Lets Talk About Your SWPPP with Kristin Holland, PE, CPESC from CoyleSWPPP

Stormwater World Episode 037: Lets Talk About Your SWPPP with Kristin Holland, PE, CPESC from CoyleSWPPP.

 

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Key Points Discussed Introduction (0:01)

• Ty Garmon: “Today we are going to talk about something extremely important, which would be your SWPPP.”

• Guest: Kristin Holland, Professional Engineer and CPESC, discusses SWPPP design, inspections, and overcoming common industry challenges.

SWPPP as an Afterthought (2:11)

• Kristin Holland: “The erosion and sediment control is a very small part of the budget, and the design is even smaller. It's not one of the deadlines that make or break a project.”

• Challenges of SWPPP being overlooked until late in the construction process.

What is a SWPPP? (5:31)

• Kristin Holland: “A SWPPP’s job is to take a construction site, which is inherently dirty, and make it as clean as you can.”

• Ty Garmon: “It’s a living, breathing thing. It changes during the project.”

Key Challenges in Implementation (8:18)

• Kristin Holland: “Incorrect installation of BMPs is the main issue we see—rock on the wrong side of a ditch check or not trenched in properly.”

Notable Projects (12:15)

• Insights into the Brent Spence Bridge project:

• Progressive design-build approach allows early SWPPP integration.

• Kristin Holland: “Being involved before 30% plans means we avoid after-the-fact changes.”

Communication is Key (22:39)

• Kristin Holland: “A lot can be solved with a phone call. Communication is the best BMP.”

• The importance of contractor collaboration to prevent unnecessary costs or efforts.

Lessons Learned (17:59)

• Managing community expectations on a project that discharged into a local pond.

• Kristin Holland: “It wasn’t a failure, but a lesson in managing expectations and showing good faith efforts.”

Future of Stormwater Management (30:46)

• Cross-state collaboration and evolving SWPPP requirements:

• Kristin Holland: “More people care about the environment, and I hope that keeps trending upwards.”

Memorable Quotes

• Ty Garmon: “Your SWPPP is not a transaction; it’s a relationship.”

• Kristin Holland: “Communication is the best BMP. A lot of issues can be avoided with a quick call.”

• Kristin Holland: “We’re trying to keep the dirt and the water in their own lanes.”

In this episode of the Stormwater World Podcast, host Ty Garmon speaks with Kristin Holland, owner and VP of Coyle SWPPP Professionals, to discuss the critical yet often overlooked role of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) in construction projects. Kristin highlights common challenges such as late-stage planning, incorrect BMP installations, and the need for better communication among contractors. She shares insights from notable projects, like the Brent Spence Bridge, where early SWPPP integration proved beneficial, and underscores the importance of treating SWPPPs as dynamic, collaborative tools rather than st