While the construction phase of a project is usually considered a temporary condition, soil erosion and sedimentation produced by land development impacts the environment, damaging our natural resources and aquatic life. All construction activities that disturb greater than one acre of land must be covered by a permit under the NPDES program.  In most cases, you are required to file a notice of intent to use the General Permit, and must develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan as part of the permit requirements. IDEM administers the General Permit program in Indiana through the local SWCD. These permits are applicable to a variety of projects including, but not limited, to residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, public, and specials land uses.

327 IAC 15-5 is a performance-based regulation designed to reduce pollutants, principally sediment, that are a result of soil erosion and other activities associated with construction and/or land disturbing activities. It is important to implement the BMPs as the Storm Water Pollution Plan has laid out. If the approved BMPs don't work, consult the Indiana Storm Water Quality Manual for more ideas. Below are BMP job sheets:

• Silt Fence
• Slow Release Device
• Storm Drain Protection
• Individual Lot Protection
• Temporary Seeding

Another requirement of the NPDES program is to know your 14-digit HUC number. Click here for Dearborn County's 14-digit HUC numbers.