Indiana Regulates Sedimentation

?EUR??,,????'??Rule 5?EUR??,,????'?? (327 IAC 15-5-5) is a relatively new Indiana state regulation aimed to reduce sedimentation and erosion on land under development. The purpose of the rule is to reduce pollutants, principally sediment, as a result of soil erosion in storm water discharges and into surface waters from sites where construction activity disturbs five acres or more of the site. In contemplation of recent federal court decisions, persons with sites greater than one acre are invited to comply as well. To comply with Rule 5, a developer must prepare an erosion control plan (before beginning construction) that satisfies the required elements listed in 327 IAC 15-5-7 and send it to the Soil and Water Conservation District office in the county where the project will take place. A copy of development plans must be on site and the contractor must follow the erosion control portion of the development plans. The developer must prepare and submit a complete Notice of Intent (NOI) to the Office of Water Management, Permits Section. Failure to comply with Rule 5 could result in heavy fines or costly work stoppage. Log on to www.in.gov/idem/guides/permit/water/stormwater construction.html for a detailed guide.