Sierra Madre Municipal Code Ch. 7.08 Pollutant Source Reduction

A. Leaking Vehicles and Machinery. No machinery, equipment or device shall be allowed to leak, spill or discharge in any manner oil, grease or other pollutant onto any street, alley road, parking lot or surface in the city whereon such pollutants can or may be conveyed to the municipal storm sewer system by stormwater or non-stormwater runoff.

B. Equipment Repair. The repair of machinery and equipment, including motor vehicles, which are visibly leaking oil, fluids or antifreeze in areas exposed to stormwater runoff is prohibited.

C. Storage. Objects such as motor vehicle parts containing grease, oil or other hazardous substances, and unsealed receptacles containing hazardous materials shall not be stored in areas susceptible to stormwater runoff.

D. Potentially Harmful Materials. Fuel and chemical residue, animal waste, food and food processing wastes, garbage, batteries or other types of materials that are located in areas susceptible to or exposed to stormwater, and which in the opinion of the director of public works, or his or her designee, could have potential adverse impacts on water quality, shall be managed by appropriate and effective best management practices, or shall be removed immediately and disposed of properly.

E. Hazardous Materials. Household hazardous waste may be disposed of through the Los Angeles County's household hazardous waste program or other appropriate disposal site, not in trash containers. Other hazardous materials shall be disposed of at a licensed hazardous waste facility and not in municipal trash receptacles.

F. Landscape Debris. No person shall intentionally dispose of leaves, dirt or other landscape debris into a storm drain or other appurtenance of the municipal storm sewer system.

(Ord. 1200 § 3, 2003; Ord. 1137 § 1 (part), 1997)

A. Regulatory Compliance. No person shall conduct any industrial activity in the city without first obtaining all permits required by state or federal law, including an NPDES General Industrial Activity Storm Water Permit when required. Persons conducting industrial activities within the city should refer to the most recent edition of the Industrial/Commercial Best Management Practices Handbook, produced and published by the Storm Water Quality Task Force, for specific guidance on selecting best management practices for reducing pollutants in stormwater discharges from industrial activities.

B. Discharge of Wash Water. The discharge of untreated wash waters to the municipal storm sewer system from the cleaning of gasoline stations, auto repair garages or similar use facilities is prohibited.

C. Discharge from Mobile Operations. The discharge of untreated wastewater from mobile automobile washing, steam cleaning, mobile carpet cleaning and other such mobile commercial and industrial operations to the municipal storm sewer system is prohibited.

D. Parking Lot Sweeping. All commercial and industrial parking lots containing over twenty-five parking spaces shall be required to be regularly swept or cleaned by other equally effective methods, such as vacuum sweeping, to remove debris, and no water or debris from cleaning of such parking lots may be discharged to the municipal separate storm sewer system.

E. Storage Area Runoff. The discharge of untreated runoff to the municipal storm drain system from areas which store materials containing grease, oil or other hazardous substances, and uncovered receptacles containing hazardous material is prohibited.

F. Commercial/Municipal Swimming Pools. The discharge of chlorinated/brominated swimming pool water and filter backwash from commercial and municipal swimming pools is prohibited.

G. Toxic Materials. The discharge of untreated runoff from the washing of pollutants from paved, unpaved, storage or equipment areas to the municipal storm drain system is prohibited.

H. Impervious Surfaces. The discharge from washing of impervious surfaces in industrial and commercial areas into the municipal separate storm sewer system, unless specifically required by state or local health and safety codes, is prohibited.

I. Concrete Trucks. The discharge of concrete or cement laden wash water from concrete trucks, pumps, tools, and equipment to the municipal storm drain system is prohibited.

J. Equipment Repair and Maintenance. All equipment and machinery is to be repaired or maintained such that leaks, spills and other maintenance related pollutants are not discharged to the municipal storm drain system.

K. Treatment Systems. Stormwater clarifiers, separators, sediment ponds and other stormwater treatment systems shall be kept in proper operating condition at all times. All facilities shall be constructed and installed to permit easy and safe access for maintenance and inspection at all times. Treatment systems shall be approved by the director of public works prior to installation and operation. The director shall require plans and supporting information as necessary for the evaluation of the treatment systems.

(Ord. 1200 §§ 4, 5, 2003; Ord. 1137 § 1 (part), 1997)

A. Regulatory Compliance. All persons engaged in construction activity within the city shall operate in compliance with all state and federal laws regulating or pertaining to stormwater management and runoff.

B. Copies of Documents. All persons engaged in construction activity within the city requiring an NPDES construction permit shall have at the construction site available for review: (1) a copy of the notice of intent for the NPDES permit; (2) the waste discharge identification number issued by the State Water Resources Control Board; and (3) copies of the stormwater pollution prevention plan and stormwater monitoring plan as required by the NPDES permit.

C. Urban Runoff Mitigation Plan. Upon approval of a planning checklist and recommended planning BMP's by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region or as directed by the building official, an applicant shall submit an urban runoff mitigation plan to the department of building and safety prior to the submittal of an application for the first planning or building approval for a new development project. The urban runoff mitigation plan shall incorporate appropriate elements of the recommended guidelines and BMP list.

The urban runoff mitigation plan shall be designed to reduced projected runoff for a project through incorporation of design elements or principles which address each of the goals set forth below. Developers should refer to the most recent edition of the Construction Best Management Practices Handbook, produced and published by the American Public Works Association's California Storm Water Quality Task Force for specific guidance on selecting best management practices for reducing pollutants in stormwater discharges from urbanized areas.

