City of Hagerstown, MD Article VIII Inspections

§ 213-22 Inspection schedule and reports.

A. The developer shall notify the City Engineer at least 48 hours before commencing any work in conjunction with site development, the stormwater management plan, and upon completion of the project.

B. Regular inspections shall be made and documented for each ESD planning technique and practice at the stages of construction specified in the Design Manual by the certifying engineer. At a minimum, all ESD and other nonstructural practices shall be inspected upon completion of final grading, the establishment of permanent stabilization, and before issuance of use and occupancy approval.

C. Written inspection reports shall include:

(1) The date and location of the inspection;

(2) Whether construction was in compliance with the approved stormwater management plan;

(3) Any variations from the approved construction specifications; and

(4) Any violations that exist.

D. The owner/developer and on-site personnel shall be notified in writing when violations are observed. Written notification shall describe the nature of the violation and the required corrective action.

E. No work shall proceed on the next phase of development until the certifying engineer inspects and approves the work previously completed, and furnishes the City Engineer and the owner/developer with, at a minimum, the inspection reports required in Subsections B and C as soon as possible after completion of each required inspection.

§ 213-23 Inspection requirements during construction.

A. At a minimum, regular inspections shall be made and documented by the certifying engineer at the following specified stages of construction:

(1) For ponds:

(a) Upon completion of excavation to sub-foundation and when required, installation of structural supports or reinforcement for structures, including but not limited to:

[1] Core trenches for structural embankments;

[2] Inlet and outlet structures, anti-seep collars or diaphragms, and watertight connectors on pipes; and

[3] Trenches for enclosed storm drainage facilities;

(b) During placement of structural fill, concrete, and installation of piping and catch basins;

(c) During backfill of foundations and trenches;

(d) During embankment construction; and

(e) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

(2) Wetlands: at the stages specified for pond construction in Subsection A(1) of this section, during and after wetland reservoir area planting, and during the second growing season to verify a vegetation survival rate of at least 50%.

(3) For infiltration trenches:

(a) During excavation to subgrade;

(b) During placement and backfill of under drain systems and observation wells;

(c) During placement of geotextiles and all filter media;

(d) During construction of appurtenant conveyance systems such as diversion structures, pre-filters and filters, inlets, outlets, and flow distribution structures; and

(e) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

(4) For infiltration basins: at the stages specified for pond construction in Subsection A(1) of this section and during placement and backfill of under drain systems.

(5) For filtering systems:

(a) During excavation to subgrade;

(b) During placement and backfill of under drain systems;

(c) During placement of geotextiles and all filter media;

(d) During construction of appurtenant conveyance systems such as flow diversion structures, pre-filters and filters, inlets, outlets, orifices, and flow distribution structures; and

(e) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

(6) For open channel systems:

(a) During excavation to subgrade;

(b) During placement and backfill of under drain systems for dry swales;

(c) During installation of diaphragms, check dams, or weirs; and

(d) Upon completion of final grading and establishment of permanent stabilization.

B. The City may, for enforcement purposes, use any one or a combination of the following actions:

(1) A notice of violation shall be issued specifying the need for corrective action if stormwater management plan noncompliance is identified;

(2) A stop-work order shall be issued for the site by the City if a violation persists;

(3) Bonds or securities shall be withheld or the case may be referred for legal action if reasonable efforts to correct the violation have not been undertaken; or

(4) In addition to any other sanctions, a civil action or criminal prosecution may be brought against any person in violation of the Stormwater Management Subtitle, the Design Manual, or this chapter.

C. Any step in the enforcement process may be taken at any time, depending on the severity of the violation.

D. Once construction is complete, as-built plan certification shall be submitted by either a professional engineer or professional land surveyor licensed in the State of Maryland to ensure that ESD planning techniques, treatment practices, and structural stormwater management measures and conveyance systems comply with the specifications contained in the approved plans. At a minimum, as-built certification shall include a set of drawings comparing the approved stormwater management plan with what was constructed. The City may require additional information in accordance with established policies.

E. The City shall submit notice of construction completion to the Administration on a form supplied by the Administration for each structural stormwater management practice within 45 days of construction completion. The type, number, total drainage area, and total impervious area treated by all ESD techniques and practices shall be reported to the Administration on a site-by-site basis. If BMPs requiring SCD approval are constructed, notice of construction completion shall also be submitted to the appropriate SCD.