Ord. 1570 2018-12-17 **No Affidavit of Pub** ORDINANCE NO. 1570
An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Pearland amending Chapter
30, Utilities, of the City Code of Ordinances by adding Article VI, Illicit
Discharge Prohibitions; establishing illicit discharge regulations as
required by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and
standards adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
having a savings clause, a severability clause, a penalty clause and a
repealer clause; providing for publication, codification, and an effective
date.
WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (the "EPA")
mandates the regulation of storm water discharge in accordance with the Clean Water Act (the,
Act, 40 CFR 122.34); and
WHEREAS, the EPA authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
("TCEQ") to adopt rules to carry out its powers and duties under the Act in accordance with
Tex. Admin. Code, Title 30, Ch. 281.25 (b) (5); and
WHEREAS, the Act, at the discretion of the TCEQ, further requires municipalities in the
State of Texas to implement and enforce water management practices to ensure that storm
water pollution is minimized in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws; and
WHEREAS, the City has a duty and responsibility under Federal and State law to
establish methods for controlling discharge that is not composed entirely of storm water into the
storm drainage system to the maximum extent practicable.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS:
Section 1. That Chapter 30, Utilities, of the city Code of Ordinances, is hereby
amended to add an Article VI, Illicit Discharge Prohibitions, as follows:
"Article VI. Illicit Discharge Prohibitions
Section 30- 140. Purpose
The purpose of this Article is to provide for the health, safety, and general welfare of the
citizens of the City of Pearland, Texas, as well as comply with the regulations mandated by both
the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality, through the regulation of non-storm water discharges into the City's
storm drainage system to the maximum extent practicable through the establishment of
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System in order to comply with requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System and Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit process by:
Section 30-141. Abbreviations
The following abbreviations, when used in this Ordinance, shall have the following meanings:
(1) BMP - Best Management Practices
(2) CFR— Code of Federal Regulations
(3) EPA— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(4) MEP— Maximum Extent Practicable
(5) MCM — Minimum Control Measure
(6) MS4 - Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
(7) NPDES- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(8) NOI — Notice of Intent
(9) NOT— Notice of Termination
(10) SWPPP— Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan
(11) TAC —Texas Administrative Code
(12) TCEQ —Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(13) TPDES —Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(14) U.S.C. — United States Code
Section 30-142. Definitions
Unless stated otherwise, the following terms and phrases referenced herein shall have the
following meanings:
(1) Best Management Practices: Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices,
maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the
pollution of waters of the United States. BMPs shall include treatment requirements,
operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks,
sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.
(2) Catch Basin: Storm drain inlet and curb inlet to the City's storm drain system. Catch
basins may include a grate or curb inlet that may accumulate sediment, debris, and
other pollutants.
(3) City: The City of Pearland, Texas.
(4) City Engineer: The City Engineer/Director of Engineering or his/her designee
(5) Commercial: Pertaining to any business, trade, industry, or similar activity.
(6) Construction Activity: Soil disturbances, including, but not limited to clearing, grading,
and excavating; and other construction related activities (e.g., stockpiling of fill
material, demolition, and reconstruction); but not including routine maintenance that is
performed to maintain the original line and grade, hydraulic capacity, or original
purpose of the site (e.g. the routine grading of existing dirt roads, asphalt overlays of
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existing roads, the routine clearing of existing right-of-ways, and similar maintenance
activities). Regulated construction activity shall be defined in terms of small and large
construction activities:
(a) Small Construction Activity: Construction activity that results in land disturbance
equal to or greater than one (1) acre and less than five (5) acres of land.
Small construction activity shall also include the disturbance of less than one
(1) acre of total land area that is part of a larger common plan of development
or sale if the larger common plan ultimately disturbs an area equal to or
greater than one (1) and less than five (5) acres of land.
(b) Large Construction Activity: Construction activity that results in land disturbance
of equal to or greater than five (5) acres of land. Large construction activity
shall also include the disturbance of less than five (5) acres of total land area
that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the area
common plan ultimately disturbs an area equal or greater than five acres of
land.
(7) Control Measure: Any BMP or other method used to prevent or reduce the discharge
of pollutants into the MS4.
(8) Conveyance: Curbs, gutters, man-made channels and ditches, drains, pipes, and
other constructed features designed or used for flood control or to otherwise transport
storm water runoff.
(9) Discharge: Any addition or introduction of any pollutant, storm water, or any other
substance whatsoever into the MS4 or into waters of the United States.
(10) Domestic Sewage: Human excrement, gray water, and other wastewater discharged
from the sanitary conveniences of a Facility that is free from industrial waste.
(11) Facility: Any residential or commercial building, structure, installation, process, or
activity from which there is or may be a discharge of a pollutant.
(12) Final Stabilization: The status achieved when all soil disturbing activities at a site have
been completed, and a uniform perennial vegetative cover with a density of 70 percent
of the cover for unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures has
been established, or equivalent permanent stabilization measures (such as the use of
riprap, gabions, or geotextiles) have been employed.
(13) Garbage: Animal and vegetable waste materials from the handling, preparation,
cooking, or consumption of food, including waste materials from markets, storage
facilities, and the handling and sale of produce and other food products.
(14) Gray Water: Liquid from home clothes washing, bathing, showers, dishwashing, or
food preparation.
(15) Hazardous Substance: Any substance identified or listed in Table 302.4 of 40 CFR
Part 302.
(16) Hazardous Waste: Any substance identified or listed as a hazardous waste by the
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EPA pursuant to 40 CFR Part 261.
