Source: https://www.ecode360.com/10672224
Timestamp: 2019-12-10 03:19:14
Document Index: 794795104

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 10', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 210', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219', '§ 219']

Town of Schodack, NY Erosion and Sedimentation Control
Ch 219 Art XVII Erosion and Sedimentation Control
§ 219-116 Findings of fact.
§ 219-117 Purpose.
§ 219-118 Statutory authority.
§ 219-119 Applicability.
§ 219-120 Review and approval.
§ 219-121 Stormwater pollution prevention plan contents.
§ 219-122 Plan certification.
§ 219-123 Contractor certification.
§ 219-124 SWPPP review and amendment.
§ 219-125 Design and performance standards.
§ 219-126 Water quality standard.
§ 219-127 Maintenance during construction.
§ 219-128 Erosion and sediment control inspection.
§ 219-129 Project completion.
§ 219-130 Postconstruction activities.
§ 219-131 Performance guarantee; maintenance guarantee; recordkeeping.
§ 219-132 Retention of licensed/certified professional; payment.
§ 219-133 Enforcement; penalties for offenses.
Article XVII Erosion and Sedimentation Control
Uncontrolled drainage and runoff associated with land development has a significant impact upon the health, safety and welfare of the community.
Eroded soil endangers water resources by reducing water quality and causing the silting of streams, lakes and other water bodies adversely affecting aquatic life.
Stormwater runoff and sediment transports pollutants such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, nutrients and bacteria to water resources, degrading water quality.
Eroded soil necessitates repair and accelerates the maintenance needs of stormwater management facilities.
Clearing, grading and altering natural topography during construction tends to increase erosion.
Improperly managed stormwater runoff can increase the incidence of flooding and the severity of floods that occur, endangering property and human life.
Substantial economic losses can result from these adverse impacts.
Stormwater runoff, soil erosion and nonpoint source pollution can be controlled and minimized through the regulation of land development activities.
The purpose of this article is to safeguard persons, protect property, and prevent damage to the environment in the Town of Schodack, New York. This article will also promote the public welfare by guiding, regulating, and controlling the design, construction, use, and maintenance of any land development activity as it relates to erosion and sedimentation control and stormwater management. This article seeks to meet these purposes by achieving the following objectives:
Meet the requirements of minimum control measures four (construction site stormwater runoff control) and five (postconstruction stormwater management) of the State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer Systems (MS4s), Permit GP-02-02, or as amended or revised.
Require land development activities to conform to the substantive requirements of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (SPDES) General Permit for Construction Activities GP-02-01, or as amended or revised.
Minimize soil erosion and sedimentation impacts on streams, water bodies, and neighboring properties.
Avoid excessive and/or unnecessary tree and vegetation removal.
Minimize windblown soil associated with properties being cleared and graded for development.
Maintain the integrity of watercourses and sustain their hydrologic functions.
Minimize increases in the magnitude and frequency of stormwater runoff to prevent an increase in flood flows and the hazards and costs associated with flooding.
Minimize decreases in groundwater recharge and stream base flow to maintain aquatic life, assimilative capacity, and water supplies.
Facilitate the removal of pollutants in stormwater runoff to perpetuate the natural biological function of water bodies.
In accordance with § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, the governing board of the Town of Schodack has the authority to enact local laws and amend local laws for the purpose of promoting the health, safety or general welfare of the Town of Schodack and for the protection and enhancement of its physical environment. The Town Board may include in any such local law provisions for the appointment of any municipal officer, employees, or independent contractor to effectuate, administer and enforce such local law.
Except as otherwise provided herein, no person shall commence or perform any land development activity, as defined herein, without the approval of a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP).
Applicants shall also obtain all other permits required by state, federal, and local laws. Whenever the particular circumstances of proposed land development activity require compliance with special use, site plan, or subdivision procedures of the Town of Schodack, the responsible board shall integrate the requirements prescribed herein as appropriate and determine the adequacy of the SWPPP.
