Pennsylvania Construction Site Runoff Control Program

StormwaterONE’s online course for Construction Site Runoff Control for MS4s is designed to cover some of the key components necessary for a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to adhere to the fourth Minimum Control Measure (MCM) that an operator of an MS4 is required to include in its Stormwater Management Program (SWMP).

This Construction Site Runoff Control Minimum Control Measure is required to meet the conditions of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.  As authorized by the Clean Water Act (CWA), the NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. 

The EPA Phase II Final Rule requires an operator of a regulated small MS4 to develop, implement, and enforce a program to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff to their MS4 from construction activities that result in a land disturbance of GREATER than or EQUAL to ONE (1) acre.

The MS4 operator is required to have an ordinance or other regulatory mechanism requiring the implementation of proper erosion and sediment controls, and controls for other wastes, on applicable construction sites.  Other requirements include having procedures for site plan review of construction plans that consider potential water quality impacts and procedures for site inspection and enforcement of control measures.

The audience for this course includes stormwater personnel and municipal operators that are responsible for construction site runoff control that are regulated by a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Phase I and Phase II entity to meet the conditions of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.  These operators of a regulated MS4 is required to develop, implement, and enforce a program to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff to their MS4 from construction activities that result in a land disturbance of GREATER than or EQUAL to ONE (1) acre.

The fourth Minimum Control Measure (MCM) in the MS4 Phase II of the NPDES permit is highlighted below:

1.      Public Education and Outreach
2.      Public Participation and Involvement
3.      Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)
4.      Construction Site Runoff Control
5.      Post-Construction Runoff Control
6.      Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

It is highly encouraged to develop this Minimum Control Measure along with the Post-Construction Site Runoff Control Minimum Control Measure. 

The student will be able to:

--  Define stormwater keywords, concepts, definitions and Construction Site Runoff Control requirements for MS4 operators.

--  Identify and properly implement good housekeeping BMPs to control and prevent pollution on construction sites.

--  Properly identify, implement, install, and maintain Sediment and Erosion Control BMPs to prevent construction site runoff.

--  Write, assess, track and report Construction Site Runoff Control Measurable Goals as part of the Stormwater Management Program (SWMP).

--  Prepare the MS4 Annual Report and conduct required recordkeeping for NPDES regulations.

4.0 PDHs

Resume' Enhancer (Available on the Credential Validation Page)