New York State Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (Blue Book)

2016 Blue Book

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announces the availability of the updated New York State Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (Blue Book), dated November, 2016. The Blue Book provides standards and specifications for the selection, design and implementation of erosion and sediment control practices for the development of Erosion and Sediment Control Plans for the SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity.

Note: The July 2016 version of the Blue Book was updated in November 2016 to make several minor corrections. See the back of the cover page for a list of changes.

The Blue Book was updated to address EPA's Effluent Limitation Guidelines (published in December, 2009), advancements in technology and issues that had been identified by stakeholders that use the document. A draft of the updated Blue Book was Public Noticed on February 24, 2016 for 30 days with 22 sets of comments received. The majority of the changes to the draft in response to comments relate to clarification of the existing criteria in the Blue Book.

New York State Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control

New York State Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (PDF) (17.8 MB)
Important Note: This large file may take a long time to download. For sections of this book, download from the following links below.

Table of Contents

• Cover, Preface, Contents, Acknowledgments (PDF) (133 KB)
• Section 1 - Introduction (PDF) (68 KB)
• Section 2 - Resource Planning (PDF) (2 MB)
• Section 3 - Erosion Control Part 1 Runoff Control (PDF) (4.4 MB)
• Section 4 - Erosion Control Part 2 Soil Stabilization (PDF) (4.1 MB)
• Section 5 - Sediment Control(PDF) (5.1 MB)

APPENDICIES

• Appendix A: Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (PDF) (2 MB)
• Appendix B: Design Process for Erosion & Sediment Control Practices (PDF)(2.5 MB)
• Appendix C: Cost Analysis of Erosion & Sediment Control Practices (PDF) (41 KB)
• Appendix D: Erosion Control for Small Residential Sites (PDF) (2 MB)
• Appendix E: Sample Checklist for Reviewing Erosion and Sediment Control Plans (PDF) (22 KB)
• Appendix F: Construction Site Inspection & Maintenance Site Log book (PDF) (32 KB)
• Appendix G: Tree Species for New York State (PDF) (2.6 MB)
• Appendix H: Glossary (PDF) (78 KB)
• Appendix I: Directories (PDF) (3.5 MB)

2005 Blue Book

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has updated the 2005 version of the New York State Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (Blue Book). See November 2016 version above. See links below for the 2005 version.

Engineering Schematics appearing as figures in each chapter are also available via FTP as individual files for use in engineering drawing software.

New York Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control

New York State Standards and Specifications for Erosion and Sediment Control (PDF) (24.3 MB)
Important Note: This large file may take a long time to download. For sections of this book, download from the following links below.

Table of Contents

• Cover, Acknowledgments, Preface (PDF) (251 KB)
• Introduction (PDF) (84 KB)
• Erosion Control Planning and Site Management (PDF) (228 KB)
• Vegetative Measures for Erosion and Sediment Control (PDF) (2.32 MB)
  Important Note: This large file may take a long time to download. For sections of this chapter, download from the following links:
  • Contents (Page 1 - 3.8) (PDF) (208 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Recreation Area Improvements (Page 3.9 - 3.16) (PDF) (780 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Recreation Area Improvements Continued (Page 3.17 - 3.22) (PDF) (633 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Vegetating Waterways (Page 3.23 - 3.38) (PDF) (340 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Sand Dunes and Tidal Banks (Page 3.39 - 3.47) (PDF) (777 KB)
• Biotechnical Measures for Erosion and Sediment Control (PDF) (1.84 MB)
  Important Note: This large file may take a long time to download. For sections of this chapter, download from the following links:
  • Contents (Page 1 - 4.8) (PDF) (609 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Live Stakes (Page 4.9 - 4.16) (PDF) (726 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Tree Revetment (Page 4.17 - 4.23) (PDF) (634 KB)
• Structural Measures for Erosion and Sediment Control (PDF) (358 KB)
• Temporary Structural Measures for Erosion and Sediment Control (in parts listed below)
  • Contents (Page 1 - 5A.14) (PDF) (692 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Pipe Slope Drain (Page 5A.15 - 5A.26) (PDF) (622 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Storm Drain Inlet Protection (Page 5A.27 - 5A.32) (PDF) (694 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Turbidity Curtain (Page 5A.33 - 5A.46) (PDF) (890 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Portable Sediment Tank and Sediment Basin (Page 5A.47 - 5A.57) (PDF) (658 KB)
  • Sediment Basin Design and Riser Inflow Chart (Page 5A.58 - 5A.62) (PDF) (1.06 MB)
  • Sediment Basin Dewatering and Anti Seep Collar Design (Page 5A.63 - 5A.69) (PDF) (1.2 MB)
  • Design for Earth Spillway and Altering Sediment Basin Shape(Page 5A.70 - 5A.78) (PDF) (874 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Temporary Access Waterway Crossing (Page 5A.79 - 5A.90) (PDF) (651 KB)
• Permanent Structural Measures for Erosion and Sediment Control (PDF) (5.94 MB)
  Important Note: This large file may take a long time to download. For sections of this chapter, download from the following links:
  • Contents, Standards and Specifications for Diversion (Page 1 - 4, 5B.1 - 5B.10) (PDF) (1.35 MB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Grassed Waterway (Page 5B.11 - 5B.16) (PDF) (820 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Lined Waterway (Page 5B.17 - 5B.20) (PDF) (459 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Rock Outlet Protection (Page 5B.21 - 5B.30) (PDF) (1.04 MB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Grade Stabilization Structure (Page 5B.31 - 5B.36) (PDF) (392 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Structural Streambank Protection (Page 5B.37 - 5B.40) (PDF) (364 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Debris Basin (Page 5B.41 - 5B.44) (PDF) (489 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Subsurface Drain (Page 5B.45 - 5B.48) (PDF) (363 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Land Grading (Page 5B.49 - 5B.56) (PDF) (563 KB)
  • Standards and Specifications for Riprap Slope Protection (Page 5B.57 - 5B.65) (PDF) (567 KB)
• Appendices (PDF) (5.54 MB)
  Important Note: This large file may take a long time to download. For sections of this chapter, download from the following links:
  • Appendix A - Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) (Page 1 - A.5) (PDF) (685 KB)
  • Appendix A - Approximate K Values (Page A.6 - A.16) (PDF) (311 KB)
  • Appendix B, C & D - Performance Evaluations for Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Practices/Cost Analysis for Erosion and Sediment Control Practices/Fertilizer Label and Pure Live Seed (PDF) (188 KB)
  • Appendix E - Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for Small Homesite Control (PDF) (540 KB)
  • Appendix F - Sample Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (Page F.1 - F.9) (PDF) (477 KB)
  • Appendix F - Construction Specifications (Page F.10 - F.14) (PDF) (1 MB)
  • Appendix F - Temporary Diversions and Sediment Trap (Page F.15 - F.20) (PDF) (1.11 MB)
  • Appendix F - Grassed Line Channels and Riprap Channels(Page F.21 - F.26) (PDF) (1.09 MB)
  • Appendix F - Surface Roughening and Vegetative Plan (Page F.27 - F.31) (PDF) (1.07 MB)
  • Appendix G & H - Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Review Checklist/Construction Site Log Book (PDF) (120 KB)
• Directories (PDF) (692 KB)
• Glossary (PDF) (147 KB)

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