North Carolina Stormwater Management
North Carolina State Overview
The State of North Carolina and the N.C. Division of Water Quality’s Stormwater Permitting Unit of the Wetlands and Stormwater Branch is responsible for the development, planning, and implementation of statewide stormwater control policies, strategies, and rules designed to protect the surface waters of North Carolina from impacts of stormwater pollutants and run-off volumes. This particular Division handles permitting for industrial, municipal, and post-construction (for development projects) stormwater programs, and also provides technical assistance to regulated community, engineers, industry, citizens, as well as local governments.
As per the N.C. Division of Water Quality, all owners and operators of stormwater discharges associated with construction activities (clearing, grading or excavation activities) resulting in the disturbance of one (1) acre or greater of land, or is part of a common plan of development of that size, require a local- or state-approved Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan (E&SC Plan) as well as coverage under Construction NPDES Stormwater General Permit. The project will be automatically covered by an NPDES Stormwater General Permit for construction-related activities, only if the ground stabilization and basin design requirements in that permit are included in the E&SC Plan.
The State of North Carolina and the N.C. Division of Water Quality’s Stormwater Permitting Unit of the Wetlands and Stormwater Branch is responsible for the development, planning, and implementation of statewide stormwater control policies, strategies, and rules designed to protect the surface waters of North Carolina from impacts of stormwater pollutants and run-off volumes. This particular Division handles permitting for industrial, municipal, and post-construction (for development projects) stormwater programs, and also provides technical assistance to regulated community, engineers, industry, citizens, as well as local governments.
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NC DEMLR - Inspection & Monitioring Records
NC - E&SC Plan Prelminary Review Checklist for Designers
NC DEQ - DEMLR Stormwater Program - E-NOI Tips for Applicants (E-NOI Form Guidance)
NC DEQ - The 'Dirt' on the New NCG01 Permit
NC DENR - DWR List of Approved Flocculants (PAMS)
NC DEQ - NCG01 Self-Inspection, Recordkeeping, and Reporting
NC - NCG01 - Construction Site Inspection Record (Inspection log)
NC DEQ - NCG010000 - General Permit to Discharge Stormwater Under the NPDES for Construction
NC DEMLR - Options for Covering Lots & Outparcels Under the NCG01
NC DEQ - Fact Sheet on the New NCG01 Permit
NC DEQ - NCG01 Ground Stabilization and Materials Handling
NC - NCG01 Construction 303d-DEMLR-SW
NC DENR - Permit Coverage Renewal Application Form
NC DENR - Construction Site Stabilization Timeframes
NC DEQ - Guidance for Determination of NPDES Regulatory Status of Various Discharges on a Mine Site (NCG02)
NC DWR & DEQ - NPDES Electronic Reporting for Permitted Facilities in the Stormwater Program
NC DENR & DWQ - Approved PAMS-Flocculants List
NC DWR - Form MR-1 - DMR With Conventional Parameter Codes
NC DWR - DMR Instructions - Directions for Completing Monthly DMRs (Forms MR-1, MR-1.1, MR-2 & MR-3)
NC DWR - Form MR-3 - Upstream-Downstream_DMR
NC - Sample Best Management Practices (BMPs) for MS4s and Industrial Activities
NC DEQ & DEMLR - SWU-220 - NPDES NOI for Apparel, Printing, Leather, Rubber Manufacturing (NCG05)
NC DEQ & DEMLR - NCG060000 - NPDES General Permit for Food and Kindred
NC DEMLR - NPDES Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Development and Implementation Certification
NC DWQ - NPDES Effluent Pollutant Scan Waiver Form
NC DEQ & DEMLR - SWU-NCG02-NOI - NPDES NOI for Mineral Mining (NCG02)
NC - NPDES Permit Standard Conditions - Part II Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits
NC DEQ & DEMLR - NCG050000 - NPDES General Permit for Apparel, Printing, Leather, Rubber Manufacturing
NC - NPDES SW 11 Categories - Who is Subject to the NPDES Stormwater Program
NC DWR - Form MR-1.1 - DMR Without Convention Parameter Codes
NC DEQ & DEMLR - SWU-218 - NPDES NOI for Metal Fabrication (NCG03)
NC DEQ & DEMLR - NCG020000 - NPDES General Permit for Mineral Mining
NC DWR - Form MR-2 - DMR Influent
NC DWR - DMR Calculation of Data
NC DEQ & DEMLR - NCG070000 - NPDES General Permit for Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete
NC - List of Available Parameter Codes for DMRs
NC DEQ & DEMLR - SWU-221 - NPDES NOI for Food and Kindred (NCG06)
NC DEQ & DEMLR - NCG030000 - NPDES General Permit for Metal Fabrication
NC DEQ & DEMLR - SWU-222 - NPDES NOI for Stone, Clay, Glass and Concrete (NCG07)
NC - NPDES NCS Renewal of Individual NPDES Stormwater Permit (Industrial Activities)
NC DENR & DEMLR - Plan Revision Form - Stormwater Management Permit Plan Revision Application Form
NC DENR - State Stormwater Permit Transfer Request Form
NC DENR & DEMLR - Form SW401-Low Density - Low Density Supplement
