Dissecting Dewatering and Turbidity Monitoring Requirements Under the 2022 EPA CGP

Presentation Description : The 2022 EPA Construction General Permit (CGP) laid out new regulations regarding the discharge of dewatering water from construction sites. We can read the regulations, but how do they translate from paper to the field? From scheduling inspections to safely collecting samples, there are a variety of challenges being faced by field teams as they navigate these new requirements. The intention of this presentation is to discuss these challenges, share experiences, and brainstorm solutions that lead to effective and efficient inspections and monitoring.

Full Presentation Abstract: The 2022 EPA Construction General Permit (CGP) laid out new regulations regarding the discharge of dewatering water from construction sites. This includes daily inspections for all dewatering discharges and turbidity benchmark monitoring for dewatering discharges to sensitive waters. We can read the regulations, but how do they translate from paper to the field? There are a variety of challenges being faced by field teams as they navigate these new requirements. One example is anticipating inspection needs since contractors sometimes discover water unexpectedly during excavations. This becomes even more difficult when crews are working on nights and weekends or leave a dewatering operation running on automatic for 24 hours or more. Other challenges include the safety and practicality of collecting turbidity samples, complications when discharging to catch basin storm drains, handling non-compliance with the permit, etc. The intention of this presentation is to discuss these challenges, share experiences, and brainstorm solutions that lead to effective and efficient inspections and monitoring. While these types of presentations are usually led by multiple people, I plan to lead this on my own and try to promote a truly open conversation amongst the audience. I will begin with a brief overview of the applicable requirements and follow with 5-10 discussion questions for the audience.