(17) Illicit Connection: Any man-made conveyance connecting an Illicit Discharge directly
to an MS4.
(18) Illicit Discharge: Any discharge into an MS4 not entirely composed of storm water,
except discharges pursuant to an authorized permit and discharges resulting from
emergency firefighting activities.
(19) Industrial Waste: Any liquid or solid substance that results from any process of
industry, manufacturing, mining, production, trade, or business.
(20) Land Disturbance Activity: Any activity which changes the volume or discharge rate of
storm water runoff from the land surface. Land Disturbance Activity includes grading,
digging, cutting, scrapping, or excavating of soil, placement of fill materials, paving,
construction, substantial removal of vegetation, or any activity which bares soil or rock
or involves the diversion or piping of any natural or man-made watercourse.
(21) Maintenance Agreement: A formal contract between a local government and a
property owner to guarantee long-term maintenance of storm water management
practices.
(22) Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP): The technology-based discharge standard, for
MS4sdesigned to reduce pollutants in storm water discharges that was established by
the Clean Water Act § 402(p).
(23) Municipal Landfill (or Landfill): An area of land or an excavation in which municipal
solid waste is placed for permanent disposal, but which is not a land treatment facility,
a surface impoundment, an injection well, or a pile as such terms are defined in
regulations promulgated by the Texas Water Commission.
(24) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4): The system of conveyances
(including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters,
ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) owned and operated by the City and
designed or used for collecting or conveying storm water, but which is not used for
collecting or conveying sewage.
a. Phase I -An MS4 permitted by the EPA after November 16, 1990.
b. Phase II - An MS4 permitted by the EPA after December 8, 1999.
(25) NPDES Permit: A permit issued by EPA (or by the State of Texas that authorizes the
discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable
on an individual, group, or general area-wide basis.
(26) Notice of Intent (NOl): The Notice of Intent required by either the Industrial General
Permit or the Construction General Permit issued by the TCEQ.
(27) Notice of Termination (NOT): A written submission from a permittee authorized under
the Construction General Permit requesting termination of coverage.
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(28) Oil: Any kind of oil in any form, including, but not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, crude
oil or any fraction thereof which is liquid at standard conditions of temperature and
pressure, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with waste.
(29) Person: Any individual, partnership, co-partnership, firm, company, corporation,
association, joint stock company, trust, estate, governmental entity, or any other legal
entity; or their legal representatives, agents, or assigns. This definition includes all
federal, state, and local governmental entities.
(30) Premise: Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land whether improved or
unimproved including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
(31) Pollutant: Solid waste; incinerator residue; sewage; garbage; sewage sludge;
munitions; chemical waste; biological materials; radioactive materials; heat; wrecked or
discarded equipment; rock; sand; cellar dirt; or industrial, municipal, and agricultural
waste discharged into water. The term "pollutant" shall not include tail water or runoff
water from irrigation or rainwater runoff from cultivated or uncultivated range land,
pasture land, and farm land.
(32) Pollution: The alteration of the physical, thermal, chemical, or biological quality of, or
the contamination of, any water in the state that renders the water harmful,
detrimental, or injurious to humans, animal life, vegetation, or property, or to the public
health, safety or welfare, or impairs the usefulness or the public enjoyment of the water
for any lawful or reasonable purpose.
(33) Release: Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the MS4 or the waters of the
United States.
(34) Rubbish: Non-decaying solid waste, excluding ashes, that consist of (A) combustible
waste materials, including paper, rags, cartons, wood, excelsior, furniture, rubber,
plastics, yard trimmings, leaves, and similar materials; and (B) noncombustible waste
materials, including glass, crockery, tin cans, aluminum cans, metal furniture, and
similar materials that do not burn at ordinary incinerator temperatures (1600 to 1800
degrees Fahrenheit).
(35) Sanitary Sewer (or Sewer): The system of pipes, conduits, and other conveyances
which carry industrial waste and domestic sewage from Facilities, residential dwellings,
commercial buildings, industrial and manufacturing facilities, and institutions, whether
treated or untreated, to the City sewage treatment plant (and to which storm water,
surface water, and groundwater are not intentionally admitted).
(36) Sewage (or Sanitary Sewage): The domestic sewage and/or industrial waste that is
discharged into the City sanitary sewer system and passes through the sanitary sewer
system to a City sewage treatment plant for treatment.
(37) Site: The land or water area where any Facility or activity is physically located or
conducted, including adjacent land used in connection with the Facility or activity.
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(38) Solid Waste: Any and all garbage trash refuse and other discarded materials held or
accumulated in containers including without limitation animal and waste materials
resulting from the preparation processing or consumption of food combustible waste
materials such as paper rags cartons boxes plastics noncombustible materials such as
glass crockery and metal cans. Solid waste shall not include Hazardous.
(39) State: The State of Texas.
(40) Stormwater. Stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff drainage.
(41) Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan: Plan required by either the Construction
General Permit or the Industrial General Permit and which describes and ensures the
implementation of practices that are to be used to reduce the pollutants in storm water
discharge associated with construction or industrial activity.
(42) Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Storm Water Discharge Permit (TPDES
permit): A permit issued by the TCEQ, under the authority of Texas Water Code
Sections 26.027 or 26.040 authorizing the discharge of pollutants into or adjacent
water in the State.
(43) Used Oil (or Used Motor Oil): Any oil that has been refined from crude oil or synthetic
oil that, as a result of use, storage, or handling, has become unsuitable for its original
purpose because of impurities or the loss of original properties but that may be
suitable for further use and is recyclable under State and Federal law.
