your SWPPP is your 

guide to preventing 

stormwater pollution.

However, it is just a 

plan. Implementing 

your SWPPP, 

maintaining your 

BMPs, and then 

constantly reevaluating 

and revising your BMPs 

and your SWPPP are 

the keys to protecting 

your local waterways.

Train your staff and subcontractors! 

Here are a few key things you will want to cover with each person 

working on your site:

• Use only designated construction site entrances

• Keep equipment away from silt fences, fiber rolls, and other 

sediment barriers

• Know the locations of disposal areas, and know the proper 

practices for trash, concrete and paint washout, hazardous 

chemicals, and so on

• Keep soil, materials, and liquids away from paved areas and storm 

drain inlets. Never sweep or wash anything into a storm drain

• Know the location and understand the proper use of spill kits

• Know the locations of your site’s designated protection areas. 

Keep equipment away from stream banks, valuable trees and 

shrubs, and steep slopes. Clearly mark these areas with signs

• Keep equipment off mulched, seeded, or stabilized areas. Post 

signs on these areas, too

• Know who to contact when problems are identified!
34 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

B. Ensure Responsibility—Subcontractor 

Agreements

At any given site, there might be multiple

parties (developer, general contractor,

builders, subcontractors) that have roles and

responsibilities for carrying out or maintaining

stormwater BMPs at a given site. These roles

and responsibilities should be documented

clearly in the SWPPP (see Chapter 2, Section

D). In some cases (state requirements vary),

there may be one entity that has developed

the SWPPP and filed for permit coverage

and, therefore, is designated as the operator.

When other parties at a site are not officially

designated as operators, many operators are

incorporating the roles and responsibilities

of these non-operators in the agreements and

contracts they have with these companies

and individuals. This contract language

should spell out responsibilities implementing

and maintaining stormwater BMPs, for

training staff, and for correcting damage to

stormwater BMPs on the site. Several states

have stormwater regulations that hold other

parties liable even if they are not identified as

the operator.

C. Implement Your SWPPP Before 

Construction Starts

Once you have obtained permit coverage and

you are ready to begin construction, it is time

to implement your SWPPP. You must implement

appropriate parts of your SWPPP before

construction activity begins. This generally

involves installing storm drain inlet protection,

construction entrances, sediment basins, and

perimeter silt fences before clearing, grading,

and excavating activities begin.

After construction activities begin, your

SWPPP should describe when additional

erosion and sediment controls will be installed

(generally after initial clearing and grading

activities are complete). You should also begin

BMP inspections once clearing and grading

activities begin.

D. Conduct Inspections and Maintain 

BMPs

As mentioned earlier (Chapter 6), EPA

recommends that you develop an inspection

schedule for your site that considers the size,

complexity, and other conditions at your

site. This should include regularly scheduled

inspections and less formal inspections.

EPA recommends that you develop a plan

that includes inspections before and after

anticipated rain events. You might also want

to inspect some BMPs during rain events

to see if they are actually keeping sediment

on site! Conducting inspections during rain

events also allows a construction site operator

to address minor problems before they turn

into major problems.

Temporarily Removed BMPs

BMPs sometimes need to be temporarily

removed to conduct work in an area of the

site. These temporarily removed BMPs should

be noted on the site plan and replaced as soon

as possible after the completion of the activity

requiring their removal. If a rain is forecast,

the BMPs should be replaced as soon as

possible before the rain event.

Prepare for the rain and snowmelt!

In some areas of the country, construction 

site operators are required to develop weather 

triggered action plans that describe additional 

activities the operator will conduct 48 hours 

before a predicted storm (at least a 50 percent 

forecasted chance of rain). It is also a good idea 

to stockpile additional erosion and sediment 

control BMPs (such as silt fencing, and fiber 

rolls) at the site for use when necessary.

