DESC Forms History
In 1948 Congress passed the first version of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, later referred to as the Clean Water Act. Due to growing public awareness and concern, significant amendments were added to the Water Pollution Control Act in 1972 establishing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program.
In 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated rules establishing Phase I of the NPDES stormwater program. Phase I addresses, among other discharges, discharges from large construction activities disturbing five acres or more of land.
Phase II was finalized on Dec. 8, 1999, with small construction permit applications due by March 10, 2003. Specific compliance dates were set by the NPDES permitting authority in each state. In Colorado, this authority lies with the Department of Public Health and Environment Stormwater Quality Control Division.
Site activities disturbing less than one acre are also regulated as small construction activity if they are part of a larger common plan of development or sale with a planned disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre and less than five acres.
In June of 2000, Douglas County implemented Section 31A of the Zoning Resolution, Single-family Residential Drainage, Erosion and Sediment Control (DESC) Requirements.
Related Information
Section 31A of the Zoning Resolution »
Single-family Residential Drainage, Erosion and Sediment Control (DESC) Requirements.
DESC Useful Links »
Links to other agencies and organizations.