(44) Water Quality Standard: The designation of a body or segment of surface water in the
State for desirable uses and the narrative and numerical criteria deemed by the State
to be necessary to protect those uses, as described in Chapter 307 of Title 30 of the
Texas Administrative Code.
(45) Waters of the United States: All waters which are currently used, were used in the
past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all
waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide; all interstate waters, including
interstate wetlands; all other waters the use, degradation, or destruction of which
would affect or could affect interstate or foreign commerce; all impoundments of
waters otherwise defined as waters of the United States under this definition; all
tributaries of waters identified in this definition; all wetlands adjacent to waters
identified in this definition; and any waters within the federal definition of"waters of the
United States" in 40 CFR § 122.2; but not including any waste treatment systems,
treatment ponds, or lagoons designed to meet the requirements of the Federal Clean
Water Act.
(46) Wetland: An area that inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a
frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances
does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil
conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.
SECTION 30-143. ILLICIT CONNECTIONS AND DISCHARGE
(a) No person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the MS4 any discharge not
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composed entirely of storm water and other allowable discharges.
(b) Allowable non-storm water discharges listed in TPDES General Permit No.
TXR040000: the following non-storm water sources may be discharged from the
Phase II MS4 and are not required to be addressed in the Phase II MS4's Illicit
Discharge and Detection or other minimum control measures (MCMs), unless it is
determined by the permittee or the TCEQ to be significant contributors of pollutants
to the Phase II MS4, or such discharges are otherwise prohibited by the MS4
operator:
(1) Water line flushing (excluding discharges of hyper-chlorinated water,
unless the water is first dechlorinated and discharges not expected to
adversely affect aquatic life);
(2) Runoff or return flow from landscape irrigation, lawn irrigation, and other
irrigation utilizing potable water, groundwater, or surface water sources;
(3) Discharges from potable water sources not in violation of Texas Surface
Water Quality Standards, Title 30, Texas Admin. Code. Ch. 307;
(4) Diverted stream flows, which the City does not maintain, but are
maintained by the Brazoria County Drainage District No. 4;
(5) Rising ground waters and springs;
(6) Uncontaminated ground water infiltration;
(7) Uncontaminated pumped ground water;
(8) Foundation and footing drains;
(9) Air conditioning condensation;
(10) Water from crawl space pumps;
(11) Individual residential vehicle washing;
(12) Flows from wetlands and riparian habitats;
(13) Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges not in violation of Texas Surface
Water Quality Standards Title 30, Texas Admin. Code. Ch. 307;
(14) Street wash water, excluding street sweeper waste water;
(15) Discharges or flows from emergency firefighting activities (firefighting
activities shall not include washing of trucks, run-off water from training
activities, test water from fire suppression systems, and similar activities);
(16) Allowable non-storm water discharges identified in 40 CFR § 122.26 (d)
(2) (iv)(B)(1);
(17) Non-storm water discharges that are identified and listed in the TPDES
Multi Sector General Permit (MSGP) TXR050000 or the TPDES
Construction General Permit (CGP) TXR150000;
(18) Discharges authorized by a TPDES or NPDES permit and discharges not
required to be permitted; and
(19) Other similar occasional incidental non-storm water discharges such as
spray park water.
(c) No affirmative defense shall be available to any person under Subsection B of this
section provided the discharge or flow in question has been determined by the City
Engineer to be a source of a pollutant(s) to the waters of the United States or to the
MS4, written notice of such determination has been provided to the discharger, and a
discharge has occurs more than fifteen (15) days following receipt of the notice.
SECTION 30-144. SPECIFIC PROHIBITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
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(a) The specific prohibitions and requirements in this section are not inclusive of all the
discharges prohibited by the general prohibition in Section 2.
(b) No person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the MS4 any discharge that causes
or contributes to causing the City to violate a water quality standard, the City's TPDES
permit, or any state-issued discharge permit for discharges from its MS4.
(c) This prohibition includes, without limitation, an Illicit Connection made in the past, regardless
of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or controlling at
the time of connection. Such connection shall be forced to comply with the requirements of
this Ordinance during the process of making an improvement when such improvement
requires the issuance of a City issued permit.
(d) No person shall dump, spill, leak, pump, pour, emit, empty, discharge, leach, dispose, or
otherwise introduce or cause, allow, or permit to be introduced any discharge that is not
composed entirely of stormwater to the Phase II MS4.
(e) Used Oil Regulation: No person shall discharge used oil into the MS4 or a sewer, drainage
system, septic tank, surface water, groundwater, or water course; knowingly mix or
commingle used oil with solid waste that is to be disposed of in a landfill or knowingly
directly dispose of used oil on land or in a landfill; or apply used oil to a road or land for dust
suppression, weed abatement, or other similar use that introduces used oil into the
environment.
SECTION 30-145. COMPLIANCE MONITORING
(a) Right of Entry: Inspection and Sampling
The City Engineer shall have the right to enter the premises of any person or entity discharging
stormwater into the MS4 or to waters of the United States to determine if the discharger is
complying with all requirements of this Ordinance. Dischargers shall allow the City Engineer
ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records
examination and copying, and for the performance of any additional duties required to carry out
the intent and purpose of this Ordinance. Dischargers shall make available to the City Engineer,
upon request, any SWPPPs, modifications thereto, self-inspection reports, monitoring records,
compliance evaluations, Notices of Intent, and any other records, reports, and other documents
related to compliance with this Ordinance and with any State or Federal discharge permit.
