Land disturbing activities
Prior to Construction
Erosion and Sediment Control (E&SC) and Stormwater Management (SWM)
UVA manages its own SWM and E&SC program that is approved by the DEQ. Detailed information on E&SC and SWM Submittal requirements can be found in the Annual Standards and Specifications (AS&S) for Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment Control for UVA and UVA’s College at Wise. A complete submittal should be sent to StormwaterAdmin@virginia.edu for approval.
E&SC and SWM Plans, including water quantity and quality control, are required for any land disturbing activity:
≥ 6,000 square feet in the City of Charlottesville or
≥ 10,000 square feet in Albemarle County.
SWM Plans are also required if the land disturbing activity proposes use of credits from a regional stormwater management facility or voluntary installation of a stormwater best management practice (BMP).
E&SC Plans may propose use of proprietary controls in addition to those included in the Virginia E&SC Handbook (VESCH). UVA’s list of proprietary E&SC controls includes a list proprietary E&SC controls that are authorized for use on UVA construction sites.
When a project involves constructing linear utilities (e.g., waterlines, sewer lines, electric lines, etc.) DEQ may waive the requirement, for the preparation and implementation of a stormwater management plan in accordance with DEQ guidance. Please contact Dawson Garrod if the project is considering a Linear Utility Waiver for submittal requirements.
Please contact Dawson Garrod at (434) 243-5380 with questions on UVA’s E&SC/SWM Plan submission or permitting process. Land disturbance may not begin without an approved E&SC and SWM Plan. Please invite Environmental Resources to a pre-construction meeting for all sites with an E&SC Plan.
Construction General Permit
A construction general permit (CGP) is required for a land disturbing activity that is one acre or larger and is issued by the DEQ. The “Registration Statement” is available from the DEQ website.
A complete submittal includes:
- A completed registration statement (original, signed copy);
- Projects on UVA property are typically classified as State projects, institutional in nature (Sections II.D and II.E);
- Most stormwater discharges will go to UVA’s MS4, not the City’s or County’s (Section II.F); and
- Stormwater at UVA typically drains to Meadow Creek, HUC = JR14, or Moores Creek, HUC = JR15, (Section II.I).
- A site map showing the location of the existing or proposed land-disturbing activities, the limits of land disturbance, construction entrances and all water bodies receiving stormwater discharges from the site;
- A list of all off site support activities and excavated material disposal areas, including the offsite address, coordinates, and permit information if applicable;
- Certification that the SWPPP has been prepared;
- Confirmation that an E&SC plan has been submitted for review;
- A completed Annual Standards & Specification Entity Information form. This form will be provided by the UVA Program Administrator for inclusion in the registration package once the E&SC and SWM Plans are approved.
The UVA Program Administrator can review the draft registration package prior to submittal to DEQ for completeness. Submit registration materials to constructiongp@deq.virginia.gov and copy StormwaterAdmin@virginia.edu on the email. DEQ will send an invoice once they process the forms. Land disturbance may not begin before receiving a CGP coverage letter issued by DEQ.
Sites operating under a CGP are required to develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). UVA has developed a construction site SWPPP template that contractors may download, customize, and use, or contractors can develop their own SWPPP. The SWPPP is not submitted with the registration materials but should be brought to the pre-construction meeting for review by the UVA Program Administrator or SWM inspector. The SWPPP must be available on site at all times for inspection.
During Construction
-
Construction General Permit
- UVA will conduct periodic compliance inspections and audits of the SWPPP without advance notice.
- Contractor inspections are required to be conducted every four business days or every five days and within 48 hours of a measurable storm event. Records of these inspections must be saved as part of the SWPPP.
- Any off-site fill or borrow sites must be pre-approved by ER, with documentation maintained in the SWPPP and Waste Management Plan, as applicable.
- Follow all applicable UVA standard operating procedures to prevent pollution.
-
Erosion and Sediment Control
- UVA will conduct E&SC inspections every two weeks or within 48 hours of a runoff producing rainfall event.
- Contractors should inspect E&S controls in accordance with the E&SC Plan and immediately after a rain event and perform repairs as needed and maintenance as specified with the E&SC Plan.
- The Erosion and Sediment Control Minimum Standards can be found on DEQ's website.
- In the event changes need to be made to the approved E&SC plan, the contractor must notify the UVA E&SC inspector for their site if the changes are small or must get permission from the Stormwater Administrator for larger changes. Email StormwaterAdmin@virginia.edu with questions about E&SC plan updates.
-
Projects Installing BMPs
- BMP installation must be properly documented. Contact StormwaterAdmin@virginia.edu to schedule a pre-BMP installation meeting to discuss the process.
- UVA staff must receive training from the designer and/or manufacturer on the proper operation of BMPs installed as part of the project.
Post Construction
-
Erosion and Sediment Control
- A site is considered fully stabilized once the ground cover is uniform, mature enough to survive and inhibits erosion. A certified E&SC Inspector will determine when a site is fully stabilized.
- Turning over a site to UVA FM Landscaping for final stabilization does not mean the site is fully stabilized nor does it absolve the project manager from their responsibility of ensuring the site is fully stabilized.
-
Construction General Permit
- Continue to update the SWPPP and conduct required E&SC/SWPPP inspections until the site is fully stabilized and BMPs are installed. Note areas of the site that have been turned over to the owner;
- From a CGP perspective, the project is considered complete when the necessary BMPs are completely installed (including plantings) and functioning effectively and final stabilization has been achieved.
- The entity with CGP coverage, typically the general contractor or their subcontractor, must file a Notice of Termination (NOT) with the DEQ upon completion of the project. The NOT form is available on DEQ's website. The project’s civil engineer can help fill this out. If BMPs were installed, the NOT package must include:
- Digital copy of approved SWM Plan. The engineer of record must verify as-built land cover conditions and drainage areas to BMP. Update the site pollutant reduction requirements and BMP treatment volumes and pollutant removal credits as appropriate.
- Digital and hard copy of as-built drawings, signed and sealed by the design engineer. An engineer’s certification statement must be added (sample available). It is preferable to have this certification on the drawings, but a separate letter with the certification statement is acceptable;
- Confirmation that the BMP long-term maintenance plan is in place is not applicable for UVA sites, as UVA owns and maintains all BMPs on site. UVA staff have been trained on BMP O&M.
- The UVA Program Administrator can review the draft NOT package prior to submittal to DEQ for completeness. Once ready, submit NOT materials to constructiongp@deq.virginia.gov and copy StormwaterAdmin@virginia.edu on the email.
- A copy of the SWPPP (preferably electronic) should be submitted to Environmental Resources at StormwaterAdmin@virginia.edu for record keeping.
UVA E&SC and SWM Program personnel
Certified combined administrator
Dawson Garrod
Kristin Carter
Certified inspectors
Chris Gyurisin
Brittany Olenslager
Jess Wenger