New Hampshire Stabilized Construction Entrance & SWPPP Compliance
New Hampshire's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems, providing drinking water supplies, and driving regional economic activity. With active construction occurring across both urban and rural areas, effective erosion and sediment control practices are crucial to prevent sediment and pollutants from being carried off-site and into surface waters. Stabilized construction entrances are a key component of stormwater compliance on New Hampshire construction projects.
New Hampshire Stabilized Construction Access and Trackout Control
New Hampshire’s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters support local ecosystems, drinking water supplies, recreation, and regional economic activity. With construction occurring across both urban and rural areas of the state, protecting surface waters from sediment and pollutant discharges remains a priority. Effective erosion and sediment control practices are crucial in preventing construction-related runoff from leaving job sites and entering nearby waterways.
The success of stormwater protection efforts in New Hampshire depends on the proper implementation and maintenance of Best Management Practices at construction sites. Stabilized construction entrances are a critical component of stormwater compliance and are widely used to prevent vehicle trackout from disturbed areas onto public roadways.
New Hampshire Construction Stormwater Permitting
The Federal Clean Water Act establishes requirements for regulating stormwater discharges associated with construction activities through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. In New Hampshire, construction sites that disturb one acre or more of land, or that are part of a common plan of development of that size, are required to obtain coverage under the Construction General Permit and prepare a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services administers stormwater permitting and compliance oversight in New Hampshire. NHDES provides guidance, permitting tools, and enforcement authority for construction stormwater activities throughout the state. Construction operators are responsible for developing and implementing a site-specific SWPPP before beginning land disturbing activities. This process involves identifying responsible parties, meeting public notice requirements, and installing erosion and sediment control measures before construction commencement.
Municipalities may impose additional local requirements that supplement the Construction General Permit, including engineered revisions to the SWPPP or professional certification of plan updates, depending on the jurisdiction and scope of development. Because New Hampshire is located within EPA Region 1, operators may also rely on federal guidance, inspection protocols, and regional stormwater resources to support consistent compliance.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans
In New Hampshire, the SWPPP serves as the primary planning and compliance document for managing stormwater runoff during construction. The plan identifies potential sources of sediment and other pollutants. It specifies the Best Management Practices that will be used to control erosion, stabilize disturbed areas, and prevent contaminated runoff from leaving the site.
SWPPPs must include stabilized construction entrances and exits, inspection schedules, maintenance procedures, corrective actions, and documentation demonstrating that vehicle track out is being minimized. Regular inspections are required to confirm that BMPs remain effective and are properly maintained throughout the duration of the project.
Stabilized Construction Entrance BMP
A stabilized construction entrance or exit is typically one of the first BMPs installed on a construction site. Soil, mud, and other pollutants can adhere to vehicle tires and be transported onto public roadways if not adequately controlled. Stabilized construction entrances are designed to reduce sediment tracking from construction vehicle traffic as vehicles exit disturbed areas.
Stabilized construction entrances should be installed at all egress points that will be used by construction vehicles. All other access points should be restricted to prevent unintended vehicle traffic. When entrances are not adequately maintained, projects may be subject to corrective actions, increased street sweeping requirements, and documentation deficiencies during inspections.
Street sweeping is commonly used as a supplemental procedural BMP in conjunction with stabilized entrances. Regular sweeping helps remove sediment that escapes the entrance and prevents debris from being washed into storm drains and surface waters.
Aggregate-Based Construction Entrance
A traditional approach to stabilized construction access is the use of an aggregate-based entrance or tracking pad. This method typically involves placing crushed stone over a geotextile filter fabric to create a rough surface that dislodges sediment from vehicle tires. Entrance dimensions are selected based on anticipated vehicle traffic and site conditions to ensure sufficient tire rotations before vehicles reach the roadway.
Aggregate entrances require frequent inspection and maintenance. Over time, stone can become compacted or saturated with sediment, reducing effectiveness. Maintenance may include top dressing with additional aggregate, repairing the geotextile fabric, or extending the entrance length. Aggregate-based entrances often require increased maintenance during periods of wet weather.
When aggregate entrances alone are not sufficient to control sediment tracking, supplemental BMPs may be required.
Supplemental Track Out Control Measures
Additional track-out control measures may include shaker plates, rumble plates, steel plates, or cattle guard-style systems. These devices use vibration or surface irregularities to dislodge sediment from vehicle tires as they exit the site. The installation and maintenance of these systems may require heavy equipment, and sediment collected beneath the structure must be removed periodically to ensure optimal performance.
Wheel wash systems may also be used to supplement stabilized entrances. Wheel washes use pressurized water to remove remaining sediment from vehicle tires. These systems require access to water and must include measures to capture and contain wash water so that sediment-laden runoff does not leave the site.
FODS Trackout Control System
The FODS Trackout Control System is a reusable stabilized construction entrance BMP designed to reduce sediment tracking from construction vehicles. The system consists of high-density polyethylene mats with pyramid-shaped surface features that flex vehicle tires and release sediment trapped within tire treads. Sediment collects in the voids between the pyramids, reducing re-tracking.
The system can be installed over soil, concrete, or asphalt and does not introduce loose aggregate to the site, reducing the risk of rock entering active roadways. Maintenance typically involves removing accumulated sediment using a power broom, street sweeper, or manual cleaning tools.
The FODS Trackout Control System is designed for reuse across multiple projects and construction phases. Its modular configuration allows entrances to be adjusted as site conditions change. The system, as reported by the manufacturer, is designed to reduce the need for supplemental street sweeping on high-traffic sites and provide consistent performance while supporting SWPPP compliance on New Hampshire construction projects.