Illinois Urban Manual

Section 1

Preface
Introduction
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SECTION 1 - PREFACE

This manual is intended for use as a technical reference by developers, planners, engineers, government officials and others involved in land use planning, building site development, and natural resource conservation in rural and urban communities and developing areas.

The standards and associated materials describe best management practices (BMPs) for controlling non-point source pollution impacts that affect ecosystems in existing communities and developing areas. The manual includes an array of BMPs in the following broad categories:

• soil erosion and sediment control;
• stormwater management; and
• special area protection.

Beyond conventional BMP considerations, the manual addresses fish and wildlife habitat improvement, visual and environmental quality and other relevant ecosystem enhancement applications. Where previous BMP manuals have tended to focus on limited aspects of construction site erosion or stormwater runoff control, this manual is designed for more comprehensive, multi-objective ecosystem protection and enhancement.

This manual supersedes the Illinois EPA’s 1987 “Standards and Specifications for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control” (commonly known as the “Yellowbook”) and the original "1995 Illinois Urban Manual." It also replaces Chapter 6, entitled “Procedures and Specifications”, of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District’s 1988 “Procedures and Standards for Urban Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control in Illinois” (commonly known as the “Greenbook”). This manual was prepared for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Illinois. The NRCS was formerly known and recognized as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). Initially released in 1995, the manual is being revised by a committee made up of federal and state resource agencies, regional planning commissions, local units of government, and the private sector.

Funding in part for the development and maintenance of this manual was provided by Section 319 of the Clean Water Act through Illinois EPA. This section was revised in November 2002.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

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SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

This manual is intended to be a dynamic document. Several sections may stay static for long periods of time. Others, such as sections 4, 5, 6, and 7, will likely be expanded on a regular basis to include additional conservation practice standards, construction specifications, material specifications and standard drawings not yet developed.

This manual sets no policy, rules, regulations or restrictions. However, it is anticipated that various units of government and local, state, or federal agencies would use these technical materials to guide development of policy, ordinances, restrictions, or regulations. If adopted by reference in a regulatory program, such as in a Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance adopted by a local jurisdiction, the contents of the manual have the force of law.

No individual section of this manual will contain all the guidance or material necessary to fully assist users to develop or implement site specific plans. Other references or sections of other manuals or handbooks that supplement this publication should be utilized as appropriate. Other primary reference materials to support this manual are listed in the References section of the practice standards or in Section 9 - References. All references to IDOT in the practice standards and on the standard drawings refer to the Illinois Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, Adopted January 1, 2002. The standard drawings use an 'RR' designation in place of a gradation number. Assume the 'RR' to be synonymous with 'Gradation'.

Users of the manual are encouraged to contact the following if you have any questions or additional information or assistance is needed:

1. NRCS/SWCD County Office (in the phone book under U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture or the Illinois NRCS website www.il.nrcs.usda.gov under "Directories"), or

2. Illinois EPA, Bureau of Water - Watershed Management Section, 1021 North Grand Avenue East, PO Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276 (phone 217-782-3362), website: www.epa.state.il.us/water/index.html, or

3. NRCS State Office at 2118 W. Park Court, Champaign, IL 61821 (phone 217-353-6600); or

4. Kent Sims, NRCS Community Assistance Specialist, at 313-J Naperville Rd., Plainfield, IL 60544 (phone 815-577-3597), Email at Kent.Sims@il.usda.gov.

Materials found in this manual can be electronically accessed and are available through the Illinois NRCS website www.il.nrcs.usda.gov  under "Technical Resources" or the URL address www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/engineer/urban.

This section was revised in November 2002.
NRCS IL November 2002

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