Barb Loida, Carolyn Adamson, Dave BauerMECA 2014

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System

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Permit with MPCA to discharge stormwater from our R/W

“Our R/W”: lanes, shoulders, medians, vegetated areas, truck stations, building sites (Waters Edge), construction sites, storage yards

Have to comply with all the requirements in the permit which is updated every 5 years

We have a SWPPP for “our R/W”

MCM 1 – Public EducationMCM 2 – Public ParticipationMCM 3 – Illicit Discharge Detection Elimination

MCM 4 – ConstructionMCM 5 – Post ConstructionMCM 6 – Good Housekeeping

1. Ordinance or Other Regulatory Mechanism.2. Construction site operators to implement BMPs3. Control of construction site materials/waste that

could impact water quality.4. Procedures site plan review water quality

impacts5. Procedure to receive and consider non-

compliance reports by public.6. Procedures site inspection and enforcement of

BMPs.

Oversight inspections by MnDOT Central Office staff.

Started annual training for each Metro Construction Office.

Developed database for tracking projects had a SWPPP or drainage work.

Also tracking NOTs and requesting as-builts. Each year asked construction # public

complaints on erosion/sediment control.

Recognition that we needed to hire someone within the Metro District to focus on oversight inspections due to # projects within District.

Joint inspections with MnDOT Central Office staff.

Developed and tried inspection checklist. Expanded annual training to focus on

erosion/sediment control and illicit discharge training.

Developed standard SWPPP template.

Focused both on our Maintenance and Construction activities.

1st DOT in EPA Region V to get audited. Here 3 days. Full access to personnel and sites. Asked for a lot (mean a lot) of information.

Formal policy for Metro oversight inspections.

Starting more training on erosion/sediment controls with Maintenance and Permit staff.

Another version of construction training. Began feedback loop to improve

constructability of projects. Developed inspection report forms.

Recognition we needed more human resources focused on erosion/sediment oversight inspections.

Moved to electronic documentation using iPAD.

Metro WRE is lead oversight inspector on most Metro District projects.

Tracking projects that have a SWPPP, drainage work, or need more looking after.

Inspecting State Aid projects not just MnDOT Metro projects

Better site analysis for infiltration areas.

Look for signs of seasonally high water table

Note compacted soils

Explain context of infiltration investigation so that interpretations can be made in the field.

Prevent sediment from reaching infiltration Areas

Keeping equipment off infiltration areas

Explain context of infiltration areas

Have mature program Revised specifications Policies for MS4 needs

“Please come out and help me”

More trust with outside agencies that on our construction projects we are doing the right thing.

Consistent contacts for outside parties.

Reduction in enforcement actions.

Hampton Infiltration Basins

September

June