Drafting Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans manually is time-consuming and error-prone, requiring attorneys and consultants to spend hours compiling site information, selecting appropriate BMPs, and ensuring EPA compliance. The repetitive nature of SWPPP documentation pulls billable professionals away from higher-value advisory work while risking costly compliance gaps.
Drafting comprehensive Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans requires extensive knowledge of Clean Water Act regulations, NPDES permit requirements, and state-specific environmental standards. Manual preparation typically takes 12+ hours of attorney time, with significant risk of missing critical compliance elements that could result in permit delays or regulatory penalties.
CaseMark automates SWPPP creation by generating fully compliant plans that meet federal EPA and state environmental requirements. Simply input your project details and site information, and receive a comprehensive regulatory document with all required sections, BMP specifications, and certification statements ready for review and signature.
This workflow is applicable across multiple practice areas and use cases
Commercial real estate attorneys need SWPPPs for development projects to satisfy Clean Water Act requirements and secure NPDES permits before construction can commence.
SWPPPs are mandatory compliance documents for commercial development projects, and real estate attorneys must ensure these are in place during due diligence, permitting, and closing processes.
Attorneys handling government construction contracts and public works projects must ensure EPA-compliant SWPPPs are included in bid packages and contract deliverables to meet federal and state environmental requirements.
Government contracts for construction and infrastructure projects typically require strict environmental compliance documentation, making SWPPPs essential deliverables for contract performance and regulatory adherence.
In-house counsel and corporate governance teams at construction and development companies need standardized SWPPPs to ensure consistent environmental compliance across multiple projects and reduce corporate liability.
Corporate governance includes environmental compliance oversight, and automated SWPPP generation helps companies maintain consistent standards and reduce regulatory risk across their operations.
Commercial litigators defending construction companies in environmental enforcement actions or contract disputes need to review SWPPPs to assess compliance status and potential liability exposure.
SWPPPs are critical evidence in environmental enforcement litigation and construction contract disputes, where compliance with Clean Water Act requirements is often at issue.
A SWPPP is a regulatory document required under the Clean Water Act's NPDES program for construction activities disturbing one acre or more of land. It details how a construction site will prevent stormwater pollution through erosion controls, sediment management, and pollution prevention measures. The plan must be prepared before construction begins and maintained throughout the project.
Any operator of a construction site that will disturb one acre or more of land must prepare a SWPPP. An operator is defined as the party with operational control over construction plans and specifications. This typically includes developers, general contractors, or property owners who have authority to modify construction plans and ensure compliance with permit conditions.
Federal regulations require qualified personnel to inspect SWPPP implementation at least once every seven calendar days and within 24 hours of storm events producing 0.5 inches or more of rainfall. The SWPPP document itself must be amended whenever there are changes in design, construction, or operations that affect pollutant discharge, or when inspections reveal the plan is ineffective.
Operating a construction site without a compliant SWPPP violates the Clean Water Act and can result in significant civil and criminal penalties. EPA can assess civil penalties up to $55,800 per day per violation. Criminal penalties for knowing violations can include fines and imprisonment. Additionally, projects may face stop-work orders, permit denials, and liability for environmental damage.
Yes, CaseMark generates SWPPPs that comply with both federal EPA requirements and state-specific NPDES program standards. Many states have additional requirements beyond federal minimums, such as enhanced BMPs for impaired waters or specific inspection frequencies. The system incorporates these variations to ensure full regulatory compliance for your jurisdiction.