Dive Brief:
- Regulators are serious about keeping construction sites from being point sources of pollution, so two important steps are to understand what they consider a pollutant and how to keep those substances from escaping.
- One good rule of thumb: If a substance has a material safety data sheet, it's probably something that concerns an inspector.
- Dirt can trip up builders; it's supposed to stay on the site, even during heavy rains, so it's important to look at the drainage on the site and erect barriers that keep dirt from flowing into the next waterway downstream.
Dive Insight:
Pollution control, especially runoff, just is part of the business, and it does involve expense. A strategy you can use is to meet the inspector at the site before you begin work and enlist him as an ally in helping you know what you have to do to stay on the right side of the law – and the silt fence.