The urban runoff mitigation plan shall address the following goals in connection with both construction and long term operation of the proposed project:

1. Implement, to the maximum extent practicable, requirements established by appropriate governmental agencies under the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, local ordinances, and other legal authorities intended to minimize impacts on the biological integrity of natural drainage systems and water bodies from stormwater runoff;

2. Maximize, to the extent practicable, the percentage of permeable surfaces in order to allow more percolation of runoff into the ground;

3. Minimize, to the extent practicable, the amount of runoff directed to impermeable areas and to the city's stormwater system;

4. Minimize, to the extent practicable, parking lot pollution through the use of appropriate best management practices, such as retention, infiltration and good housekeeping;

5. Establish reasonable limits on the clearing of vegetation from the project site including, but not limited to, regulating the length of time during which base soil may be exposed;

6. To the maximum extent practicable, provide for appropriate permanent controls to reduce stormwater pollutant load produced at the development site during development.

D. City Review and Requirements. Prior to the issuance of a building permit for a new development project, the city shall evaluate the proposed project using the guidelines and BMP list approved by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region and erosion and grading requirements of the city building official or director of public works to determine: (1) its potential to generate the flow of pollutants into the municipal storm sewer system both during and after construction; and (2) how well the urban runoff mitigation plan for the proposed project meets the goals of this title. Each plan will be evaluated on its own merits according to the particular characteristics of the project and the site to be developed.

Based upon the review, the city may impose conditions upon the issuance of the building permit, in addition to any required by the State Construction Activities Storm Water Permit for the project, in order to minimize the flow of pollutants into the municipal storm sewer system.

No grading permit for developments with a disturbed area of five acres or greater shall be issued unless the applicant can show that a notice of intent to comply with the State Construction Activities Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan has been prepared for the project.

E. Plan Approval. The building official shall approve or disapprove the urban runoff mitigation plan within thirty calendar days of submittal. If the plan is disapproved, the reasons for disapproval shall be given in writing to the developer. Any plan disapproved by the building official may be revised by the developer and resubmitted for approval. A resubmitted plan will be approved or disapproved within fourteen calendar days of submittal. No building permit shall be issued until an urban runoff mitigation plan has been approved by the building official.

F. Expiration of Urban Runoff Mitigation Plan. If no building permit has been issued or no construction has begun on a project within a period of one hundred eighty days of approval of an urban runoff mitigation plan, the urban runoff mitigation plan for that project shall expire. The building official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty days upon written request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant prevented the construction from beginning. In order to renew the urban runoff mitigation plan, the applicant shall resubmit all necessary forms and other data and pay a new plan review fee.

G. Standard Best Management Practices. Stormwater runoff containing sediment, construction waste, or other pollutants from the construction site and parking areas shall be reduced to the maximum extent practicable. The following best management practices shall apply to all construction projects within the city, and shall be required from the time of demolition of existing structure or commencement of construction until receipt of a certificate of occupancy.

1. Sediment, construction waste, and other pollutants from construction activities shall be retained on the construction site to the maximum extent practicable.

2. Structural controls such as sediment barriers, plastic sheeting, detention ponds, dikes, and filter berms shall be utilized to the maximum extent practicable in order to minimize the escape from the site of sediment and other pollutants.

3. All excavated soil shall be located on the site in a manner that minimizes the amount of sediment running onto the street, drainage facilities, or adjacent properties. Between October 1st and April 30th, such excavated soil shall be covered with waterproof material until the soil is either used or removed from the site.

4. No washing of construction or other vehicles is permitted adjacent to a construction site. No water from the washing of construction or other vehicles is permitted to run off the construction site, or to otherwise enter the municipal separate storm sewer system.

H. Vegetation Clearing Limits. As a condition of granting a construction permit, the city may set reasonable limits on the clearing of natural vegetation from construction sites, in order to reduce the potential for soil erosion. These limits may include, but not be limited to, regulating the length of time soil is allowed to remain bare or prohibiting bare soil.

I. Additional Plans. The director or building official may require, prior to the issuance of any building or grading permit, preparation of appropriate wet weather erosion control, stormwater pollution prevention or other plans consistent with the countywide development construction guidance document and the goals of this title.

J. Compliance Waivers. Full or partial waivers of compliance with the requirements of this section of this title may be obtained by persons who apply in writing and show that incorporation of design elements that address the objectives set forth above is an economic or physical impossibility due to the particular configuration of the site or due to irreconcilable conflicts with other city requirements. All such requests for waivers must be approved, in writing, by the planning and community preservation department and public works department.

(Ord. 1137 § 1 (part), 1997)

(Ord. No. 1466, § 5, 3-28-23)

Persons owning or operating drainage facilities that are directly connected to the public storm drain system shall clean those facilities between May 1st and September 30th of each year, and re-clean those facilities as needed, before their sumps are forty percent full of material. This requirement includes but is not limited to, catch basins, culverts, and parkway drains.

(Ord. 1182 § 2, 2000)

A. Development Regulations. Regulations pertaining to the implementation of the "Standard Urban Storm Water Mitigation Plan (SUSMP)," as approved and amended from time to time by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, shall be adopted by resolution of the city council.

B. Service Fees and Charges. The costs incurred by the city in implementing the provisions of the "Standard Urban Storm Water Mitigation Plan," as approved and amended from time to time by the California Regional Water Quality Region, Los Angeles Region, may be defrayed by the collection of service fees and charges which shall not exceed the cost of the service provided. All such service fees and charges shall be adopted by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 1182 § 3, 2000)