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.

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: Please use the 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: Please use the 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: Please use the E&S Review Application Form .

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. You need to submit the E&S Plan Template for a Timber Harvesting Operation (DEP Website) and the E&S Review Application Form to the Snyder County Conservation District. 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: Please use the E&S Review Application Form .

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