Hills of Aquia and Popular Hills Sedimentation Issue
In an effort to strengthen the County’s Erosion and Sediment Control Program, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors has recently approved several ordinance changes that will help to enhance the Erosion and Sediment Control Program. The ordinance changes are detailed below.
On September 7, 2007, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors considered and approved Ordinance O07-65 and O07-67. Ordinance O07-65 increases the amount of civil penalties that can be assessed for Erosion and Sediment Control violations from $100 per day per violation to $1,000 per day per violation. It also increases the maximum penalty for violations from $3,000 to $10,000. Ordinance O07-67 modifies Erosion Control standards to allow the use of polymers to clarify runoff, turbidity curtains to trap sediment, and requires the use erosion control mats or blankets. Polymers (also known as flocculents or polyacrylamide (PAM)) are chemicals that are used to clarify runoff; these can now be required at the discretion of the Program Administrator for sites that are found to be discharging turbid runoff. Additionally, turbidity curtains may be required by the Program Administrator for projects that discharge to lakes or reservoirs. Turbidity curtains are often used as a backup sediment control measure when standard sediment controls may discharge turbid water. Finally, the use of erosion control blankets or mats for slope stabilization is now required on all slopes that are 3:1 or steeper.
On July 1, 2008, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors considered and approved Ordinance O08-52. Ordinance O08-52 adds a requirement for construction phasing to the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance. Construction phasing is the process of developing (grading) a site in phases or sections to reduce the amount of land that is disturbed at one time. The ordinance requires construction phasing for residential projects that disturb more than 40 acres of land and exempts commercial, institutional, and industrial development, and the construction of roads and utilities within residential projects.
It should be noted that in June of 2006, the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board determined that the Stafford County Erosion and Sediment Control Program was fully consistent with the Virginia Erosion Control Law and Regulations. The Soil and Water Conservation Board’s findings were made pursuant to a compliance evaluation of the County’s program conducted by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.