Construction site clean-up

Members of the public have an opportunity to comment on a draft permit released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will regulate storm-water discharge from construction sites, according to an EPA press release.

The proposed Construction General Permit would require construction sites in areas where the EPA is the permitting authority (including all of Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Washington, D.C., and most territories and Indian lands) to implement several enhanced provisions to protect the nation’s waterways from pollution. Modifications would include sediment and erosion controls, and site inspections.

The current permit is set to expire in June 2011, but the EPA is trying to extend it to January 2012 to allow adequate time to secure the new permit. The public is invited to comment on the draft permit through June. For more information, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp.cfm.