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STORMWATER

Stormwater Management Plans & Permitting

A stormwater management plan is required by most communities for any project or job that disturbs the dirt (“earth disturbance activity”), unless it qualifies for an exemption or as a Small Project.  Regulated activities can include land development, new construction or remodels, changing the course of any waterway, excavation or grading, removal of ground cover, changes to existing stormwater management features, and other activities the community determines may affect stormwater drainage.

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Questions?  Contact us for answers. 

SERVICES

 

  • Site and project analysis (including level of approvals required)

  • Stormwater management site plan preparation, including existing features and proposed improvements

  • Determination of existing hydrologic features, environmentally sensitive areas and karst features

  • Pre-and post-development discharge calculations

  • Stormwater management facility and Best Management Practice (BMP) design

  • Hydrologic, hydraulic, and structural computations for all SWM Facilities

  • E&S (erosion & sediment) control plan

  • Drainage easements

  • Project cost opinions for escrow calculations

  • Operation and Maintenance Agreement preparation

  • Complete submission preparation

  • Coordination with all approval agencies

Stormwater Plans & Permitting

Erosion & Sediment (E&S) Control Plans

Erosion & Sediment Control Plans are designed to prevent the washing and wearing away of soil by water, wind or chemical action.  They are required for earth disturbance activities, including grading, excavation, land development, agricultural plowing or tilling, operation of animal heavy use areas, among other things.  Activities disturbing less than 5000 sqft may not require a written E&S plan, but may still require the installation and maintenance of E&S BMPs (best management practices).

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Questions?  Contact us for answers.

SERVICES

 

  • E&S site plan & map preparation, including existing features and proposed changes

  • Soils information

  • Supporting design calculations

  • Surface waters maps

  • Selection and design of appropriate E&S control features (BMPs)

  • Plan drawings & details

  • E&S control feature installation sequence

  • BMP Maintenance programs

  • Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) Plans

  • Complete submission preparation

  • Coordination with all approval agencies

E&S Control Plans

NPDES Permits

NPDES permits are required by law for any project that disturbs more than 1 acre of earth.  Some projects may be eligible for coverage under a General Permit.  Some projects located in “special protection” watersheds or in areas that support endangered species might require an Individual NPDES Permit.  There are other circumstances that may require an Individual Permit.  Please contact us to discuss your project.  We’ll be glad to answer questions about the NPDES permit process.

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Questions?  Contact us for answers.

SERVICES

 

  • General and Individual NPDES Permit Applications

  • NPDES Renewals

  • Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) Searches

  • Post Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) Plans

  • Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency (PPC) Plans

  • Thermal Impact Analysis

  • Antidegradation Analysis

  • Coordination with Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP)& Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI)

  • Off-site Discharge Analysis

  • Supporting calculations and worksheets

  • General Information Form (GIF) preparation & submission

  • General and Individual Permit Notice of Intent (NOI) preparation & submission

NPDES Permits

Small Project Permits

An impervious surface does not allow water or other liquids to pass through, meaning that rainwater won’t soak in, but will run off.  In most communities, some projects that add a smaller amount of impervious area (ranging from <500 or <1000 sqft) are exempt from stormwater management permits.  Projects that add more impervious area can qualify for a small project permit (often less than 2000 or 2500 sqft, depending on the community). 

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The only way to find out if your project will qualify is to fill out a Small Project or exemption application, which includes a series of worksheets and a sketch plan.  Small projects usually require a Minor Stormwater Site Plan, including design and implementation of some stormwater BMPs (Best Management Practices) to manage stormwater runoff.  An Operation & Maintenance agreement for the BMPs will also be submitted.  Note:  commercial projects generally don’t qualify for a small project permit.

 

Questions?  Contact us for answers.

SERVICES

 

  • Application submission, including sketch plan of existing and proposed improvements

  • Impervious area and stormwater volume calculations

  • Soil analysis, including percolation, infiltration, and karst topography

  • Selection and design of appropriate BMPs (Best Management Practices)

  • Operation & Maintenance Agreement preparation

  • Complete submission preparation

  • Coordination with all approval agencies

Small Project Permits
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