The Clearfield County Conservation District is delegated to oversee the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) Chapter 102 Erosion Control Regulations. Erosion and Sediment from construction sites is one of the most significant sources of pollution in the waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Erosion is the washing away of dirt and soil from the land. Sedimentation is the deposition of the dirt and soil into areas where it is not wanted.
Because there are soil erosion problems associated with earth disturbance activities, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) approved statewide regulations for Erosion and Sediment Control, 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 in September of 1972 and amended then on January 1, 2000. These regulations are authorized by the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, 35 P.S. §§691.1 et seq., and prohibit the discharge of any pollutant to waters of the Commonwealth. Under the Chapter 102 regulations, anyone conducting earth disturbance activities must use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to minimize the amount of sediment leaving the earth disturbance activity.
DEP is responsible for the administration and enforcement of Chapter 102 regulations and the Clean Streams Law. Clearfield County Conservation District has been delegated the responsibility to review Erosion and Sediment Control Plans, conduct training, respond to complaints, perform site inspections, and in some cases, assist the DEP with compliance and enforcement actions.
1. DISTURBED AREA GREATER THEN 5,000 SQUARE FEET
An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan must be written for all construction activities where the earth disturbance will be greater than 5,000 square feet. For construction sites less than 5,000 square feet of disturbed earth, precautions still must be taken to limit the amount of soil from leaving the site. Help for preparing Plans is available at the District office. Several townships in the County require an approved E&S Plan prior to construction activities. The District reviews and approves Erosion and Sediment Control Plans only where and when required.
The Plan must show how land and water resources are to be protected against accelerated erosion through the use of Best Management Practices. Examples of BMPs include: silt fence, mulch, diversion ditches, sediment traps, sediment basins, and the establishment of grasses for permanent stabilization. The Plan must show a site map, location of BMPs, and the timing and sequence of their installation for maximum effectiveness. See Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Requirements below, for a complete detailed list of E & S Plan Requirements.
All logging activities require a written Erosion and Sediment Control Plan to be on-site, if the total disturbed area is greater than 5,000 square feet. Lawrence and Woodward Townships in Clearfield County have enacted zoning rules that require E&S Plans to be approved by the Conservation District prior to Logging. Erosion and Sediment control plan for timber Harvest operations are available at the District Office.
The Conservation District also approves Erosion and Sediment Control Plans for DEP Water Obstruction and Encroachment Program (Chapter 105) General Permits. These General Permits are for crossing of streams, stream bank rehabilitation, agricultural crossings, utility line stream crossings, and other activities within 50 feet of a stream, pond or lake. Help in preparing the E&S Plans for General Permits is available at the Conservation District Office. Chapter 105 Permits must be approved by the PA DEP. Clearfield County does not have Chapter 105 delegation to authorize these stream encroachment permits.
2. DISTURBED AREA GREATER THAN 1 ACRE
On November 16, 1990, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed permitting regulations for Stormwater discharges associated with construction activities as required by the Federal Clean Water Act. Effective October 1, 1992, all construction activities proposing to disturb 5 or more acres of land must be authorized by a national Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. Logging activities are exempt of NPDES rules.
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations were updated on December 8, 2002. Earth disturbances greater then 1 acre are subject to NPDES Rules and Regulations. Persons proposing earth disturbance activities with a point source discharge to surface waters of the Commonwealth that disturb from 1 to 5 acres, must apply for a NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges associated with Construction Activities. A Point source is defined as any discernable, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, well, discrete fissure, or container from which pollutant are or may be discharged.
Another new stipulation that came into affect on December 8, 2002 was the inclusion of Post Construction Stormwater Management, as part of the NPDES application. Activities that result in a direct discharge to surface waters of the Commonwealth require a Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) Plan. The PCSM Plan should indicate that Best Management Practices will be effective in infiltrating and controlling the runoff from a 2-year/24 hour storm event.
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits are obtained through the Conservation District. Earth Disturbance activities cannot begin until authorization of the permit is obtained. Persons proposing Stormwater discharge associated with construction activities should file an administratively complete and acceptable application at the earliest possible date but no later than 30 days prior to the proposed commencement of construction, and no later than 120 days prior to construction for Individual Permits.
There are two kinds of NPDES Permits, General and Individual. The District issues General NPDES Permits. Activities that do not qualify for coverage under General NPDES Permit must obtain coverage under the Individual NPDES Permit. These activities are as follows: Projects in special protection watersheds; activities that will alter existing water quality standards; Activities that may result in pollutant or toxic discharge. The Conservation District reviews the application and Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for Individual NPDES Permits, and then forwards the application to the PA DEP Northcentral Regional Office for final approval of Individual NPDES Permits. There is a $250 application fee for General NPDES Permits, and a $500 application fee for Individual NPDES Permits.
Click here to download the complete
Click here to download the Checklists and the General Permits
Checklist are downloaded into Word
GP's are downloaded into Acrobat Reader
GP 1 - Fish Habitat Enhancement Structures
GP 2 - Small Docks & Boat Launching Ramps
GP 3 - Bank Rehabilitation, Bank Protection & Gravel Bar Removal
GP 4 - Intake and Outfall Structures
GP 5 - Utility Line Stream Crossing
GP 6 - Agricultural Crossings & Ramps
GP 8 - Temporary Road Crossings
GP 9 - Agricultural Activities
GP 10 - Abandoned Mine Reclamation
GP 15 - Private Residential Construction in Wetlands
The Clearfield County Conservation District has a Level II Delegation Agreement with the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
Questions, concerns, and information should be submitted to:
Clearfield County Conservation District
Attention Fred Berry
Conservation Technician
650 Leonard Street
Clearfield, PA 16830
Phone 814-765-2629
Fax 814-765-1336
Email clfdccd@atlanticbbn.net
The following additional information is required by the Clearfield County Conservation District for Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Plans and associated permits:
1. Required Forms and Payments:
E&S Plan Review Fee as described on the Clearfield County Conservation District Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Requirements For Small Projects Example Standards and Specifications packet (state entities are exempt from the fee, see #4 below).
A NPDES Processing Fee (if applicable as described in #4
below).
* Note, no application form is required for Clearfield County.
2. Required Number of E&S Plan Copies:
For E&S Plan submissions on all projects, including those requiring Individual NPDES Permits, General NPDES Permits, and all other projects, you must submit:
Two (2) complete sets of plans for all draft submissions.
Two (2) complete sets of plans for all final submissions.
3. The E&S Plan should be prepared using the design guidance for E&S controls provided by:
Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Program Manual, March 2000 edition, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Protection, Division of Waterways, Wetlands and Erosion Control.
Alternate control measures may be approved under the provisions of the Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Program Manual, March 2000 edition as described in the Foreword.
4. Include E&S and NPDES Review Fees as applicable. E&S Fees are described on the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Requirements For Small Projects Example Standards and Specifications packet. NPDES Permit Processing Fees are equal to $500.00 for Individual Permits and $250.00 for General Permits. State entities are exempt from these fees.
5. A meeting IS required prior to submission for projects involving NPDES Permits. To schedule a meeting, contact one of the Conservation Technicians at 814-765-2629.
6. If a submission is found inadequate, the applicant MAY request a meeting with the technical reviewer to discuss comments and concerns. Clearfield County Conservation District does not place a time limit on the meetings, and meetings can be requested at any time, at the Conservation District Office, at the project site, or at both.
7. The Clearfield County Conservation District does NOT conduct expedited reviews.
8. The Clearfield County Conservation District approves E&S Permits
and General NPDES Permits. Individual NPDES Permits are approved by
DEP. However, all applications are submitted to the Conservation
District.
... more info