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The
Chicago District, Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
administers a permit program under section 404 of the
Clean Water Act, which regulates various activities in
waters of the United States, including wetlands. As a
condition of permit issuance, the Corps requires
appropriate soil erosion and sediment control measures
to be implemented and maintained until the construction
site is re-vegetated and stabilized. The Corps reviews
the impacts of a proposed project with the supposition
that soil erosion from the site will be negligible.
However, the Corps has frequently observed that many
permittees fail to implement and maintain appropriate
erosion and sediment control measures. As a result, the
impact of the project becomes more than minimal.
Construction site erosion has been identified as a
significant source of pollution in Illinois lakes and
streams. Sediment deposition from water erosion results
in the loss of sensitive or threatened fish species and
reduced food supplies, reduced channel capacity, reduced
storm water conveyance and storage functions and crates
safety and nuisance issues.
In
May of 1997 the North Cook County Soil & Water
Conservation District entered into an Interagency
Coordination Agreement (ICA) with the USDA- Natural
Resources Conservation Service and the United States
Army Corps of Engineers - Chicago District.
The intent of the ICA is to utilize technical expertise
of the SWCD and the NRCS. The SWCD reviews an
applicant’s soil erosion and sediment control plan (SESC)
and determines if the plan meets technical standards.
Applicants are required to give the SWCD the information
necessary to conduct an adequate technical review of the
plan. The Corps will use the SWCD’s opinion, in part, to
ensure that the impacts of the project are not more than
minimal. The SWCD representative should attend
pre-construction meetings and will periodically inspect
the site during active construction.
The United States Army Corps of Engineering retains the
final decision about soil, water and the other natural
resources, and any issues, opinions, findings, or
actions resulting from the ICA plan reviews. |
