Worksite Erosion Prevention – Snyder County, PA Government

Overview

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

The Conservation District operates at a Level II authority of the delegation agreement with DEP regarding E&S. 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 plan on site, implemented and maintained. Conservation District staff review an E&S control plan to determine if the proposed best management practices (BMPs) will properly function when installed. 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.

What Constitutes as Earth Disturbance? 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.

New Excavation E&S Review & Permit Fees Effective May 1, 2023 The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD, Conservation District) Board of Directors approved a new fee schedule for Erosion & Sediment Pollution Control (E&S) plan reviews and NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits during its March 7, 2023, regular scheduled meeting. You may view and download the new fee schedule submission form this webpage. The new fee schedule is effective May 1, 2023. Questions may be forwarded to SCCD Resource Conservation Technician Tim Hornberger at 570-837-3000 x4 or at erosion@snydercd.org.

E&S Control Plans

There are three types of E&S Control Plans acceptable to the Snyder County Conservation District.

Small Projects – Less Than 1 Acre

Single Family Home

For people who wish to build a single family, residential home in Snyder County on less than 1 acre of earth disturbance, the Small Project E&S Control Plan Handbook has been developed to assist future homeowners 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. You will need to complete the E&S Review Application Form.

Please deliver your plans for review by dropping off or mailing it to the Snyder County Conservation District office.

Note: After April 30, 2023, please use the new E&S Review Application Form .

If you have any questions, contact Tim Hornberger, Resource Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x4.

Other Small Projects

For any other excavation and/or construction project that has less than 1 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. You will need to complete the E&S Review Application Form.

Please deliver your plans for review by dropping off or mailing it to the Snyder County Conservation District office.

Note: After April 30, 2023, please use the new E&S Review Application Form .

If you have any questions, contact Tim Hornberger, Resource Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x4.

Large Projects – 1 Acre or More

For projects that are 1 acre or more of earth disturbance, a professionally developed E&S Control Plan and a NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit is required. The Snyder County Conservation District, under the supervision of DEP, issues NPDES 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.

Note: After April 30, 2023, please use the new E&S Review Application Form .

Chapter 102 ePermits

From DEP website: “The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has released the initial phase of the Chapter 102 electronic permitting system (ePermit System) to improve the efficiency of submissions and reviews of Chapter 102 permit applications and Notices of Intent (NOIs) and enable faster responses to applicants. The web-based Chapter 102 ePermit System can be accessed through DEP’s GreenPort . The initial release for voluntary use includes new NOIs for coverage under the PAG-02 General NPDES Permit and NOIs for PAG-02 amendments (*).”

“(*) Amendments can be processed within the ePermit System only if the original NOI/application was submitted through ePermit System.”

Please deliver your plans for review by dropping off or mailing it the Snyder County Conservation District office.

If you have any questions, contact Tim Hornberger, Resource Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x4.

Timber Harvesting

Timber harvesting requires an E&S Control Plan. (Please refer to the Timber Harvest Guide on DEP’s Library website for assistance.) Both the E&S Plan Template for a Timber Harvesting Operation (supplied by DEP) and the E&S Review Application Form must be used. Fees are based on either the size of the earth disturbance or the total project area.

Please deliver your plans for review by dropping off or mailing it to the Snyder County Conservation District office.

Note: After April 30, 2023, please use the new E&S Review Application Form .

If you have any questions, contact Tim Hornberger, Resource Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x4.