General standards 1) In all cases where earthworks (relleno), excavation, or leveling works are executed, the following standards shall apply:
- a)Fill slopes (taludes de relleno) shall have a maximum gradient of 30%.
- b)All waste materials, whether from excavation, fill (relleno), or construction, shall be removed from the area and may not be deposited in tidal waters or coastal zones.
- c)When adjacent upland areas are affected by a construction area, they must be leveled and their vegetation restored, or another stabilization system used, to prevent erosion during or after construction.
- d)Any fill (relleno) must be clean and free of materials that could cause contamination in tidal waters, estuaries (esteros), etc.
- e)As a method of changing slopes on sandbanks, cutting shall be preferred over filling.
- 2)The following standards shall apply to upland areas and shorelines, in those cases where the municipal council determines that additional measures are required to protect the environment of the coastal region. Such requirements shall be established as stipulations for the corresponding approval.
- a)For works on the land of the coastal zone.
a.a) Before the start of construction, the contractor shall meet at the site with representatives of the Municipal Council, the Urbanism Directorate of the Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo, and the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo to clarify the permit conditions.
a.b) Construction or excavation materials may not be placed or stored in the public zone.
a.c) All affected soils must be leveled uniformly, and the replacement of vegetation must be done immediately after construction; otherwise, the soil must be temporarily stabilized using manure, straw, jute, or something similar until the climate conditions are suitable for planting.
a.d) In those cases where a temporary disturbance of coastal features is authorized, the beach slopes, buffer zones, or coastal vegetation of the affected area must be completely restored at the owner's expense and with the guidance of the involved control institutions.
- b)In the case of works on lots neighboring the beach on the upper side to minimize erosion, the following measures shall be taken:
b.a) Before executing any fill (relleno), excavation, leveling, or any other earthworks (movimiento de tierra), bales of hay shall be placed around the entire lower perimeter of the area intended for construction, staked and buried at least two centimeters, and the bales must be replaced as many times as necessary until the establishment of permanent vegetation replacement. No type of soil or materials may exceed the limit of the bales.
b.b) Unless otherwise specified and approved, all slopes shall be restored to their original state.
b.c) Where natural or artificial slopes are in the process of erosion, leveling works may be carried out to achieve their equilibrium, and they must be replanted with plants having thick roots of the grass type (capillo).
b.d) Construction must be scheduled to match the dry season or to prevent water flows from falling on exposed land, excavations, or unstable soils.
b.e) Sedimented water may not be discharged into natural waterways, which must be protected along their banks by fences made of straw bales to intercept possible sediments.
- c)For the use in which slopes greater than 15% are affected.
c.a) Where this type of works is permitted, the following must be observed:
· Filling (rellenar) shall not be permitted.
· Cutting shall be kept strictly to the minimum.
· The vegetative cover on the slope shall be permanently maintained to the extent physically possible to maintain it.
c.b) When potential damage to a slope is determined due to erosion caused by water falling, straw bales shall be placed at the top of the slope, or similar elements shall be constructed. The collected water shall be disposed of properly via artificial drains or lagoons. Where possible, these drainage lagoons shall be constructed along the property boundaries to prevent water from draining onto neighboring lots.
These lagoons must be designed to handle maximum flows obtained with a 10-year frequency.
c.c) In the case of cuts on slopes or excavations on lands adjacent to coastal features, waste materials must be placed on the upper part of the drop-off to avoid the drainage of sediments.
c.d) Pedestrian accesses running through coastal zones with steep slopes or on benches must be stabilized or constructed as elevated walkways.
- d)For individual or collective blackwater systems, it is necessary to present, for the corresponding approval, studies of soil quality, percolation tests, location, and respective design.
d.a) Under no circumstances shall drainages be accepted in fill (relleno) zones, near slopes, or in the vicinity of the beach.
d.b) Aqueduct and storm sewer systems must demonstrate that they can be connected to the public system; if none exists, the services may be provided, provided that the extraction of water at the site or the disposal of wastewater and stormwater does not have a significant impact on the environment or public health.