Take Photographs During Inspections

Taking photographs can help you document areas that need 

maintenance and can help identify areas where subcontractors might 

need to conduct maintenance. Photographs can also help provide 

documentation to EPA or state inspectors that maintenance is being 

performed.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 35

1. Plan your inspection

	Create a checklist to use during the

inspection (see Appendix B)

	Obtain a copy of the site map with BMP

locations marked

	Plan to walk the entire site, including

discharge points from the site and

any off-site support activities such as

concrete batch plants should also be

inspected

	Follow a consistent pattern each time

to ensure you inspect all areas (for

example, starting at the lowest point and

working uphill)

2. Inspect discharge points and downstream, 

off-site areas

	Inspect discharge locations to determine

whether erosion and sediment control

measures are effective

	Inspect nearby downstream locations, if

feasible

	Walk down the street to inspect off-site

areas for signs of discharge. This is

important in areas with existing curbs

and gutters

	Inspect downslope municipal catch basin

inlets to ensure that they are adequately

protected

3. Inspect perimeter controls and slopes

	Inspect perimeter controls such as silt

fences to determine if sediment should

be removed

	Check the structural integrity of the BMP

to determine if portions of the BMP need

to be replaced

	Inspect slopes and temporary stockpiles

to determine if erosion controls are

effective

4. Compare BMPs in the site plan with the 

construction site conditions

	Determine whether BMPs are in place as

required by the site plan

	Evaluate whether BMPs have been

adequately installed and maintained

	Look for areas where BMPs are needed

but are missing and are not in the

SWPPP

5. Inspect construction site entrances

	Inspect the construction exits to

determine if there is tracking of sediment

from the site onto the street

	Refresh or replace the rock in designated

entrances

	Look for evidence of additional

construction exits being used that are

not in the SWPPP or are not stabilized

	Sweep the street if there is evidence of

sediment accumulation

6. Inspect sediment controls

	Inspect any sediment basins for sediment

accumulation

	Remove sediment when it reduces the

capacity of the basin by the specified

amount (many permits have specific

requirements for sediment basin

maintenance. Check the appropriate

permit for requirements and include

those in your SWPPP)

7. Inspect pollution prevention and good 

housekeeping practices

	Inspect trash areas to ensure that waste

is properly contained

	Inspect material storage and staging

areas to verify that potential pollutant

sources are not exposed to stormwater

runoff

	Verify that concrete, paint, and stucco

washouts are being used properly and

are correctly sized for the volume of

wash water

	Inspect vehicle/equipment fueling

and maintenance areas for signs of

stormwater pollutant exposure

Recommended Inspection Sequence

You should conduct thorough inspections of your site, making sure to inspect all areas and

BMPs. The seven activities listed below are a recommended inspection sequence that will help

you conduct a thorough inspection (adapted from MPCA 2004).
36 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

E. Update and Evaluate Your SWPPP

Like your construction site, your SWPPP

is dynamic. It is a document that must be

amended to reflect changes occurring at the

site. As plans and specifications change,

those changes should be reflected in your

SWPPP. If you find that a BMP is not working

and you decide to replace it with another,

you must reflect that change in your SWPPP.

Document in your SWPPP transitions from

one phase of construction to the next, and

make sure you implement new BMPs required

for that next phase.

Are Your BMPs Working?

You should evaluate the effectiveness of your

BMPs as part of your routine inspection

process. An informal analysis of both your

inspection’s findings and your list of BMP

repairs will often reveal an inadequately

performing BMP. An inspection immediately

after a rain event can indicate whether

another approach is needed.

You may decide to remove an existing BMP

and replace it with another, or you may add

another BMP in that area to lessen the impact

of stormwater on the original installation.

When you update your SWPPP, you can

simply mark it up, particularly for relatively

simple changes and alterations. More

significant changes might require a rewriting

of portions of the SWPPP. The site map should

also be updated as necessary.

Common Compliance Problems During Inspections

The following are problems commonly found at construction sites. As you conduct your inspections, look for these problems on your site 

(adapted from MPCA 2004).