Agricultural operations conducted as a permitted principal or accessory use, including the construction of structures where the land disturbance is less than one acre.
Routine maintenance activities that disturb less than five acres and are performed to maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of a stormwater management facility.
Mining as defined herein.
Normal lawn and landscaping activities/maintenance.
Selective cutting of trees as defined herein, except log haul roads and landing areas are subject to this article. ("Landing areas" are cleared areas to which trees are hauled for their storage before being transferred off site).
Repairs and maintenance of any stormwater management practice or facility.
No application for a land development activity shall be approved until the responsible board and/or department has received a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) prepared in accordance with the specifications contained herein.
For land development activity not subject to special permit, site plan, or subdivision requirements, the Town Engineer, or designated agent, shall review the SWPPP to determine its completeness and conformance with the provisions herein. Within 30 days of receipt of a SWPPP, the Town Engineer, or designated agent, shall make a determination as to whether it is complete. If it is deemed incomplete, the applicant shall be notified in writing as to the deficiencies in the plan and the requirements for completeness. Within 30 days after receiving a complete plan, the Town Engineer, or designated agent shall, in writing:
Failure of the Town Engineer, or designated agent, to act on a complete original or revised application within 30 days of receipt shall authorize the applicant to proceed in accordance with the plans as filed unless such time is extended by agreement between the applicant and the Town. Pending preparation and approval of a revised plan, land development activities shall not be allowed to proceed. Nothing herein shall relieve an applicant's need to obtain a building permit as required by Town Code or file an NOI with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
For land development activity subject to special permit, site plan, or subdivision requirements, the responsible board shall incorporate the required SWPPP into the review process, allowing for public review and comment on the SWPPP. The responsible board, in consultation with the Town Engineer, or designated agent, shall determine the adequacy of the SWPPP. For projects subject to subdivision requirements, preliminary plat approval shall not be granted until the Planning Board has received a SWPPP prepared in accordance with the specifications contained herein.
In its review of the plan, the responsible board or municipal official may consult with the Town Engineer, the Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation District, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, or retain any other licensed/certified professionals qualified in the review and/or design of stormwater management and erosion control plans as are determined to be necessary to carry out the review of an SWPPP. Payment for the services of such professionals shall comply with § 219-131 herein.
A written narrative identifying the project's scope including the location, type, and size of the project.
A site map/construction drawing(s) for the project, including a general location map. At a minimum, the site map should show the total site area; all improvements; areas of disturbance; areas that will not be disturbed; locations of off-site material, waste, borrow or equipment storage areas; and location(s) of stormwater discharge(s). The specific location(s), size(s), and length(s) of each erosion and sediment control practice shall also be shown. Site maps/construction drawings shall be at a scale no smaller than one inch equals 100 feet.
A natural resources map identifying existing vegetation; on-site and adjacent off-site surface water(s), wetlands, and drainage patterns that could be affected by the construction activity; and existing and final slopes.
A description of soil(s) present at the site along with any existing data that describes the stormwater runoff characteristics at the site.
A construction phasing plan describing the intended sequence of construction activities including clearing and grubbing; excavation and grading; utility and infrastructure installation, and any other activity at the site that results in soil disturbance. Phasing shall identify the expected date on which clearing will begin, the estimated duration of exposure of cleared areas, areas of clearing, installation of temporary erosion and sediment control measures, and establishment of permanent vegetation. Consistent with the New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control, there shall not be more than five acres of disturbed soil at any one time without prior written approval from the Department of Environmental Conservation.
A description of the pollution prevention measures that will be used to control litter, construction chemicals and construction debris from becoming a pollutant source in the stormwater discharges and runoff.
A description of the temporary and permanent structural and vegetative measures to be used for soil stabilization, runoff control and sediment control for each stage of the project, from initial land clearing and grubbing to project closeout. Depending upon the complexity of the project, the drafting of intermediate plans may be required at the close of each season.
