New England Environmental, Inc. Newsletter

Vol.4 Number 2          April 2010

EPA Rules to Reduce Water Pollution from Construction Sites

New BMP Rules Effective April 1, 2010.

New USEPA stormwater construction discharge limits were published on February 1, 2010, and these new guidelines are required be included in all new SWPPP plans.  The full sweep of stormwater and water quality changes will be implemented over a four year period. 

A SWPPP (Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan) is required by the EPA for all projects which disturb one or more acres of land, and require the use of Best Management Practices to manage stormwater runoff from polluting rivers and wetlands.  For construction sites 10 acres or larger, the stormwater discharges will need to be monitored to ensure that they are below 280 NTU (turbidity units).  This measurement is easily made in the field using a portable meter. 

It is our assessment that most construction projects using good erosion control practices will have no trouble keeping their turbidity levels below 280 NTU. For some projects on clay soils, or silty sites, these discharge limits may be problematic.  Designers may need to create larger (or more numerous) sedimentation basins during construction to help settle out particulates; or consider using flocculants at all discharge locations to remove suspended solids.   These measures should be fully addressed in the SWPPP and should be specific for each site.  With good pre-construction planning, and implementation of appropriate BMP's, construction sites in the Northeast should be able to maintain their discharge limits to under 100 NTU's.

Rule Highlights:

• Numeric Effluent Limitation for turbidity of 280 NTU (daily average) applies to: 

• Sites that disturb 20 or more acres at one time (effective 18 months from publication of final rule, or August 1, 2011)
• Sites that disturb 10 or more acres at one time (effective 4 years from publication of final rule, or February 1, 2014)

• The 280 NTU limit is not applicable on dates when the total rainfall on that day is greater than the local two-year, 24 hour storm event.  In other words, the discharge limits are more important or the more frequent, smaller storms (2 or 3 each month), rather than the large storm events. 

• The non-numeric effluent limits to prevent mobilization of sediment and pollutants, which apply to all construction sites, becomes effective 60 days after the publication of the final rule, or April 1, 2010
• Although these rules do not discuss post-construction standards, expect future rulemaking to address new development and re-development projects.  If you do not currently have a good stormwater compliance Operations & Maintenance Plan, it is time to address this issue. 

For more information, contact mmarcus@neeinc.com or rshuey@neeinc.com

For an informative two page EPA fact sheet and Summary:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/files/c_and_d_final_rule_factsheet.pdf

The full details of the EPA program and Final Effluent Guidelines can be found at:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/

The full description as published in the Federal Register can be found at:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-28446.pdf

New England Environmental, Inc. Newsletter

Vol.4 Number 1         March 2010

NEE Completes Construction of a New Sustainable Office building

New England Environmental, Inc. has completed construction of a 15,800 square foot sustainable office building. We are attempting to achieve a LEED Gold Certification rating

In addition to NEE office space, there is 2,800 square feet of Professional Office Space (plus full basement) for Lease, and a 1,400 square foot Residential Apartment

Architect: John Kuhn, Kuhn- Riddle Architects, Amherst, MA

General Contractor: Bill Rock, Arrowwood Construction, Amherst, MA

Key Project Elements:

• LEED Gold Certification (anticipated 2010)

• Site selected has no environmentally sensitive areas

• On two bus routes (Old Belchertown Road)

• Energy efficient building design and orientation

• South side roof of building is covered with photovoltaic system (PV). Pole mounted PV array in parking area. Total PV is 39,000w, generating enough electricity to power most of our electric, heating and cooling needs

• Solar reflective roof shingles used to reduce heat-island effect

• Walls are 12” thick (2x6 and 2x4 with a 2” gap) filled with 12” dense packed cellulose insulation (recycled newsprint - R40)

• Ceilings to have 24” of dense packed cellulose insulation (R80)

• All lighting has occupancy sensors and key locations are self dimming

• Water saving devices include: waterless urinals, dual flush toilets, low volume faucets

• Bike rack and shower

• High efficiency mini-split heating/cooling with individual office controls, increased ventilation

• High efficiency operable windows, argon-filled glass

• 95% of office spaces have day-lighting and outside views

• Low-emitting materials (adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpets, etc)

• FSC certified wood, high recycled content materials, engineered wood beams and trusses

• Use of regional materials, rapidly renewable materials (bamboo flooring), and construction waste management (segregated waste)

• Low impact development (LID) stormwater management system

• Porous asphalt

• Grass pavers for parking spaces

• Rain garden, bio-retention basin; bio-swale, and wet detention basin

• Zero increase in the volume of stormwater runoff

• Stormwater quality renovation with wetland vegetation

• Outdoor lighting with timers, and no off property light pollution

• Maximization of open space

• Native Massachusetts landscape plants, and no artificial irrigation

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NEE’s Low Impact Development (LID) Site Design

The landscape design concept for this site integrates native plant materials with the site’s sustainable Low Impact Design (LID) stormwater features.  The native plant palate selected is used to clean, remove sediment, cool, and slow stormwater, as well as promote infiltration on site. This stormwater system is comprised of bio-swales, step pools, a bio-retention wetland, and finally a wetland stormwater basin.  All are sustainable LID features that treat stormwater in a manner unlike most current traditional stormwater systems.

The use of sustainable LID design features is noticeable to those accessing the site from the moment they enter property. Porous asphalt has been used for the parking lot travel lane and concrete grass paver parking spaces have been constructed for all parking areas.  A central rain garden with a foot path is planted with native vegetation that collects, treats, cools, and allows for the infiltration of stormwater.  A ramp provides access for all to the building, and crosses over one of the site’s many bio-swales.  The bio-swales collect and direct roof runoff and stormwater from the site through the stormwater system. 

The site landscape uses no irrigation and some of the roof runoff will be collected in cisterns for the use by the tenants in their private, fenced gardens. The project includes the removal of the existing invasive species, and native vegetation is being re-planted.  The site plantings incorporate a butterfly garden around one of the patios, the replanting of the historical orchard with naturalized apple trees, and the use of species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plant material that provide food and cover for birds and enhance the overall wildlife value of the area.

As a reflection of our corporate values and as an extension of the work that we do as environmental consultants, NEE has designed a project site that will “practice what we preach”. The landscape has been designed as a showcase for the public and our clients demonstrating that sustainable design is aesthetically pleasing, can be utilized in cold weather climates, and can reduce the impact of development on the environment.

For more information, contact Andrew Bohne 413-256-0202 or abohne@neeinc.com

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NEE provides expert environmental services to a wide group of private, corporate, and municipal clients, as well as to State and Federal agencies. Our clients range from individual homeowners to Fortune 500 corporations. We provide sound, integrated environmental solutions to complex site assessment, design, permitting and construction projects. For more information about NEE, visit our web site at www.neeinc.com.