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Commercial Erosion & Sediment Control Standards

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See below for details on City of Moorhead Commercial Erosion and Sediment Control Standards. These standards are applied to site owners, operators, contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. Please email Stormwater staff or call 218.299.5386 with any questions.

Permits

  1. Less than one (1) acre:
    • City's Erosion/Sediment Control Permit
    • Erosion/Sediment Control Plan Sheet
  2. Equal to or greater than one (1) acre or part of a common plan of development:
    • City's Erosion/Sediment Control Permit
    • Erosion/Sediment Control Plan Sheet
    • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) General stormwater permit
    • Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)

Standards

  1. All construction project drainage plans and erosion/sediment control plans must be reviewed and approved by the City of Moorhead Engineering department before a Erosion/Sediment Control Permit is issued.
  2. At project sites that require MPCA General stormwater permit for construction activity, where a contractor is not the site owner or operator, each contractor must comply with the provisions of the SWPPP for the project their construction activities will impact.
    • Each contractor must ensure that their activities do not render ineffective, the erosion prevention and sediment control best management practices (BMPs) for the site.
    • Should a contractor damage or render ineffective any BMPs for the site, the contractor must repair or replace such BMPs by the end of the next business day.
    • The contractor will be responsible for a BMP that includes seed or sod and must provide maintenance, including any watering necessary to insure the establishment of the seed or sod. The establishment period for a BMP that includes seed or sod shall be 30 days, after which, if the area does not have an acceptable level of establishment, the contractor must re-seed or re-sod until satisfactory establishment is achieved.
  3. At project sites where a contractor is the site owner or operator, and the contractor disturbs one (1) or more acres of land, the contractor must apply for a City erosion/sediment control permit and an MPCA General stormwater permit for construction activity from the State of Minnesota prior to commencement of land disturbing activities.
  4. Before commencing any land disturbing activity, all temporary erosion and sediment control measures must be installed down gradient from the disturbed construction area.  These practices shall remain in place until final stabilization has been established. 
    • The owner and/or contractor are responsible to ensure that all other contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers comply with all erosion and sediment control requirements.
    • Stormwater inlet(s) that receive runoff from the proposed work area shall be protected. The temporary inlet protection must remain in place until the construction activity is completed, the street has been swept and any exposed soils are stabilized. The contractor is also responsible for removing any temporary inlet protection installed; after all disturbed areas are stabilized.
    • The owner and/or contractor are required to inspect all erosion control devices at least once each week and after every rainfall of ½ inch or more to ensure that they are working properly. A written report of each inspection must be maintained.
    • Leakproof washout containers for concrete trucks must be provided, as applicable, on site. Containers shall be clearly marked and the location given to each driver. Containers must be maintained and material properly disposed of.
    • Construction entrances to reduce or eliminate vehicle tracking are required at all locations where construction vehicles or equipment will access the project site from existing city streets.
      • During the period of construction, impervious areas that have been tracked with sediments, or have sediments spilled or eroded onto them, must be swept and the sediments removed by the end of the day. Use of hoses and water to flush the sediments into the storm inlets is not acceptable.
  5. De-watering of a site may not be discharged in a manner that causes erosion, sedimentation, or flooding on the site, on downstream properties, in the receiving channels, or in any stormwater inlet. When de-watering use one of the following methods:
    • Temporary sedimentation basins
    • Sediment filtering bags
    • Grit chambers
    • Sand filters
    • Other appropriate controls as deemed necessary
  6. Final stabilization:
    • Within one (1) mile from an impaired water (Red River of the North) all exposed soil areas must be initiated immediately to limit soil erosion but in no case completed later than seven (7) days after the construction activity in that portion of the site has temporarily or permanently ceased. 
    • Greater than one (1) mile from an impaired water (Red River of the North) all exposed soil area must be initiated immediately to limit soil erosion but in no case completed later than fourteen (14) days after the construction activity in that portion of the site has temporaily or permanently ceased.