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Home My WebLink AboutA002 - Letter from EPA dated February 13, 2001 - Complaint #2001-010 STATE OF I A THOMAS J. VILSACK, GOVERNOR LYLE ASELL, INTERIM DIRECTOR SALLY J. PEDERSON, LT. GOVERNOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION MICHAEL VALDE,ADMINISTRATOR COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT BUREAU MICHAEL P. MURPHY,CHIEF Certified Mail February 13, 2001 Chuck Winkleblack Reiny Friedrich Hunziker & Associates. Friedrich Land Development Co., LLC 105 S. 16`h St. 619 E. Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa 50010-8009 Ames, Iowa 50010 SUBJECT: Storm Water Permit Discharge Complaint Investigation Uthe Farms Subdivision, First Addition, Bloomington Rd. & GW Carver Ave., Ames, IA NPDES General Permit No. 2: IA-4542-4380 Complaint #2001-010 Dear Messrs. Wlnkleblack and Friedrich: Enclosed is the report completed by Amy Scott of the Field Office #5 staff following her investigation at your development. We believe you will find the report self-explanatory. Please take note of the requirements and recommendation listed near the end and ensure that sediment is not discharged off-site. By March 1, 2001, please submit to this office (attention Amy Scott) proof that the Uthe Farms temporary sediment basin and associated erosion/sediment control mechanisms are properly sized for both on-site anc off-site surface flows which drain into the basin and associated controls and that sediment will be retained on-site during all phases of construction. You may contact Ms. Scott (515-281-9073) or this office with any questions or comments. Since r ly, Jim Stricker Supervisor, Field Office #5 c: Storm Water Section/IDNR (w/encl.) Mike Murphy, Legal/IDNR (w/encl.) Scott Williams, WHKS & Co., 217 N. Duff Ave., Ames, IA 50010-6637 (w/encl.) Katherine B. Fromm, 3531 G.W. Carver, Ames, IA 50010 (w/encl.) FIELD OFFICE #5 / 607 E. 2' STREET / DES MOINES, IOWA 50309-1831 515-281-9069 / FAX 515-281-9068 / www.state.ia.us/epd IUVVN UCF'HK I IVICIV 1 Ur- 1 UKHL 11,C0UUrxL jz:3 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION Field Office#5 607 East 2nd Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1831 Phone: (515) 281-9069 FAX: (515) 281-9068 REPORT OF INVESTIGATION INVESTIGATION DATE CURRENT: 1/24/01 LAST: 10/9/00 TO: Chuck Winkleblack Reiny Friedrich Hunziker & Associates. Friedrich Land Development Co., LLC 105 S. 16"i St. 619 E. Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa 50010-8009 Ames, Iowa 50010 SUBJECT: Storm Water Permit Discharge Inspection Uthe Farms Subdivision, First Addition, Bloomington Rd. & GW Carver Ave., Ames, Story Co NPDES General Permit No. 2: IA-4542-4380 Complaint #01-010 PERSONS Chuck Winkleblack — Hunziker & Assoc. CONTACTED: Cecil Stewart, neighbor— by telephone Jerry Byg, Ames City Engineer— by telephone OBSERVATIONS: On 12/11/00, Mrs. Fromm called from California to relay her concerns about unused mulch at the Uthe Farm construction site and the failure of the developer to stabilize the site in a timely manner as required by the permit. That same day I contacted a neighbor of the Fromms, Cecil Stewart (515-232-5375), to inquire if he had information as to whether or not there had been any construction related/grading activity at the site the prior week. He reported that he had seen activity at the site on the day before the heavy snow (Dec,10`h). The arrival of heavy snow cover and extreme cold weather had apparently prevented the developer from mulchinc the disturbed active areas of the site. On 12/12/00, 1 spoke with Chuck Winkleblack (Uthe Farms Development). He stated that the hay bales at th( site had been removed from the old barn on the site for safety purposes for a Fire Department training fire to burn down the barn. Mr. Winkleblack agreed to -- meet me at the site when weather permitted. Due to continued heavy snow cover I did not visit the site during December, 2000. On 1/5/01 1 received a telephone call from Jerry Byg, Municipal Engineer with the city of Ames reporting that he had received a letter from Mrs. Fromm about the Uthe Farm. We discussed the permit provision for snow cover: "Where the initiation of stabilization measures by the 14th day after no construction activity