(A) Applicability.
(1) Application. An erosion control plan shall be submitted to the Engineering Division of the Operations and Maintenance Department when required by this chapter along with a grading permit application. All applications for a grading permit shall be accompanied by a processing and approval fee as set by the city's Fee Schedule.
(2) Required plan submittals. The erosion control plan shall contain all of the following with respect to conditions existing on site during construction and after final structures and improvements have been completed.
(a) A description of and specifications for sediment retention and settling devices.
(b) A description of, specifications for, and detail plates for surface runoff and erosion control devices.
(c) A description of vegetative measures.
(d) A detailed timetable for restoring all disturbed areas.
(e) A graphic representation of the location of all specified erosion and sediment control devices.
(f) An implementation schedule for installing and subsequently removing devices described above.
(g) A maintenance schedule for all sediment and erosion control devices specified.
(h) An estimate of the costs to implement all final and temporary erosion and sediment control measures.
(i) An Information sheet on the parties responsible for constructing and maintaining the erosion control measures as shown on the erosion control plan. The information sheet should contain the phone numbers and addresses of at least two persons and indicate how they can be contacted at all times (days, nights, weekends, etc.) regarding repairing and maintaining the erosion control measures.
(j) The erosion control plan must contain details to specify which erosion and sediment control facilities are permanent and which are temporary.
(k) If required, a NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit must be obtained from the MPCA prior to commencing construction activities. The associated stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) should be included in the erosion control plan and approved by the Engineering Division of the Operations and Maintenance Department prior to construction. A copy of the NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit must be provided to the city prior to construction.
(3) Application review and inspection fees.
(a) The City of Brooklyn Park shall charge an application review fee for the review of the building permit application and the erosion control plan. As part of this review, the city will review the permittee's as-built survey submitted after the completion of grading activities to ensure that it conforms to the overall erosion control plan for the area. The application fee shall be set by the city's Fee Schedule.
(b) An inspection fee will be charged for any inspections of the site by the city that are needed to review corrective erosion control work or to follow up on previously incomplete work. This inspection fee will be deducted from the financial security. The amount will be set by the city's Fee Schedule. If this fee is not paid within 45 days, the fee may be taken from the financial security provided by the applicant.
(B) Implementation of erosion control plan. Prior to the start of any earthwork activities, the permittee must have in place and functional erosion and sediment controls as outlined on the approved erosion control plan and/or SWPPP. Additional erosion control measures may be required as directed by the Engineering Division of the Operations and Maintenance Department or its designee.
(1) No earthmoving activities shall commence until the erosion controls have been field inspected and approved by the Engineering Division of the Operations and Maintenance Department.
(2) At a minimum, the permittee shall meet the specifications set forth below and observe the standards established in the NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit requirements:
(a) Soil stabilization. Soil stabilization shall be completed in a time period as specified by the NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit and the city's general specifications and standards. The City of Brooklyn Park may require the site to be reseeded or a nonvegetative option employed.
(b) Seeding. Seeding shall be in accordance with seeding specifications. All seeded areas shall be fertilized, mulched, and disc anchored as necessary for seed retention.
(c) Soil stockpiles. Soil stockpiles which shall be inactive for a period of 14 or more days must be stabilized or covered at the end of each workday. Stockpiles shall include perimeter sediment controls and must not be placed in natural buffers or surface waters, including stormwater conveyance systems.
(d) 90% coverage. The entire site must be stabilized at a 90% coverage, using a heavy mulch layer or another method that does not require germination to control erosion, at the close of the construction season.
(e) Site development sediment controls. Site development sediment controls practices shall include those identified in the city's general specifications including, but not limited to:
1. Settling basins, sediment traps, or tanks.
2. Protection for adjacent properties by the use of a vegetated buffer strip in combination with perimeter controls.
3. Perimeter control including machine sliced silt fence or other city approved BMP, which shall be in place before, during and after grading of the site. Fencing shall be removed only after final stabilization.