Problem #1—Not using phased grading or providing temporary or permanent cover (i.e., soil stabilization)

In general, construction sites should phase their grading activities so that only a portion of the site is exposed at any one time. Also, disturbed areas 

that are not being actively worked should have temporary cover. Areas that are at final grade should receive permanent cover as soon as possible.

Problem #2—No sediment controls on-site

Sediment controls such as silt fences, sediment barriers, sediment traps and basins must be in place before soil-disturbance activities begin. 

Don’t proceed with grading work out-of-phase.

Problem #3—No sediment control for temporary stockpiles

Temporary stockpiles must be seeded, covered, or surrounded by properly installed silt fence. Stockpiles should never be placed on paved 

surfaces.

Problem #4—No inlet protection

All storm drain inlets that could receive a discharge from the construction site must be protected before construction begins and must be maintained until the site is finally stabilized.

Problem #5—No BMPs to minimize vehicle tracking onto the road

Vehicle exits must use BMPs such as stone pads, concrete or steel wash racks, or equivalent systems to prevent vehicle tracking of sediment.

Problem #6—Improper solid waste or hazardous waste management

Solid waste (including trash and debris) must be disposed of properly, and hazardous materials (including oil, gasoline, and paint) must be properly stored (which includes secondary containment). Properly manage portable sanitary facilities.

Problem #7—Dewatering and other pollutant discharges at the construction site

Construction site dewatering from building footings or other sources should not be discharged without treatment. Turbid water should be filtered or 

allowed to settle.

Problem #8—Poorly managed washouts (concrete, paint, stucco)

Water from washouts must not enter the storm drain system or a nearby receiving water. Make sure washouts are clearly marked, sized adequately, and frequently maintained.

Problem #9—Inadequate BMP maintenance

BMPs must be frequently inspected and maintained if necessary. Maintenance should occur for BMPs that have reduced capacity to treat stormwater (construction general permits or state design manuals often contain information on when BMPs should be maintained), or BMPs that have 

been damaged and need to be repaired or replaced (such as storm drain inlet protection that has been damaged by trucks).

Problem #10—Inadequate documentation or training

Failing to develop a SWPPP, keep it up-to-date, or keep it on-site, are permit violations. You should also ensure that SWPPP documentation such 

as a copy of the NOI, inspection reports and updates to the SWPPP are also kept on-site. Likewise, personnel working on-site must be trained on 

the basics of stormwater pollution prevention and BMP installation/maintenance.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 37

Chapter 9: Final Stabilization and Permit 

Termination

Stabilize Disturbed Areas

As your construction project progresses, you must stabilize areas not under

construction. EPA and most states have specific requirements and time frames that

must be followed. Generally, it is a wise management practice to stabilize areas

as quickly as possible to avoid erosion problems that could overwhelm silt fences,

sediment basins, and other sediment control devices.

Temporary stabilization can be achieved through a variety of BMPs, including

mulching, seeding, erosion control blankets, hydroseeding, and other measures.

Permanent or final stabilization of areas on your site is generally accomplished by

installing the final landscape requirements (e.g., trees, grass, gardens, or permanent

stormwater controls). Once the site has been stabilized, you can terminate your

permit coverage.

Sediment controls, such as silt fence, berms, sediment ponds or traps, alone, are not

stabilization measures. You should continue to use these kinds of measures (e.g., silt

fence around an area that has been seeded) until full stabilization is achieved.

A. Final Stabilization 

When you have completed your construction

project or an area within the overall project,

you must take steps to permanently and finally

stabilize it. Check your permit for the specific

requirements you must meet. After a project or an

area in the project has been fully stabilized, you

should remove temporary sediment and erosion

control devices (such as silt fences). You might

also be able to stop routine inspections in these

stabilized areas. However, in some states such as

Colorado, inspections are required every 30 days

(after the construction has been completed and the

site is stabilized) until permit coverage has been

terminated. In general, you should be aware that

 This chapter describes 

what you must do 

to stabilize your 

construction site and 

end permit coverage.

