Talbot County, MD SECTION 164-8.0 Inspection

§ 164-8.1 Inspection schedule and reports.

A. The applicant shall notify the County Engineer at least 48 hours before commencing any work in conjunction with site development, the stormwater management plan, and upon completion of the project.

B. The applicant shall perform and document inspections for each ESD planning technique and practice at the stages of construction specified in the Design Manual. Inspections shall be performed and certified by the applicant or a professional engineer licensed in the State of Maryland as specified by the County Engineer. At a minimum, all ESD and other nonstructural practices shall be inspected upon completion of final grading, the establishment of permanent stabilization, and before issuance of final project approval by Public Works.

C. Written inspection reports shall include:

(1) The date and location of the inspection;

(2) Certification that construction is in compliance with the approved stormwater management plan, except as noted;

(3) All changes, variations or deviations from the approved construction plan or specifications; and

(4) Any violations that exist.

D. No work shall proceed on the next phase of development until the County Engineer has reviewed and approved the inspection report for all work previously completed.

E. The County shall give the applicant written notice of violations which shall describe the nature of the violation, the corrective action required and any stop-work order(s).

§ 164-8.2 Inspection requirements during construction.

A. At a minimum, the applicant shall make and document inspections at the following stages of construction:

(1) For ponds:

(a) Upon completion of excavation to subfoundation and, when required, installation of structural supports or reinforcement for structures, including but not limited to:

[1] Core trenches for structural embankments;

[2] Inlet and outlet structures, anti-seep collars or diaphragms, and watertight connectors on pipes; and

[3] Trenches for enclosed storm drainage facilities;

(b) During placement of structural fill, concrete, and installation of piping and catch basins;

(c) During backfill of foundations and trenches;

(d) During embankment construction; and

(e) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

(2) Wetlands: at the stages specified for pond construction in § 164-8.2A(1) of this chapter, during and after wetland reservoir area planting, and during the second growing season to verify a vegetation survival rate of at least 50%.

(3) For infiltration trenches:

(a) During excavation to subgrade;

(b) During placement and backfill of underdrain systems and observation wells;

(c) During placement of geotextiles and all filter media;

(d) During construction of appurtenant conveyance systems, such as diversion structures, prefilters and filters, inlets, outlets, and flow distribution structures; and

(e) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

(4) For infiltration basins: at the stages specified for pond construction in § 164-8.2A(1) of this chapter and during placement and backfill of underdrain systems.

(5) For filtering systems:

(a) During excavation to subgrade;

(b) During placement and backfill of underdrain systems;

(c) During placement of geotextiles and all filter media;

(d) During construction of appurtenant conveyance systems such as flow diversion structures, prefilters and filters, inlets, outlets, orifices, and flow distribution structures; and

(e) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

(6) For open channel systems:

(a) During excavation to subgrade;

(b) During placement and backfill of underdrain systems for dry swales;

(c) During installation of diaphragms, check dams, or weirs; and

(d) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

B. The County may enforce this chapter by any one or a combination of the following remedies. Pursuit of one remedy does not preclude pursuit of others.

(1) A notice of violation describing the corrective action required.

(2) A stop-work order may be issued.

(3) Bonds or sureties may be enforced.

(4) Administrative abatement orders.

(5) Administrative assessment of civil penalties.

(6) In addition to any other sanctions, a civil action seeking damages, declaratory, injunctive or other relief.

(7) Chapter 58, Talbot County Code, Enforcement of Code, shall be applied to violations of this chapter.

C. Once construction is complete, the applicant shall submit as-built plan certification by either a professional engineer or professional land surveyor licensed in the State of Maryland, as approved by the County Engineer, to ensure that ESD planning techniques, treatment practices, and structural stormwater management measures and conveyance systems comply with the specifications contained in the approved plans. At a minimum, as-built certification shall include a set of drawings identifying all differences between the approved stormwater management plan and actual construction. The County Engineer may require additional information.

D. The applicant shall prepare and submit to the County notice of construction completion for submission to the Administration on a form supplied by the Administration for each structural stormwater management practice within 45 days after construction has been completed and inspected, and has been approved by the County. The type, number, total drainage area, and total impervious area treated by all ESD techniques and practices shall be reported to the Administration on a site-by-site basis. If BMPs requiring SCD approval are constructed, notice of construction completion shall also be submitted to the appropriate SCD.