4. Designated as a temporary construction staging area.
(f) Temporary sediment basins. For sites that have more than ten acres of disturbed soil that drains to a common location (or, five or more acres for special or impaired waters), one or more temporary sediment basins shall be constructed. Use of temporary basins is encouraged when construction projects will impact steep slopes or when highly erodible soils are present. The basin shall provide treatment to the runoff before it leaves the construction site or enters surface waters. The temporary sediment basins must be designed and constructed as follows:
1. Provide live storage for a calculated volume of runoff from a two-year, 24-hour storm from each acre drained to the basin. All basins shall provide at least 1,800 cubic feet of live storage from each acre drained or more.
2. For basins where the calculation in § 153.08(B)(2)(f)1 has not been performed, a temporary sediment basin providing 3,600 cubic feet of live storage from each acre drained to the basin shall be provided for the entire drainage area of the temporary basin.
3. The outlet structure must be designed to withdraw water from the surface in order to minimize the discharge of pollutants.
4. The basin outlet shall be designed to prevent short-circuiting and the discharge of floating debris.
5. Ensure the basin can be completely drawn down to conduct maintenance activities.
6. Include energy dissipation on the outlet of the basin and a stabilized emergency overflow to prevent failure of pond integrity.
7. Be located outside of surface waters or any buffer zone, and be designed to avoid draining water from wetlands unless appropriate approval from the USACE and the MnDNR is obtained.
8. If installation of a temporary sediment basin is infeasible equivalent sediment controls such as smaller sediment basins, and/or sediment traps, silt fences, vegetative buffer strips, or any appropriate combination of measures are required for all down-slope boundaries of the construction area and for side-slope boundaries where appropriate. Determination of infeasibility shall be documented in the erosion and sediment control plan.
(g) Individual construction site sediment controls. Individual construction site sediment controls shall include:
1. Rock construction entrance (driveway).
2. Perimeter controls including silt fence in-place before, during and after grading of the site. Fencing shall be removed only after proper turf establishment.
(h) Waterway and watercourse protection. Waterway and watercourse protection requirements shall include stabilization of the watercourse channel before, during and after any in-channel work consistent with the city's general specifications.
1. A temporary stream crossing must be installed and approved by the local government unit and regulating agency if a wet watercourse will be crossed regularly during construction.
2. The watercourse channel shall be stabilized before, during, and within 24 hours after any in-channel work.
3. No in-water work shall be allowed in public waters during the MnDNR's work exclusion dates.
4. Prior to placement of any equipment into any waters, all equipment must be free of aquatic invasive species.
5. All on-site stormwater conveyance channels designed according to the criteria outlined in this document. Stabilization adequate to prevent erosion located at the outlets of all pipes and paved channels is required.
(i) Site dewatering. Site dewatering shall be conducted pursuant to the NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit. Water pumped from the site shall be treated by temporary sediment basins, grit chambers, sand filters, or other controls as appropriate to ensure adequate treatment is obtained and that nuisance conditions will not result from the discharge. Discharges from the site shall not be released in a manner that causes erosion, scour, sedimentation or flooding of the site to receiving channels or wetlands.
(j) Waste and material disposal. All waste and unused building materials (including garbage, debris, cleaning wastes, wastewater, toxic materials or hazardous materials) shall be properly disposed of off-site and not allowed to be carried by runoff into a receiving channel or storm sewer system.
1. Solid waste. All unused building materials and waste (including, but not limited to: collected sediment, asphalt and concrete millings, floating debris, paper, plastic, fabric, etc.) must be disposed of accordingly and shall comply with disposal requirements set forth by the MPCA.
2. Hazardous/toxic waste. Paint, gasoline, oil and any hazardous materials must be properly stored, including secondary containment, to prevent spills, leaks or other discharges. Access to the storage areas must be restricted to prevent vandalism. Storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substance must be in compliance with the requirements set forth by the MPCA.
3. Liquid waste. All other non-stormwater discharges (including, but not limited to, concrete truck washout, vehicle washing or maintenance spills) produced during the construction activity shall not be discharged to any surface waters.
4. External washing of equipment and vehicles. All external washing activities shall be limited to a designated area of the site. All runoff must be contained and wastes from external washing activities must be disposed of properly. No engine degreasing shall be allowed on the site.
