Who needs an Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan in Georgia?
Any construction project that disturbs one acre or more — or is part of a larger common plan of development reaching one acre — needs an Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan under Georgia permit GAR100001 (stand alone), GAR100002 (infrastructure), or GAR100003 (common development).
Georgia runs its own delegated stormwater program. Operators obtain coverage from EPD under Georgia NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activity (GAR100001 / GAR100002 / GAR100003), not directly from the EPA. A small subdivision, a solar pad, and a road-widening project all clear the same one-acre line.
Georgia adds requirements worth flagging early: Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan with the completed GSWCC plan checklist; Turbidity (NTU) sampling of outfalls or receiving waters per Appendix B; Design Professional inspection of initial sediment storage and perimeter BMPs within 7 days of installation; Initiate stabilization no later than 14 days after construction activity ceases on a portion of the site; Notice of Intent to EPD through GEOS at least 14 days before construction; Disturb less than 50 acres at any one time without prior written authorization from the EPD District Office (GAR100001); Disturb less than 50 acres at any one time per individual permittee, and less than 50 contiguous acres in total, without prior written authorization from the EPD District Office (GAR100003).
What the plan must contain
A Georgia Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Planis the site's compliance binder — the document an inspector opens first. It documents:
- 1Site & project descriptionTotal and disturbed acreage, soils, slopes, and the sequence of construction.
- 2Receiving waters & discharge pointsWhere stormwater leaves the site and the waterbodies it reaches.
- 3Erosion & sediment control BMPsSilt fence, stabilized entrances, inlet protection, and stabilization measures.
- 4Inspection schedule & recordsDated, signed inspection logs and the corrective actions taken.
- 5Operator certificationThe Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan is signed by the legally responsible party before work begins.
Required and conditional BMPs
| Best management practice | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Perimeter silt fence / sediment barrier | Sediment control | Required |
| Stabilized construction entrance | Tracking control | Required |
| Storm drain inlet protection | Sediment control | Required |
| Soil stabilization (seeding, mulch, blankets) | Erosion control | Required |
| Concrete washout containment | Good housekeeping | Required |
| Sediment basin or trap | Sediment control | Conditional |
| Dewatering / turbidity controls | Pollution prevention | Conditional |
Filing your Notice of Intent
Submit the Notice of Intent to EPD through the GEOS online system.
A Notice of Termination closes coverage once the site reaches final stabilization. Keeping the Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan and its inspection records on site is what keeps a project clear of stop-work orders.
Inspection requirements
GAR100001 (Stand Alone Construction Projects): At least once every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm of 0.5 inch or greater (certified personnel); certified personnel inspect petroleum storage areas and construction exits each day construction activity takes place; rainfall is measured every 24 hours. GAR100002 (Infrastructure Construction Projects): At least once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm of 0.5 inch or greater (certified personnel); certified personnel inspect petroleum storage areas and construction exits each day construction activity takes place; rainfall is measured every 24 hours. GAR100003 (Common Development Construction Projects): At least once every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm of 0.5 inch or greater (certified personnel); certified personnel inspect petroleum storage areas and construction exits each day construction activity takes place; rainfall is measured every 24 hours. Every inspection is dated and signed, and any failed control is corrected before the next storm.
| Trigger | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Routine — GAR100001 (stand alone) | Every 7 calendar days |
| Routine — GAR100002 (infrastructure) | Every 14 calendar days |
| Routine — GAR100003 (common development) | Every 7 calendar days |
| Rainfall ≥ 0.5″ | Inspect within 24 hours of the end of the storm |
How Georgia differs from the federal permit
| Georgia | Federal (EPA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | EPD | U.S. EPA |
| Permit | GAR100001 / GAR100002 / GAR100003 | EPA CGP |
| Disturbance threshold | 1 acre | 1 acre |
| Plan name | Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan | SWPPP |
Because Georgia administers its own program, the federal EPA Construction General Permit does not apply directly here — the state permit governs. Sites inside a regulated municipal storm sewer system may carry additional local ordinance requirements on top of the state permit.
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia require an engineer to prepare the Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan?+–
No. Georgia does not require a licensed PE stamp on a construction Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan statewide. The operator certifies the plan; engineer review is optional for complex sites.
What is the disturbance threshold in Georgia?+–
One acre — including sites under an acre that are part of a larger common plan of development totaling one acre or more.
How often must inspections happen in Georgia?+–
GAR100001 (Stand Alone Construction Projects): At least once every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm of 0.5 inch or greater (certified personnel); certified personnel inspect petroleum storage areas and construction exits each day construction activity takes place; rainfall is measured every 24 hours. GAR100002 (Infrastructure Construction Projects): At least once every 14 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm of 0.5 inch or greater (certified personnel); certified personnel inspect petroleum storage areas and construction exits each day construction activity takes place; rainfall is measured every 24 hours. GAR100003 (Common Development Construction Projects): At least once every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of a storm of 0.5 inch or greater (certified personnel); certified personnel inspect petroleum storage areas and construction exits each day construction activity takes place; rainfall is measured every 24 hours.
Is an Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan the same as a SWPPP?+–
Yes. Georgia uses the term "Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan" for what other states call a SWPPP — the same plan and the same requirements.
What is a GSWCC-certified Design Professional and does my site need one?+–
The Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan must be prepared by a Design Professional (Georgia-licensed engineer, architect, landscape architect, forester, geologist, or land surveyor, or a CPESC) who has completed the GSWCC-approved certification course. Inspections are performed by GSWCC-certified personnel.
Georgia-ready in minutes
Siltworks fills in your site data automatically, applies the Georgia requirements, and hands you an inspection-ready Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan — at 70–90% less than a consultant.
Requirements summarized from the publicly available Georgia NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activity (GAR100001 / GAR100002 / GAR100003) for planning purposes. The operator must review and certify every Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan before use.