Arcata Municipal Code Art. 3 Best Management Practices

A. The Director shall, as soon as practicable, formulate and develop a Best Management Practices Manual for activities, operations, or facilities that may cause or contribute to pollution or contamination of the stormwater drainage facilities or waters of the United States. The Best Management Practices Manual shall include appropriate Best Management Practices for controlling the volume, rate, and potential pollutant load of stormwater runoff from existing and new projects as may be appropriate to minimize the generation, transport and discharge of pollutants. Best Management Practices requirements promulgated by any federal, State, or regional agency shall be incorporated into the Manual as appropriate.

B. The Best Management Practices Manual shall be revised and updated on a regular basis as needed by new development, new regulations, or changing circumstances.

C. The Best Management Practices Manual and all revisions thereto shall be adopted by the City Council after public hearing.

A. Every person undertaking an activity or operation, or owning or operating a facility that may cause or contribute to stormwater pollution or contamination shall comply with the BMP Manual.

B. Not limiting the foregoing, the owner or operator of a commercial or industrial establishment shall, at the owner or operator’s sole cost, use BMPs from the BMP Manual to protect against the accidental discharge of pollutants into stormwater drainage facilities.

C. The owner, occupant or other person in charge of the day-to-day operation of premises containing parking lots with more than 25 parking spaces, where such lots are associated with industrial or commercial activities, shall use BMPs as identified in the BMP Manual to reduce the discharge of pollutants. Such measures may include regular sweeping, litter pick-up, oil absorption or other measures as may be appropriate. Storm drain inlets shall be clearly marked by the owner with the words "No Dumping/ Flows to Bay," or the equivalent.

D. The owner or occupant of premises where equipment is repaired or maintained at facilities associated with industrial or commercial activities shall use BMPs as identified in the BMP Manual to prevent the discharge of maintenance or repair related pollutants to the stormwater drainage facilities.

A. Any applicant for a building and/or grading permit shall, as a condition of receiving such permit, read and sign a certificate stating that the applicant has read the BMP Manual and shall use approved BMPs for all construction activity. The applicant shall submit for approval a Best Management Practices Plan specifying those methods which will prevent the entry of pollutants into the stormwater drainage facilities, including but not limited to the use of filter materials at drain inlets to retain debris, dirt or other pollutants generated by such work. Property owners and developers shall comply with all terms, provisions, and conditions of City approved Best Management Practices Plans.

B. All development projects shall comply with the post-construction requirements of the MS4 general permit, Section E.12, Post Construction Storm Water Management Program, which may include measures for site design, source control, runoff reduction, stormwater treatment, or baseline hydromodification management as applicable based on project type and size. The City shall incorporate MS4 general permit post-construction requirements, as applicable, in any land use entitlement and construction or building-related permit to be issued relative to such development. The responsible party and developer shall comply with the terms, provisions, and conditions of such land use entitlements and permits. (Ord. 1463, eff. 7/31/2015)

As a condition of receiving a building and/or grading permit from the City, an applicant that is subject to any NPDES permit shall provide evidence to the City that the applicant has submitted a Notice of Intent to the State Water Resources Control Board.