NC DENR - SWU-115 - State Stormwater NOI for General Permit to Clear and Grade (SWG03)
NC DENR - SWG06 - State Stormwater General Permit for Low Density Development
NC DENR - Form SWU-118 - State Stormwater NOI for Low Density Development (SWG06)
NC DENR - Precision in DMRs Guidance - Precision in Discharge Monitoring Reports
NC DENR - SWU-113 - State Stormwater NOI for General Permit for Single Family Residences (SWG01)
NC DENR - SWU-111 - Water Quality Classification Request Form
NC DEQ - LID Workshop References - LID Workshop Reference Handout
NC DENR - SWG02 - State Stormwater General Permit for Bulkheads and Boat Ramps
NC DENR - SWU-114 - State Stormwater NOI for General Permit for Bulkheads and Boat Ramps (SWG02)
NC DWQ - SWU-113 - Notice of Intent (NOI) for Single Family Residences
NC DEMLR - SWU-101 - Application Form Instruction Sheet
NC DENR & DEMLR - Form SWU-101 - Stormwater Management Permit Application Form
NC DENR & DEMLR - SW401-NCDOT Linear Roadway - NCDOT Linear Roadway Project
NC DENR & DEMLR - Form SWU-102 (Renewal Form) - Stormwater Management Permit Renewal Application Form
NC DENR & DEQ - Storm-EZ Spreadsheet
NC DENR - SWG05 - State Stormwater General Permit for Residential Development Disturbing Less than 1 Acre
NC - LID Guidebook Interactive Model Spreadsheet
NC DENR - State Stormwater Annual Permittee's Low Density Certification Form (SWG06)
NC DENR - SWU-117 - SSW NOI for General Permit for Residential Development Disturbing Less than 1Acre (SWG05)
NC DENR - SSW N-O Change - State Stormwater Permit Name & Ownership Change Form
NC DENR - SWG04 - State Stormwater General Permit to Construct a Linear Utility Line
NC DWQ - Common Plan of Development Memo (Phase II Stormwater Requirements)
NC DENR - SWU-116 - State Stormwater NOI for General Permit to Construct a Linear Utility Line (SWG04)
NC DENR - SWG01 - State Stormwater General Permit for Single Family Residence
NC DENR & DEMLR - Form SW401-Off-Site System - Off-Site System Supplement
NC DENR - SWG03 - State Stormwater General Permit to Clear and Grade
NC - LID Guidebook - Low Impact Development- A Guidebook for North Carolina
NC - Stormwater Submittal Requirements - Plan Revisions
NC DWQ - Stormwater Submittal Requirements - Low Density
NC DENR - Definitions of LID - Runoff Volume Match - Low Impact Fates & Runoff Volume Treatment
NC DENR - LID & Storm-EZ Memo - Procedure for Meeting the Requirements of NSW Stormwater with LID
NC DEMLR - A Sustainable MS4 Program
NC DENR & DWQ - SWU-268 - MS4 NPDES Instructions - Instructions for Preparing a Stormwater Management Program Report
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample Training Record
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample Tanks Containers Inspection Checklist
NC DENR & DWQ - SWU-264 - NPDES MS4 Stormwater Permit Application Form
NC DENR - NPDES Phase II MS4 Permit Template (Draft)
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample Site Condition Inspection Checklist
NC DENR & DWQ - NCG230000 - General Permit to Discharge Stormwater Under the NDPES
NC DWQ - NPDES MS4 Compliance Checklist (Records, Interviews & Site visits)
NC DENR - NPDES NCS Blank Renewal Application Form
NC DENR & DEQ - MS4 MCM 6 - Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping Presentation
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample BMPs for MS4s and Industrial Activities
NC DENR & DWQ - SWU-266 - NPDES Phase II MS4 Stormwater Non-Owner & Non-Operatior Certifcation Form
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample Stormwater Control Device Inspection Checklist
NC - Universal Stormwater Management Program - Local Ordinance Provision Checklist
NC DENR & DWQ - SWU-267 - NPDES Phase II RPE Stormwater Permit by Rule Application Form
NC DENR & DWQ - SWU-264 - MS4 Renewal Application Form - NPDES RPE Stormwater Permit Renewal Application Form
NC DENR & DWQ - Form SWU-270 - NPDES Phase II MS4 Application(SWU-264) Instructions
NC - EPA Form 3510-1 - NPDES EPA Form
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample Turnover Folder Sections
NC DWQ - Municipal Facility Pollution Prevention and Good House Keeping Program
NC DWQ - MS4 Spill Response Procedures
NC DoD - SWU-264 - Renewal Application Form - NPDES Stormwater Permit Renewal Application Form
NC DENR & DWQ - NPDES Phase II MS4 Application Flowchart
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample Oil Water Separator (OWS) -Inspection Record Checklist
NC DWQ - MS4 Sample Waste Containers Inspection Checklist
NC UNC - Universal Stormwater Model Ordinance for North Carolina - Universal Stormwater Management Plan (USMP)
NC DENR & DWQ - SWU-269 - NPDES Phase II RPE Stormwater Permit by Rule Application(SWU-267) Form Instructions
NC DWQ - MS4 Phase II Areas Map
North Carolina Stormwater Permit Application Process
