Required Project Regulatory Reviews Waters and Wetlands: US Army - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Required Project Regulatory Reviews  Waters and Wetlands: US Army Corps of Engineers through CWA Section 404  Construction Stormwater: NPDES Construction Stormwater Discharge Permit Construction Stormwater Discharge Permit (GP 3-9020), administered by Vermont DEC (GP 3-9020), administered by Vermont DEC  Operational Phase Stormwater: NPDES Multi-Sector General Permit (GP 3-9003), administered by Vermont DEC

Current Project Permitting Status  Project avoids all impacts to Waters and Wetlands  Project has filed for a Construction Stormwater permit including an Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Plan that meets Vermont DEC criteria  Project is preparing a Stormwater Pollution  Project is preparing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for coverage under the Multi- Sector General Permit, and a stormwater pond design that voluntarily meet Vermont Stormwater Management Manual criteria for Operational Phase Stormwater management from the site  Project avoids all impacts to Flood prone areas including LaPlatte River floodplain and river corridor

Wetlands  All wetlands and streams were field delineated in May 2015.  Delineations were reviewed in the field and  Delineations were reviewed in the field and approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The project has been designed so that there will be no impacts to wetlands or streams.

Floodplains  The project is located entirely outside the LaPlatte R. 100-year floodplain as designated by FEMA.  Project activities are outside the DEC River Corridor of the LaPlatte R.  The floor elevation of the salt sheds will be almost 11 feet higher than the floodplain elevation and over 10 feet higher than the all-time highest Lake Champlain level of 103.3 feet from May 2011.  Lake Champlain in the days following the 1927 flood reached a maximum of 99.9 feet.

What State Permit Conditions is Vermont Railway Meeting Voluntarily?  The project will include stormwater management facilities that voluntarily meet the requirements of the Vermont Stormwater Management Manual for site operation. operation.

How Will the LaPlatte River Water Quality be Protected? 1. By implementing Best Management Practices during construction. 2. By voluntarily constructing a stormwater pond designed to the criteria of the pond designed to the criteria of the Vermont Stormwater Management Manual to capture and treat runoff. 3. Through the implementation of a mandatory Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for Industrial Facilities.

Construction Stormwater General Permit 3-9020 Approach to Water Quality Protection  EPSC Plan is based on use of Best Management Practices (BMPs), including: • Structural Measures:  Silt fences  Stabilized construction entrance  Erosion control blankets • Non-Structural Measures:  Phased construction  Restriction on concurrent earth disturbance  Prompt stabilization/revegetation

Multi-Sector General Permit(MSGP) Overview  Federal NPDES Program delegated to VT DEC (GP 3-9003)  Regulates Operational Phase Stormwater Runoff from certain Industrial Facilities  Requires the preparation of a Stormwater  Requires the preparation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and implementation of Control Measures

What is a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan?  A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: • Creates a detailed inventory of potential pollutant sources and exposed materials. • Identifies and implements Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Required Control Measures. • Requires monitoring of the site conditions and annual • Requires monitoring of the site conditions and annual reporting to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. • Mandates spill prevention and means of response. • Requires site maintenance and employee training. • Places conditions or restrictions on vehicle and equipment washing.

What Stormwater Control Measures are required? • Minimize exposure of materials to rainfall and snowmelt • Good housekeeping • Maintenance • Spill prevention and response • Spill prevention and response • Management of runoff • Employee training • Conditions and limitations on vehicle or equipment washing

Were Floodplain Forests Cleared?  No. Floodplain forests were not cleared. Only trees outside the floodplain and outside wetland areas were cleared. Was a Clayplain Forest Cleared?  No. The area cleared has not been mapped as a Clayplain Forest by either the State of Vermont or VHB.

Did Vermont Railway Require a Permit for Tree Clearing?  No. A permit to clear the forest was not required.  Authorization from the State to clear  Authorization from the State to clear forested areas is triggered for projects involving more than 40 acres of clearing.  Otherwise, tree clearing is allowed, using the VT Acceptable Management Practices , which were followed in this case,

Was Critical Habitat affected by tree clearing?  No. The State of Vermont does not designate Critical Habitat. That is designated by the federal government under the Endangered Species Act.  No federal critical habitats are present within the vicinity of the project.

What kind of forest was cleared?  Approximately 19 acres were cleared.  About half that amount was young forest consisting largely of shrubs and saplings. consisting largely of shrubs and saplings.  The western half was mature forest.  No floodplain forest was cleared.

Did the State map any Significant Natural Communities in the Project Area?  The current database for the State Natural Heritage Inventory does not include any significant natural communities within the project limits.  VHB mapped approximately 2.9 acres in the western portion as Sand-Over-Clay forest.  The amount of Sand-Over-Clay forest cleared is less than 1/6 th of the total project clearing.