(1) Where a discharger has security measures in force that limit access to the premises, the
discharger shall make necessary arrangements to allow the City Engineer to be
permitted to enter the premises without delay.
(2) The City Engineer shall have the right to set up on the discharger's property, or require
installation of, such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling and/or metering of
the discharger's operations.
(3) When pollutants have been discharged, the City Engineer may require any discharger to
the MS4 or waters of the United States to conduct specified sampling, testing, analysis,
and other monitoring of its stormwater discharges, and may specify the frequency and
parameters of any such required monitoring.
(4) The City Engineer may require the discharger to install monitoring equipment as
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necessary at the discharger's expense. The Facility's sampling and monitoring
equipment shall be maintained at all times in a safe and proper operating condition by
the discharger at its own expense. All devices used to measure storm water flow and
quality shall be calibrated to ensure their accuracy by the discharger.
(5) Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to the facility to be
inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly removed by the discharger at the written or
verbal request of the City Engineer and shall not be replaced. The costs of clearing such
obstruction and providing access shall be the sole responsibility of the discharger.
(6) Any delays in allowing the City Engineer access to the discharger's premises shall be a
violation of this Ordinance.
(b) Search Warrants
In the event the City Engineer is refused access to any part of the premises from which storm
water is discharged, and he/she is able to demonstrate probable cause to believe that there
may be a violation of this Ordinance, or that there is a need to inspect and/or sample as part of
a routine inspection and sampling program of the City designed to verify compliance with this
Ordinance or any order issued hereunder, or to protect the overall public health, safety, and
welfare of the community, then the City Engineer may seek issuance of a search warrant from
any court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Requirement to prevent, control and reduce storm water pollutants
The City has adopted Best Management Practices (BMPs) for activities, operations and facilities
which may cause or contribute to pollution or contamination of storm water, the municipal
separate storm sewer systems or water of the United States. The owner or operator of a
commercial or industrial establishment shall provide, at the owner's or operator's expense,
reasonable protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes into the
MS4 or a watercourse through the use of these structural and nonstructural BMPs. Any person
responsible for a property or premises which is or may be, the source of an Illicit Discharge may
be required to implement, at the person's sole cost and expense, additional structural and
nonstructural BMPs to prevent the further discharge of pollutants to the MS4 or a water course.
Compliance with all terms and conditions of a valid NPDES or TPDES permit authorizing the
discharge of storm water associated with industrial activity to the maximum extent practicable
shall be deemed compliance with the provisions of this article. The BMPs shall be part of a
storm water pollution prevention plan as necessary for compliance with requirements of the
NPDES or TPDES permit. In the event of conflict between the terms and conditions of this
ordinance or a storm water pollution prevention plan and a NPDES or TPDES permit, then the
terms and conditions of the NPDES and/or TPDES permit shall control.
(d) Watercourse Protection
The landowner or drainage easement holder to a property through which a water course passes
or to which a watercourse is adjacent shall keep and maintain that part of the watercourse within
or adjacent to the property, in such a manner to maintain the function of the watercourse, by
removing trash, debris, excessive vegetation and other obstacles that could pollute,
contaminate or significantly impair the flow of water through the watercourse. In addition, the
landowner or drainage easement holder shall maintain existing privately-owned structures within
or adjacent to a watercourse in such a manner that such structures shall not become a hazard
to the use, function or physical integrity of a watercourse.
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(e) Notification of Spills
(1) The person in charge of any facility, vehicle, or other source of any spilling, leaking,
pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, escaping, leaching, dumping,
disposing, or any other release of any of the following quantities of any of the following
substances that may flow, leach, enter, or otherwise be introduced into the MS4 or
waters of the United States, shall immediately contact and notify the City Engineer
concerning the details of a release or described herein:
a. An amount equal to or in excess of a reportable quantity of any hazardous
substance, as established under 40 CFR Part 302, as amended;
b. An amount equal to or in excess of a reportable quantity of any extremely hazardous
substance, as established under 40 CFR Part 355, as amended;
c. An amount of oil that either: (a) violates applicable water quality standards; or (b)
causes a film or sheen upon or discoloration of the surface of the water or an
adjoining shoreline or causes a sludge or emulsion to be deposited beneath the
surface of the water or upon an adjoining shoreline; or
d. Any harmful quantity of any pollutant.
(2) The notification shall include the following information:
a. The identity or chemical name of the substance released, and whether the substance
is an extremely hazardous substance;
b. The exact location of the release, including any known name of the waters involved
or threatened and any other environmental media affected;
c. The time and duration of the release;
d. An estimate of the quantity and concentration of the substance released;
e. The source of the release;
f. Any known or anticipated health risks associated with the release and, where
appropriate, advice regarding medical attention that may be necessary for exposed
individuals;
g. Any precautions that should be taken as a result of the release;
h. Any steps that have been taken to contain and/or clean up the released material and
minimize its impacts; and
i. The names and telephone numbers of the person or persons to be contacted for
additional information.
(3) Within fourteen (14) calendar days following such release, the responsible person in
charge of the facility, vehicle, or other source of the release shall, unless waived by the
City Engineer, shall submit a written report containing each of the items of information
specified in subsection (2) above, as well as the following additional information:
a. The ultimate duration, concentration, and quantity of the release;
b. All actions taken to respond to, contain, and clean up the released substances, and
all precautions taken to minimize the impacts;
c. Any known or anticipated acute or chronic health risks associated with the release;
d. When appropriate, information regarding medical attention necessary for exposed
individuals;
e. The identity of any governmental/private sector representatives responding to the
release; and
f. The measures taken or to be taken by the responsible person(s) to prevent similar
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future occurrences.