The dimensions, material specifications (e.g., seeding mixtures and rates, types of sod, kind and quantity of mulching) and installation details for all erosion and sediment control practices, including the siting and sizing of any temporary sediment basins. Temporary practices that will be converted to permanent control measures shall be shown.
Name(s) of the receiving water(s) and any existing data that describes the stormwater runoff at the site.
A site map/construction drawing(s) of each postconstruction stormwater practice, including a description of each postconstruction stormwater control practice including specific location(s) and size(s), dimensions, material specifications and installation details. The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual shall serve as the technical design standard. Deviations from this Design Manual are permitted subject to review and approval by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation within 60 business days of receipt of a completed notice of intent (NOI).
Maintenance schedule to ensure continuous and effective operation of each postconstruction stormwater control practice.
Inspection and maintenance agreement binding on all subsequent landowners served by the on-site stormwater management measures in accordance with § 219-119 of this article.
The SWPPP shall be prepared by a licensed/certified professional. The SWPPP must be signed by the professional preparing the plan and shall make the following certification:
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 false statements made herein are punishable as a class A misdemeanor pursuant to § 210.45 of the Penal Law.
The SWPPP must clearly identify each contractor(s) and subcontractor(s) involved in soil disturbance that will implement each stormwater and erosion control measure. Each contractor and subcontractor identified in the SWPPP shall sign a copy of the following certification statement before undertaking any land development activity:
I hereby certify that I understand and agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the SWPPP and agree to implement any corrective actions identified by the qualified inspector during a site inspection. I also understand that the owner or operator must comply with the terms and conditions of the New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities and that it is unlawful for any person to cause or contribute to a violation of water quality standards. Furthermore, I understand that certifying false, incorrect or inaccurate information is a violation of the referenced permit and the laws of the State of New York and could subject me to criminal, civil and/or administrative proceedings.
The permittee shall amend the SWPPP whenever there is a significant change in design, construction, operation, or maintenance which may have a significant effect on the potential for the discharge of pollutants to the waters of the United States and which has not otherwise been addressed in the SWPPP; or
The SWPPP proves to be ineffective as follows:
Significant amendments or changes to the SWPPP as outlined above in Subsections A and B may be subject to review and approval in the same manner as § 219-120 herein.
Grading, erosion, and sediment control practices and waterway crossings shall meet the design criteria set forth in the most recent version of the New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control published by the Empire State Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. For the design of post-construction structures, the technical standards are currently detailed in the publication New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual published by the Department of Environmental Conservation. When stormwater management practices are not in accordance with technical standards, the applicant or developer must demonstrate equivalence to the technical standards set forth in Article C, Section 3.1,[1] and the SWPPP shall be prepared by a licensed professional.
Editor's Note: See the August, 2003 edition of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Stormwater Design Manual.
Cut and fill slopes shall be no greater than 2:1, except where retaining walls, structural stabilization or other methods acceptable to the Town-designated licensed/certified professional are used. Disturbed areas shall be restored as natural appearing landforms, and shall blend in with the terrain of adjacent undisturbed land. Abrupt, angular transitions shall be avoided.
Clearing and grading shall be substantially confined to designated building envelopes, utility easements, driveways, and parking footprint. Clearing and grading techniques that retain natural vegetation and drainage patterns, as described in the most recent version of Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control referenced above shall be used to the satisfaction of the responsible board. No clearing or grading shall take place within the established fifty-foot watercourse buffer area except to provide road crossings where permitted.
Clearing, except that necessary to establish sediment control devices shall not begin until all sediment control devices have been installed and have been stabilized.
Where the initiation of stabilization measures by the 14th day after construction activity temporarily or permanently ceased is precluded by snow cover or frozen ground conditions, stabilization measures shall be initiated as soon as practicable;
Where construction activity on a portion of the site is temporarily ceased, and earth-disturbing activities will be resumed within 21 days, temporary stabilization measures need not be initiated on that portion of the site.
