Onondaga County, NY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

New York requires SPDES (State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) General Permit GP-0-20-001 coverage for any construction disturbing one acre or more, or smaller sites in a common plan of development. Applicants must file a Notice of Intent with NYSDEC and prepare a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) following the NY Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (the 'Blue Book') and the NY Stormwater Management Design Manual. Onondaga Lake's designation as a Class B waterbody and its long pollution-and-remediation history (the federal Onondaga Lake Superfund site was formally delisted in 2023 after decades of cleanup) mean tributary watersheds (Ninemile Creek, Onondaga Creek, Ley Creek, Harbor Brook) see heightened enforcement. The Metropolitan Water Board and the Save the Rain green infrastructure program require enhanced controls, including green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) like rain gardens and permeable pavement in the combined sewer service area. Weekly SWPPP inspections are mandatory during active construction.