General Permit for Stream Crossings for Logging Activity in Region 5 (GP-5-10-001)

General Permit GP-5-10-001 Authorization Form (538 KB pdf)

This web page provides a summary of the Temporary Stream Crossing General Permit for Logging Activities GP-5-10-001 that was issued in May 2010. A copy of the permit may be obtained using the link above.

The General Permit applies to the placement, construction, maintenance and removal of temporary bridges and culverts, and the restoration, repair, use and maintenance of existing fords through, across or over non-navigable streams for the purposes of timber harvesting activities only in the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 5, and is intended to streamline the permit process.

To be covered under the General Permit, the Authorization Form (use link at top of page) must be completed, signed, and returned to the Department as instructed in Pre-Construction Permit Conditions, Number 1 listed on the permit (use link at top of page). Following receipt of a complete Authorization Form and other required materials, the Authorization Form will be date-stamped and returned with a sign, which must be posted at the work site.

Projects that comply with the Authorized Activities and the Permit Conditions of the General Permit are considered to be environmentally sound and may be authorized. Such projects may be undertaken, upon completion and submittal of the General Permit Authorization Form for GP-5-10-001, without going through the individual permit process.

Below is a summary of the Authorized Activities and Permit Conditions of the General Permit.

Authorized Activities

Placement, construction, maintenance and removal of temporary bridges and culverts, and the restoration, repair, use and maintenance of existing fords through, across or over non-navigable streams for the purposes of timber harvesting activities only.

Permit Conditions

No Work Until Receipt From NYS DEC

The stream crossing may not be installed or used until the Permittee receives this Form back from the NYSDEC with an official date stamp (bottom right). Coverage under this GP-5-l 0-00 1 will expire one year from the date of the NYSDEC date stamp or on the Permittee's Proposed End Date, whichever comes first.

Exclusion From Coverage

The Department reserves the right to exclude any person, party, applicant or permittee from coverage under GP-5-10-001 for any reason whatsoever, and require such person, party, applicant or permittee to submit an application for an individual permit.

Post Permit Sign

The permit sign accompanying this returned Form shall be posted in a conspicuous location at the site, and protected from the weather.

Precautions Against Contamination of Waters

All necessary precautions shall be taken to preclude contamination of any wetland or waterway by suspended solids, sediments, fuels, solvents, lubricants, epoxy coatings, paints, concrete, leachate or any other environmentally deleterious materials associated with the project.

Erosion Control

The permittee shall install, and continuously maintain throughout the logging operation, necessary cross ditching, water bars, sediment fences, staked hay bale barriers or other erosion and sedimentation measures on all logging roads where soil could enter any stream.

Instream Work Controls

Necessary erosion and sedimentation controls must be in place prior to the installation of the culverts or bridges to prevent visibly turbid discharges into the stream.

Logging Road

The logging road shall not be constructed parallel to the stream unless it is located a sufficient distance from the bank to prevent collapse and the erosion of soil into the water.

Tree Felling

Trees shall not be felled into, and all tree tops and debris shall be removed from, the stream banks and channel.

No Excavation of Stream Bed

There shall be no excavation of the stream bed. Stream rocks in the way of proposed culverts must be removed by hand or by chain and land-based equipment. If further bedding is required, a layer of washed stone may be used to provide a base for the culvert.

Culvert Installation

Culverts shall be installed so that both the inlet and outlet ends are flush with the existing stream bed.

Culvert Backfill

Culverts shall not be backfilled with gravel, sand, dirt or other soils that have individual particles of less than 1/4 inch.

Maintain Stream Width at Bridge

Bridge installation or repair shall entirely span the stream, extending from bank to bank, with no constriction or widening of the existing watercourse or banks nor any modifications of the streambed or low-flow channel.

Existing Ford Restoration, Maintenance and Repair

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation hereby certifies that the subject project will not contravene effluent limitations or other limitations or standards under Sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (PL95-217)

Stream Crossing Removal and Restoration

Immediately upon job completion, and no later than one year after the date of the NYSDEC date stamp, all authorized culverts, bridges and associated fill must be removed, and any stream banks and other areas disturbed during their placement, use, repair or removal must be graded to original contours and stabilized with grass seed & straw mulch and/or rock rip rap.

State May Require Site Restoration

If upon the expiration or revocation of this permit, the project hereby authorized has not been completed, the applicant shall, without expense to the State, and to such extent and in such time and manner as the Department of Environmental Conservation may require, remove all or any portion of tile uncompleted structure or fill and restore the site to its former condition. No claim shall be made against the State of New York on account of any such removal or alteration.

State Not Liable for Damage

The State of New York shall in no case be liable for any damage or injury to the structure, or work herein authorized, which may be caused by or result from future operations undertaken by the State for the conservation or improvement of navigation, or for other purposes, and no claim or right to compensation shall accrue from any such damage.

Conformance With Plans

All activities authorized by this permit must be in strict conformance with the approved plans submitted by the applicant or applicant's agent as part of the permit application. Such approved plans were prepared by the logger, agent or landowner.

State May Order Removal or Alteration of Work

If future operations by the State of New York require an alteration in the position of the structure or work herein authorized, or if, in the opinion of the Department of Environmental Conservation it shall cause unreasonable obstruction to the free navigation of said waters or flood flows or endanger the health, safety or welfare of the people of the State, or cause loss or destruction of the natural resources of the State, the owner may be ordered by the Department to remove or alter the structural work, obstructions, or hazards caused thereby without expense to the State, and if, upon the expiration or revocation of this permit, the structure, fill, excavation, or other modification of the watercourse hereby authorized shall not be completed, the owners, shall, without expense to the State, and to such extent and in such time and manner as the Department of Environmental Conservation may require, remove all or any portion of the uncompleted structure or fill and restore to its former condition the navigable and flood capacity of the watercourse. No claim shall be made against the Slate of New York on account of any such removal or alteration.

For information or questions

Contact the appropriate DEC Region 5 Environmental Permits office, based on the county where the project is located.

In Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton Counties:

NYSDEC Division of Environmental Permits
1115 NYS Route 86
PO Box 296
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Phone: (518) 897-1234
Fax: (518) 897-1394

In Fulton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties:

NYSDEC Division of Environmental Permits
232 Golf Course Road
Warrensburg, NY 12885-0220
Phone: (518) 623-1281
Fax: (518) 623-3603