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The intent of Sustainable Site s (SS) Prerequisite 1 is to reduce the impact of soil disturbance, due to site construction, in the air and to the surrounding waterways.  The requirement for this credit is the development of a sediment and erosion control plan which includes measures for (1) preventing the loss of soil during construction by stormwater runoff and/or wind erosion, (2) preventing the contamination of nearby storm sewer and/or waterways by sedimentation, and (3) reducing the pollution of air with dust.  Current regulations of stormwater discharge make this prerequisite fairly easy to achieve.  

Stormwater discharge due to site construction activities has been regulated by the EPA since 1992.  Recently the EPA has given authority to state and local governing authorities by issuing permits to these agencies.  One of the requirements from the regulations is the preparation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevent Plan (SWPPP).  SWPPP is a document that includes a description of soil disturbing activities; the intent for specific erosion control measures, also known as Best Management Practices (BMPs); how the plan will be implemented; and how the BMPs will be inspected and maintained.  The plan also includes a drawing(s) which shows the location of the BMPs on the site, as well as standard details of construction.  The submission of these documents, as well as the LEED Letter Template, will typically meet the requirements for Prerequisite 1.  

Common BMPs used to control erosion and sedimentation on construction sites includes stabilized construction entrances, rock berms, silt fencing and inlet protection.  There are ways to integrate sustainable design into these BMPs by using recycled materials, rapidly renewable materials, and enhancing the Construction Waste Management Plan (MR Credit 2.1 and Credit 2.2) by using demolition and land clearing waste.   

Examples of BMPs which can be incorporated into your project: 

• Straw hay bales, a rapidly renewable material, can be used as a short term BMP along the perimeter of disturbed areas and as check dams (a series of “barriers” used within drainage ditches) for both silt filtration and reducing the velocity of stormwater run-off.  Once the bales have degraded, or have been saturated with silt, they can be used as mulch in seeded areas.

• A substitution for the tradition silt fencing is “filter socks”.  These are mesh tubes that are filled with mulch.    Once the tubes have been saturated with silt, the mulch can be used in landscaped areas.  The mesh can be manufactured with bio-degradable materials and the mulch supplied by the manufacturer can be replaced with shredded (or chipped) trees and shrubs from site clearing and grubbing.

• Concrete pavement, foundations, and other structures, from site demolition can be crushed and used for stabilized construction entrances, rock berms and check dams.  The concrete can be hauled off site and crushed or even crushed onsite.  In many areas there are suppliers of recycled-crushed concrete.  These are a good source of recycled materials when the project is located on an undeveloped site.

SS Prerequisite 1 “Erosion & Sedimentation Controls” is easily achievable due to the current regulations from the EPA, State and local governing agencies.  Usually the required documentation, as well as the LEED Letter Template is all that is needed. 

Integrating sustainable design into BMPs through the use of recycled and rapidly renewable materials and by reusing onsite materials is another tool that can be used to achieve other LEED credits.