The mere parking and moving of construction vehicles around the site does not constitute construction or earth-disturbing activity. If the permittee is not diligently pursuing the project toward completion as determined by the Town Code Enforcement Officer or designated agent, he/she may issue a notice of violation (see § 219-133A) and stipulate that the stabilization measures as outlined above shall be undertaken to prevent site erosion.
In general, wetlands and watercourses should not be filled, graded or altered. The crossing of watercourses should be avoided to the maximum extent practicable. When protection of wetlands, watercourses, trees, steep slopes or other environmentally sensitive area is required, the location shall be shown on the erosion control plan and the method of protection during construction identified (e.g., silt fence, construction fence, stakes, etc.). [A vegetative buffer (twenty-five-foot minimum) shall be maintained between disturbed areas and protected federal wetlands that are not proposed to be filled as part of an Army Corps of Engineers wetlands permit. In the case of state designated wetlands, the one-hundred-foot adjacent area shall not be disturbed without a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation permit.]
In areas of severe slopes (exceeding 25%), land-disturbing activities are not permitted. A twenty-five-foot buffer must be maintained between any disturbed area and the top of slopes 25% and greater.
Maintenance easement(s). Prior to the issuance of any approval that has a stormwater management facility as one of the requirements, the applicant or developer must execute a maintenance easement agreement that shall be binding on all subsequent landowners served by the stormwater management facility. The easement shall provide for access to the facility at reasonable times for periodic inspection by the Town of Schodack to ensure that the facility is maintained in proper working condition to meet design standards and any other provisions established by this article. The easement shall be recorded by the grantor in the office of the County Clerk after approval by the counsel for the Town of Schodack.
Maintenance agreements. The Town of Schodack shall approve a formal maintenance agreement for stormwater management facilities binding on all subsequent landowners and recorded in the office of the County Clerk as a deed restriction on the property prior to final plan approval. The maintenance agreement shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of Schedule B of this article, entitled "Sample Stormwater Control Facility Maintenance Agreement."[2] The Town of Schodack, in lieu of a maintenance agreement, at its sole discretion, may accept dedication of any existing or future stormwater management facility, provided such facility meets all the requirements of this article and includes adequate and perpetual access and sufficient area, by easement or otherwise, for inspection and regular maintenance.
Any land development activity shall not result in the following:
An increase in turbidity that will cause a substantial visible contrast to natural conditions in surface waters of New York State;
An increase in suspended, colloidal and settleable solids that will cause deposition or impair the waters for their best uses; or
Residue from oil and floating substances, nor visible oil film, or globules of grease.
The Stormwater Management Officer or designated agent may require such inspections as necessary to determine compliance with this article and may either approve that portion of the work completed or notify the applicant wherein the work fails to comply with the requirements of this article and the SWPPP as approved. To obtain inspections, the applicant shall notify the Stormwater Management Officer or designated agent at least 48 hours before the following as required by the SWPPP:
If any violations are found, the applicant and developer shall be notified in writing of the nature of the violation and the required corrective actions. Corrective actions may include the repair/restoration of off-site impacts. No further work shall be conducted except for site stabilization until any violations are corrected and all work previously completed has received approval by the Stormwater Management Officer or designated agent.