5. Wastes generated by concrete and other washout operations. All liquid and solid wastes generated by any concrete or other washout operations must be contained in a leak proof facility or impermeable liner. Concrete waste must not come into contact with the ground. Concrete waste must be disposed of properly and in compliance with applicable MPCA regulations.
(k) Drain inlet protection. All storm drain inlets shall be protected during construction until all sources with potential for discharging to the inlet have been stabilized. Inlet protection measures must meet the city's standards and specifications.
(l) Energy dissipation. Pipe outlets must have temporary or permanent energy dissipation within 24 hours of connection to a surface water.
(m) Tracking. Vehicle tracking BMPs (including, but not limited to: rock pads, mud mats, slash mulch, concrete or steel wash racks, or similar systems) must be installed to minimize track out of sediment from the construction site. If vehicle tracking BMPs are not actively preventing sediment from being tracked into the street, the applicant must utilize street sweeping to contain sediment.
(n) Final stabilization. Final stabilization is not complete until the following criteria are met:
1. All land disturbing activities must be finished and all soils shall be stabilized by a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density of 70% or greater of its expected final growth density over the entire pervious surface area, or other equivalent means necessary to prevent soil failure under erosive conditions.
2. The permanent stormwater management system is constructed, meets all of the required design parameters and is operating as designed.
3. All temporary synthetic and structural erosion prevention and sediment control BMPs (such as silt fence) have been removed. BMPs designed to decompose on site may be left in place.
4. For residential construction only, individual lots are considered finally stabilized if the structure(s) are finished and temporary erosion protection and down gradient perimeter control has been completed and the residence has been sold to the homeowner.
5. For construction projects on agricultural land the disturbed land has been returned to its preconstruction agricultural use.
(3) The permittee must maintain the erosion and sediment control measures on the site to the satisfaction of the City Engineer throughout the entire construction process. If erosion and sediment control is not being maintained to the City Engineer's satisfaction, the city may perform remedial work on the site as outlined in this section.
(4) All erosion control systems must be maintained by the permittee in an acceptable condition until turf is established or structural surfaces are constructed to protect the soil from erosion.
(C) Inspection of erosion control plan. The city will make periodic inspections of the site to ensure compliance with the erosion control plan. The permittee or his/her agent shall ensure that a trained person will regularly inspect the construction site at least once every seven days until final stabilization and within 24 hours of a rainfall event of one-half inch or greater in a 24-hour period. All inspection and maintenance activities conducted on the site during construction must be recorded in writing and retained within the erosion control plan. Records of each inspection and maintenance activity shall include the following:
(1) Date and time of inspection.
(2) Name of person(s) conducting the inspection.
(3) Findings of inspections, including recommendations for corrective actions.
(4) Corrective actions taken, including the dates, times and the name of the party completing the corrective action.
(5) Date and the amount of rainfall events that are greater than one-half inch in a 24- hour period.
(6) Documentation of any changes made to the erosion and sediment control plan.
(D) Site and BMP maintenance. Prior to any construction, the developer shall provide the City Engineer with a schedule for erosion and sediment control inspection and maintenance, including schedules for street cleaning, and street sweeping. All site and BMP maintenance activities must comply with the requirements of the NPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit. The applicant shall investigate and comply with the following BMP maintenance requirements:
(1) Perimeter control. All perimeter controls must be repaired, replaced or supplemented when they become nonfunctional or the sediment reaches one-half of the height of the fence. Repairs shall be made by the end of the next business day after discovery or as soon as field conditions allow access.
(2) Temporary sediment basins. Temporary sedimentation basins must be drained and the sediment must be removed when the depth of the sediment collected in the basin reaches one half the storage volume. Drainage and removal must be completed within 72 hours of discovery or as soon as field conditions allow access.
(3) Surface waters and conveyance systems. Surface water, including drainage ditches and conveyance systems, must be inspected for visible signs of sediment being deposited by erosion. The applicant must remove all sediment deposited in surface waters, including drainage ways, catch basins, and other drainage systems and must restabilize the areas of exposed soil as a result of sediment removal. The removal and stabilization must take place within seven days of discovery unless legal, regulatory or physical access constraints prevent remediation. In the event of an access constraint, the applicant shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain access. If access is precluded, removal and stabilization must take place within seven calendar days of obtaining access. The applicant is responsible for contacting all local, regional, state and federal authorities and obtaining any required permits prior to conducting any work.
