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California Stormwater Management

California State Overview

California has continued to be identified and renowned as the foreword thinkers of progressive initiatives toward stormwater management in the United States. Since the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) inception in the 1950s, the state's nine (9) regional water boards have successfully implemented and sustained one of the most comprehensive and effective stormwater management programs in the country.

Operators and/or dischargers whose projects will be incorporating construction activities (Construction clearing, grading and other disturbances to the ground such as stockpiling, or excavation) that will disturb one (1) or more acres of soil or whose projects disturb less than one (1) acre but are part of a larger common plan of development that, in total, disturbs one (1) or more acres, are required to obtain coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity Construction General Permit Order. The project site operator or “Legally Responsible Person (LRP)” is required to obtain coverage under the Construction General Permit by filing Permit Registration Documents (PRDs) electronically through the State Water Board’s online “SMARTS” program prior to the commencement of any construction activities.

DISCLAIMER: This program has not yet been approved by the California Department of Water Resources Control Board.

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State of California Construction General Permit Definitions

Active Areas of Construction - All areas subject to land surface disturbance activities related to the project including, but not limited to, project staging areas, immediate access areas and storage areas. All previously active areas are still considered active areas until final stabilization is complete. [The construction activity Phases used in this General Permit are the Preliminary Phase, Grading and Land Development Phase, Streets and Utilities Phase, and the Vertical Construction Phase.]

Active Treatment System (ATS) - A treatment system that employs chemical coagulation, chemical flocculation, or electrocoagulation to aid in the reduction of turbidity caused by fine suspended sediment.

Acute Toxicity Test - A chemical stimulus severe enough to rapidly induce a negative effect; in aquatic toxicity tests, an effect observed within 96 hours or less is considered acute.

Air Deposition - Airborne particulates from construction activities.

Approved Signatory - A person who has been authorized by the Legally Responsible Person to sign, certify, and electronically submit Permit Registration Documents, Notices of Termination, and any other documents, reports, or information required by the General Permit, the State or Regional Water Board, or U.S. EPA. The Approved Signatory must be one of the following:

1. For a corporation or limited liability company: a responsible corporate officer. For the purpose of this section, a responsible corporate officer means: (a) a president, secretary, treasurer, or vice-president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy or decision-making functions for the corporation or limited liability company; or (b) the manager of the facility if authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures;

2. For a partnership or sole proprietorship: a general partner or the proprietor, respectively;

3. For a municipality, State, Federal, or other public agency: a principal executive officer, ranking elected official, city manager, council president, or any other authorized public employee with managerial responsibility over the construction or land disturbance project (including, but not limited to, project manager, project superintendent, or resident engineer);

4. For the military: any military officer or Department of Defense civilian, acting in an equivalent capacity to a military officer, who has been designated;

5. For a public university: an authorized university official;

6. For an individual: the individual, because the individual acts as both the Legally Responsible Person and the Approved Signatory; or

7. For any type of entity not listed above (e.g. trusts, estates, receivers): an authorized person with managerial authority over the construction or land disturbance project.

Beneficial Uses - As defined in the California Water Code, beneficial uses of the waters of the state that may be protected against quality degradation include, but are not limited to, domestic, municipal, agricultural and industrial supply; power generation; recreation; aesthetic enjoyment; navigation; and preservation and enhancement of fish, wildlife, and other aquatic resources or preserves.

Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BAT) - As defined by USEPA, BAT is a technology-based standard established by the Clean Water Act (CWA) as the most appropriate means available on a national basis for controlling the direct discharge of toxic and nonconventional pollutants to navigable waters. The BAT effluent limitations guidelines, in general, represent the best existing performance of treatment technologies that are economically achievable within an industrial point source category or subcategory.

Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT) - As defined by USEPA, BCT is a technology-based standard for the discharge from existing industrial point sources of conventional pollutants including biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended sediment (TSS), fecal coliform, pH, oil and grease.

Best Professional Judgment (BPJ) - The method used by permit writers to develop technology-based NPDES permit conditions on a case-by-case basis using all reasonably available and relevant data.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) - BMPs are scheduling of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.

Chain of Custody (COC) - Form used to track sample handling as samples progress from sample collection to the analytical laboratory. The COC is then used to track the resulting analytical data from the laboratory to the client. COC forms can be obtained from an analytical laboratory upon request.

Coagulation - The clumping of particles in a discharge to settle out impurities, often induced by chemicals such as lime, alum, and iron salts.

