Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control
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Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance
The Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner’s office is responsible for enforcement of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act, Part 91 of P.A. 451, 1994 as amended. The office is also responsible for an Ordinance to establish rules and regulations to control soil erosion and sedimentation, to establish a system of permits for the regulation of earth changes, to establish the Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner as the Officer responsible for implementation and enforcement, and to establish a system of fees, penalties, and civil infraction penalties for the violation of the Ordinance, all as authorized by the Part 91 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994 as amended.
Please make checks payable to: OTTAWA COUNTY S.E.S.C.
Payments can be dropped off in person or mailed to:
O.C.W.R.
12220 Fillmore St, Rm 141
West Olive, MI 49460
Fee Schedule
At the time of application, the total fee will be required before the actual plan review will commence. Should the project be cancelled prior to a review and site inspection by this office, the fee will be refunded upon written request to the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Agency.
Fees are based on acreage disturbed (acreage shall be rounded up).
| Category | Details | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Subdivisions or lot developments, Condos, Apartment Complexes, Mobile Home Parks, Commercial, Industrial Developments, Service Facilities, Schools, Parking Lots, Churches, including additions or demolitions (permit max of 2 yrs.): | Up to 1 acre | $200.00 |
| Each additional acre | $30.00 | |
| Cut & Fill Operations (permit max of 2 yrs.): | 1st acre | $120.00 |
| Each additional acre | $30.00 | |
| New Single Family Homes/Duplexes (permit max of 1 yr.): | Up to 1 acre | $100.00 |
| Each additional acre | $10.00 | |
| Minor Projects: | Septic systems, single family home demolition, single family home activities up to 750sf; anything over 750 sf falls under the new single family home category: (permit max of 1 yr.) | $50.00 |
| Transportation Facilities, Sidewalk, Trails, Utilities, Oil & Mineral Wells: (permit max of 1 yr.): | Up to 1/2 mile | $120.00 |
| Each additional mile or fraction thereof | $45.00 | |
| Water Impoundments, Construction or Improvements (permit max of 1 yr.): | Ponds and wetlands up to an acre | $120.00 |
| Each additional acre | $10.00 | |
| Waterway construction or improvement up to ½ mile | $120.00 | |
| Each additional mile or fraction thereof | $45.00 | |
| Sand & Gravel Mining Operations (permit max of 5 yrs.): | 1st acre | $240.00 |
| Each additional acre | $10.00 | |
| Extension (per acre) | $10.00 | |
| Extension of Permit Fee: (other than sand and gravel mining operations) | Ext. max 1 yr. Standard per acre for acreage still unstabilized (acreage shall be rounded up) | $30.00 |
| Permit Waiver Fee: | No Permit Necessary Letter | $10.00 |
| Assurance of Compliance Bond: | Per acre | $1,000.00 |
| A bond will be required prior to the approval of a permit on sites 10 acres or greater in size, in the form of surety bond, certified check, or irrevocable bank letter of credit, whichever the applicant selects. A bond may also be required for any site at the discretion of the enforcing agent. | $1,000.00 per acre disturbed |
Please make checks payable to: OTTAWA COUNTY S.E.S.C.
Compliance & Violations
Benefits of Compliance
- The potential for fines for noncompliance can be reduced or eliminated.
- Stabilized slopes require less repair and are safer for maintenance crews.
- Reducing short and long term erosion will result in less soil loss.
- Negative public opinion can be minimized.
- Liability exposure can be decreased.
Costs Resulting from Non Compliance
- Removal of sediment from storm drains, watercourses and wetlands.
- Increase in flooding hazards.
- Fines, stop work order or lawsuits.
Violation Procedures
- Violation will be noted on inspection report and mailed to appropriate parties stating that they will have a maximum of 5 working days to complete necessary repairs. A phone call will also be placed to the appropriate parties notifying them of the problem.
- If action has not been taken to correct noted violation in 5 working days, an official Notice of Violation will be issued to the owner and sent certified mail, giving violator 5 calendar days to rectify situation.
- If no action is yet taken to correct violation, a citation will be issued to the violator in the appropriate amount for each violation of permit conditions.
- As a last resort, if no action is taken after step #3, we will draw on the bond or letter of credit (if available) to correct problem. The issue may be referred to the County Prosecutor for escalated enforcement. In addition, the MDEQ may also be notified of the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a permit needed?
A permit is needed for all earth changes within 500′ of a lake, stream or drain or that disturb one or more acres of land, as required by Part 91 of P.A. 451, 1994 as amended.
Three (3) sets of plans and permit fees must be included with the permit application when submitting.
What is soil erosion?
Soil erosion is the process by which the ground surface is worn away by the action of wind, water, gravity or a combination thereof.
A plan and permit fees must be included with the permit application when submitting.
What is sedimentation?
The action or process of depositing particles of waterborne or windborne soil. Sediment is one of the leading sources of non point source pollution in the waters of the state. Sediment can cover critical aquatic habitat for fish and insects. Sediment also has nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen attached to it, which in turn increase nutrient levels in the water. Increased sediment in watercourses can create raised water levels and block the flow of water through culverts creating flooding problems.
Why is it important?
Due to the rapid development in Ottawa County, it is important to protect the county’s valuable water resources. By preventing erosion and sediment in run-off from construction sites, sedimentation of storm drains, wetlands and streams is controlled.
Which are more effective—erosion or sediment controls?
Erosion controls are more effective than sediment controls and are preferred because they keep the soil in place and ensure the protection of the site. Whenever possible, the primary protection of a site should be erosion controls.
One of the most common causes of sedimentation is poor maintenance of erosion controls.
When developing a soil erosion control plan, the designer should answer the following questions:
- Where is erosion and sediment control needed?
- What kind of erosion and sediment control measures are appropriate?
- Should a large project be phased to minimize erosion?
- What type of maintenance will be necessary to ensure proper soil erosion and sedimentation control?
What can Ottawa County Residents do?
Pay close attention to work that is being performed at construction sites. If you observe sediment washing off a site into surface water or silt fence that is buried with sediment or soil being tracked out into roadways, contact the Soil Erosion Agency.