Stabilize as soon as practicable

EPA’s Construction General Permit states that, 

“stabilization measures must be initiated as soon 

as practicable in portions of the site where construction activities have temporarily or permanently ceased, but in no case more than 14 days 

after the construction activity in that portion of 

the site has temporarily or permanently ceased.”

Figure 16. Seeding is an effective BMP that can be used to temporarily or 

permanently stabilize disturbed areas.
38 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

final stabilization often takes time (weeks

or even months), especially during times of

low rainfall or during the colder months of

the year. You should not discontinue routine

inspections until you have met the final

stabilization requirements in your permit.

EPA and many states define final stabilization

as occurring when a uniform, evenly

distributed perennial vegetative cover with a

density of 70 percent of the native background

cover has been established on all unpaved

areas and areas not covered by permanent

structures. Some states have a higher

percentage of vegetative cover required (e.g.,

New York requires 80 percent). Please review

your state’s construction general permit for

specific requirements.

Native vegetation must be established

uniformly over each disturbed area on

the site. Stabilizing seven of ten slopes, or

leaving an area equivalent to 30 percent of

the disturbed area completely unstabilized

will not satisfy the uniform vegetative cover

standard.

The contractor must establish vegetation over

the entire disturbed soil area at a minimum

density of 70 percent of the native vegetative

coverage. For example, if native vegetation

covers 50 percent of the undisturbed ground

surface (e.g., in an arid or semi-arid area),

the contractor must establish 35 percent

vegetative coverage uniformly over the entire

disturbed soil area (0.70 × 0.50 = 0.35 or

35 percent). Several states require perennial

native vegetative cover that is self-sustaining

and capable of providing erosion control 

equivalent to preexisting conditions to satisfy

the 70 percent coverage requirement.

In lieu of vegetative cover, you can apply

alternate measures that provide equivalent

soil stabilization to the disturbed soil area.

Such equivalent measures include blankets,

reinforced channel liners, soil cement,

fiber matrices, geotextiles, or other erosionresistant soil covering or treatments. Your

construction general permit might allow

all or some of these alternate measures

for equivalent soil stabilization for final

stabilization; check your general permit.

B. Permit Termination 

Once construction activity has been

completed and disturbed areas are finally

stabilized, review your general permit for

specific steps to end your coverage under

that permit. EPA and many states require

you to submit a form, often called a notice

of termination (NOT), to end your coverage

under that construction general permit. Before

terminating permit coverage, make sure you

have accomplished the following:

•	 Remove any construction debris and trash

•	 Remove temporary BMPs (such as silt

fence). Remove any residual sediment as

needed. Seed and mulch any small bare

spots. BMPs that will decompose, including

some fiber rolls and blankets, may be left

in place

•	 Check areas where erosion-control blankets

or matting were installed. Cut away

and remove all loose, exposed material,

especially in areas where walking or

mowing will occur. Reseed all bare soil

areas

•	 Ensure that 70 percent of background

native vegetation coverage or equivalent

stabilization measures have been applied

for final soil stabilization of disturbed areas

•	 Repair any remaining signs of erosion

•	 Ensure that post-construction BMPs are

in place and operational. Provide written

maintenance requirements for all postconstruction BMPs to the appropriate party

•	 Check all drainage conveyances and outlets

to ensure they were installed correctly

and are operational. Inspect inlet areas to

ensure complete stabilization and remove

any brush or debris that could clog inlets.

Ensure banks and ditch bottoms are well

vegetated. Reseed bare areas and replace

rock that has become dislodged

•	 Seed and mulch or otherwise stabilize any

areas where runoff flows might converge or

high velocity flows are expected

•	 Remove temporary stream crossings. Grade,

seed, or re-plant vegetation damaged or

removed

•	 Ensure subcontractors have repaired their

work areas before final closeout

You might also be required to file an NOT if

you transfer operational control to another
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 39

party before the project is complete. The new

operator would be required to develop and

implement a SWPPP and to obtain permit

coverage as described above.

