This is vaguely referenced in other posts, but I'm still confused: what is the level of detail we need to submit for our written Erosion & Sedimentation Control (ESC) plan? The example in the LEED Reference Guide shows a table with 6 strategies listed alongside their descriptions; the example SWPPP found through the EPA website is a 56 page document (http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/exampleswppp_smallcommercial.pdf). That is a huge discrepancy! What is the level of detail that LEED is looking for in our submitted plans?
The civil engineer on our project put together a written plan complete with site drawings of silt fences, etc. and is expressing concerns about putting together a full SWPPP, which will understandably take up a great deal more of his time. Can we submit his one-page plan?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
February 17, 2012 - 5:51 pm
Patty, LEEDuser recommends an ESC plan like the examples posted above in our Documentation Toolkit.
Jhoan Montano
QC ManagerEnviro-Q, llc
9 thumbs up
February 29, 2012 - 1:13 pm
LEED requires that you “Create and implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan…The plan must conform to the erosion and sedimentation requirements of the 2003 EPA Construction General Permit OR local standards and codes, whichever is more stringent”.
This means that, at a minimum, you must develop a ESC, a "SWPPP", per EPA’s NPDES General Permit. SWPPP contents are listed in Part 3. See the link below:
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/cgp2003_entirepermit.pdf
You must check the State requirements, since many States have been granted the authority to issue individual permits (e.g. New York’s “SPDES” General Permit – an NPDES approved state program). Depending on the jurisdiction, the SPDES could be “more stringent” and therefore, take precedence when preparing the SWPPP.
Please note, regardless of LEED, you will need to prepare and submit an NOI with the Permitting Authority when your project exceeds the acreage reference in the General Permit.