Changes

*The property owner can specify in construction tenders or contracts to retain a certain percentage of the total value of the work done for a period of 12 months from the date of final completion.  

*The property owner can specify in construction tenders or contracts to retain a certain percentage of the total value of the work done for a period of 12 months from the date of final completion.  

**In such cases, construction contracts should specifically require that thorough inspection and testing of the BMPs be completed to the satisfaction of the property owner or their project manager, design consultants and construction contractors as a condition of Assumption, contract termination and release of the holdback amount.<br>

**In such cases, construction contracts should specifically require that thorough inspection and testing of the BMPs be completed to the satisfaction of the property owner or their project manager, design consultants and construction contractors as a condition of Assumption, contract termination and release of the holdback amount.<br>

===Routine Operation Inspections===

===Routine Operation Inspections===

Routine Operation inspections should be the responsibility of the property owner or their contractors. At a minimum, Routine Operation inspections should occur annually, but twice annually (in spring and fall seasons) is preferable for vegetated BMPs. More frequent inspections may be warranted for highly visible BMPs, those receiving drainage from high traffic areas (vehicle or pedestrian), or those designed with larger than recommended impervious drainage area to pervious BMP footprint area ratio (i.e., I:P ratio). Feedback from inspections should be used to immediately address routine maintenance needs, schedule structural repairs or further investigations into potential problems with BMP function and to adjust the preset schedule of routine maintenance tasks to optimize the use of program resources.

Routine Operation inspections should be the responsibility of the property owner or their contractors. At a minimum, Routine Operation inspections should occur annually, but twice annually (in spring and fall seasons) is preferable for vegetated BMPs. More frequent inspections may be warranted for highly visible BMPs, those receiving drainage from high traffic areas (vehicle or pedestrian), or those designed with larger than recommended impervious drainage area to pervious BMP footprint area ratio (i.e., I:P ratio). Feedback from inspections should be used to immediately address routine maintenance needs, schedule structural repairs or further investigations into potential problems with BMP function and to adjust the preset schedule of routine maintenance tasks to optimize the use of program resources. <br>

===Verification Inspections===

===Verification Inspections===

*More frequent Performance Verification inspections may be warranted for BMPs draining to highly sensitive receiving waters or habitat of species at risk. Testing of functional performance (e.g., surface infiltration rate testing, natural or simulated storm event testing, continuous monitoring) is done in addition to Maintenance Verification inspection indicators (i.e., visual indicators and sediment accumulation testing).

*More frequent Performance Verification inspections may be warranted for BMPs draining to highly sensitive receiving waters or habitat of species at risk. Testing of functional performance (e.g., surface infiltration rate testing, natural or simulated storm event testing, continuous monitoring) is done in addition to Maintenance Verification inspection indicators (i.e., visual indicators and sediment accumulation testing).

Feedback from inspections should be used to schedule repair or rehabilitation tasks, further investigations into observed problems with BMP function (see Forensic Inspection and Testing section below), or initiate compliance enforcement actions if warranted.

Feedback from inspections should be used to schedule repair or rehabilitation tasks, further investigations into observed problems with BMP function (see Forensic Inspection and Testing section below), or initiate compliance enforcement actions if warranted.<br>

===Forensic Inspection and Testing (FIT)===

===Forensic Inspection and Testing (FIT)===