City of Portland lauds impressive results in erosion control and prevention

Last February, in meeting obligations in state and federal law, the Bureau of Development Services announced it was fully enforcing penalties for customers who do not complete an erosion control inspection before ground-disturbing activities begin at a construction site. These inspections, known as "#200 inspections," are needed to approve the installation of erosion and sediment controls to prevent dirt from leaving a site during development activity.

Development Services (now a part of Portland Permitting & Development) also prevented the scheduling of further inspectionson a construction site until after successful #200 inspections were achieved, ensuring that all necessary erosion and sediment controls are in place before ground-disturbing construction activity begins. It enabled #200 inspections to be scheduled a day in advance to ensure prompt review of erosion control measures and allow construction activity to proceed.

Impressive results were achieved thanks to customers' diligence in ensuring sufficient erosion control measures on job sites. In the first six months of this effort, more than 4,100 erosion control inspections were completed. Specifically, 1,730 pre-construction erosion control inspections were completed and only 28 cases resulted in fines totaling less than $4,900.

Why erosion control is important

Erosion control is important for maintaining water quality and nutrients in soil. It is also important for protecting nearby streams and the fish and wildlife that inhabit them.

Sediments from disturbed soils can move onto neighboring properties and streets and into sewer systems and other bodies of water. Excessive sediment is a pollutant and damages the functions of both sewer systems and natural watersheds.

The Federal Clean Water Act requires state and local governments to minimize the potential for soil discharges and runoff to pollute nearby waters. Oregon law prohibits the discharge or placement of wastes into waters of the state and the discharge of waste that causes violations of water quality standards.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality grants the City of Portland a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. The City must comply with all conditions of this permit and take measures to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff from construction activity.

Where to find more information

For questions about erosion control requirements, or to report a possible violation, please visit the City of Portland's Erosion Control web pageor call the Erosion Control Hotline at 503-823-0900.