Common Plan of Development - Generally a contiguous area where multiple, distinct construction activities may be taking place at different times under one plan. A plan is generally defined as any piece of documentation or physical demarcation that indicates that construction activities may occur on a common plot. Such documentation could consist of a tract map, parcel map, demolition plans, grading plans or contract documents. Any of these documents could delineate the boundaries of a common plan area. However, broad planning documents, such as land use master plans, conceptual master plans, or broad-based CEQA or NEPA documents that identify potential projects for an agency or facility are not considered common plans of development.

Daily Average Discharge - The discharge of a pollutant measured during any 24-hour period that reasonably represents a calendar day for purposes of sampling. For pollutants with limitations expressed in units of mass, the daily discharge is calculated as the total mass of the pollutant discharged during the day. For pollutants with limitations expressed in other units of measurement (e.g., concentration) the daily discharge is calculated as the average measurement of the pollutant throughout the day (40 CFR 122.2). In the case of pH, the pH must first be converted from a log scale.

Debris - Litter, rubble, discarded refuse, and remains of destroyed inorganic anthropogenic waste.

Direct Discharge - A discharge that is routed directly to waters of the United States by means of a pipe, channel, or ditch (including a municipal storm sewer system), or through surface runoff.

Discharger - The Legally Responsible Person (see definition) or entity subject to this General Permit.

Dose Rate (for ATS) - In exposure assessment, dose (e.g. of a chemical) per time unit (e.g. mg/day), sometimes also called dosage.

Drainage Area - The area of land that drains water, sediment, pollutants, and dissolved materials to a common outlet.

Effluent - Any discharge of water by a discharger either to the receiving water or beyond the property boundary controlled by the discharger.

Effluent Limitation - Any numeric or narrative restriction imposed on quantities, discharge rates, and concentrations of pollutants which are discharged from point sources into waters of the United States, the waters of the contiguous zone, or the ocean.

Erosion - The process, by which soil particles are detached and transported by the actions of wind, water, or gravity.

Erosion Control BMPs - Vegetation, such as grasses and wildflowers, and other materials, such as straw, fiber, stabilizing emulsion, protective blankets, etc., placed to stabilize areas of disturbed soils, reduce loss of soil due to the action of water or wind, and prevent water pollution.

Field Measurements - Testing procedures performed in the field with portable field-testing kits or meters.

Final Stabilization - All soil disturbing activities at each individual parcel within the site have been completed in a manner consistent with the requirements in this General Permit.

First Order Stream - Stream with no tributaries.

Flocculants - Substances that interact with suspended particles and bind them together to form flocs.

Good Housekeeping BMPs - BMPs designed to reduce or eliminate the addition of pollutants to construction site runoff through analysis of pollutant sources, implementation of proper handling/disposal practices, employee education, and other actions.

Grading Phase (part of the Grading and Land Development Phase) - Includes reconfiguring the topography and slope including; alluvium removals; canyon cleanouts; rock undercuts; keyway excavations; land form grading; and stockpiling of select material for capping operations.

Hydromodification - Hydromodification is the alteration of the hydrologic characteristics of coastal and non-coastal waters, which in turn could cause degradation of water resources. Hydromodification can cause excessive erosion and/or sedimentation rates, causing excessive turbidity, channel aggradation and/or degradation.

Identified Organisms - Organisms within a sub-sample that is specifically identified and counted.

Inactive Areas of Construction - Areas of construction activity that are not active and those that have been active and are not scheduled to be re-disturbed for at least 14 days.

Index Period - The period of time during which bioassessment samples must be collected to produce results suitable for assessing the biological integrity of streams and rivers. Instream communities naturally vary over the course of a year,and sampling during the index period ensures that samples are collected during a time frame when communities are stable so that year-to-year consistency is obtained. The index period approach provides a cost-effective alternative to year round sampling. Furthermore, sampling within the appropriate index period will yield results that are comparable to the assessment thresholds or criteria for a given region, which are established for the same index period. Because index periods differ for different parts of the state, it is essential to know the index period for your area.

K Factor - The soil erodibility factor used in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). It represents the combination of detachability of the soil, runoff potential of the soil, and the transportability of the sediment eroded from the soil.