(4) The notifications required by subsections (2) and (3) above shall not relieve the
responsible person of any expense, loss, damage, or other liability which may be
incurred as a result of the release, including any liability for damage to the city, to natural
resources, or to any other person or property; nor shall such notification relieve the
responsible person of any fine, penalty, or other liability which may be imposed pursuant
to this article or to state or federal law.
(5) Any person responsible for any release as described in subsection (1) above shall
comply with all state, federal, and any other local law requiring reporting, cleanup,
containment, and any other appropriate remedial action in response to the release.
(6) Any person responsible for a release described in subsection (1) above shall be
responsible for reimbursing the City for all costs incurred by the City in responding to the
release.
SECTION 30-146. STORM WATER DISCHARGE ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION
ACTIVITY
(a) Introduction and Purpose
(1) During the construction process, soil is vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. Eroded
soil endangers water resources by reducing water quality and causes the silting of
aquatic habitats for fish and other species. Eroded soil also necessitates repair of
sewers and ditches and the dredging of waterways. Clearing and grading during
construction causes the loss of native vegetation necessary for terrestrial and aquatic
habitats and for the provision of a healthy living environment for citizens of the City.
(2) The purpose of the regulations contained in this Section are to safeguard persons,
protect property, prevent damage to the environment and promote the public welfare
by regulating any development or other activity which disturbs or breaks the topsoil or
results in the movement of earth or land in the City.
(b) Applicability
(1) This section shall be applicable to all subdivision, or site plan applications in the City
and to all activities as defined in Section 1 herein for Construction Activity. Each
erosion and sediment control plan subject to this Section ensure that established
water quality standards will be maintained during and after development of the site
and that post construction runoff levels are consistent with any local and regional
watershed plans.
(2) To prevent the adverse impacts of storm water runoff, the performance standards
required by this Ordinance shall be applied at new development sites where any
construction activity disturbs one or more acres of land.
(3) For site development plans submitted and that qualify as redevelopment projects,
decisions on permitting and on-site storm water requirements shall be governed by
Chapter 5 of City's Engineering Design Criteria Manual.
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(4) This section shall not apply to the following:
a. An addition or modification to an existing single family structure;
b. The repair to any storm water treatment facility deemed necessary by the City.
(c) Permits
(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to conduct any land disturbing activity in the absence of
a City issued permit authorizing such work. Such permits include, without limitation,
site work permit, building permits,grading permits, and major construction improvement
permits.
(2) For Large Construction Activity, the operator of a development shall maintain an
NPDES or TPDES general permit to discharge stormwater associated with
construction activity. The following information shall be provided to the City Engineer
prior to obtaining a construction permit from the City for that activity:
a. Copy of the Notice of Intent (NOI) submitted to the EPA or TCEQ;
b. Copy of a site plan detailing the location of erosion control measures; and
c. Copy of the construction site stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP)
developed in compliance with applicable NPDES or TPDES permit
requirements.
(3) For Small Construction Activity, the operator of a development shall comply with an
NPDES or TPDES permit to discharge stormwater associated with construction
activity. The following information shall be provided to the City Engineer prior to
obtaining a construction permit from the City for that activity:
a. A copy of the small construction site notice posted at the construction site in
accordance with applicable NPDES or TPDES permit requirements;
b. A copy of a site plan detailing the location of erosion control measures; and
c. A copy of the construction site stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP)
developed in compliance with applicable NPDES or TPDES permit
requirements.
(4) For construction activity disturbing less than one acre, the operator of a development
shall implement and maintain a copy of the City approved erosion control plan at the
site.
(5) For construction sites subject to this division but not subject to an NPDES or TPDES
permit, such as oil and gas activities, operators shall provide the City Engineer the
following information prior to obtaining a construction permit from the City:
a. Copy of the state required construction site notice with the following minimum
information:
1. Site location.
2. Site operator(s).
3. Site operator contact phone number(s).
4. Description of construction activity.
5. Anticipated duration of construction activity.
b. Copy of a site plan detailing the location of erosion control measures
c. Install and maintain required erosion control measures throughout the life of the
construction activity until final stabilization is achieved or until the City has been
notified in accordance with this Section.
12
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
(6) If a person is required to submit a Notice of Termination (NOT) to EPA or TCEQ
pursuant to an NPDES or TPDES permit to discharge stormwater associated with
construction activity, the operator shall submit a copy of the NOT to the City Engineer
at the same time the operator submits the NOT to the EPA or the TCEQ, as applicable.
If final stabilization as required by EPA or TCEQ has not been achieved at the time the
operator submits the NOT, the operator shall also submit a copy of the NOI for the
operator who assumes responsibility for the site.
(7) Construction activity shall be conducted in strict compliance with the requirements of
NPDES or TPDES permit to discharge stormwater associated with construction
activity.
(8) Each permit authorizing land disturbing activity shall include a requirement that any land
clearing, construction or development involving the movement of earth shall be in
accordance with the erosion and sediment control plan and that a site operator shall be
on site each day where construction or grading activitytakes place.
(9) Compliance with the requirements of this Section must occur prior to the issuance of
any building, grading or other land development permit required for land disturbing
activity.
