A. Inspection. Prior to commencement of land disturbing activities, a site erosion control inspection shall be scheduled and approved utilizing the city’s inspection scheduling system. Scheduling the site inspection is the responsibility of the property owner on whose parcel the land-disturbing activity occurs and the person undertaking such activities. In addition, if the land-disturbing activity involves a city-issued permit, the permit holder, and the general contractor are also responsible for meeting this requirement.

B. Preserve Vegetation/Mark Clearing Limits. Retain the duff layer, native top soil, and natural vegetation in an undisturbed state to the maximum degree practicable. Prior to beginning land disturbing activities, including clearing and grading, clearly mark all clearing limits for critical areas and their buffers, and trees that are to be preserved within the construction area. Clearing limits for critical areas and their buffers, and for tree, vegetation, and soil conservation, shall be in compliance with all applicable requirements set forth in relevant chapters of the Vancouver Municipal Code.

C. Construction Access Route. Construction vehicle access shall be limited to one route, unless additional access is approved by the director. Access points shall be installed as required by the stormwater manual and the general requirements to minimize the tracking of sediment, mud or debris onto paved surfaces, public and private roads.

D. Sediment Removal From Roadways, Paved and Impervious Surfaces. If sediment, mud or debris is transported onto a road, paved or impervious surface, the roads, paved and impervious surfaces shall be cleaned thoroughly at the end of each workday or more often if necessary. Significant soil deposits shall be removed from roads, paved and impervious surfaces by shoveling and sweeping and shall be transported to a controlled sediment disposal area. Street washing is not allowed unless approved by the director and only after sediment is removed in the manner described above.

E. Stabilization of Denuded Areas. All exposed soils shall be stabilized in a timely manner, by suitable application of BMPs, including but not limited to sod or other vegetation, plastic covering, mulching or crushed aggregate on areas to be paved. All exposed and disturbed soils shall be stabilized by the appropriate BMP. During the period from October 1st to April 30th no soil shall be exposed for more than two days. From May 1st to September 30th no soil shall be exposed more than seven days. All BMPs shall be selected, designed and maintained in accordance with the stormwater manual and the general requirements.

F. Protection of Water Bodies and Adjacent Properties including Right-of-Way. Water bodies, adjacent properties, and right-of-way shall be protected from sediment deposition by appropriate use of vegetative filter strips, sediment barriers or filters, dikes or mulching or by a combination of these measures and other appropriate BMPs.

G. Sediment Traps or Ponds. Stormwater runoff from disturbed areas shall pass through a sediment pond, sediment trap or other approved BMP system.

H. Storm Drain Inlet Protection. All storm drain inlets shall be protected by approved BMPs which shall be operable, properly installed, and maintained according to the stormwater manual and the general requirements.

I. Stormwater Facility Protection. Permanent stormwater facilities shall be isolated and protected from sedimentation by approved BMPs which shall be operable, properly installed and maintained according to the stormwater manual and the general requirements. Permanent facilities may be approved by the director for temporary use during construction in compliance with the stormwater manual. Temporary erosion ponds shall be placed, operated, and maintained as specified in the general requirements and approved plans.

J. Protect Low Impact Development BMPs. Protect LID BMPs from compaction and sedimentation.

K. Maintenance. All erosion prevention and sediment control BMPs shall be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure continued performance of their intended function. A log of erosion prevention and sediment control BMP maintenance shall be provided and kept as a permanent record. The maintenance log shall be kept in a designated on-site location. Construction sites shall be inspected at least once a week and after each rainfall event.

L. Removal of Temporary BMPs. All temporary erosion and sediment control BMPs shall be removed within 30 days after final site stabilization. Disturbed soil areas resulting from BMP removal shall be properly stabilized.

M. Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL). All land-disturbing activities shall be supervised by an individual who shall have successfully completed formal training in erosion and sediment control by a recognized organization acceptable to the Washington State Department of Ecology. A certification of successful completion of such training shall be submitted at the preconstruction conference. This certification requirement shall not apply to single-family homeowners acting as their own contractor and engaging in development or land-disturbing activity on their own property.

N. Underground Utility Construction. For construction of underground utility lines, excavated material shall be properly managed in accordance with the stormwater manual and shall be subject to the following additional requirements:

O. Financial Liability. Performance bonding or other appropriate financial instruments may be required for all development, redevelopment projects that include the creation or addition of 5,000 square feet, or greater, of new impervious surface area, and/or land-disturbing activity of one acre or greater.

P. Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention. Compliance with Minimum Requirement No. 2, Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, shall be achieved for an individual site of land-disturbing activities if the site is covered under the Washington State Department of Ecology’s General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activities and is fully implementing the requirements of that permit.

Q. If the BMPs applied to a site are insufficient to prevent sediment from reaching water bodies, adjacent properties or public right-of-way, then the director shall require additional BMPs. (Ord. M-4431 § 4, 2023; Ord. M-4179 § 27, 2016; Ord. M-3920 § 2, 2009)