Legally Responsible Person - The Legally Responsible Person (LRP) will typically be the project proponent. The categories of persons or entities that are eligible to serve as the LRP are set forth below. For any construction or land disturbance project where multiple persons or entities are eligible to serve as the LRP, those persons or entitiesshall select a single LRP. In exceptional circumstances, a person or entity that qualifies as the LRP may provide written authorization to another person or entity to serve as the LRP. In such a circumstance, the person or entity that provides the authorization retains all responsibility for compliance with the General Permit. Except as provided in category 2(d), a contractor who does not satisfy the requirements of any of the categories below is not qualified to be an LRP. The following persons or entities may serve as an LRP:

1. A person, company, agency, or other entity that possesses a real property interest (including, but not limited to, fee simple ownership, easement, leasehold, or other rights of way) in the land upon which the construction or land disturbance activities will occur for the regulated site.

2. In addition to the above, the following persons or entities may also serve as an LRP:

a. For linear underground/overhead projects, the utility company, municipality, or other public or private company or agency that owns or operates the LUP;

b. For land controlled by an estate or similar entity, the person who has dayto- day control over the land (including, but not limited to, a bankruptcy trustee, receiver, or conservator);

c. For pollution investigation and remediation projects, any potentially responsible party that has received permission to conduct the project from the holder of a real property interest in the land; or

d. For U.S. Army Corp of Engineers projects, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may provide written authorization to its bonded contractor to serve as the LRP, provided, however, that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also responsible for compliance with the general permit, as authorized by the Clean Water Act or the Federal Facilities Compliance Act.

Likely Precipitation Event - Any weather pattern that is forecasted to have a 50% or greater chance of producing precipitation in the project area. The discharger shall obtain likely precipitation forecast information from the National Weather Service Forecast Office (e.g., by entering the zip code of the project’s location at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/forecast).

Maximum Allowable Threshold Concentration (MATC) - The allowable concentration of residual, or dissolved, coagulant/flocculant ineffluent. The MATC shall be coagulant/flocculant-specific, and based on toxicitytesting conducted by an independent, third-party laboratory. A typical MATC would be: The MATC is equal to the geometric mean of the NOEC (No Observed Effect Concentration) and LOEC (Lowest Observed Effect Concentration) Acute and Chronic toxicity results for most sensitive species determined for the specific coagulant. The most sensitive species test shall be used to determine the MATC.

Natural Channel Evolution - The physical trend in channel adjustments following a disturbance that causes the river to have more energy and degrade or aggrade more sediment. Channels have been observed to pass through 5 to 9 evolution types. Once they pass though the suite of evolution stages, they will rest in a new state of equilibrium.

Non-Storm Water Discharges - Discharges are discharges that do not originate from precipitation events. They can include, but are not limited to, discharges of process water, air conditioner condensate, non-contact cooling water, vehicle wash water, sanitary wastes, concrete washout water, paint wash water, irrigation water, or pipe testing water.

Non-Visible Pollutants - Pollutants associated with a specific site or activity that can have a negative impact on water quality, but cannot be seen though observation (ex: chlorine). Such pollutants being discharged are not authorized.

Numeric Action Level (NAL) - Level is used as a warning to evaluate if best management practices are effective and take necessary corrective actions. Not an effluent limit.

Original Sample Material - The material (i.e., macroinvertebrates, organic material, gravel, etc.) remaining after the subsample has been removed for identification.

pH - Unit universally used to express the intensity of the acid or alkaline condition of a water sample. The pH of natural waters tends to range between 6 and 9, with neutral being 7. Extremes of pH can have deleterious effects on aquatic systems.

Post-Construction BMPs - Structural and non-structural controls which detain, retain, or filter the release of pollutants to receiving waters after final stabilization is attained.

Preliminary Phase (Pre-Construction Phase - Part of the Grading and Land Development Phase) - Construction stage including rough grading and/or disking, clearing and grubbing operations, or any soil disturbance prior to mass grading.

Qualified SWPPP Developer - Individual who is authorized to develop and revise SWPPPs.

Qualified SWPPP Practitioner - Individual assigned responsibility for non-storm water and storm water visual observations, sampling and analysis, and responsibility to ensure full compliance with the permit and implementation of all elements of the SWPPP, including the preparation of the annual compliance evaluation and the elimination of all unauthorized discharges.

Qualifying Rain Event - Any event that produces 0.5 inches or more precipitation with a 48 hour or greater period between rain events.

R Factor - Erosivity factor used in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The R factor represents the erosivity of the climate at a particular location. An average annual value of R is determined from historical weather records using erosivity values determined for individual storms. The erosivity of an individual storm is computed as the product of the storm's total energy, which is closely related to storm amount, and the storm's maximum 30-minute intensity.

