EPA Proposes New Guidelines to Control Pollution from Construction Sites

EPA is seeking comments on its proposed guidelines to control the discharge of pollutants from construction sites.

The proposal would require all construction sites to implement erosion and sediment control best management practices to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges. This proposed rule is projected to reduce the amount of sediment discharged from construction sites by up 27 billion pounds each year. In addition, for certain large sites located in areas of the country with high rainfall intensity and soils with high clay content, stormwater discharges from the construction site would be required to meet a numeric limit on the allowable level of turbidity, which is a measure of sediment in the water. In order to meet the proposed numeric turbidity limit, many sites would need to treat and filter their stormwater discharges. http://www.epa.gov/ost/guide/construction/ 

Source: U.S. EPA News Release, November 19, 2008