The text
(a)
To obtain approval for a permit under the provisions of this chapter, for a land-disturbing activity found applicable by the building official, the applicant shall first file a soil erosion and sediment control plan signed by the owner of the property, or authorized agent, on which the work subject to approval is to be performed. The plan or drawings shall include proposed erosion and sediment control and waste management measures to be employed by the applicant or his agent.
(b)
State department of environmental management freshwater wetlands permit. Where any portion of a proposed development requires approval under the state freshwater wetlands act, section 2-1-15 et seq. of the General Laws, and where such approval contains provisions for soil erosion and sediment controls, that approved plan shall be a component of the overall soil erosion and sediment control plan required by this chapter for the development. If such a permit is required by RIDEM, the applicant will also submit a copy of the permit.
(c)
State department of environmental management rhode island pollution discharge elimination systems permit. If such a permit is required by RIDEM, the applicant will also submit a copy of the notice of intent or approved individual permit.
(d)
Contents of plan.
(1)
The soil erosion and sediment control plan shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer, or land surveyor on standard 8-1/2×11-inch by eleven (11) inch, 11×17-inch, or 24×36-inch sheets at a suggested scale of one (1) inch equals forty (40) feet. A key sheet shall be included if a plan consists of more than two (2) sheets. The soil erosion and sediment control plan shall include sufficient information about the proposed activities and land parcel(s) to form a clear basis for discussion and review and to comply with all applicable requirements of this chapter.
(2)
A minimum of three (3) copies, plus any additional copies that may be required by the building official, shall be submitted.
(3)
A brief narrative describing the proposed land disturbing activity and the soil erosion and sediment control measures, waste management measures, construction-site chemical control measures, and storm water management measures to be installed to control erosion and storm water pollution that could result from the proposed activity. The narrative shall also provide a description of any potential sources of pollution that may be expected to affect the quality of storm water discharges from the site.
(4)
Supporting documentation, such as a drainage area, existing site, and soil maps shall be provided as required by the building official or his or her designee.
(5)
Construction drawings in detail commensurate with the size of the project, sensitivity of the potentially affected waterbody and distance to water and/or storm sewer system. These drawings will illustrate existing and proposed contours, drainage features, and vegetation; limits of clearing and grading, the location of soil erosion and sediment control and storm water management measures, detail drawings of measures; stock piles and borrow areas; waste collection; concrete truck wash out sites; sequence and staging of land disturbing activities; and other information needed for construction.
(6)
A schedule showing the sequence of construction and inspection and maintenance of erosion and sediment control measures.
(7)
All applicants shall provide other information, or construction plans and details as deemed necessary by the building official or his or her designee for a thorough review of the plan prior to action being taken as prescribed in this chapter. Withholding or delay of information may be reasons for the building official or his or her designee to judge the application as incomplete and providing grounds for disapproval of the application.
(8)
This information may be drafted on the plans or may be included as attachments and shall consist of the following:
a.
Locus plan;
b.
The name and address of the owner of the site, and, if different, the applicant, the designer, and the developer;
c.
The location, extent, and type of all proposed work to be performed, including all existing and proposed buildings, structures, utilities, sewers, water mains, and storm drains on the site;
d.
Topographic mapping with elevations keyed to the municipal base showing existing contours at intervals of not more than two (2) feet and contours at two-foot intervals of the finished grade of all disturbed land areas at the conclusion of the construction and/or land disturbance activities;
e.
A description of the general topographic and soil conditions at the project site, including all significant limitations such as rock outcrops, existing alterations to natural drainage, and any other site characteristics pertinent to the work to be performed;
f.
The location and size of all parking and loading areas and driveways, both public and private;
g.
The location of all existing and proposed buildings or structures, utilities including drainage facilities, and all significant natural features within one hundred (100) feet of the proposed work to be performed;
h.
The name, location, right-of-way width, and pavement width of all streets, roads and highways within one hundred (100) feet of the site;
i.