(d) Review and Approval
The City Engineer shall review each storm water pollution prevention plan to
determine its conformance with the provisions of this Ordinance. The City Engineer
shall, in writing:
(1) Approve the plan;
(2) Approve the plan subject to such reasonable conditions as may be necessary
to secure the objectives of this Ordinance and issue the approval subject to
such conditions; or
(3) Disapprove the plan indicating the deficiencies and the procedure for
submitting a revised application and/or submission.
(e) Modification of Plan
Amendments to the erosion and sediment control plan shall be submitted to the City
Engineer,and shall be processed and approved or disapproved in the same manner
as the original plans. Field modifications of a minor nature must be authorized in
writing by the City Engineer.
(f) Unpermitted Discharges
It is an offense if a storm water runoff discharge associated with construction activity
occurs without a NPDES or TPDES permit having first been obtained for such storm water
discharge associated with construction activity.
(g) Submission of Notice of Intent/ Construction Site Notice
The owner or operator of a facility shall possess a properly issued NPDES or TPDES
permit in order discharge storm water associated with construction activity. The owner
13
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
or operator shall submit to the City copy of the a Notice of Intent (NOI) submitted to the
EPA or TCEQ or a copy of the Construction Site Notice for small construction activity,
and a copy of a site plan detailing the location of erosion control measures to the City
Engineer prior to obtaining a construction permit for that activity.
(h) A person commits an offense if the person operates a facility that is discharging storm
water runoff associated with construction activity without having first submitted a copy of
the NOI related to such discharge to the City.
(i) Design Requirements
All grading plans shall comply with the City's Unified Development Code and
Engineering Design Criteria Manual (EDCM). Erosion control practices and sediment
control practices shall comply with the design criteria set forth in the most recent version
of the City's EDCM, Specifications, and shall be adequate to prevent transportation of
sediment from the site.
(j) Clearing and Grading
Clearing and grading activities shall be allowed only when in compliance with all other
sections of this Ordinance. Clearing techniques that retain natural vegetation and retain
natural drainage patterns, as described in the most recent EPA SWPPP guide shall be
used. Such techniques include minimizing the disturbed area and protecting natural
features and soil, phasing construction activity, controlling stormwater flowing onto and
through the project using ditches, berms, or other applicable BMPs, stabilizing soils
promptly, and protecting slopes with erosion control blankets or turf reinforcement mats,
among other approved techniques.
(k) Inspection
(1) The City Engineer may inspect the work and may either approve that portion of the
work completed or notify the permittee that the work fails to comply with the Storm
Water Pollution Prevention Plan as approved. Plans for grading, stripping,
excavating and fill work bearing the stamp of approval of the City Engineer shall be
maintained at the site during the progress of the work.
(2) The permittee or the permittee's agent shall inspect all control measures in
accordance with the inspection schedule set forth in the approved SWPPP. The
purpose of such inspections are to determine the overall effectiveness of the control
plan and the need for additional control measures. All inspections shall be
documented in writing and submitted to the City Engineer as specified in the permit.
(3) The City Engineer may enter the property of the applicant, as deemed necessary
and appropriate, to confirm the accuracy of the reports filed in accordance with
subsection (b) of this section.
(I) Stop work order; revocation of permit
When reasonable cause exists that a permitted for land disturbing activity has violated
14
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
the terms of the permit or implemented site development in such a manner that
materially adversely affects the health, welfare or safety of persons residing or working in
the development site or nearby area or is materially detrimental to the public welfare or
injurious to property or improvements in the neighborhood or nearby area, the City
Engineer, upon notice to the person holding the permit may suspend or revoke the permit,
in addition to invoking any other penalty provisions contained in this article
(m) Submission of Notice of Termination
The owner or operator of a site requesting to terminate coverage under the construction
general permit must submit to the City a signed copy of a completed Notice of
Termination (NOT) on a form supplied by the TCEQ meeting the requirements of the
construction general permit. The NOT must be submitted to TCEQ, and a copy of the
NOT provided to the City, within 30 days of the occurrence of any the following
conditions:
(1) Final stabilization has been achieved on all portions of the site that are the
responsibility of the permittee;
(2) Transfer of operational control has occurred; or
(3) The operator has obtained alternative authorization under an individual TPDES
permit or alternative TPDES general permit.
SECTION 30-147. POST-CONSTRUCTION STORM WATER RUNOFF
Post-construction storm water management in new or redevelopment projects shall include
stormwater protection measures that comply with Chapter 8 of the City's Engineering Design
Criteria Manual: Stormwater Management, the City's BMP's and City Code of Ordinances
Section 13-23; Stormwater Storage Facilities Maintenance.
(a) Operation and Maintenance Agreement
Infrastructure plans shall be provided to the City Engineer for all new and redevelopment
projects prior to final approval of a project. In all cases, prior to plan approval of detention
facilities, the owner of the site shall execute the City's Stormwater Facility Maintenance
Agreement ("Agreement") that shall be binding on all current and subsequent owners of the
site, portions of the site, and all lots or parcels served by the detention facility.
The Agreement shall require the owner or owners to maintain, repair, and if necessary,
reconstruct structural components of a detention facility, and shall state the terms,
conditions, and establish a schedule of maintenance for the detention facility. In addition,
the agreement shall grant to the City a right of entry to inspect, monitor, maintain, repair,
reconstruct, or discontinue the use of the detention facility; however, in no case shall the
right of entry, confer an obligation on the City to assume any responsibility associated with
the detention facility.
