Compliance With Storm Water Rules Serious Business
 Even as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers more stringent regulations on storm water management for construction sites, it remains important for builders and developers to comply with the rules now in place, according to storm water regulation expert Jennifer Hildebrand of Weis Builders Inc. and Washington area builder Chuck Ellison of Miller and Smith.
The two appeared on a July 29 webinar by NAHB to discuss the storm water regulation challenges confronting the housing industry.
“The EPA is taking compliance very seriously,” said Hildebrand, reminding participants of one settlement with the agency that cost a group of high-production builders more than $3 million in enforcement penalties.
President Obama has proposed a 34% budget increase for environmental enforcement activities and the agency has more criminal investigators on staff than at any point in EPA’s history, she said.
In addition, there are a growing number of citizen-led and environmental groups that are keeping a closer tab on construction activities to tip off regulators about alleged violations, Hildebrand said.
Builders and developers must apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for all sites that disturb more than one acre of land. Smaller sites also need to be permitted if they are part of a subdivision that ultimately disturbs more than one acre of land over the course of development.
View the full article in NBN here.
Access the webinar replay here.
For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.
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