EPA Effluent Guidelines
HydraMatriCx™ Series hydromulches can keep your project in compliance with the EPA's effluent guidelines without the need for treating water with flocculants or using advanced water treatment systems.
On December 1, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published 40 CFR Part 450. This included new effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) and new source performance standards (NSPS) regulating the discharge of pollutants from construction sites.
The EPA expects these technology-based guidelines to reduce the discharge of sediment and other pollutants from construction sites by 4 billion pounds per year.
For more information, visit the EPA's effluent limitation guidelines website.
Summary of Guidelines
The EPA's guidelines…
- Establish technology-based minimum requirements on construction sites nationwide
- Require construction site owners and operators to implement a range of erosion and sediment controls and pollution prevention measures using best management practices
- Give owners and operators the flexibility to use different practices based on site-specific demands, as long as practices are consistent with the guidelines
The EPA also established a numeric effluent limitation for pollutant turbidity for construction sites disturbing 10 or more acres of land.
- Operators must sample discharges throughout the day for turbidity
- The daily average may not exceed 280 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units)
- Individual samples above that level are acceptable
- The daily average limitation doesn't apply on a day of a storm larger than the local 2-year, 24-hour storm
Effective Dates
February 1, 2010
States issuing construction general permits are required to incorporate the new guidelines into any permits issued after this date.
August 2, 2010
Construction activity disturbing 20 or more acres of land must meet the numeric turbidity standard by this date.
February 2, 2014
Construction activities disturbing between 10 and 20 acres of land must meet the numeric turbidity standard by this date.
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