EPA and most states allow homebuilders to

terminate permit coverage when the property

has been transferred to the homeowner with

temporary or final stabilization measures in

place. If the transfer is made with temporary

stabilization measures in place, EPA expects

the homeowner to complete the final

landscaping. Under these circumstances, EPA

and most states do not require homeowners

to develop SWPPPs and apply for permit

coverage.

Figure 17. Make sure inlets, outlets, and slopes are well stabilized before leaving 

the site and filing your “Notice of Termination” for ending permit coverage.

C. Record Retention

EPA’s regulations specifies that you must

retain records and reports required in the

permit, including SWPPPs and information

used to complete the NOI, for at least

3 years from the termination of coverage or

expiration of the permit. You should also keep

maintenance and inspection records related to

the SWPPP for this same time frame. General

permits issued by states may have a longer

period for retention.

Is there a deadline to submit an NOT?

Many states require a Notice of Termination (NOT) or similar form to indicate that the construction phase 

of a project is completed and that all the terms and conditions have been met. This notification informs 

the permitting authority that coverage under the construction general permit is no longer needed. If your 

permitting authority requires such a notification, check to see what conditions must be met in order 

to submit it and check to see if there is a deadline for 

submission. EPA’s Construction General Permit requires 

that you submit an NOT when you have met all your permit 

requirements. The NOT is due no later than 30 days after 

meeting these requirements.

Take a Closer Look...

What does this mean to me?

Check your permit carefully for details 

and conditions relating to terminating 

your permit coverage.
40 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

References

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Water Environment Federation (WEF).

1992. Design and Construction of Urban Stormwater Management Systems

Arendt, R. 1996. Conservation Design for Subdivisons: A Practical Guide to Creating 

Open Space Networks.AmericanPlanningAssociationPlannersBookService.Chicago,

IL.

Claytor, R. 2000. Practical tips for construction site phasing. Article 54 in The Practice of 

Watershed Protection. Centerfor Watershed Protection, Ellicott City, MD, pp. 317–322.

Dunne, T. and L. Leopold. 1978. Water and Environmental Planning.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1993. Guidance Specifying Management 

Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters. 840-B-92-002. Office

of Water. Washington, DC.

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). 2000. Maryland Stormwater Design 

Manual: Volumes 1 and 2. Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore, MD.

<www.mde.state.md.us/environment/wma/stormwatermanual>

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). 2004. Stormwater Construction Inspection 

Guide. <www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/wq-strm2-10.pdf>

National Arbor Day Foundation. No date. The Value of Trees to a Community.

<www.arborday.org/trees/Benefits.cfm>

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2000. 1997 National Resources Inventory 

Summary Report. 

<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/TECHNICAL/NRI/1997/summary_report/>

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2006. National Resources Inventory 2003 

Annual NRI - Soil Erosion.

<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Technical/land/nri03/SoilErosion-mrb.pdf>

Robertson, B., R. Pitt, A. Ayyoubi, and R. Field. 1995. A Multi-Chambered Stormwater

Treatment Train. In Proceedings of the Engineering Foundation Conference: 

Stormwater NPDES-Related Monitoring Needs, Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado, August 7–12,

1994, American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY.

TerreneInstitute.2001.Landscapedraingardensofferstormwatercontrol.Nonpoint Source 

News-Notes 66:18–20.

Acknowledgements

The graphics used in this guide were developed by Tetra Tech, Inc. for the Kentucky

Divison of Water’s Erosion and Sediment Control Field Guide.
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 41

Appendix A: SWPPP Template

An electronic copy of the SWPPP template is available on EPA’s web site at:	

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/swpppguide
42 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Appendix B: Sample Inspection Report

An electronic copy of the sample inspection report is available on EPA’s web site at:	

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/swpppguide
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 43

The following information is largely taken from EPA’s 1992 guidance Stormwater 

Management for Construction Activities: Developing Pollution Prevention Plans and Best 

Management Practices (EPA 832-R-92-005).

