Guides
Stormwater compliance, explained plainly
Evergreen guidance on permit coverage, inspection frequency, stabilisation deadlines and preparer credentials. Where the answer depends on the permit that governs your own site, we link the cited jurisdiction page rather than stating a number that might not be yours.
Who is allowed to write your stormwater plan, and why the answer is not yes or no
Who may prepare a SWPPP varies by state. See the credential, training and scope rules that decide whether a plan needs qualified review.
Read the guideWhat Is an NPDES Permit? The Federal Stormwater and Discharge Authorisation Explained
An NPDES permit authorises a stormwater discharge under the Clean Water Act. See who needs one, who issues it, and screen your site free.
Does a Texas SWPPP Need a PE Stamp? What TCEQ Actually Requires
Does a Texas SWPPP need a PE stamp? Read what TCEQ's TXR150000 actually requires and when engineering work still needs a licensed professional.
Why a SWPPP template is not a SWPPP, and what the permit actually asks for
A SWPPP template is only a starting point. See the site-specific details EPA requires before filing a Notice of Intent for construction coverage.
Stabilization Deadlines: the 14-Day Clock and What Changes It
Learn when EPA's SWPPP stabilisation clock starts, the 7- and 14-day completion deadlines, and how acreage and sensitive waters change them.
SPCC plan or SWPPP: they are different rules, and you may need both
SPCC and SWPPP plans serve different rules. Compare their triggers, documents and sign-off requirements before you prepare either plan.
The Complete SWPPP Requirements Checklist: Every Federal Trigger and Deadline
Every federal SWPPP requirement in one place, coverage trigger to termination, each with its deadline and permit citation, and a link to the full answer.
How long you must keep SWPPP records (the clock starts later than you think)
EPA's CGP requires three years of SWPPP record retention after coverage ends. See which records use that clock and which do not.
QSD vs QSP: California's Two Different SWPPP Credentials
California's Construction General Permit requires a QSD to sign the SWPPP and a QSP to inspect it on site. Two credentials, not one interchangeable title.
The half acre lot that needs a permit: the larger common plan trigger
A small lot can still need stormwater coverage. Learn how the one-acre threshold and larger common plan rule apply to a construction project.
The Multi-Sector General Permit expired, and new facilities cannot get coverage
EPA's MSGP is administratively continued for existing permittees. Learn what that means for new industrial facilities and operators today.
How often you have to inspect a construction site, and what changes it
Choose the right SWPPP inspection schedule. EPA's CGP has two routine options, a sensitive-water override and a seasonal dry-period reduction.
Corrective Action Deadlines Under the 2022 CGP: Immediate, Next Business Day, or 7 Days
The CGP sets a fix deadline and a separate 24-hour documentation deadline for every corrective action. Most operators only track the first one.
SWPPP or erosion control plan: are they the same document?
A SWPPP comes from your NPDES stormwater permit. An erosion control plan is often a separate local grading requirement. Here is how to tell them apart.
The 2022 Construction General Permit Expires in 2027: What to Know Now
EPA's 2022 CGP expires 16 February 2027 and EPA proposed a 2027 CGP on 3 August 2026. What is proposed, what usually changes, and what to do.
What the Construction General Permit Covers, and What It Doesn't
EPA's permit, your state's permit, and an individual permit all answer to "the CGP." Confusing them is how operators file under the wrong document.
A guide explains the mechanism. Your permit decides the number.
Screen your own site against the permit that governs it, with the section cited behind every requirement.