A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is the federally required document under the EPA's NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Construction General Permit covering construction sites that disturb one acre or more (or smaller sites in a common plan of development that totals one acre). The plan identifies pollution sources (sediment, oil and fuel, paint and solvents, concrete washout), specifies best management practices (silt fences, inlet protection, stabilized construction entrances, sediment basins), assigns responsibility, and requires regular site inspections.
SWPPP non-compliance carries significant penalties: EPA fines up to $59,017 per day per violation. State enforcement can add additional penalties. Beyond fines, neighbors and citizen-suit plaintiffs can sue under the Clean Water Act. The contractor designates a SWPPP manager responsible for maintaining the plan, conducting weekly inspections (and after each rainfall over 0.25 inches), updating the plan as site conditions change, and maintaining inspection records. Most large commercial projects require SWPPP submission as part of permit application.