It is important to estimate your development’s impact on runoff after construction is

complete. This can be done by estimating the runoff coefficient for pre- and post-construction

conditions. The runoff coefficient (“C” value) is the partial amount of the total rainfall

which will be come runoff. The runoff coefficient is used in the “rational method” which is:

Q = CiA,

	 Where 	Q = the rate of runoff from an area,

	 	 i = rainfall intensity, and

	 	 A = the area of the drainage basin.

There are many methods which can be used to estimate the amount of runoff from a

construction site. You are not required to use the rationale method to design stormwater

conveyances or BMPs. Consult your State/local design guides to determine what methods to

use for estimating design flow rates from your development.

The less rainfall that is absorbed (infiltrates) into the ground, evaporates, or is otherwise

absorbed on site, the higher the “C” value. For example, the “C” value of a lawn area is 0.2,

which means that only 20 percent of the rainfall landing on that area will run off, the rest

will be absorbed or evaporate. A paved parking area would have a “C” value of 0.9, which

means that 90 percent of the rainfall landing on that area will become runoff. You should

calculate the runoff coefficient for conditions before construction and after construction is

complete. It is suggested that a runoff coefficient be calculated for each drainage basin on

the site. The following is an example of how to calculate the “C” value.

The runoff coefficient or “C” value for a variety of land uses may be found in Table C-1

(NOTE: Consult your State/local design guide, if available, to determine if specific “C”

values are specified for your area). The “C” values provide an estimate of anticipated runoff

for particular land uses. Most sites have more than one type of land use and therefore more

than one “C” value will apply. To have a “C” value that represents your site you will need to

calculate a “weighted C value.”

Calculating a “Weighted C value”

When a drainage area contains more than one type of surface material with more than

one runoff coefficient a “weighted C” must be calculated. This “weighted C” will take

into account the amount of runoff from all the various parts of the site. A formula used to

determine the “weighted C” is as follows:

C = A1

C1 + A2C2 + ... + AxCx

	 	 (A1 + A2 + ... + Ax)

	 Where A = acres and C = coefficient.

Therefore, if a drainage area has 15 acres (ac.) with 5 paved acres (C = 0.9), 5 grassed

acres (C = 0.2), and 5 acres in natural vegetation (C = 0.1), a “weighted C” would be

calculated as follows:

C = (5 ac x 0.9) + (5 ac x 0.2) + (5 ac x 0.1) = 0.4

(5 ac + 5 ac + 5 ac)

Appendix C: Calculating the Runoff Coefficient
44 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

Table C-1. Typical “C” Values

Description of Area Runoff Coefficients

Business

 Downtown Areas

 Neighborhood Areas

0.70 – 0.95

0.50 – 0.70

Residential

 Single-family areas

 Multi-units, detached

 Multi-units, attached

0.30 – 0.50

0.40 – 0.60

0.60 – 0.75

Residential (suburban) 0.25 – 0.40

Apartment dwelling areas 0.50 – 0.70

Industrial

 Light Areas

 Heavy Areas

0.50 – 0.80

0.60 – 0.90

Parks, cemeteries 0.10 – 0.25

Playgrounds 0.20 – 0.35

Railroad yard areas 0.20 – 0.40

Unimproved areas 0.10 – 0.30

Streets

 Asphalt

 Concrete

 Brick

0.70 – 0.95

0.80 – 0.95

0.70 – 0.85

Drives and Walks 0.75 – 0.85

Roofs 0.75 – 0.95

Lawns – course textured soil (greater than 85% sand)

 Slope: Flat, 2%

 Average, 2-7%

 Steep, 7%

0.05 – 0.10

0.10 – 0.15

0.15 – 0.20

Lawns – fine textured soil (greater than 40% clay)

 Slope: Flat, 2%

 Average, 2-7%

 Steep, 7%

0.13 – 0.17

0.18 – 0.22

0.25 – 0.35
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites 45

Appendix D: Resources List

The following are just a few of the many resources available to assist you in developing your SWPPP. 

