The total cost of damages caused by sedimentation is about 500 million dollars per year nationally.
York County Soil Survey PowerPoint
What is Soil Erosion?
Erosion is the wearing away of soil and its parent material (rock) through the natural processes of wind and rain. Sedimentation, which results from erosion, is the transport and deposition of these soils and rock particles to a location away from their origin, usually to the "waters of the commonwealth" such as streams, lakes, wetlands, and stormsewers. Through man’s activities (earth moving activities) however, the rates of erosion and sedimentation are greatly accelerated. The PA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (DEP) defines an earthmoving activity as ".. any construction or other activity which disturbs the surface of the land including, but not limited to, excavations, rock, or earth." Interpreted as, if the vegetative cover (grass, and other plant material) is removed or covered, leaving the earth surface exposed, an earthmoving activity has occurred. Without proper controls, the exposed soil will erode.
What Can I Do?
-DEVELOP and IMPLEMENT A PLAN for controlling accelerated erosion during construction.
- LEAVE IT GREEN Soil covered with vegetation will not erode easily. Disturb only those areas needed to build your home. Grade lawn areas only when ready to plant.
If the site has features such as steep slopes, flowing streams, wetlands, springs or highly erodible soils, specific care and planning must be taken to control erosion. Assistance is available from private consultants or the District.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
The PA CLEAN STREAMS LAW AS AMENDED defines sediment as a pollutant. Sediment has become the number one pollutant by volume to the waters of the Commonwealth. The soil particles contained in sediment also carry and retain chemical pollutants such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Accelerated sedimentation that flows into the waters of the Commonwealth can:
1. Raise the levels of streams, lakes, etc. and increase flooding.
2. Decrease oxygen in the waters, suffocating fish and other aquatic life.
3. Deposit sediment over the breeding beds (eggs) of aquatic life.
4. Increase filtering costs of public water supply (e.g. Codorus, Conewago)
5. Ruin the scenic values of the waters
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STORMWATER – NPDES PHASE II PAG-2 and NPDES Phase II Requirements For Construction Activities
*Note: If the permitted activity is in an MS4 municipality, the municipality must ensure the approval of the PCSM plan. The applicant should sent the PCSM plan to the MS4 municipality along with the municipal notification. Even where the approval of the PCSM plan is not required, the permittee must develop and implement the PCSM and certify that the BMPS were implemented in accordance with the PCSM plan when the NOT is submitted. **Although E&S plan
approval is not required under Chapter 102 for these activities, E&S
approval may be required by municipal ordinance or if other DEP permits
are required, Le., Ch. 105 Joint Permit or GPs. |
Standard
Underground Utility Line Plan Format Information Page