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Utility Erosion & Sediment Control Standards

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See below for details on City of Moorhead Utility 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) acres:
    1. City's Erosion/Sediment Control Permit
  2. Equal to or greater than one (1) acre or a common plan of development:
    • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) General stormwater permit for construction activity

Standards

  1. At project sites that require MPCA permit coverage where a utility contractor is not the site owner or operator, each utility contractor must comply with the provisions of the stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) for the project their construction activities will impact.
    • Each utility 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 utility contractor damage or render ineffective any BMPs for the site, the utility contractor must repair or replace such BMPs by the end of the next business day or when site conditions allow.
    • The utility 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 sod or seed. The establishment period for a BMP that includes sod or seed shall be 30 days, after which, if the area does not have an acceptable level of establishment, the utility contractor must re-sod or re-seed until satisfactory establishment is achieved.
  2. At project sites where a utility contractor is the site owner or operator, and the utility company disturbs one (1) or more acres of land for the purpose of installation of utility service lines, including but not limited to residential electric, gas, telephone and cable lines, the utility company must apply for permit coverage from the City and MPCA prior to commencement of construction.
  3. Before commencing any land disturbing or pavement removal, the 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 utility contractor is also responsible for removing any temporary inlet protection they installed; after all disturbed areas are stabilized.
  4. The utility contractor is responsible to ensure that sub-contractors and material suppliers comply with all erosion control requirements.
  5. The utility contractor is 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.
  6. 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 properly maintained and material properly disposed of. 
  7. During construction activity, measures must be implemented to reduce or eliminate vehicle tracking of sediments off-site.
    • 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.
  8. 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:
    • Temporary sedimentation basins
    • Sediment bags
    • Grit chambers
    • Sand filters
    • Other appropriate controls as deemed necessary.
  9. Final stabilization:
    • Within one (1) mile of 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 temporarily or permanently ceased.