Resuming Construction: Don't Forget About Stormwater

As the construction industry prepares to reopen, contractors are making detailed plans to comply with state and municipal safety requirements related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Among the plans that needs careful review (and likely updating) is the site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Construction sites disturbing 1 acre or greater in size eligible to obtain coverage under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Construction General Permit (CGP) must do so. In addition to the required SWPPP, the CGP imposes a number of obligations that may have been neglected during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown including required inspections, material management, perimeter controls, soil stabilization, stockpile protection and corrective actions as members of the site "Stormwater Team" worked from home.