Erosion control Plans?

[Paul]

Has any one ever had to write a erosion control plan before they started a big job? Most work that we do already has a plan in effect. But I was approached by a contractor yesterday to write a plan that he could implement before he started. This plan involves protecting a water shed that feeds a larger river, plus includes a creek crossing that must protect stream banks and water quality. Now for most projects it wouldn't be too bad but they want to start this project this fall and they need to protect all these areas thru spring, when permanent protection can be installed.

[PSUscaper]

Hello,

to the best of my knowledge and from my own experiences, I would think that the erosion control plan was already submitted with the project??

Is this a construction site, where you are coming in to do the landscape afterwords? Ie.. a new building site.?

With all the regulations, I would think you'd need a registered LA or a certified engineer to do this, and or, be required to submit a drawing stamped by a certified LA or engineer.

To me, it seems like the GC saved a few bucks before hand and didn't have a erosion plan submitted.....which surprises, as most townshipe require a erosion plan to be submitted with every project before it is even approved to be approved(if you know what I mean)

I recently did a commercial landscape plan, and when I was researching the towns requirements, I saw the erosion control plan. I simply called the engineering firm who was working on the project, and they said they already had one submitted with the rest of the project.

It just seems odd to me that someone would ask this on a project that has already been approved. Would make me a little suspicious.

As for doing a plan......maybe not all that hard, but a lot of 'little' things need to be known. I'm not anywhere near being up to code on erosion control procedures, so I know I wouldn't want to touch it. The thought of getting involved with wetlands even scares me more. Those people have regulations that change every hour......one day they say ok, and the next they forget your name and have the state DEP shutting you down and start fining you 10's of thousands of dollars.

The funny thing is, I've seen all these big fancy plans done, and when the project starts, all that happens is the contractor throws a silt fence up that is falling over about a day after the project starts and nobody ever asks another question about erosion control.

steve

[agla]

It sounds like someone is trying to shift liability to you. From what you are saying, it sounds like it is not your area of expertise. There is no reason to expect that a landscape contractor should be supplying this kind of plan. As a contractor you should be following specs that are already in place.

I suggest that you document anything to do with this discussion of erosion control by responding with written letters (keep a copy of course). You want to write the letters in such a way that you state what they are asking of you and how you are responding.

Something like:

"I am responding to your request about designing an erosion control plan ...
Since you told me that there is no erosion control plan at this time ...."

That will cover you somewhat if they are skirting using an approved erosion control plan. Sometimes this happens and then they act as if you were the one that did not follow it.

They might be honestly asking you to come up with something. You still need to document that you are not claiming to be an engineer or other type of licensed professional and that you are not promising success, but will take the measures that you came up with to help control erosion. Make sure to mention that by signing the contract they are accepting that they think the plan is adequate.

Cover thy backside.

[Lanelle]

Is this the next step in your career? If so, you might as well buy E&O insurance now. I have no doubt that you will use careful wording to define your involvement. Still, as agla says, cover your assets.

[Paul]

This is a public works job, The engineer does have silt fence and other erosion control measures on the plan. What they are looking for is what the contractor is going to do over and above the requirement listed, in order to protect water quality. My looking at this means the engineer is looking to cover his butt by making the contractor responsible for any problems.

The creek crossing, in the plans sound like they are digging across a large river, it's a 30 to 40' crossing 7' deep. they want them to construct a coffer dam 1/2 way across the creek closed on one side, dewater, trench, install pipe, plug pipe,cover then remove coffer dam, and reset on the other side of the creek, then repeat above all over again.

After reading the specs on the job three times , they are giving the contractor lot of leeway on what type of temporary erosion control measures he can use. I think they have listed just about every type that I can think of!

[Paul]

Today I met with a CPESC, We went thru the complete set of plan in 2 hrs. It's not a hard process once you know what they are looking for. The hardest part was choosing what type of protection would work the best for each location.

A couple of things that I found, have 2 set of drawings, and about 10 different color pencils. the first set is for you to mark-up with all the problem areas, the second set use for the master plan. Identify the problem areas and mark them with one color for each type of control measure that is needed. Use a standard symbol and have it listed on the first set of plans, so a coir log would have one color and one symbol, ect. Have cut sheets on the products that you are going to use. Most manufactures have drawings of their products and how they are to be used, include them with your plan.

Write out the plan using a starting point of site inspection prior to installation of any erosion control products, specify that inspection need to be done because of possibility of missed items on drawings. Next list out a construction schedule starting with the installation of erosion control measures, taking it thru all steps in the construction process. Remember that all erosion control items are to remain in place until the site or area is vegetated.

Some things noted here that I would have missed;
Site inspections, all erosion control measures are to be inspected weekly and repaired as needed, any silt to be removed when it reaches more than 1/2 way up the confinement.
Inspect the devices after 1/2" of rain or 6" of snow, repair as needed.
Records of inspection, have a log book for the job and list out on it each sheet of drawings that pertain to the erosion control plan and have a place to show that some one inspected it.

I have lots more but don't have time to get it in right now :(