RISK LEVEL 1 MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Per 2009-0009-DWQ as amended by 2010-0014-DWQ
G. Inspection, Maintenance and Repair
1. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall ensure that all inspection, maintenance repair and sampling activities at the project location shall be performed or supervised by a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) representing the discharger. The QSP may delegate any or all of these activities to an employee trained to do the task(s) appropriately, but shall ensure adequate deployment.
2. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall perform weekly inspections and observations, and at least once each 24-hour period during extended storm events, to identify and record BMPs that need maintenance to operate effectively, that have failed, or that could fail to operate as intended. Inspectors shall be the QSP or be trained by the QSP.
3. Upon identifying failures or other shortcomings, as directed by the QSP, Risk Level 1 dischargers shall begin implementing repairs or design changes to BMPs within 72 hours of identification and complete the changes as soon as possible.
4. For each inspection required, Risk Level 1 dischargers shall complete an inspection checklist, using a form provided by the State Water Board or Regional Water Board or in an alternative format.
5. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall ensure that checklists shall remain onsite with the SWPPP and at a minimum, shall include:
a. Inspection date and date the inspection report was written.
b. Weather information, including presence or absence of precipitation, estimate of beginning of qualifying storm event, duration of event, time elapsed since last storm, and approximate amount of rainfall in inches.
c. Site information, including stage of construction, activities completed, and approximate area of the site exposed.
d. A description of any BMPs evaluated and any deficiencies noted.
e. If the construction site is safely accessible during inclement weather, list the observations of all BMPs: erosion controls, sediment controls, chemical and waste controls, and non-storm water controls. Otherwise, list the results of visual inspections at all relevant outfalls, discharge points, downstream locations and any projected maintenance activities.
f. Report the presence of noticeable odors or of any visible sheen on the surface of any discharges.
g. Any corrective actions required, including any necessary changes to the SWPPP and the associated implementation dates.
h. Photographs taken during the inspection, if any.
i. Inspector’s name, title, and signature.
H. Rain Event Action Plan
Not required for Risk Level 1 dischargers.
I. Risk Level 1 Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
1. Construction Site Monitoring Program Requirements
a. Pursuant to Water Code Sections 13383 and 13267, all dischargers subject to this General Permit shall develop and implement a written site-specific Construction Site Monitoring Program (CSMP) in accordance with the requirements of this Section. The CSMP shall include all monitoring procedures and instructions, location maps, forms, and checklists as required in this section. The CSMP shall be developed prior to the commencement of construction activities, and revised as necessary to reflect project revisions. The CSMP shall be a part of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), included as an appendix or separate SWPPP chapter.
b. Existing dischargers registered under the State Water Board Order No. 99-08-DWQ shall make and implement necessary revisions to their Monitoring Programs to reflect the changes in this General Permit in a timely manner, but no later than July 1, 2010. Existing dischargers shall continue to implement their existing Monitoring Programs in compliance with State Water Board Order No. 99-08-DWQ until the necessary revisions are completed according to the schedule above.
c. When a change of ownership occurs for all or any portion of the construction site prior to completion or final stabilization, the new discharger shall comply with these requirements as of the date the ownership change occurs.
2. Objectives
The CSMP shall be developed and implemented to address the following objectives:
a. To demonstrate that the site is in compliance with the Discharge Prohibitions;
b. To determine whether non-visible pollutants are present at the construction site and are causing or contributing to exceedances of water quality objectives;
c. To determine whether immediate corrective actions, additional Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation, or SWPPP revisions are necessary to reduce pollutants in storm water discharges and authorized non-storm water discharges; and
d. To determine whether BMPs included in the SWPPP are effective in preventing or reducing pollutants in storm water discharges and authorized non-storm water discharges.
3. Risk Level 1 – Visual Monitoring (Inspection) Requirements for Qualifying Rain Events
a. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall visually observe (inspect) storm water discharges at all discharge locations within two business days (48 hours) after each qualifying rain event.
b. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall visually observe (inspect) the discharge of stored or contained storm water that is derived from and discharged subsequent to a qualifying rain event producing precipitation of ½ inch or more at the time of discharge. Stored or contained storm water that will likely discharge after operating hours due to anticipated precipitation shall be observed prior to the discharge during operating hours.
c. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall conduct visual observations (inspections) during business hours only.
d. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall record the time, date and rain gauge reading of all qualifying rain events.
e. Within 2 business days (48 hours) prior to each qualifying rain event, Risk Level 1 dischargers shall visually observe (inspect):
i. All storm water drainage areas to identify any spills, leaks, or uncontrolled pollutant sources. If needed, the discharger shall implement appropriate corrective actions.
ii. All BMPs to identify whether they have been properly implemented in accordance with the SWPPP. If needed, the discharger shall implement appropriate corrective actions.