15
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
The Agreement must be approved by the City Engineer prior to plan approval. The
executed Agreement shall be recorded by the City with the appropriate County Deed
Records, and the recording information shall be referenced on the final plat.
SECTION 30-148. ENFORCEMENT
Notice of Violation
Whenever the City Engineer finds that a person has failed to meet a requirement of this
Ordinance, the City Engineer may order compliance by written notice of violation to the
responsible person. Such notice may require without limitation:
(1) The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(2) The elimination of Illicit Connections or Discharges;
(3) That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease and desist;
(4) The abatement or remediation of storm water pollution or contamination hazards and the
restoration of any affected property;
(5) Payment of costs to cover administrative and remediation costs;
(6) Withholding of certificate of occupancy for subject property or properties; and/or
(7) The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.
If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of affected property are required, the notice shall
set forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said
notice shall further advise that, should the violator fail to remediate or restore within the
established deadline, the work may be performed by a designated governmental agency or a
contractor and the expense thereof shall be charged to the violator.
SECTION 30-149. APPEAL OF NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Any person receiving a Notice of Violation from the City Engineer may appeal the City
Engineer's determination. The notice of appeal must be in writing and received within ten (10)
days from the date of the Notice of Violation is delivered to the violator. The City Council shall
hear the appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the notice of appeal. The
decision of the City Council shall be final.
SECTION 30-150. ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AFTER APPEAL
If the violation has not been corrected pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Notice of
Violation, or, in the event of an appeal, within ten days following the decision of the City Council
upholding the decision of the City Engineer, then representatives of the City may enter upon the
subject private property and are authorized to take any and all measures necessary to abate the
violation and/or restore the property. It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, agent or person
in possession of any premises to refuse to allow the City Engineer, the City Engineer and/or any
contractor designated by the City Engineer to enter upon the premises for the purposes set forth
above.
SECTION 30-151. COST OF ABATEMENT OF THE VIOLATION
Within ten (10) days following abatement of the violation by the City, the owner of the property
16
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
shall be notified of the cost of abatement, including administrative costs ("Notice of Costs"). The
property owner may file a written protest objecting to the amount of the assessment within five
(5) days ("Appeal Period") following the date the Notice of Costs is delivered to the violator. If
the costs are not paid by the expiration of the Appeal Period, the charges shall become a
special assessment against the property and shall constitute a lien on the property for the
amount of the assessment. Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall
become liable to the City by reason of such violation.
SECTION 30-152. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of the
requirements of this Ordinance. If a person has violated or continues to violate the provisions of
this Ordinance, the City may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for a preliminary or
permanent injunction restraining the person from activities which would create further violations
or compelling the person to perform abatement or remediation of the violation.
SECTION 30-153. VIOLATIONS DEEMED A PUBLIC NUISANCE
In addition to the enforcement processes and penalties provided herein, any condition caused
or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this Ordinance is a threat to public
health, safety, and welfare, and is declared and deemed a nuisance, and may be summarily
abated or restored at the violator's expense, and/or a civil action to abate, enjoin, or otherwise
compel the cessation of such nuisance may be taken.
SECTION 30-154. REMEDIES NOT EXCLUSIVE
The remedies listed in this ordinance are not exclusive of any other remedies available under
any applicable federal, state or local law and it is within the discretion of the City to seek
cumulative remedies.
Section 2. Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not
more than Five Hundred Dollars.
Section 3. Savings. All rights and remedies which have accrued in favor of the City
under this Chapter and amendments thereto shall be and are preserved for the benefit of the
City.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion
of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid, unconstitutional or otherwise unenforceable by
any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and
17
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
thereof.
Section 5. Codification. It is the intent of the City Council of the City of Pearland,
Texas, that the provisions of this ordinance shall be codified in the City's official Code of
Ordinances as provided hereinabove.
Section 6. Publication and Effective Date. The City Secretary shall cause this
ordinance, or its caption and penalty, to be published in the official newspaper of the City of
Pearland, upon passage of such ordinance. The ordinance shall then become effective ten (10)
days from and after its publication, or the publication of its caption and penalty, in the official
City newspaper.
PASSED and APPROVED ON FIRST READING this the 10th day of December, A. D.,
2018.
GYn
TOM REID
MAYOR
ATTEST:
gt-:
RUNGLs / =�` %\ •
y _
TY SEC" TARY = `••. .:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
0
DARRIN M. COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
18
ORDINANCE NO. 1570
PASSED and APPROVED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING this the 17th day of December,
A. D., 2018.
TOM REID
MAYOR
ATTEST: ' ����uu►,,,�
�•��QN�
i/ ,/ aur.i •�:` • VOTING RECORD SECOND AND FINAL READING
,UN/ OR N!" C _t--): ��� _ December 17,2018
iN
CITY CRETARY Voting"Aye"-Councilmembers Carbone, Reed,Moore,
••'~•••••••'•• ��`� Hernandez,Little,and Owens
Voting"No"-None.
APPROVED AS TO FORM Motion passes 6 to 0.Councilmember Perez absent.
PUBLICATION DATE December 19,2018
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 28,2018
DARRIN M. COKER PUBLISHED AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 3.10
CITY ATTORNEY OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND,TEXAS
19
11/20/2018
To: Mayor and City
Council members
Memo Background on upcoming
consideration of consolidated illicit
t fTo: Clay Pearson, City Manager sotrmwater discharge ordiannce.
