With the spring construction season ahead, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wants to remind Vermonters about additional requirements to help protect the state’s waterways.
“We understand that managing construction sites to protect water quality is a year-round challenge,” said DEC Commissioner John Beling. “Using measures that reduce erosion and keep soil on construction sites helps us protect Vermont’s waterways and their many benefits.”
Construction activities require a Construction Stormwater Permit under the Vermont Construction General Permit 3-9020 when total land disturbance is:
Equal to or greater than one acre, or
Less than one acre, but part of a larger common plan of development, if the larger development will ultimately result in the disturbance of one or more acres.
Permittees must have an Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control plan. From marking construction limits to installing stone check dams, measures in the plan must follow the Vermont Standards and Specifications.
“Permittees help us not only reduce erosion but also cut costs to maintain infrastructure such as road ditches and storm sewers,” said Beling. “Our department offers resources to help Vermonters understand the full suite of measures, follow the permit requirements, and protect our remarkable surface waters from streams and rivers to ponds, lakes, and wetlands.” To learn more, interested parties may view the permit application instructions or the Low Risk Site Handbook. The DEC Stormwater Management Program oversees regulations and offers technical assistance for stormwater management.
