AWWA JAW66295

This article discusses how regulatory agencies at the state and national levels have increased Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement activity against developers who fail to meet storm water permitting requirements at construction sites. The article describes how sediment runoff from construction sites is far greater than from agricultural and forest lands, and therefore, how construction activity contributes more sediment to streams than other sources. Further topics covered in the article include: Clean Water Act regulation of storm water; establishing a pattern of violations; and, continued scrutiny and active enforcement activity by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state regulatory agencies, including inspections, information requests, and possible initiation of administrative or judicial enforcement cases.