The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule to help reduce water pollution from construction sites. This rule, which takes effect in February 2010 will be phased in over four years. The final rule requires construction site owners and operators that disturb one or more acres to use best management practices to ensure that soil disturbed during construction activity does not pollute nearby water bodies.
In addition, owners and operators of sites that impact 10 or more acres of land at one time will be required to monitor discharges and ensure they comply with specific limits on discharges to minimize the impact on nearby water bodies. This is the first time that EPA has imposed national monitoring requirements and enforceable numeric limitations on construction site stormwater discharges.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction
