20240605-006: Environmental Inspections Staff Presentation — original pdf

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Environmental Inspections Division Residential Tree & Environmental Inspections Commercial Tree & Environmental Inspections/ General Permit Inspections Environmental Enforcement Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Boat Docks Inspection and Enforcement Territories Commercial Residential Services Provided • Evaluate best management practices for erosion/sedimentation control and tree preservation • Assess compliance with City of Austin ordinances • Review drainage facilities and other site improvements Services Provided • Identify locations of environmentally sensitive resources • Provide technical assistance and education to citizens, community/special interest groups, developers, etc. on environmental/engineering code requirements, ordinances, and regulations • Provide testimony for enforcement cases in municipal court • Issue directives and initiate enforcement actions for non-compliance with environmental and drainage regulations Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control What is it? How does it work? Where is it installed? The practice of preventing or reducing the movement of sediment from a site during construction Through implementation of human-made structures, land management techniques, or natural processes At the perimeter of the construction site Types of ESC’s Silt Fencing: Fabric filter support by welded wire and anchored by posts Mulch Socks: Mesh tubes filled with natural wood or mulch (no hay or straw) Triangular Filter Dike: Prefabricated “tri-dikes” that are easy to install Stabilized Construction Entrance (Standard 641S) The purpose of a stabilized construction entrance is to reduce or eliminate the tracking or deposition of sediment onto public right-of-way, street, alley, sidewalk or parking area (Environmental Criteria Manual Section 1.4.2.N.4). • All trees, brush, stumps, obstructions and other objectionable material shall be removed and disposed of in a manner that will not interfere with the excavation and construction of the entrance as indicated on the Drawings or as presented in Standard Details No. 641S-1. The entrance shall not drain onto the public right-of-way or shall not allow surface water runoff to exit the construction site. • When necessary, vehicle wheels shall be cleaned to remove sediment prior to entrance onto public right-of-way. When vehicle washing is required, it shall be done on an area stabilized with crushed stone, which drains into an approved sediment trap or sediment basin. All sediment shall be prevented from entering any storm drain, ditch or watercourse through use of sandbags, gravel, boards, silt fence (Standard Specification Item No 642S) or other methods approved by the Engineer or designated representative. • The entrance shall be maintained in a condition that will prevent tracking or disposition of sediment onto public right-of-way. This restriction may require periodic top dressing with additional stone as conditions demand, as well as the repair and/or cleanout of any measures used to trap sediment. All sediment that is spilled, dropped, washed or tracked onto public right-of-way must be removed immediately. Silt Fence Silt Fence: A non-woven fabric filter material supported by welded wire fabric (WWF, 2”x4”, 12.5 gauge wire) anchored by 4 ft. (48”) steel or wood posts. Silt fence must be at least 24” high with fabric facing towards the anticipated flow Posts must be embedded at least 12” in the ground and no more than 8 ft. (96”) apart • When installed on impervious cover, the bottom flap should be extended upstream Vertical joints should overlap at least 12” The end of the silt fence should turn back in a ‘hook’ Long sections should incorporate J-hooks as needed to capture sediment uphill, especially on slopes • • • • • Mulch Socks Mulch Socks: A mulch sock consists of material encased in a 12” or 18” diameter tube of mesh and provides an environmentally-sensitive alternative to silt fencing. • Mulch material may consist of shredded bark, stump grindings and/or composted bark and should be produced from a 3” minus screening process. Do NOT use HAY/STRAW! • Ends of adjacent socks should overlap a minimum of 12” • Install using steel or wood posts (48” minimum) placed on 4 ft. (48”) centers driven at least 24” into the ground on alternating sides of the sock • Mulch socks should not be used on slopes greater than 2:1 or in concentrated flow area Triangular Sediment Filter Dike Triangular Sediment Filter Dike: Typically easier and faster to install that other ESCs, a Triangular Filter Dike (or Tri-Dike) is prefabricated from 6x6-D2.9xD2.9 welded wire mesh and 4.5 oz. non-woven polyester filter fabric fastened to welded wire mesh. It has a 12” skirt that is a continuous extension of the filter fabric on the upstream face. • Dikes are placed in a row with ends tightly abutting the adjacent dike Each filter dike and skirt are anchored in place using 6” stables, 24” apart maximum The skirt may be trenched in: with 6” minimum (see Fabric Toe-In illustration) weighted down with a continuous layer of 3-5”open graded rock or with sand/gravel bags placed 18” on center (see Open Graded Rock illustration) the entire structure can also be trenched in 4” (see Trenched in 4” illustration) • • – – – Water Quality Controls • Stormwater can have significant impact on the water quality of Austin's creeks and the Colorado River. • Goals (Environmental Criteria Manual Section 1.6.2B): 1. Minimize non-point source pollutants in stormwater 2. Enhance water quality 3. Design for long-term maintenance. Controls are designed to improve water quality by removing suspended particulate matter and constituents such as bacteria, nutrients and metals.​ Tree Protection Inspection & Enforcement • Routine Inspections FY ‘23 - Average 1,390 Residential Inspections Monthly - Average 1,486 Commercial Inspections Monthly • Called Inspections FY ‘23 - Average 878 Residential Inspections Monthly - Average 272 Commercial Inspections Monthly • Enforcement of Non-Compliance - 311 Complaints (2020 total FY ‘ 23) Enforcement of Non-Compliance Per MuniCode Section 25-1-441, city inspector is responsible for environmental regulations and can take enforcement action for non-compliance with erosion and sedimentation requirements or tree protections on a project site. Type of Enforcement Verbal: Written: Stop Work Order: Citations & Affidavit: Description Issued when projects with routine inspections reveal inadequacies in the controls or tree protections. Issued 24 hours from the verbal warning if deficiencies are not corrected. Issued 24 hours from the written warning if deficiencies are not corrected; remains in effect until deficiencies are corrected. Egregious violations or continued non-compliance. Count FY22 Count FY23 1738 2038 712 154 254 950 200 203 Community Engagement • Conduct monthly Lunch and Learns on enforcement inspections, residential inspections, commercial inspections and boat dock inspections • Provide both digital and physical literature to all stakeholders • Currently planning evening courses to be held quarterly for HOA’s within the City of Austin Environmental Inspections Division Staffing Levels 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Supervisors Boat Doc Inspections UST Inspections Enforcment Inspections Residential Inspections Commercial Inspections Administrative Count 24 hour response 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1,164 Complaints October 1st - May 04th 837 Complaints May 05th - September 30th TCEQ Threshold Achievemnt • Overall, DSD-Enforcement investigated 82% of 311 CSR’s within 24 hours • 311 enhancements were implemented on May 05th, 2023 which improved the response time • September 30th 2022-May 04,2023 72% of 311 CSR’s were investigated within 24 hours • May 05, 2023 – September 30th, 2023 99% of 311 CSR’s were investigated within 24 hours References & Resources Regulatory References: • City Code Title 6 (Environmental Control and Conservation) • City Code Chapter 25-8 (Subchapter B- Tree and Natural Area Protection; Endangered Species) • Environmental Criteria Manual (1.4.0 – Erosion and Sedimentation Control Criteria) • Environmental Criteria Manual (Appendix P-1 – Erosion Control Notes) • Environmental Criteria Manual (Appendix P-8 – Inspection Report) Web Resources: • Tree Protection and Erosion/Sedimentation Controls Flowchart • Tree Ordinance Review Process • Water Quality & Drainage Review • Environmental Inspections • Watershed Protection • Community Tree Preservation • Map View - Stream Flow and Weather (lcra.org) Thank you!