Construction Concerns

City’s Storm Water Management office knows that uncontrolled stormwater runoff from construction sites can significantly impact the Santa Fe River, surrounding arroyos and our acequias. Sediment (soils) in water bodies from construction sites can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants, clog fish gills, smother aquatic habitat and spawning areas.

EPA's NPDES program regulates stormwater runoff from construction sites, in turn we have developed a program and an ordinance to reduce pollutants leaving these sites. With our enforcement measures, non-compliance can result in fines, penalties and/or jail time.

In addition to the city's enforceable ordinance, we require construction sites to comply with EPA's Construction General Permit (CGP) which extends coverage to construction sites that disturb 1 or more acres, including smaller sites that are part of a larger plan of development. Site operators need to submit an application Notice Of Intent  (NOI) to be covered under EPA's CGP.

Additionally, sites that disturb less than an acre are required to install BMPs in an effort to restrict pollutants from leaving their site. BMP