FedCenter.gov
Facility Regulatory Tour
Quick Reference
 
 
 
Members
Construction Zones

  

Overview

Construction Zones Image Areas, sites, locations and facilities where construction, renovation, or deconstruction occur. Of special interest is the management of stormwater, construction debris, asbestos, and lead-based paint as well as the utilization of "green" construction options.


Focus Areas

Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris
Construction and Demolition (C&D) debris consists of the waste generated during construction, renovation, and demolition projects. Covering a wide array of materials, this waste often contains bulky, heavy materials, including concrete, wood, asphalt (from roads and roofing shingles), gypsum (the main component of drywall), metals, bricks, and plastics. C&D debris also includes salvaged building components such as doors, windows, and plumbing fixtures.

Dredging Operations
Any activities involving dredging and filling wetlands are permitted by the Army Corps of Engineers. "Dredge" is material that is excavated or dredged from waters of the United States. "Fill material" means any material used for the primary purpose of replacing an aquatic area with dry land or changing the bottom elevation of a water body. The term "fill material" does not include any pollutant discharged into the water primarily to dispose of waste, as that activity is regulated under section 402 of the CWA. The requirement for a permit to dredge or fill a wetland is not regulated by the U.S. EPA. It is regulated by the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army under Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). But, the EPA does regulate permits for ocean dumping of dredged material.

Green Construction
Pollution prevention initiatives are required to be considered in all plans, drawings, work statements, specifications, or other product descriptions.

NEPA
Federal agencies are required to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions.

Stormwater
Unlike pollution from industry or sewage treatment facilities, which is caused by a discrete number of sources, storm water pollution is caused by the daily activities of people everywhere. It includes stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage over the surface of the facility whether the surface be dirt, asphalt, concrete, wood, etc.


Back to Top  Page Top
Last Updated: August 25, 2011