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2023 MAC Summer Newsletter

By Dylan Drudul,CPESC, CESSWI, CBLP posted Jun 22, 2023 09:11 AM

  

IN THIS ISSUE

President’s Message
30th Annual MAC IECA Annual Conference & Expo
A Lookback on 30 Years of the MAC
5th Annual "The Masters" Golf Tournament
Welcome Reception at LB SkyBar
Update: MDE 20CP General Permit
MAC IECA Student Scholarship

President's Message
Cheers! 

I hope this Summer finds you and your family as healthy and as happy as can be! 
Can you believe that the MAC-IECA has been around for over 30 years?  Crazy, right?  Please reach out to Charlie, John, Robert, Dave & others to ask them about their stories from the early stages of getting this organization to where it is today.  We honor where we started but move forward with confidence & purpose as we celebrate the 30th Annual MAC-IECA Annual Conference at the Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore, MD on Sept 12-14 2023. This historic hotel will provide the backdrop for a phenomenal attendee experience & make the 30th Anniversary MAC-IECA Conference one to remember.  We have some amazing keynote speakers, a solid technical session lineup, a great exhibit hall & multiple networking events for you to expand your industry knowledge & engage with old friends & new connections.  Conference details can be found here 30th Anniversary MAC-IECA Conference & will be updated as we finalize the program over the next few months.
We are excited to announce that in 2023, you will see a transition of the current MAC-IECA website to an upgraded interface associated with the main IECA website.  This will allow for enhanced user engagement & connectivity while promoting a community of like-minded professionals sharing information related to erosion & sediment control & environmental resource protection.
If you have any ideas, questions, concerns or just want to get more involved with the MAC-IECA, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the BOD members or myself directly at gmhammel@mccormicktaylor.com.

Cheers!
-Gerry
Gerry Hammel, CPESC
MAC-IECA President
 


Conference Info
Registration
Book Your Hotel
A Lookback on 30 Years of the MAC!
Robert Connelly
     
        This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the MAC IECA Annual Conference & Expo. I didn’t make the first conference held in Williamsburg, VA but I made the next one which was in Lancaster, PA. I remember meeting so many people who knew what I did for a living. It was so different from the social events I attended at home where you got a blank stare when you told them you were an Erosion Control Specialist, “a what?” they would say. I recall a keg and a luggage cart was involved in Lancaster. We all had a good time and learned a lot from the presenters and networking with each other. I have been an involved member ever since. I joined the Board and traveled to the monthly Saturday meetings we had from New Jersey to Virginia and served as Chapter President for a couple of years in the early 2000’s. The friendships I made over the years had a positive impact on both my professional and personal life. Many of them became competitors over the years but the friendships were always more important to me and have remained intact. 

        Join us for our 30th anniversary!  You don’t want to miss this one. Our educational program is shaping up to be one of our best. Did I mention the rooftop bar welcoming party and our 5th Annual “The Master” Golf Tournament on the 12th for some on the course fun, networking and even share some fond memories of our dear friend Tom? That’s always a great time.
 
       There’s always plenty to see and learn in the Expo Hall. Hope to see you in Baltimore! And I sure look forward to seeing my MAC friends again!   
Conference Rewind
Check out where the MAC Conference began and everywhere we've been ever since!


5th Annual "The Master" Memorial Golf Tournament

The conference will kick off on Tuesday with the MAC-IECA Annual ‘The Master’ Memorial Golf Tournament at the beautiful Mountain Branch Golf Course. This memorial golf tournament is held every year in honor of our dear friend and MAC IECA advocate, Tom Master.

Mountain Branch delivers the ultimate golf and entertainment experience. Our golf course is fun yet challenging design laid out over 264 acres of Harford County’s finest. 

The golf fee is $110 and includes, green fees, a golf cart, boxed deli lunch with salads and desserts, raffles, and prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places and long drive/closest to pin/ competitions. Sign up now for the MAC - IECA 5th Annual ‘Tom Master’ Memorial Golf Tournament so lock in your spot as they are expected to fill up quickly! 

