The Snyder County Conservation District provides educational workshops, reviews Erosion and Sediment (E&S)  Control plans, inspects active earth disturbance sites, responds to public complaints and documents information for possible violations of Chapter 102 per the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the PA Clean Streams Law.

The Conservation District operates at a Level II authority of the delegation agreement with DEP. In general, the Conservation District reviews and approves E&S Control plans from those individuals associated with an earth moving activity involving a minimum disturbance of 5,000 square feet (sq. ft.). All earthwork should have an E&S Control on site and be be implemented and maintained. Conservation District staff will look at an E&S control plan to determine if the proposed best management practices (BMPs) will properly function when implemented. Staff will also make on-site inspections of earth moving activities to determine if the "SCCD approved" BMPs have been implemented and are being maintained.

Basically, there are four types of E&S Control Plans (E&S) acceptable to the Snyder County Conservation District:

• Small project E&S plan in which there is less than 1.00 acre (43,560 sq. ft.) of earth disturbance such and is for single family residence.
• Professionally developed E&S control plans in which there is between 5,000 sq. ft. and less than 1.00 acre of earth disturbance.
• Professionally developed E&S control plans in which there is 1.00 or more acres of earth disturbance and involves an NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit.
• Any timber harvesting.

Earth Disturbance (Activity): [DEP Definition] A construction or other human activity which disturbs the surface of the land including land clearing, grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, land development, agricultural plowing or tilling, operation of animal heavy use areas, timber harvesting activities, road maintenance activities, oil and gas activities, well drilling, mineral extraction and the moving, depositing, stockpiling or storing of soil, stone or earth materials.

Note: Agricultural activities are also regulated under Chapter 102 regulations. Refer to our Agricultural Conservation Assistance web page for information to decrease soil loss from crop fields, pastures and places where animals congregate.

For people who wish to build a single family, residential home in Snyder County on less than 1.00 acre of earth disturbance, a small project E&S Control Plan handbook has been developed. Instead of hiring a professional, this workbook will assist the future home owner how to keep sediment from leaving the construction and excavation site. Best management practices (BMPs) are identified and explained. Think of this as a "how to" guide in preventing soil erosion for the inexperienced person.

The Small Project E&S Project Handbook and the E&S Review Application Form can be downloaded off of the "Small Projects Downloads" section along the right-hand side of this web page.

If you have any questions, contact Brian Herber, Resource Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000, x113.

For everyone else in Snyder County who has an excavation and/or construction project that has less than 1.00 acre of earth disturbance, a professionally developed E&S control plan must be developed. These projects would include residential developments, commercial developments, industrial developments, apartment complexes, townhouses, highway construction and utility installations. Agricultural buildings and structures such as poultry barns, pole storage sheds and waste storage structures would also fit under this category.

The E&S Review Application Form can be downloaded off of the "Other Projects Under One Acre Downloads" section along the right-hand side of this web page. Different project types have their own rate fee schedules. Read the directions carefully on what is required and work with your professional E&S control plan writer.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Herber, our Resource Conservation Technician at 570-837-3000, x113.

Projects that have 1.00 or more acres of earth disturbance have the same requirements (as mentioned above) as those who are less than 1.00 acre and are not single family residential projects. However, a NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit is also required. The Snyder County Conservation District, under the supervision of DEP, issues these permits mandated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Permit types and fees depend mostly on whether the project is located inside or outside a High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV) special protection watershed. Other factors may come into play on the type of permit required. Refer to the E&S Review Application Form and other DEP NPDES forms for details.

The E&S Review Application Form can be downloaded off of the "Larger Projects Downloads" section along the right-hand side of this web page. Read the directions carefully on what is required and work with your professional E&S control plan writer. You will also need to download and complete the DEP NPDES forms listed under "Larger Projects Downloads."

If there are any questions, please contact Brian Herber, our Resource Conservation Technician at 570-837-3000, x113.

Timber harvesting requires an E&S control plan, especially on site. The Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for a Timber Harvesting Operation (supplied by DEP) and the SCCD Review Application Form must be used.

Fees are based on either the size of the earth disturbance or the total project area. Refer to the Timber Harvest Fee Schedule inside the SCCD Review Application Form for specific fee rates. The above mentioned forms, as well as the Timber Harvest Operations Field Guide for Waterways, Wetland and Erosion Control, can be found and downloaded from the "Timber Harvest Downloads" section along the right side of this web page.

If you have any questions, contact Brian Herber, Resource Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000, x113.