The location and names, if applicable, of any streams, wetlands, water bodies, drainage swales, watercourses, and areas subject to periodic flooding, both on and within one hundred (100) feet of the site on which the work is to be performed. Included shall be a delineation of any areas designated as flood hazards by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or other state or federal agencies;
j.
The names and addresses of all owners of abutting parcels and the location of all adjoining lot boundaries according to the latest assessor's records;
k.
The approximate total quantity of earthwork involved in the proposed work, with appropriate breakdown as to cut and fill;
l.
The location and extent of the removal of existing topsoil, trees, and other vegetation; quantities and location of any material to be removed from the site;
m.
The estimated time of exposure for all disturbed land area(s) on the site prior to the completion of effective temporary or permanent erosion and sediment control measures and facilities. This shall include planting and seeding dates and application rates, and the phasing plan indicating the anticipated starting and completion dates of all phases of proposed site work;
n.
Details of all proposed drainage provisions to be employed on the site including the location and type of all proposed erosion and sediment control measures and storm water runoff controls of both a permanent and temporary nature and specifications for the maintenance of each;
o.
The type, location, and extent of all proposed temporary and permanent vegetation and mulching that will be used to protect exposed areas of the project site;
p.
Prompt submittal of such other information or construction plans and details as deemed necessary by the building official or his designated agent for a thorough review of the plan prior to action being taken as prescribed in this chapter. Withholding or delay of such information may be reason for the building official to judge the application as incomplete and grounds for disapproval;
q.
Performance principles:
1.
The contents of the soil erosion and sediment control plan shall clearly demonstrate how the principles, outlined below, have been met in the design and are to be accomplished by the proposed development project.
i.
The site selected shall show due regard for natural drainage characteristics and topography;
ii.
To the extent possible, steep slopes (e.g., greater than ten (10) percent) shall be avoided.
iii.
The grade of slopes created shall be minimized;
iv.
When downstream capacities prove to be inadequate, any increase in storm runoff shall be controlled onsite to minimize downstream impact. This increased storm runoff shall be retained and recharged as close as feasible to its place of origin by means of detention ponds or basins, seepage areas, subsurface drains, porous paving, or similar technique;
v.
Original boundaries, alignment and slope of watercourses within the project locus shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible;
vi.
In general, drainage shall be directed away from structures intended for human occupancy, municipal or utility use, or similar structures;
vii.
All drainage provisions shall be of such a design and capacity so as to adequately handle storm water runoff, including runoff from tributary upstream areas which may be outside the locus of the project;
viii.
Drainage facilities shall be installed as early as feasible during construction, prior to site clearance, if possible;
ix.
Fill located adjacent to watercourses shall be suitably protected from erosion by means of rip-rap, gabions, retaining walls, vegetative stabilization, or similar measures;
x.
Temporary vegetation or mulching shall be used to protect bare areas and stockpiles from erosion during construction; the smallest areas feasible shall be exposed at any one time; disturbed areas shall be protected during the nongrowing months, November through March;
xi.
Permanent vegetation shall be placed immediately following fine grading;
xii.
Trees and other existing vegetation shall be retained whenever feasible; the area beyond the dripline shall be fenced or roped off to protect trees from construction equipment;
xiii.
Construction wastes and construction site chemicals will be managed to reduce the potential for storm water runoff to mobilize them and contaminate surface or ground water;
xiv.
All areas damaged during construction shall be resodded, reseeded, or otherwise restored. Where soil compaction has occurred through storage of materials or use of equipment, soil infiltration shall be restored through use of soil amendments or other means. Monitoring and maintenance schedules, where required, shall be predetermined.
2.
In order to comply with the principles set forth above, the building official shall use as a reference in determining the suitability and adequacy of erosion-sediment plans the publication entitled, Rhode Island Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, as amended.
(Ord. No. O-2, 9-8-2009)