Sponsorship opportunities are available so please reach out to the MAC – IECA Chapter President/Conference Chair, Gerry Hammel at gmhammel@mccormicktaylor.com or 240.344.9282 with any questions.

* Additional Registration Required

http://www.mountainbranch.com/ 

Come on out and have some fun on the course with other MAC members! 

Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Tee Time: 9AM
Location: 1827 Mountain Road, Joppa, MD 21085

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Mountain Branch Website


Conference Welcome Reception at Lord Baltimore SkyBar!

Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Tee Time: 5-6:30pm
Location: Lord Baltimore Hotel SkyBar

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Lord Baltimore SkyBar
Guidance on the updated 20CP General Permit (Maryland)
John Gonzalez, PE, CPSWQ
 
Overview
 
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) recently released the current 20CP NPDES General Permit (Permit) for stormwater discharges related to construction activity.  The current permit went into effect on April 1, 2023.  Projects currently operating under the previous 14CP General Permit are required to re-apply for coverage under the Permit and have until September 30, 2023 to obtain coverage under the Permit.  There is no fee for re-applying for coverage if the applicant is operating under the previous permit and is seeking to continue construction activity under the 20CP.
 
When it is Required
 
Coverage under the Permit is required if the construction activity results in land disturbance of one acre or greater.  Coverage can also be required if MDE or the Director of EPA administration determines runoff significantly violates water quality standards or significantly contributes pollutants to the waters of the US.  Smaller sites may also be required to obtain coverage if the construction activity has the potential to contribute to a violation of water quality standards or has the potential to make a significant contribution of pollutants to waters of the US.  Obtaining coverage under the Permit is initiated by completing the Notice of Intent (NOI) and submitting the NOI to MDE through the ePermits portal for review.
 
The applicant may or may not be the operator.  The applicant could be a third party person such as a civil engineer working for the project owner or developer.  The operator is either the property owner or the person who is in day-to-day control of construction (usually the contractor).  If there are multiple operators, each operator needs to obtain Permit coverage.  People involved in the project must be green-card certified by MDE.  It may be necessary for an operator to prepare a Stormwater Pollutant Prevention Plan (SWPPP) if certain criteria such as the use of chemical additives or polymers for sediment control, dewatering which requires meeting turbidity benchmarks, or if other criteria are outlined in the Permit are met.
 
The Permit identifies discharges that are authorized and discharges that are not authorized under the Permit.  Generally, the discharges authorized are those related to construction activity and construction support activity related to the construction site under coverage.  Use of additives and chemicals related to sediment control may be permitted subject to permit conditions such as monitoring and providing additional controls.  Prohibited discharges such as wastewater from concrete washout, chemicals and oils/paints, and toxic or hazardous substances may be required to be permitted under another separate permit or covered in a SWPPP which may be required to be submitted as part of the NOI.
 
There are a few changes associated with the Permit that were either not required or did not require as much documentation under the previous general permit.  One change applies to when the NOI can be filed.  Under the previous permit the NOI could be filed prior to agency approval of the sediment control plan.  This would allow for the NOI to be posted for review and possible public comment while final approvals of stormwater management plans and sediment control plans were being obtained.  Under the current Permit, the NOI cannot be filed until after the sediment control plan has been approved by the local agency charged with sediment control plan reviews and approvals.  This could include the posting of bonds in support of grading and stormwater management permit applications.  This could add significant time to the overall development process of site plan review and obtainment of permits and other entitlements prior to construction.
 
Another change has to do with reporting the presence or absence of rare, threatened and endangered species on the site.  A review of such can be made through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and it is recommended this inquiry be made early in the project.
 
Another change has to do with addressing stormwater discharges in a Tier II watershed.  The watershed in which a site lies must be researched to determine if it is a Tier II watershed.  MDE has interactive maps on its website to help the applicant identify if the site lies in a Tier II watershed.  It is recommended (and in some jurisdictions required) it be determined if a site lies in a Tier II watershed and associated antidegradation and assimilative capacity analyses be addressed during the sediment control plan review of a project.  The worksheets associated with antidegradation, and assimilative capacity analyses must be completed and submitted with the project for review.
 