occurs is precluded by snow cover, then stabilization measures shall be initiated as soon as practicable thereafter." In early January, 2001, 1 left a telephone message at the Fromms' Ames residence relaying the information I had obtained from Cecil Stewart and Chuck Winkleblack. I also informed her that I still had not been up to th site but planned to since the weather was melting some of the snow. On January 24, 2001, 1 met with Chuck Winkleblack at the Uthe Farms Subdivision in Ames. Mr. Winkleblack expressed his disappointment that Mrs. Fromm had not contacted him directly with her concerns. Snow cover ranged from several inches to over one foot due to drifting. Approximately half of the 30 acres of the First Addition are disturbed due to installation/relocation of utilities, creating roadways, general grading, and soil stockpiles. A good effort had been made to retain vegetation on the areas immediately up-slope of the basin and in the drainage ditches along the road. Page 1 of 2 I�ayC c vi c Uthe Farms The temporary sediment basin appeared to be designed to effectively retain on site sediment from the development's disturbed areas. The soil stockpiles observed at this time did not have perimeter silt fence. However, the temporary basin may not be adequately sized to also store flows from the Northridge Parkway development. At the time of this inspection, the temporary basin in the Uthe Farm project was set up to receive surface flows from the neighboring development south of GW Carver Ave. Mr. Winkleblack was unaware of the current set up for Northridge flows to discharge into the Uthe Farm temporary basin. During a prior inspection on 10/9/00, the site map for the pollution prevention plan did not provide detail showing the discharge of Northridge Parkway surface flows into the temporary basin for Uthe Farms. At that time, the berm for the temporary basin had not yet been constructed. The discharge of flows from Northridge Parkway was not mentioned by Scott Williams or Chuck Winkleblack during subsequent conversations and correspondence about the sizing of the temporary basin. According to Mr. Winkleblack, when the permanent basin for the Uthe Farms project is constructed, surface flows from the Northridge Parkway development will not enter the Uthe Farms' permanent basin. As a reminder, for common drainage locations that serve an area with more than 10 disturbed acres at one time, a temporary (or permanent) sediment basin providing 3,600 cubic feet of storage for each acre drained (regardless of vegetative cover), or equivalent control measures, shall be provided where attainable until final stabilization of the site. The 3,600 cubic feet of storage area per acre drained does not apply to flows from offsite areas and flows from onsite areas that are either undisturbed or have undergone final stabilization where such flows are diverted around the sediment basin. The impact of off-site flows from Northridge Parkway on the Uthe Farms' temporary basin must be determined. Weekly inspections are being conducted and a log with photographs is being maintained. Mr. Winkleblack was encouraged to take whatever steps necessary to retain sediment on site. I reminded Mr. Winkleblack that in the event the project did allow sediment to be discharged from the property, the matter would be referred directly to the Department's legal staff for enforcement action. REQUIREMENTS: [567 IAC 64.3(455B)] 1. Ensure that surface flows from Northridge Parkway do not hinder the effectiveness of the Uthe Farms' temporary sediment basin. 2. As soon as weather conditions allow, stabilize disturbed areas immediately if no construction activity will occur immediately. 3. Maintain an updated pollution prevention plan and site map. REMINDERS: 1. Retain sediment on site to prevent sediment from entering a water of the state. 2. Continue to inspect control measures weekly and after each 0 5"+ rainfall, and maintain an inspection and maintenance log for the sediment control devices. Complete repairs to, or installation of, erosion and sediment control measures within 7 days after the need has been identified. RECOMMENDATION: • Tuck in or disc in all mulch. AUTHENTICATION INSPECTOR: Amy Scott — 1 DATE: 2/5/01 J REVIEWER: Bill Gross - DATE: 2/6/01