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1. When is an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan required?

All disturbances greater than 5,000 square feet must have a written Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. Any disturbance associated with the use of Chapter 105 General Permit (GP) (stream crossing, wetland disturbance, etc.), pond dredgings, or one acre and greater disturbance must have an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan developed and reviewed by the Conservation District office.

2. What is NPDES and when do I need one of these permits?

NPDES is a federal program administered by the state. NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) is established to regulate all point source discharges (specifically-discharge of stormwater from construction sites). The Conservation District has delegation authority to administer this program. Any proposed disturbance of 1 acre or more through the life of the project must have an NPDES permit.
• General NPDES permit – Issued by the District after District review of the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan finds the plan adequate. This permit is for projects in non-protected watersheds.
• Individual NPDES permit – Issued by PA DEP after recommendation from the District to issue and a 30 day publication in the PA Bulletin. This is for sites in High Quality (HQ)/ Exceptional Value (EV) Watersheds and those sites with possible environmental pollution or history of non-compliance.

3. What is an environmental complaint?

An environmental complaint can be a tip or concern relating to suspected pollution or to an activity that may have a negative impact on the environment. The suspected responsible party could be a facility or an individual. An Environmental Complaint Form can be found on the Applications/Forms under the Conservation District Department Page. Submit the completed form to the Chester County Conservation District