For owners and operators seeking coverage under this general construction permit, an application for approval of a local Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan (ESC Plan) for a construction project, must be submitted to the Division of Land Resources or an authorized local program. The application for approval of an ESC Plan takes the place of a Notice of Intent (NOI) form. Preceding the initiation of any land disturbing construction activities, the owner or operator of a construction project must develop an ESC Plan and have it approved by the Division of Land Resources. Upon the issuance of an approval for a construction project ESC Plan by the Division of Land Resources, the project receives coverage under the North Carolina construction general permit, authorizing the discharge of stormwater from the project site. A notification of approval of an ESC Plan by the Division of Land Resources includes the following:
-Descriptions and labels on the site plans of where specific ground stabilization requirements apply
-Designs of basins with surface withdrawal pertaining to the project site parameters
-An attached NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit (NCG010000)
For all applications, reports, and information submitted to the permitting authority Director must be signed and certified as follows:
-For a corporation coordinating a construction project signatory obligations must be satisfied by the responsible corporate officer (president, secretary, treasurer, vice president or an authorized project manager)
-For a partnership or proprietorship coordinating a construction project signatory obligations must be satisfied by a general partner or the proprietor
-For a municipality, state, federal, or public agency coordinating a construction project signatory obligations must be satisfied by either a principal executive officer or ranking elected official
“For a complete set of conditions and requirements pertaining to the Permit Application Process refer to the official North Carolina Construction General Permit.”
North Carolina Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Requirements
Prior to the commencement of any land disturbing construction activities the owner or operator of a construction project must develop an Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan (ESC Plan) tailored to their specific project. In North Carolina the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan (ESC Plan) and the NCG010000 Construction General Permit are considered the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for a construction site. The Sedimentation Control Commission and the Division of Land Resources implemented the North Carolina Erosion and Sedimentation Control Planning and Design Manual as the manuscript to follow for guidance while developing an individual ESC Plan for a construction site. A copy of the Erosion and Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual can be found on the North Carolina Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/lr/erosion. Every ESC site plan must meet a set of site specific conditions located in the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Preliminary Review Checklist, a copy of this checklist can be obtained through North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (N.C.DENR) website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/lr/erosion located under “Plan check list for designers.” The categories for these required E&SC Plan conditions include the following:
-Site location information
-Site features
-Control measures
-Drainage Features
-Various stormwater calculations
-Stabilization
-Ownership information
-Phases of construction
This category list is a highly abridged version of the required conditions located in the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Preliminary Review Checklist, an official version of this checklist must be obtained before submitting an ESC Plan for approval.
All portions of this checklist must be fully satisfied in order to gain approval of a site ESC Plan by the N.C. Division of Land Resources.
“StormwaterONE.com students can find copies of the official documents mentioned above and other pertinent documents in the North Carolina folder within the “Resource” tab on the student dashboard.”
“For a complete set of conditions and requirements pertaining to the Plan Requirements refer to the official North Carolina Construction General Permit.”
North Carolina Construction Stormwater Inspection Frequency
An owner or operator must at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of discharge treatment and control that are installed to achieve permit compliance. The North Carolina construction stormwater general permit mandates self-inspection and reporting procedures for every construction site operating under permit coverage. Routine site inspections must be conducted by the permittee or under the direction of the permittee. General permit inspection parameters include the following:
-A site rain gauge kept in good working order
-Updated records of any daily rainfall amounts
-The inspection of all erosion and sedimentation control measures, both structural and non-structural control measures.
