500.1 The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to all sources of pollution affecting the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and their tributaries within the District of Columbia (the District) including pollution carried by stormwater runoff, discharges from barges and other vessels, and domestic and industrial waste.

500.2 An activity which this chapter regulates shall be consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

500.3 The purposes of this chapter are:

(a) To prevent and control the pollution of the Potomac River and its tributaries, and the waters of the District;

(b) To regulate land-disturbing activities for the protection of District waterbodies;

(c) To regulate major substantial improvement activities for the protection of District waterbodies;

(d) To prevent accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation;

(e) To prevent sediment deposit in the Potomac River and its tributaries, including the District sewer system; and

(f) To control health hazards due to pollution of the Potomac River and its tributaries.

500.4 No person may commence an activity that this chapter regulates without obtaining an approval that this chapter requires.

500.5 A person's compliance with this chapter shall not relieve a person of responsibility for damage to a person or property.

500.6 No Department action under this chapter shall impose liability upon the District of Columbia for damage to a person or property.

500.7 A person who is regulated under this chapter may authorize an agent to act for that person; however, authorizing an agent does not change or eliminate that person's duty, responsibility, or liability.

500.8 The Department may approve alternative media, including electronic media, for a

document that this chapter requires to be submitted in Mylar, paper, or other specific media:

(a) If the alternative method will likely be as reliable for the Department's use and less expensive for an applicant; or

(b) Upon good cause shown.

500.9 An infiltration test does not require Departmental approval for groundwater quality protection provided that:

(a) No test shall go to a depth of greater than fifteen (15) feet below the ground surface;

(b) If a person conducting the testing smells or sees soil or groundwater contamination in the area of a test during or after the test, the boring or other hole made for the test shall be filled in accordance with best practices for wellhead protection, unless it is determined as a result of laboratory analysis that the groundwater or soil is not contaminated, as defined in the District of Columbia Brownfield Revitalization Amendment Act of 2000, effective June 13, 2001, as amended (D.C. Law 13-312; D.C. Official Code §§ 8-631 et seq) or the Underground Storage Tank regulations at 20 DCMR Chapter 62; and

(c) A Professional Engineer licensed in the District of Columbia shall certify the infiltration rate and that the test was carried out in compliance with this section and accepted professional standards.

500.10 Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all submittals to the Department shall be made through the Department's submittal database, which is available on the Department's website from any device with an internet connection. Instructions for submittal of any printed plans required by this chapter will be provided on the Department's website, https://doee.dc.gov, or through the Department's submittal database.

500.11 A person shall not create or use a submittal database account associated with:

(a) The name or email address of another person; or

(b) An email address shared with one or more other people.

SOURCE: 8 DCRR §§ 8-2:801 and 8-2:803, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); as amended by Section 2 of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1977 (D.C. Law 2-23; 24 DCR 792 (July 22, 1977)); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 21 (January 1, 1988); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR

10640 (July 19, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 818 (January 31, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 72 DCR 012101 (October 31, 2025).