History of the 2016 Edition - Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control

The 2016 Edition of the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control was reviewed, amended, and approved at the November 19th, 2015, meeting of the Erosion and Sediment Control Overview Council.  Amendments were made to Page 6-80, Page 6-138 and Appendix A-2, Page 2.  The approved Manual has been posted to the GSWCC website under “Documents”.  Click to read the Overview Council Meeting minutes.

The 2016 Edition of the Manual and the Equivalent BMP List became effective on January 1, 2016.

The 2016 Edition of the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control was reviewed and amended at the November 3rd, 2015, GSWCC State Board Meeting.  Amendments were made to Page 6-84 and Page 6-143.

As discussed at the October 1st Public Meeting on the 2016 Edition of the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control, the DRAFT Equivalent Best Management Practice List was posted for public comment.  The purpose of the list is to provide a listing of products that are equivalent to the best management practices as listed in the Manual.  Refer to Appendix A-2 of the 2016 Edition of the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control for more information on the Equivalent BMP process.

GSWCC and GDOT coordinated on the development of the Equivalent BMP List .  This list is based on the existing GDOT Qualified Product Lists and GSWCC Board previously approved products as found in the 5th Edition of the Manual.  Efforts have been made to make this a complete list, so the erosion control industry and other interested parties were encouraged to thoroughly review the list and submit comments. 

Response to comments on the Draft Equivalent BMP List can be found below, along with the Revised 2016 Equivalent BMP List, under "Related Files".

The 2016 Edition of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission’s
Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia

Pursuant to Georgia’s Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975, the Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia (Manual) is the published guidance of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) that governs the design and practices to be used in the protection of this state's natural resources from erosion and sedimentation.[1]

The major changes to the 2016 Edition of the Manual include:

• The Equivalent BMP List. The 2016 Edition includes a new process for inclusion on and removal from the Equivalent BMP List. This list will consist of BMPs that have demonstrated success at least three times in the field under the NPDES permit Guidelines for the Alternative BMP process, have been bench tested, and have been approved for inclusion by the GSWCC. The Equivalent BMP List is similar to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) Qualified Products List, which consists of materials approved by GDOT and was recognized by the Fifth Edition of the Manual. The new process and Equivalent BMP List increase efficiency for all the agencies involved in soil and erosion control and in the development community by facilitating use of Alternative BMPs repeatedly implemented and approved under GSWCC Guidelines. Refer to Appendix A-2 for more information about requirements for the application and removal process for the Equivalent BMP List.

• Revised or Combined Practices. Some practices from the Fifth and Sixth Editions of the Manual have been revised or combined in the 2016 Edition, including: Tree Protection (Tr), Turbidity Curtain (Tc), Seep Berm (SpB), Sediment Barrier (Sd1), Inlet Sediment Trap (Sd2), Temporary Sediment Trap (Sd4), Retrofit (Rt), Floating Surface Skimmer (Sk), Construction Exit (Co), Channel Stabilization (Ch), Checkdam (Cd), Flocculants and Coagulants (Fl-Co), Slope Stabilization (Ss), and Tackifiers (Tac).

• Sediment Barriers (Sd1). The 2016 Edition clarifies the use of Types A, B, and C silt fences in non-sensitive and sensitive areas.

• Updated Erosion, Sedimentation, and Pollution Control (ES&PC) Plan. The 2016 Edition of the Manual includes updated guidance for ES&PC Plans.

The public comment period ended on Friday, October 9, 2015.  A summary of the public meeting held on Oct 1, 2015 can be found under "Related Files" below.  Comments received at the public meeting and those submitted via email have been reviewed and a summary of the responses to the comments can be found below under "Related Files".

[1] Section 12-7-3(10.2) of the Georgia Code states: "Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia" or "manual" means the published guidance of the commission governing the design and practices to be utilized in the protection of this state's natural resources from erosion and sedimentation which shall be based foremost upon sound engineering principles and repeatable bench and field testing of structural and vegetative best management practices and which shall have the annual approval of the Erosion and Sediment Control Overview Council established pursuant to Code Section 12-7-7.1.