Wetlands and Stormwater Management
Regulated Wetlands
Wetland areas on RIT campus offer beautiful scenery, serene walking trails, and an important habit for waterfowl and other local wildlife. The preservation and maintenance of the campus wetland areas is critical for the overall health of the surrounding ecosystem. Any development planned in or near a wetland area must be carefully designed and managed, and needs to be permitted through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Any state regulated wetland also includes a 100' buffer around the outside edge which is known as the "adjacent area". Any development within this adjacent area may have a detrimental impact the associated wetland and therefore must be incorporated in design and permitting for all projects.
Applicable Regulation
Stormwater Management
Stormwater is any precipitation, including rain and snow melt, that comes in contact with the ground and drains to a nearby water body. During it's travel, stormwater may come into contact with pollutants such as oil and grease, sediment, and other wastes. It is RIT's goal to limit contamination of stormwater during it's journey as much as possible.
- Any project on campus disturbing 1 acre or more of soil must be permitted under the NYSDEC's SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity and must be accompanied by an approved Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
- Accidental spills of petroleum or other substances are reported to Public Safety and abated to NYSDEC standards under the direction of Environmental Health & Safety.
- Oil changes and other forms of automobile maintenance are not to be performed on RIT Campus except those performed in designated areas.