City of Havre de Grace, MD Article VIII Inspection

§ 169-28 Inspection schedule and reports.

A. The developer shall notify the Department at least two business days (48 hours) before commencing any work in conjunction with site development, the stormwater management plan, and upon completion of the project.

B. Regular inspections shall be made and documented for each ESD planning technique and practice at the stages of construction specified in the Design Manual by the Department, its authorized representative, or certified by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Maryland and approved by the Department. 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 use and occupancy approval. Any and all costs associated with any additional, unscheduled inspections required to insure compliance with the approved plans will be borne by the developer/owner, and such fees shall be recovered by the City before the next scheduled inspection occurs.

C. Written inspection reports shall include:

(1) The date and location of the inspection;

(2) Whether construction was in compliance with the approved stormwater management plan;

(3) Any variations from the approved construction specifications; and

(4) Any violations that exist.

D. The owner/developer and on-site personnel shall be notified in writing when violations are observed. Written notification shall describe the nature of the violation and the required corrective action.

E. No work shall proceed on the next phase of development until the Department inspects and approves the work previously completed and furnishes the developer with the results of the inspection reports as soon as possible after completion of each required inspection.

§ 169-29 Inspection requirements during construction.

A. The engineer in charge or their authorized representative shall inspect the construction of all stormwater management facilities.

B. Construction of all stormwater management facilities may be observed and reviewed by the Department or its authorized representative.

C. The permit holder shall notify the Department 48 hours before commencing any work in conjunction with the approved stormwater management plan.

D. At the time of the commencement of work, the Department shall be provided with an updated timing schedule and sequence reflecting proposed time frames for each phase of construction requiring inspection. The permit holder shall be required to inform the Department of any deviation from this proposed schedule 24 hours in advance. Failure to submit an updated timing schedule and sequence or to comply with the schedule may result in the issuance of a stop-work order or forfeiture of the bond.

E. Any portion of the work which does not comply with any requirements of this chapter will be promptly corrected by the permittee after written notice is given by the Department. The notice shall set forth the nature of corrections required and the time within which corrections shall be made.

F. An inspection report shall be completed for each inspection conducted. Inspection reports for inspections conducted by the engineer in charge or his authorized representative shall be forwarded to the Department. Should the Department conduct a site visit, a copy of the Department's report shall be available to the engineer in charge. A permanent file of all inspections shall also be maintained by the Department.

G. Upon completion of the project, the permittee shall immediately notify the Department. The Department shall make a final inspection and shall prepare a final inspection report, a copy of which shall be submitted to the engineer in charge. If, upon final inspection, it is found by the Department that the work has been satisfactorily completed in accordance with the requirements of this article, the permit, conditions, plans, drawings and specifications, and the required inspection reports and as-built certification have been submitted, a completion certificate covering such work shall be issued to the owner by the Department, and the performance bond shall be returned.

[Amended 11-15-2010 by Ord. No. 920]

H. Inspections shall be conducted in accordance with the Design Manual, rules and regulations or COMAR 26.17.02.10 (whichever is more restrictive).

I. At a minimum, regular inspections shall be made and documented at the following specified 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, antiseep 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 § 169-29I(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 70%.

(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, pre-filters 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 § 169-29I(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, pre-filters 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.

J. The Department may, for enforcement purposes, use any one or a combination of the following actions:

(1) A notice of violation shall be issued specifying the need for corrective action if stormwater management plan noncompliance is identified;

(2) A stop-work order shall be issued for the site by the Department if a violation persists;

(3) Fines shall be issued to the developer/owner by the Department if a violation persists;

(4) Bonds or securities shall be withheld or the case may be referred for legal action if, in the opinion of the Department, reasonable efforts to correct the violation have not been undertaken; or

(5) In addition to any other sanctions, a civil action or criminal prosecution may be brought against any person in violation of the Stormwater Management Subtitle, the Design Manual, or this chapter.

K. Any step in the enforcement process may be taken at any time, depending on the severity of the violation.

L. Once construction is complete, as-built plan certification shall be submitted by either a professional engineer or professional land surveyor licensed in the State of Maryland 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 mylars and two sets of drawings comparing the approved stormwater management plan with what was constructed. The Department may require additional information.

M. The Department shall submit notice of construction completion to the Administration on a form supplied by the Administration for each structural stormwater management practice within 45 days of construction completion. 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 District approval are constructed, notice of construction completion shall also be submitted to the District. A two-year maintenance bond shall be posted for any BMPs, along with the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule and manufacturer contact information for ordering any parts or supplies for the BMP(s), as well as the BMP(s) specifications.