�
4, Reuirements spread around different
vo From: Rajendra Shrestha, P. E., - istant Directoiordinnces currently but need to be
combined. Clay
A CC: Trent Epperson, Assis . t City Manager
,, Robert D. Upton, P. '., Director of Engineering and Projects
4.$r. a9
Date: November 21, i 18
Re: New City of Pearland Illicit Discharge Ordinance
The purpose of this memo is to update the City Council about a proposed new Illicit Discharge
Ordinance to regulate non-stormwater and pollutant discharges in the City of Pearland. The
development of this ordinance was set as a goal to complete during the current Municipal
Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit that is held by the City of Pearland.
Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to provide for the health, safety, and general welfare of the
citizens of the City of Pearland, Texas, as well as comply with the regulations mandated by both
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality(TCEQ), through the regulation of non-storm water discharges to the storm
drainage system to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and state law. This
ordinance establishes methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the MS4 in order
to comply with requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
and Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit process.
Objectives
1. To regulate the contribution of pollutants to the MS4 by storm water discharges by any
user. (incl: stormwater discharge associated with construction activity and post
construction activity)
2. To prohibit Illicit Connections and Discharges to the MS4.
3. To establish legal authority to carry out inspection, surveillance and monitoring
procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this ordinance.
Background
The City of Pearland is allowed to discharge stormwater runoff into surface water of the United
States through the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit from Texas
Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The City received the designation of Phase II,
Level 3 MS4 permit in 2009 and implemented the first five year Stormwater Management
Plan (SWMP).The City is at this level of permit status and this level's associated rules due to the
population (less than 100,000 population) as counted in the 2000 and 2010 census. The City will
not be raised to the Level 4 status until the census determines that the population is over 100,000.
T+:
The increase to the Level 4 status and the increased rules will not be implemented until the 2023
permit.
The second SWMP was approved in 2015 for the 2014 through 2018 permit cycle. The
SWMP provides a comprehensive five year plan designed to enhance and protect storm water
quality in the City. The SWMP details the existing stormwater management activities and
proposed new activities with measurable goals, control measures and public outreach programs
to minimize the amount of pollutants discharged through the storm sewer system at or below
Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP) using various Best management Practices (BMPs).
Illicit Discharge Ordinance
The City does not have a specific Illicit Discharge ordinance but has various ordinances and
guidelines such as the Engineering Design Criteria Manual, Project Contract Specifications,
Engineering Standard Details, and the Unified Development Code to help prevent non-stormwater
flows into waters of the United States. Listed below are various ordinances and guidelines;
a) Ordinances
i. Ordinance No. 181-9: Solid Waste Ordinance
ii. Ordinance No. 1059: Maintenance of Stormwater Storage Facilities
b) Specifications
i. 01562 Waste Material Disposal
ii. 01565 TPDES Requirements
iii. 01566 Source Control for Erosion Control and Sedimentation
c) Engineering Design Criteria Manual
An Illicit Discharge Ordinance is identified as one of the goals in the City's SWMP approved
by TCEQ. According to the 2013-2018 SWMP, the City will adopt an Illicit Discharge Ordinance
with the Stormwater Ordinance Language. An excerpt from the SWMP is presented below:
2.1.1. BMP 1 —Stormwater Ordinance Language
The City with assistance from the City Attorney's Office will draft an ordinance to prohibit non-storm water
discharges into the City's MS4 with exception of those authorized in the General Permit. This ordinance
will make the non-storm water discharges such as oil, gases, paints, concreter washout including
construction wastes, trash, landscape materials, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides detergents, sanitary
wastes, and other materials into the City's MS4.Language will be added in the Illicit Discharge Ordinance
to address storm water discharge issues.
It is essential to adopt the Illicit Discharge Ordinance by the end of 2018 to be in compliance with
the current permit. If the City is not able to meet the goal as mentioned in the TCEQ approved
SWMP, the City will have to file a Notice of Change for its inability to comply with the approved
SWMP.
Per the TPDES General Permit No TXR040000 Part V.A.: Failure to comply with any permit condition is
a violation of the general permit and statutes under which the permit was issued, and is grounds for
enforcement action,for terminating coverage under the general permit, or requiring the City to apply for
and obtain and individual TPDES permit.
+' � `... How Does the Illicit Discharge Ordinance Help the City to regulate stormwater runoff?
`ins
1. Identifies allowable non-storm water discharges
2. Prohibits Illicit Discharge (non-stormwater) and Connection which includes illicit
connection made in the past.
3. Helps for compliance monitoring which includes;
a. Rights of Entry for inspection and sampling.
b. Search Warrants
c. Requirement to prevent, control and reduce storm water pollutants
d. Watercourse protection
e. Notification of spills
4. Requires operators of construction activity performed by the entities not subject to NPDES
or TPDES permit to obtain a construction permit from the City.
5. Regulates the Stormwater Discharge associated with construction activity.
6. Regulates post-construction stormwater runoff.
7. Requires the developer/Owner of the site to execute the City's Stormwater Facility
Maintenance Agreement prior to final approval of a project.
8. Establishes the right to issue a notice of violation to the violator including penalties for the
violation.
9. Establishes the need for an operation and maintenance agreement for post construction
stormwater system including detention pond.
10. Makes the responsible party reimburse the City for any cost incurred by the City in
responding to the release of illicit discharge.
The proposed Illicit Discharge ordinance is written to comply with TCEQ requirement for
illicit discharge and stormwater language.The Ordinance will provide added benefit to the City
for the safety and welfare of the citizen and make the City more environmental friendly.
Proposed Illicit Discharge Ordinance will be on the City Council agenda in December and is
attached with this memo for reference.