(4) Streets and impervious surfaces. Where vehicle traffic leaves any part of the site, the exit locations must be inspected for visible signs of off-site sediment tracking onto impervious surfaces. Tracked sediment must be removed from all off-site impervious surfaces as soon as possible or within 24 hours of discovery.
(5) General maintenance. The applicant shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of temporary and permanent water quality management BMPs, as well as erosion prevention and sediment control BMPs for the duration of the construction work on the site. The applicant remains responsible until another party has assumed control over all areas of the site that have not established final stabilization and a notice of termination (NOT) has been submitted to the MPCA.
(6) Infiltration areas. All infiltration areas must be inspected to ensure that no sediment from ongoing construction activities is reaching the infiltration area and these areas are protected from compaction caused by construction equipment driving across the infiltration area.
(E) Notification of failure of erosion control plan. The city shall notify the permittee of the failure of the erosion control measures that have been constructed. The notification will be by phone or written correspondence to the parties listed on the information sheet required by this section. The city, at its discretion, may begin remedial work within 48 hours after notification has been provided.
(F) Erosion off-site. If erosion breaches the perimeter of the site, the permittee shall immediately develop a cleanup and restoration plan, obtain a right-of-entry from the adjoining property owner, and implement the cleanup and restoration plan within 48 hours of obtaining the adjoining property owner's permission. In no case, unless written approval is received from the Engineering Division of the Operations and Maintenance Department, may more than seven calendar days pass without any corrective action being taken. If at the discretion of the city, the permittee does not repair the damage caused by the erosion, the city may perform the remedial work required, after notice is provided to the permittee.
(G) Erosion into streets, wetlands, or other surface waters. If eroded soils enter, or entrance appears imminent into streets, wetlands, or other surface waters, cleanup and repair shall be immediate. The permittee shall provide all traffic control and flagging required to protect the public during the cleanup operations. If at the discretion of the city, the permittee does not repair the erosion and sedimentation, the city may perform the remedial work required, after notice is provided to the permittee.
(H) Failure to complete corrective work. When a permittee fails to conform to any provision of this section within the time stipulated, the city may take the following actions:
(1) Issue a notice of violation. When the city determines that an activity is not being carried out in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, it shall issue a written notice of violation to the owner of the property. The notice of violation shall contain:
(a) The name and address of the owner or applicant.
(b) The address when available or a description of the land upon which the violation is occurring.
(c) A statement specifying the nature of the violation.
(d) A description of the remedial measures necessary to bring the development activity into compliance with this chapter and a time schedule for the completion of such remedial action.
(e) A statement of the penalty or penalties that shall or may be assessed against the person to whom the notice of violation is directed.
(f) A statement that the determination of violation may be appealed to the city by filing a written notice of appeal within 15 days of services of the notice of violation. Service may be accomplished by mail or by personal delivery of the notice.
(2) Withhold the scheduling of inspections.
(3) Withhold the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(4) Issue a stop work order.
(5) Direct the correction of the deficiency by city forces or separate contract. The issuance of an erosion control permit constitutes a right-of-entry for the city or its contractor to enter upon the construction site for the purpose of correcting deficiencies with respect to erosion and sediment control. All costs incurred by the city in correcting erosion and sediment control deficiencies, including administrative expenses, shall be reimbursed by the permittee. If payment is not made within 30 days after an invoice is issued, the city may draw from the financial security. If the financial security is of an insufficient amount, the city may assess the remaining amount against the property. As a condition of the permit, the owner shall waive notice of any assessment hearing to be conducted by the city, concur that the benefit to the property exceeds the amount of the proposed assessment, and waive all rights by virtue of M.S. § 429.081 to challenge the amount or validity of assessment.
(Ord. 2017-1217, passed 7-10-17; Am. Ord. 2024-1304, passed 7-29-24)