EPA 830-F-15-00
December 2015
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Stormwater
Pollution
Prevention
Small Residential
Construction Sites
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10 Steps to Stormwater Pollution Prevention on Small Residential Construction Sites
Stormwater management on small residential construction sites need not be complicated.
O Protect Any Areas Reserved for Vegetation or Infiltration and Preserve Existing Trees
If you will be installing infiltration-based features such as rain gardens or bioswales,
make sure these areas are designated as off limits to avoid compaction.
Save time and money by preserving existing mature trees during construction.
Preserving mature trees minimizes the amount of soil that needs to be stabilized
once construction is complete, and minimizes the amount of runoff during and after
construction activity.
Stockpile Your Soil
EPA's CGP requires operators to preserve native topsoil on site unless
infeasible and protect all soil storage piles from run-on and runoff. For smaller
stockpiles, covering the entire pile with a tarp may be sufficient.
Protect Construction Materials from Run-On and Runoff
At the end of every workday and during precipitation events, provide
cover for materials that could leach pollutants.
O Designate Waste Disposal Areas
Clearly identify separate waste disposal areas
on site for hazardous waste, construction waste,
and domestic waste by designating with
signage, and protect from run-on
and runoff.
Install Perimeter
Controls on
Downhill Lot Line
Install perimeter controls such as
sediment filter logs or silt fences
around the downhill boundaries of your site.
Install Inlet Controls
Sediment control logs, gravel barriers, and
sand or rock bags are options for effective inlet controls.
Make sure to remove accumulated sediment whenever it has
reached halfway up the control.
tm Post Your NOI and Keep an Up-to-Date
Copy of Your SWPPP on Site
Post a sign or other notice of your permit coverage,
including your NPDES tracking number and site
contact information. Also, keep a copy of your
complete and up-to-date SWPPP on site and easily
accessible, including site maps showing where
each BMP is or will be installed.
O
Install a Concrete/Stucco Washout Basin
Designate a leak-proof basin lined with plastic for washing out used
concrete and stucco containers. Never wash excess stucco or concrete residue
down a storm drain or into a stream!
Maintain a Stabilized Exit Pad
Minimize sediment track-out from vehicles exiting your site by maintaining an exit
pad made of crushed rock spread over geotextile fabric. If sediment track-out occurs, remove
deposited sediment by the end of the same work day.
Site Stabilization
Immediately stabilize exposed portions
of the site whenever construction work will
stop for 14 or more days, even if work is
only temporarily stopped. Remember, final
stabilization is required prior to terminating
permit coverage.
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EPA's Construction General Permit (CGP) Small Residential Lot Stormwater
Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Template
Who needs to seek coverage under the EPA CGP?
Stormwater discharges from construction activities that disturb one or more acres, or smaller sites disturbing less
than one acre that are part of a common plan of development or sale, are regulated under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater permitting program. Prior to the start of construction,
construction operators must obtain coverage under an NPDES permit, which is administered either by the state
(if it is authorized to operate the NPDES program) or EPA. Where EPA is the permitting authority, operators may
seek coverage under the EPA CGP. The CGP requires operators of construction sites to meet effluent limits (i.e.,
through the implementation of erosion and sediment controls) and requires operators to develop a SWPPP detailing
erosion and sediment controls and pollution prevention measures that will be implemented to meet the requirements
of the CGP.
What is the Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template?
The Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template is designed to help operators of small residential sites develop a
streamlined SWPPP that meets the minimum requirements of EPAs CGP. This simplified template does not change,
relax, or modify any existing conditions in the CGP, including the requirement to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for
permit coverage.
How does it work?
Think of the Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template as a 1040EZ tax form for small
construction sites. All of the same requirements apply, but compliance options are
focused on only those controls that apply to small residential lot construction, and they
are presented in a simplified, user-friendly format.
The Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template streamlines SWPPP development
by providing a simplified menu of erosion and sediment control and pollution
prevention practices that operators can select from to complete a SWPPP consistent
with the minimum requirements in the CGP.
Easy to Use BMP Menu
The Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template provides operators with a walk-through
menu of typical erosion and sediment control and pollution prevention practices
(i.e., Best Management Practices or BMPs) appropriate for small construction sites.
Illustrated Appendix with Pull-Out BMP Spec Sheets
Clear, step-by-step BMP spec sheets for each practice you choose are provided in an
illustrated appendix that you may edit based on your site-specific conditions.
Does my project qualify for EPA's Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template?
In order to use EPAs streamlined template, your site must meet a series of criteria, including:
• Projects must disturb less than one acre of land;
• Projects must be located outside of sensitive areas (areas with endangered species concerns, historic
preservation issues, wetlands, etc.);
• Projects must not cause disturbance within 50 ft of a water of the U.S.;
• Projects must not require the use of chemical treatment for Stormwater; and
• Projects must not disturb steep slopes.
To access EPA's streamlined Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template, visit:
www.epa.gov/national-pollutant-d.ischarge-elimination-system-npdes/stormwater-d.ischarges-construction-activities
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