In December of 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection published document 363-0300-002, also known as the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual. Since then, this document has been the primary source of guidance for the selection, testing and design of best management practices (BMPs) throughout the Commonwealth. The manual was intended as guidance and a technical resource for design professionals to meet state and local stormwater management regulations. However, as time went on and engineering design practices evolved, the 2006 Manual lacked the guidance for the new designs. PADEP published several additional guidance documents over the years to further explain loading ratios, level spreaders, etc., but after 17 years, they are giving in and publishing an entirely new guidance document.

On January 28, 2023, PADEP published a draft of document 386-0300-001, also known as the Pennsylvania Post-Construction Stormwater Management (PCSM) Manual. This document is intended to advance the guidance provided in the 2006 manual and add additional information for newer designs like managed release concept facilities and evapotranspiration. One other notable change is the removal of the term BMP. The manual now uses the term Stormwater Control Measures or SCMs. It will take some time to get used to the new terminology, but it was done to better distinguish post-construction stormwater management facilities from during construction erosion and sedimentation control BMPs.     

The document is up to 755 pages in length, and there is a lot of information to go through. I recommend all in the land development industry review the document and provide feedback as appropriate. The draft document is currently open for public comment until April 28, 2023. A link to the document is provided below. Speak up now – if you don’t, you can’t complain about it later!

PENNSYLVANIA POST-CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER MANAGEMENT (PCSM) MANUAL