Stormwater Best Management Practices: City of North Little Rock, Arkansas Engineering Department Releases Best Management Practices Manual

The City of North Little Rock, Arkansas Engineering Department has released a document titled:

STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (“Manual”).

The Manual is described as a:

…practical guide to protecting North Little Rock’s water ways.

The Manual is stated to provide:

…clear, actionable Best Management Practices (BMPs) for erosion, sediment, and stormwater control during construction activities as mandated by the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

Developers, contractors, field workers, inspectors, and city staff are identified as benefitting from what is described as “step-by-step guidance to maintain compliance, protect water quality, and support sustainable development.”

The City of North Little Rock is a municipality that is subject to the Clean Water Act Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (“MS4”) stormwater management permitting program. An MS4 refers to a collection of structures designed to gather stormwater and discharge it into local streams and rivers. The word “municipal” refers to a unit of local government or organization responsible for the administration of the developed area.

The separate storm sewer system can include retention basins, ditches, roadside inlets, and underground pipes designed to gather stormwater for built-up areas discharging it. The term “separate system” is used because it is not connected to a sanitary sewer system.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates there are approximately 7,250 Clean Water Act permitting MS4s that are operating in the United States. They are authorized pursuant to a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System MS4 Permit.

The North Little Rock Manual is described as establishing standard procedures and performance expectations for construction-related stormwater control. The stated purpose is to outline a consistent, locally adapted set of BMPs that can be implemented cost-effectively. The focus is stated to be on practical techniques suitable for a wide range of site types and project scales.

The Manual applies to both new development and redevelopment projects.

Notes that the Manual is stated to have been adopted under the authority of the City of North Little Rock’s Stormwater Ordinance. Further, it states that:

…City inspectors are authorized to enforce the provisions of this manual through permit conditions, site inspections, stop-work orders, and other measures deemed necessary to ensure compliance.

Chapters include:

• Stormwater Management Overview
• Construction-Phase BMPS
• BMP Design Details and Specifications
• Site Plan and Stormwater Permit Requirements

A copy of the Manual can be downloaded here.