Another change has to do with monitoring of turbidity samples in discharges to Tier II watersheds or waters listed as impaired waters for sediment discharges.  There are reporting requirements for measuring turbidity in discharges which must be kept on file at the jobsite and/or submitted to MDE within 28 days after the end of each monitoring quarter.  Use of flocculants should be noted, and the use of some flocculants may require additional permitting.
 
The NOI requires information pertaining to the project which needs to be furnished to MDE to obtain coverage.  Some of the information required includes, among other things, information regarding the owner/operator, location of the project, Federal tax ID number, proof of Workers’ Compensation coverage, type of construction, watershed location, approved erosion and sediment control plan, the SWPPP, an indication if there are any rare, threatened and endangered species on the site, and if chemical additives for flocculants are to be used.  There is an application fee to be paid that is based on the acreage of disturbance.  The NOI is to be filed through the MDE ePermits portal which can be found on the MDE website under the tab labeled “Permits”.
 
The Permit also contains information regarding inspection and reporting requirements as well as corrective measures to be taken if conditions of the Permit are violated or if certain failures on the site occur such as earth slides, channelization of sediment-laden runoff that bypasses sediment control practices, and deposition of sediments and silts on a downstream property that is outside the limit of disturbance.   
 
Application Procedures and Summary
 
The Permit requires more information be included in the NOI and cannot be applied for until the applicant has an approved erosion and sediment control plan.  This could lead to extended time for the entitlement process and delay the start of construction.  The following recommendations may help in making the application process more streamlined:
 
  1. Read through the Permit and be familiar with what the permit requires of operators.  A copy of the Permit can be found on the MDE website.
  2. Read the inspection report forms that accompany the Permit and become familiar with the reporting requirements.
  3. Go to the MDE website and create an account to where you need to log into in order to establish and fill out the NOI.  Contact the responsible party who will be signing the application and paying the fee to let them know they may also need to set up an account on the MDE website to where the NOI can be sent so they can sign, pay the fee, and submit to MDE.
  4. Read the NOI and become familiar with the information that is needed for completing and submitting the NOI.  Develop a checklist of information needed and see that all the information is available at the time the NOI is to be filled out.  Note that some items may take a while to obtain such as a review by the Department of Natural Resources for a rare, threatened and endangered species check, or the preparation of a SWPPP.
  5. Complete the NOI as soon as the erosion and sediment control plan is approved and evidence of plan approval can be uploaded to the NOI.
  6. Contact the responsible party who will be signing the NOI to let them know the NOI is complete and they should be receiving the NOI for signature and payment.
 
The NOI requires information be provided that was not part of the NOI for the previous construction permit.  It is recommended applicants, operators and consultants be familiar with the terms of the Permit and what is required.  A process to gather the data needed for the NOI should be developed to ensure the application process is smooth and can be done efficiently.  Communication between the responsible party who will be signing the NOI and the person completing the NOI is important to keep the application process moving forward in a continuous manner.  Current regulatory plan review and permit process requirements, timelines for review, and agency staffing are adding significant time to receipt of permits and the entitlement process.  Knowledge of the permits and the process as well as communication amongst all parties involved are key to effective application and implementation of the Permit and its requirements.

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MAC IECA Student Scholarship 

Since 2002, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association (MAC-IECA) has been awarding annual scholarships to students who are enrolled in four-year colleges and universities and are considering a career in the erosion and sediment control industry, stormwater management industry, or related field. These fields of study could include but are not limited to: biology; environmental science; earth studies; earth science; agricultural, civil, and environmental engineering; natural resources management; soil science; agronomy; geology, hydraulics; hydrology; construction technology; environmental education; forestry; agricultural science; marine science; and landscape architecture.
 
Once again, MAC-IECA will be offering several scholarships totaling $3,000 for the spring semester, 2024, to students within colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

STAY TUNED FOR APPLICATION INFO COMING SOON!
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