Rain Event Action Plan (REAP) - Written document, specific for each rain event, that when implemented is designed to protect all exposed portions of the site within 48 hours of any likely precipitation event.

Remaining Sub sampled Material - The material (e.g., organic material, gravel, etc.) that remains after the organisms to be identified have been removed from the subsample for identification. (Generally, no macroinvertebrates are present in the remaining subsampled material, but the sample needs to be checked and verified using a complete Quality Assurance (QA) plan)

Routine Maintenance - Activities intended to maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original purpose of a facility.

Runoff Control BMPs - Measures used to divert runon from offsite and runoff within the site.

Run-on - Discharges that originate offsite and flow onto the property of a separate project site.

Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) - Empirical model that calculates average annual soil loss as a function of rainfall and runoff erosivity, soil erodibility, topography, erosion controls, and sediment controls.

Sampling and Analysis Plan - Document that describes how the samples will be collected, under what conditions, where and when the samples will be collected, what the sample will be tested for, what test methods and detection limits will be used, and what methods/procedures will be maintained to ensure the integrity of the sample during collection, storage, shipping and testing (i.e., quality assurance/quality control protocols).

Sediment - Solid particulate matter, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity, or ice and has come to rest on the earth's surface either above or below sea level.

Sedimentation - Process of deposition of suspended matter carried by water, wastewater, or other liquids, by gravity. It is usually accomplished by reducing the velocity of the liquid below the point at which it can transport the suspended material.

Sediment Control BMPs - Practices that trap soil particles after they have been eroded by rain, flowing water, or wind. They include those practices that intercept and slow or detain the flow of storm water to allow sediment to settle and be trapped (e.g., silt fence, sediment basin, fiber rolls, etc.).

Settleable Solids (SS) - Solid material that can be settled within a water column during a specified time frame. It is typically tested by placing a water sample into an Imhoff settling cone and then allowing the solids to settle by gravity for a given length of time. Results are reported either as a volume (mL/L) or a mass (mg/L) concentration.

Sheet Flow - Flow of water that occurs overland in areas where there are no defined channels where the water spreads out over a large area at a uniform depth.

Soil Amendment - Any material that is added to the soil to change its chemical properties, engineering properties, or erosion resistance that could become mobilized by storm water.

Streets and Utilities Phase - Construction stage including excavation and street paving, lot grading, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, public utilities, public water facilities including fire hydrants, public sanitary sewer systems, storm sewer system and/or other drainage improvements.

Structural Controls - Any structural facility designed and constructed to mitigate the adverse impacts of storm water and urban runoff pollution

Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC) - The measure of the concentration of suspended solid material in a water sample by measuring the dry weight of all of the solid material from a known volume of a collected water sample. Results are reported in mg/L.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) - The measure of the suspended solids in a water sample includes inorganic substances, such as soil particles and organic substances, such as algae, aquatic plant/animal waste, particles related to industrial/sewage waste, etc. The TSS test measures the concentration of suspended solids in water by measuring the dry weight of a solid material contained in a known volume of a sub-sample of a collected water sample. Results are reported in mg/L.

Toxicity - The adverse response(s) of organisms to chemicals or physical agents ranging from mortality to physiological responses such as impaired reproduction or growth anomalies.

Turbidity - The cloudiness of water quantified by the degree to which light traveling through a water column is scattered by the suspended organic and inorganic particles it contains. The turbidity test is reported in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) or Jackson Turbidity Units (JTU).

Vertical Construction Phase - The Build out of structures from foundations to roofing, including rough landscaping.

Waters of the United States - Generally refers to surface waters, as defined by the federal Environmental Protection Agency in 40 C.F.R. § 122.2.1

Water Quality Objectives (WQO) - Water quality objectives are defined in the California Water Code as limits or levels of water quality constituents or characteristics, which are established for the reasonable protection of beneficial uses of water or the prevention of nuisance within a specific area.

Recommend for any person looking to renew their CESCL

I needed to renew my CESCL card that was due to expire in a few months and I knew I wouldn't have a chance then. I took a period of relative downtime and was able to renew my card from my work desk. Material was well presented and discussed the real world elements of CESCL inspection and not hours of permit review. I will recommend it for any person looking to renew their CESCL.

Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

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California Stormwater Management

California State Overview

State of California Construction General Permit Acronym List

State of California Construction General Permit Definitions

Recommend for any person looking to renew their CESCL