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Soil Erosion and Sediment Control (SESC)
The Chicago District, Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) administers a permit program
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates various activities in waters of the United States, including
wetlands. As a condition of permit issuance, the Corps requires appropriate soil erosion and sediment control measures
to be implemented and maintained until the construction site is re-vegetated and stabilized. It is a requirement
of the Corps permitting program that an applicant submitting a joint application for work to develop a Soil Erosion
and Sediment Control (SESC) plan for the proposed project. The applicant is required to utilize SESC measures at
the project site to control soil erosion and to ensure that sediment is not transported to waters of the U.S. during
construction. The approved SESC measures shall be implemented prior to initiating clearing, grading, excavating
or filling activities and shall be maintained throughout the construction period and until the site is stabilized.
The submitted SESC plans should be prepared by a knowledgeable entity and installed and maintained in a serviceable
condition throughout the duration of the project.
Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)/
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC)
The Corps currently has an Interagency Coordination Agreement (ICA) with the local
Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD's) and with Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (LCSMC)
to review a project's SESC plans that are submitted to this office for permit issuance. Here is a
sample ICA.
The intent of the ICA is to utilize the technical expertise of the SWCD's and
the LCSMC to review an applicant's soil erosion and sediment control (SESC) plans and determine if the plans meet
technical standards. An applicant is required to provide the SWCD/LCSMC with the information necessary to conduct
an adequate technical review of the SESC constructions for the site. The SWCD/LCSMC will attend preconstruction
meetings, periodically inspect the site during construction, monitor the sites implemented SESC measures and formulate
site inspection reports that are submitted to the Corps for review. This Corps retains the final decision about
soil, water and the other natural resources, and any issues, opinions, findings, or actions resulting from the
ICAs.
The following chart contains a listing of the SWCD's and the LCSMC, the areas
that they cover and a link to a web site for additional information on their program.
Independent SESC Inspector (ISI)
As part of the SESC process for projects in Southern
Cook County and Will County only, you are required to retain a qualified
Independent SESC Inspector (ISI) to review the project's SESC plans. An applicant is required to provide the ISI
with the information necessary to conduct an adequate technical review of the SESC plans for the site. The ISI
shall provide to the Corps a copy of the SESC plans for the project accompanied by a detailed narrative describing
the SESC measures to be implemented at the site. The ISI will attend preconstruction meetings, periodically inspect
the site during construction to ensure proper installation and regular maintenance of the approved methods. The
inspection report shall include a SESC checklist and photographs that represent current conditions of the site
which shall be submitted to the Corps for review The Corps retains the final decision about soil, water and the
other natural resources, and any issues, opinions, findings, or actions resulting from the ISI process. This office
retains the final decision about soil, water and the other natural resources, and any issues, opinions, findings,
or actions resulting from the ISI process.
The line that divides Northern Cook County and Southern Cook County is 22nd Street (Cermak Avenue). Please be informed
that all projects situated to the north of the dividing line are required to have the site's SESC plans reviewed
by the North Cook County SWCD as noted above, and all projects situated to the south of the dividing line are required
to have the site's SESC plans reviewed under the ISI process.
Additional Information
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