The inclusion of these resources does not constitute an endorsement by EPA. 

EPA Resources

EPA Stormwater Construction Website 

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/construction

• EPA’s Construction General Permit (http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp) 

EPA’s general permit that applies to all construction activity disturbing greater than one acre in 

the states and territories where EPA is the permitting authority.

• Construction SWPPP Guide, SWPPP Template and inspection form 

(www.epa.gov/npdes/swpppguide) 

A downloadable copy of this guide, the SWPPP template and inspection form.

• Menu of BMPs (http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps) 

Site containing over 40 construction BMP fact sheets. Also contains fact sheets on other 

stormwater program areas, and case studies organized by program area.

National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas 

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/urbanmm/index.html

Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development 

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/assistance/sectors/constructmyer/

index.html

Expedited Settlement Offer Program for Stormwater (Construction) 

http://www.epa.gov/Compliance/resources/policies/civil/cwa/esoprogstormwater.pdf

A supplemental program to ensure consistent EPA enforcement of stormwater requirements at 

construction sites for relatively minor violations.

Construction Industry Compliance Assistance 

http://www.cicacenter.org 

Plain language explanations of environmental rules for the construction industry. Links to 

stormwater permits and technical manuals for all 50 states.

Smart Growth and Low Impact Development Resources

Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices 

http://www.epa.gov/livablecommunities/pdf/sg_stormwater_BMP.pdf

Stormwater Guidelines for Green, Dense Development 

http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/Stormwater_Guidelines.pdf

Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth 

http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/waterresources_with_sg.pdf

Parking Spaces / Community Places: Finding the Balance Through Smart Growth Solutions 

http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/parking.htm

EPA Nonpoint Source Low Impact Development site 

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/

Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community 

Available from http://www.cwp.org
46 Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites

State BMP/Guidance Manuals

Kentucky Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Field Guide 

http://www.water.ky.gov/permitting/wastewaterpermitting/KPDES/storm/

Easy to read field guide describing erosion and sediment control BMP selection, installation and maintenance. 

Minnesota Stormwater Construction Inspection Guide 

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/wq-strm2-10.pdf

A manual designed to assist municipal construction inspectors in the procedures for conducting a compliance 

inspection at construction sites. 

California Stormwater Quality Association’s Construction Handbook 

http://www.cabmphandbooks.org/Construction.asp

Delaware Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook 

http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/dnrec2000/Divisions/Soil/Stormwater/StormWater.htm

Western Washington Stormwater Management Manual – Volume II – Construction Stormwater Pollution 

Prevention 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/manual.html

Eastern Washington Stormwater Management Manual 

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0410076.html

A guidance document addressing stormwater design and management in more arid climates.

Certification Programs

Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control 

http://www.cpesc.org

Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Program 

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/sw/estr&crt2.htm

Florida Stormwater, Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector Certification 

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/erosion.htm

Other Resources

International Erosion Control Association 

http://www.ieca.org 

A non-profit organization helping members solve the problems caused by erosion and its byproduct—sediment.

Erosion Control Magazine 

http://www.erosioncontrol.com

A journal for erosion and sediment control professionals.

Designing for Effective Sediment & Erosion Control on Construction Sites by Jerald S. Fifield, PH.D., CPESC. 

Available from Forester Press 

http://www.foresterpress.com

Book describing proven and practical methods for minimizing erosion and sedimentation on construction sites.

Stormwater Permitting: A Guide for Builders and Developers by National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). 

Available from NAHB http://www.nahb.org