For land development activities, the applicant shall have a qualified inspector conduct an assessment of the site prior to the commencement of construction and certify in an inspection report that the appropriate erosion and sediment controls described in the SWPPP have been adequately installed or implemented to ensure overall preparedness of the site. Following the commencement of construction, site inspections shall be conducted by a qualified professional at least every seven calendar days. The purpose of such inspections will be to determine the overall effectiveness of the plan and the need for additional control measures. During each inspection, the qualified inspector shall record the following information:
Inspect all erosion and sediment control practices and record all maintenance requirements, such as verifying the integrity of barrier or diversion systems and containment systems. Identify any evidence of rill or gully erosion occurring on slopes and any loss of stabilizing vegetation or seeding/mulching. Document any excessive deposition of sediment or ponding water along barrier or diversion systems. Record the depth of sediment within containment structures, any erosion near outlet and overflow structures, and verify the ability of rock filters around perforated riser pipes to pass water; and
A copy of the NOI and a copy of the SWPPP shall be retained at the site of the land development activity during construction from the beginning of construction activities to the date of final stabilization. The SWPPP and inspection reports are public documents that the operator must make available for inspection, review and copying by any person within five business days of the operator receiving a written request by such person to review the SWPPP and/or the inspection reports. Copying of documents will be done at the requester's expense.
The operator shall maintain a record of all inspection reports in a site logbook. The site logbook shall be maintained on-site and be made available to the Town upon request.
The Stormwater Management Officer or designated agent shall enter the property of the applicant as deemed necessary to make regular inspections to ensure the validity of the reports filed under Subsection D above.
Inspections of stormwater management practices (SMPs). The Stormwater Management Officer or designated agent is responsible for conducting inspections of stormwater management practices (permanent water quantity/quality improvement structures). All operators are required to submit as-built plans certified by a professional engineer for any permanent stormwater management practices located on-site after final stabilization. The plan must show the final design specifications for all stormwater management facilities and must be certified by a professional engineer. Operators shall also provide the owner(s) of such structure(s) with a manual describing the operation and maintenance practices that will be necessary in order for the structure to function as designed. The operator must also certify that the permanent structure(s) have been constructed as described in the SWPPP. This certification can be accomplished by providing to the Town a copy of the notice of termination (NOT) filed with the NYSDEC.
All certified as-built plans, lands, structures, and/or appurtenances, to be dedicated to the Town shall be reviewed, inspected and approved by the Town Engineer or designated agent prior to Town acceptance.
Notice of termination (NOT). Upon certification by the operators licensed/certified professional that a final site inspection has been conducted and that final stabilization has been accomplished and all stormwater management practices have been constructed as described in the SWPPP, the operator shall complete and file an NOT as proscribed by the NYSDEC and file a copy with the Town to notify them that they have complied with § 219-128B and that the project is complete. [NOTE: "Final stabilization" means that all soil disturbing activities at the site have been completed and a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density of 80% has been established or equivalent stabilization measures (such as the use of mulches, or geotextile mats) have been employed on all unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures.]
Maintenance after construction. The owner or operator of permanent stormwater management practices installed in accordance with this article shall ensure they are operated and maintained to achieve the goals of this article. Proper operation and maintenance also includes, at a minimum, the following:
Discharges from the SMPs shall not exceed design criteria or cause or contribute to water quality standard violations in accordance with § 219-126.
Inspection of stormwater facilities after project completion. Inspection programs shall be established on any reasonable basis, including but not limited to: routine inspections; random inspections; inspections based upon complaints or other notice of possible violations; inspection of drainage basins or areas identified as higher-than-typical sources of sediment or other contaminants or pollutants; inspections of businesses or industries of a type associated with higher-than-usual discharges of contaminants or pollutants or with discharges of a type which are more likely than the typical discharge to cause violations of state or federal water or sediment quality standards or the SPDES stormwater permit; and joint inspections with other agencies inspecting under environmental or safety laws. Inspections may include, but are not limited to: reviewing maintenance and repair records; sampling discharges, surface water, groundwater, and material or water in drainage facilities; and evaluating the condition of drainage control facilities and other stormwater management practices.
Submission of reports. The Town of Schodack Stormwater Management Officer may require monitoring and reporting from entities subject to this article as are necessary to determine compliance with this article.
Right of entry for inspection. When any new stormwater management facility is installed on private property or when any new connection is made between private property and the public stormwater system, the landowner shall grant to the Town of Schodack the right to enter the property at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner for the purpose of inspection as specified in § 219-130B.
