01-24-2007, 05:13 PM
Yeah that was the only point I was trying to make. Chad is right, you want to keep soil where it is so that you can preserve that area for the future. However, the VA and federal DEQs main concern is runoff from unstabilized areas when their focus is on construction sites. Excess sediment caused by development can have a huge environmental impact on everything in the watershed.. from small streams to eventually the Chesapeake Bay. Not only are sediments a concern, but also runoff from impervious surfaces that have been created within that development. Ironically, I used to study this in middle-high school for science fair projects, and now my life came around to have to deal with it first hand.
Concrete runoff is a HUGE one. The DEQ is extremely strict with proper concrete washout areas. Although Chad had one of the points down, I can tell you the two main reasons why most new homes builders put up silt fence:
1) It looks nice, helps to separate homesites under construction (improves community appearance, therefore helping sales)
2) If they don't follow sediment control plans, they face huge fines. I'm talking tens of thousands of dollars, even worse for repeat offenses.
So, in a nutshell, money is the driving factor heh. But those are the main reasons the DEQ cares about them.
EDIT: I'm by no means an expert on this stuff, but I can only tell you guys what I've experienced first hand. Environmental quality is a huge deal nowadays, and the government can only hit big builders and developers where it hurts them to get the point across: the wallet.
Concrete runoff is a HUGE one. The DEQ is extremely strict with proper concrete washout areas. Although Chad had one of the points down, I can tell you the two main reasons why most new homes builders put up silt fence:
1) It looks nice, helps to separate homesites under construction (improves community appearance, therefore helping sales)
2) If they don't follow sediment control plans, they face huge fines. I'm talking tens of thousands of dollars, even worse for repeat offenses.
So, in a nutshell, money is the driving factor heh. But those are the main reasons the DEQ cares about them.
EDIT: I'm by no means an expert on this stuff, but I can only tell you guys what I've experienced first hand. Environmental quality is a huge deal nowadays, and the government can only hit big builders and developers where it hurts them to get the point across: the wallet.
Posting in the banalist of threads since 2004
2017 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD Premium
Past: 2016 GMC Canyon All Terrain Crew Cab / 2010 Jaguar XFR / 2012 Acura RDX AWD Tech / 2008 Cadillac CTS / 2007 Acura TL-S / 1966 5.0 HO Mustang Coupe
2001 Lexus IS300 / 2004 2.8L big turbo WRX STI / 2004 Subaru WRX / A couple of old trucks
2017 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD Premium
Past: 2016 GMC Canyon All Terrain Crew Cab / 2010 Jaguar XFR / 2012 Acura RDX AWD Tech / 2008 Cadillac CTS / 2007 Acura TL-S / 1966 5.0 HO Mustang Coupe
2001 Lexus IS300 / 2004 2.8L big turbo WRX STI / 2004 Subaru WRX / A couple of old trucks