iii. Any storm water storage and containment areas to detect leaks and ensure maintenance of adequate freeboard.
f. For the visual observations (inspections) described in e. i and e. iii above, Risk Level 1 dischargers shall observe the presence or absence of floating and suspended materials, a sheen on the surface, discolorations, turbidity, odors, and source(s) of any observed pollutants.
g. Within two business days (48 hours) after each qualifying rain event, Risk Level 1 dischargers shall conduct post rain event visual observations (inspections) to (1) identify whether BMPs were adequately designed, implemented, and effective, and (2) identify additional BMPs and revise the SWPPP accordingly.
h. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall maintain on-site records of all visual observations (inspections), personnel performing the observations, observation dates, weather conditions, locations observed, and corrective actions taken in response to the observations.
4. Risk Level 1 – Visual Observation Exemptions
a. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall be prepared to conduct visual observation (inspections) until the minimum requirements of Section I.3 above are completed. Risk Level 1 dischargers are not required to conduct visual observation (inspections) under the following conditions:
i. During dangerous weather conditions such as flooding and electrical storms.
ii. Outside of scheduled site business hours.
b. If no required visual observations (inspections) are collected due to these exceptions, Risk Level 1 dischargers shall include an explanation in their SWPPP and in the Annual Report documenting why the visual observations (inspections) were not conducted.
5. Risk Level 1 – Monitoring Methods
Risk Level 1 dischargers shall include a description of the visual observation locations, visual observation procedures, and visual observation follow-up and tracking procedures in the CSMP.
6. Risk Level 1 – Non-Storm Water Discharge Monitoring
Requirements
a. Visual Monitoring Requirements:
i. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall visually observe (inspect) each drainage area for the presence of (or indications of prior) unauthorized and authorized non-storm water discharges and their sources.
ii. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall conduct one visual observation (inspection) quarterly in each of the following periods: January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-December.
Visual observation (inspections) are only required during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).
iii. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall ensure that visual observations (inspections) document the presence or evidence of any non-storm water discharge (authorized or unauthorized), pollutant characteristics (floating and suspended material, sheen, discoloration, turbidity, odor, etc.), and source. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall maintain on-site records indicating the personnel performing the visual observation (inspections), the dates and approximate time each drainage area and non-storm water discharge was observed, and the response taken to eliminate unauthorized non-storm water discharges and to reduce or prevent pollutants from contacting non-storm water discharges.
7. Risk Level 1 – Non-Visible Pollutant Monitoring Requirements
a. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall collect one or more samples during any breach, malfunction, leakage, or spill observed during a visual inspection which could result in the discharge of pollutants to surface waters that would not be visually detectable in storm water.
b. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall ensure that water samples are large enough to characterize the site conditions.
c. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall collect samples at all discharge locations that can be safely accessed.
d. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall collect samples during the first two hours of discharge from rain events that occur during business hours and which generate runoff.
e. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall analyze samples for all non-visible pollutant parameters (if applicable) – parameters indicating the presence of pollutants identified in the pollutant source assessment required (Risk Level 1 dischargers shall modify their CSMPs to address these additional parameters in accordance with any updated SWPPP pollutant source assessment).
f. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall collect a sample of storm water that has not come in contact with the disturbed soil or the materials stored or used on-site (uncontaminated sample) for comparison with the discharge sample.
g. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall compare the uncontaminated sample to the samples of discharge using field analysis or through laboratory analysis.2
h. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall keep all field /or analytical data in the SWPPP document.
8. Risk Level 1 – Particle Size Analysis for Project Risk Justification
Risk Level 1 dischargers justifying an alternative project risk shall report a soil particle size analysis used to determine the RUSLE K-Factor. ASTM D-422 (Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils), as revised, shall be used to determine the percentages of sand, very fine sand, silt, and clay on the site.
9. Risk Level 1 – Records
Risk Level 1 dischargers shall retain records of all storm water monitoring information and copies of all reports (including Annual Reports) for a period of at least three years. Risk Level 1 dischargers shall retain all records on-site while construction is ongoing. These records include:
a. The date, place, time of facility inspections, sampling, visual observation (inspections), and/or measurements, including precipitation.
b. The individual(s) who performed the facility inspections, sampling, visual observation (inspections), and or measurements.
c. The date and approximate time of analyses.
d. The individual(s) who performed the analyses.
e. A summary of all analytical results from the last three years, the method detection limits and reporting units, and the analytical techniques or methods used.
f. Rain gauge readings from site inspections.
g. Quality assurance/quality control records and results.
h. Non-storm water discharge inspections and visual observation(inspections) and storm water discharge visual observation records (see Sections I.3 and I.6 above).
i. Visual observation and sample collection exception records (see Section I.4 above).
j. The records of any corrective actions and follow-up activities that resulted from analytical results, visual observation (inspections), or inspections.