Construction completion guarantee. The applicant or developer may be required to provide, prior to construction, a performance bond, cash escrow, or irrevocable letter of credit from an appropriate financial or surety institution which guarantees satisfactory completion of the project and names the Town of Schodack as the beneficiary. The security shall be in an amount determined by the Town of Schodack based on submission of final design plans, with reference to actual construction and landscaping costs. The performance guarantee shall remain in force until the surety is released from liability by the Town of Schodack, provided that such period shall not be less than one year from the date of final acceptance or such other certification that the facilities have been constructed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and that a one-year inspection has been conducted and the facilities have been found to be acceptable to the Town. Per annum interest on cash escrow deposits shall be reinvested in the account until the surety is released from liability.
Maintenance guarantee. Where stormwater management and erosion and sediment control facilities are to be operated and maintained by the developer or by a corporation that owns or manages a commercial or industrial facility, the developer, prior to construction, may be required to provide the Town of Schodack with an irrevocable letter of credit from an approved financial institution or surety to ensure proper operation and maintenance of all stormwater management and erosion control facilities both during and after construction, and until the facilities are removed from operation. If the developer or landowner fails to properly operate and maintain stormwater management and erosion control facilities, the Town may, upon notification, draw upon the account to cover the costs of proper operation and maintenance, including engineering and inspection costs.
Recordkeeping. The Town of Schodack may require entities subject to this article to maintain records demonstrating compliance with this article.
The responsible board or municipal official is hereby authorized to retain licensed /certified professionals as are determined to be necessary to carry out the review of a SWPPP or to make regular or final inspections of all control measures, lands, structures, and/or appurtenances, to be dedicated to the Town in accordance with the approved plan.
Payment for the services of such professionals is to be made from funds deposited by the applicant with the Town in escrow accounts for such purposes.
Notice of violation. The operator and all contractors and subcontractors must comply with all conditions of a SWPPP submitted pursuant to this article. In the event that the Town determines that a land development activity is not being carried out in accordance with the requirements of this article, the Stormwater Management Officer may issue written notice of violation to the operator/landowner, applicant and all contractors/subcontractors subject to the provisions of this article. The notice of violation shall contain the following information:
The name and address of the operator/landowner, developer, or applicant;
The address of the site or a description of the building, structure or land upon which the violation is occurring;
A statement of the penalty or penalties that can be assessed against the person to whom the notice of violation is directed;
Within 15 days of notification of violation (or as otherwise provided by the Town) the violator shall take the remedial measures necessary to bring the land development activity into compliance with this article.
Stop-work order. The Stormwater Management Officer may issue a stop-work order for violation of this article. Persons receiving a stop-work order shall be required to halt all land development activities, except those activities that address the violation(s) identified in the stop-work order. The stop-work order shall be in effect until the Town confirms that the land development activity is in compliance and the violation has been satisfactorily addressed. Failure to address a stop-work order in a timely manner may result in civil, criminal, and/or monetary penalties in accordance with this article.
Violations. The Town of Schodack may require entities subject to this article to maintain records demonstrating compliance with this article.
Penalties. Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and each day during which any violation of any of the provisions of this article is committed, continued, or permitted, shall constitute a separate offense. Upon conviction of any such violation, such person, partnership, or corporation shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250 for each offense. In addition to any other penalty authorized by this section, any person, partnership, or corporation convicted of violating any of the provisions of this article shall be required to bear the expense of such restoration. To the extent that the noncompliance with this article constitutes a violation of the Clean Water Act and the Environmental Conservation Law, there may be substantial criminal, civil, and administrative penalties, depending upon the nature and degree of the offense.
Restoration of lands. Any violator may be required to restore land to its undisturbed condition. In the event that restoration is not undertaken within a reasonable time after notice, the Town of Schodack may take necessary corrective action, the cost of which shall become a lien upon the property until paid.