>Routine inspections of all site erosion and sediment control measures must be conducted once every 7 calendar days
>Upon the occurrence of a rain event equal to or greater than 0.50 inches within a 24 hour period, a site inspection of all erosion and sediment control measures must be conducted within 24 hours of said rain event
-Stormwater runoff discharge outfalls must be inspected for erosion, sedimentation, clarity of discharge, presence of floating solids and presence of oil sheens
>Routine inspections of all site outfalls must be conducted once every 7 calendar days
>Upon the occurrence of a rain event equal to or greater than 0.50 inches within a 24 hour period, a site inspection of all site outfalls must be conducted within 24 hours of said rain event
-If any visible sediment or material is present in any stream or wetland that may endanger public health or the environment, it must be reported to the Division of Water Quality central office or the appropriate regional office within 24 hours of the permittee becoming aware of the issue
>A written report of the sediment or material deposition issue must be submitted to the appropriate regional office of the Division of Water Quality within 5 days of the permittee becoming aware of the circumstances. The written report must include a description of the sediment or material deposition and the actions to correct the cause of deposition.
Inspection and incident reports and records must include the following:
-Routine inspections of Erosion and Sediment Control measures:
>Identification of all measures inspected
>Date and time of inspection
>Name of person conducting the inspection
>Identification of control measures in need of repair and measures in proper working order
>Description of maintenance measures required for impaired measures
>Corrective actions implemented to fix any issues with site controls
>Date the corrective actions were implemented
>Amounts and dates of rainfall the construction site received
-Routine outfall and stormwater discharge inspections:
>Identification of the discharge outfall inspected
>Date and time of inspection
>Name of person conducting the inspection
>Any evidence indicating stormwater pollution (any oil sheen, floating or suspended solids, and water discoloration)
>Any indications of visible sediment or materials leaving the site
>Actions taken to rectify and prevent sediment and material depositions
>Date corrective and preventative actions were taken
-Reports of visible sedimentation found outside site limits:
>Narrative of the corrective actions implemented to prevent future releases
>Actions taken to rectify and stabilize the sediment or material that has left the site limits
>Date corrective and preventative actions were taken
-Reports of visible sedimentation found in streams or wetlands:
>Thorough assessment of streams or wetlands located onsite and ones located within reasonable distance offsite to verify if any visible sedimentation has occurred
-If a sites discharge leads to a visible increase in stream turbidity, inspection records must identify the evidence and the corrective/preventative actions taken to reduce the sites sediment contributions. A permittee must identify if the site discharges into any state streams on the states 303(d) list of impaired streams for sediment-related causes. If it is determined that site discharges are entering impaired waters than more stringent management actions must be implemented to prevent violating the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of pollutants determined for that impaired water body.
All records and reports must be stored and maintained on site for 30 days after they were conducted. Older records must be maintained by the permittee for a minimum of three (3) years after project completion. A copy of the routine site inspection form can be obtained through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (N.C.DENR) website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/lr/erosion.
Site Inspections conducted by the Director of the Division of Water Quality or Division of Land Resources can occur at any reasonable time. Once a state inspector presents the required credentials they have the right to enter site premises. The inspector must have access to any important requested documents and reports. The inspector has the right to inspect any equipment, facilities, practices or operations required under this permit. The inspector also has the right to sample or monitor any discharge or outfalls to assure compliance with the general permit and the Clean Water Act (CWA). If an inspection by a Director or a representative identifies a need for any maintenance of control measures, additions or modifications to control measures, or corrective actions to properly control sediment or other pollutants, the permittee must make the necessary adjustments to the construction site and the sites E&SC Plan as soon as possible and before the next rain event.
“StormwaterONE.com students can find copies of the official documents mentioned above and other pertinent documents in the North Carolina folder within the “Resource” tab on the student dashboard.”
“For a complete set of conditions and requirements pertaining to Inspection Frequency refer to the official North Carolina Construction General Permit.”
North Carolina Stormwater Permit Termination Process - Notice of Termination (NOT)
In order for a construction project to be considered complete and permit coverage terminated, the site must achieve the final stabilization requirements stated in the conditions of the general permit. For a site to achieve final stabilization all soil disturbing activities must cease and deemed completed, any exposed soils must be stabilized with permanent perennial vegetative cover with a density of at least 80% or be covered by permanent structures, such as pavement or buildings. Once permanent ground cover is sufficiently established enough to restrain erosion and all temporary erosion and sediment control measures removed, the permittee must request a site inspection by the permitting authority to confirm the appropriateness of the ground cover and site stabilization. Once the inspecting authority conducts a site inspection and issues a Sedimentation Inspection Report verifying appropriate final stabilization and ground cover of the site, coverage under this general permit is deemed terminated. The signed Sedimentation Inspection Report functions as a Notice of Termination (NOT) of permit coverage for a construction project.
“For a complete set of conditions and requirements pertaining to Final Stabilization & Termination of Coverage refer to the official North Carolina Construction General Permit.”
Southeast
Ramanathan Sampath
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(404) 562-9229
US EPA, Region 04 / Water Permits Division
Atlanta Federal Center61 Forsyth St SW
Atlanta, GA, 30303-3104
Annette Lucas, PE
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality - Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
(919) 707-3639
Email Annette »
Agency Website »
512 North Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC, 27604
Rating: 5.0 / 5.0