As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADAMS COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
As defined in 3 P.S. § 851(c) of the Conservation District Law that has the authority under a delegation agreement executed with DEP to administer and enforce all or a portion of the regulations promulgated under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102.
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY
Activities associated with agriculture such as agricultural cultivation, agricultural operation, and animal heavy use areas. This includes the work of producing crops, including tillage, land clearing, plowing, disking, harrowing, planting; harvesting crops or pasturing and raising of livestock and installation of conservation measures. Construction of new buildings or impervious area is not considered an agricultural activity.
APPLICANT
A landowner, developer, or other person who has filed an application to the municipality for approval to engage in any regulated activity at a project site in the municipality.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP)
Activities, facilities, designs, measures, or procedures used to manage stormwater impacts from regulated activities, to meet state water quality requirements, to promote groundwater recharge, and to otherwise meet the purposes of this chapter.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE, NONSTRUCTURAL
Operational and/or behavior-related practices that attempt to minimize the contact of pollutants with stormwater runoff.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE, STRUCTURAL
Measures consisting of a physical device or practice that is installed to capture and treat stormwater runoff. Structural BMPs include, but are not limited to, a wide variety of practices and devices, from large-scale retention ponds and constructed wetlands, to small-scale underground treatment systems, infiltration facilities, filter strips, low impact design, bioretention, wet ponds, permeable paving, grassed swales, riparian or forested buffers, sand filters, detention basins, and manufactured devices. Structural stormwater BMPs are permanent appurtenances to the project site.
BMP MANUAL
Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, December 2006 (Document No. 363-0300-002), as amended and updated.
CULVERT
A structure which carries surface water through an obstruction.
DAM
An impoundment structure regulated by the Pennsylvania DEP 25 Pa. Code Chapter 105 regulations.
DEP
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DESIGN STORM
The magnitude and temporal distribution of precipitation from a storm event measured in probability of occurrence, e.g., a five-year storm, and duration, e.g., 24 hours, used in the design and evaluation of stormwater management systems.
DETENTION BASIN
A structure designed to retard stormwater runoff by temporarily storing and releasing the runoff at a predetermined rate.
DETENTION VOLUME
The volume of runoff that is captured and released into the waters of the commonwealth at a controlled rate.
DISCONNECTED IMPERVIOUS AREA (DIA)
An impervious or impermeable surface that is disconnected from any stormwater drainage or conveyance system and is redirected or directed to a pervious area, which allows for infiltration, filtration, and/or increased time of concentration.
DISTURBED AREA
An unstabilized land area where an earth disturbance activity is occurring or has occurred.
DRAINAGE PLAN
The documentation of the stormwater management system, if any, to be used for a given project site. (See also ''stormwater management plan.'')
E&S MANUAL
The Pennsylvania DEP Erosion and Sedimentation Control Manual, as amended and updated.
EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the surface of the land, including land clearing and grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, land development, agricultural plowing or tilling, operation of animal heavy-use areas, timber harvesting activities, road maintenance activities, oil and gas activities, well drilling, mineral extraction, and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock or earth materials.
EROSION
The natural process by which the surface of the land is worn away by water, wind, or chemical action.
EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL PLAN (E&S PLAN)
A site-specific plan consisting of both drawings and a narrative that identifies BMPs to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation before, during and after earth disturbance activities.
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
The combined process of water surface evaporation, soil moisture evaporation, and plant transpiration.
EXISTING CONDITION
The dominant land cover during the five-year period immediately preceding a proposed regulated activity.
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FLOODPLAIN
Any land area susceptible to inundation by water from any natural source or delineated by applicable FEMA maps and studies as being a special flood hazard area.
FOREST MANAGEMENT/TIMBER OPERATIONS
Planning and activities necessary for the management of forest land. These include conducting a timber inventory, preparation of a forest management plan, silvicultural treatment, developing or establishing a cutting budget, logging road design and construction, timber harvesting, site preparation, and reforestation.
HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP (HSG)
A group of soils having similar runoff potential under similar storm and cover conditions. HSGs range from A to D, with A soils being the most pervious and D soils being the least pervious.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE (IMPERVIOUS AREA)
A surface that prevents the infiltration of water into the ground. Impervious surfaces and areas include, but are not limited to, roofs, additional indoor living spaces, patios and decks, garages, storage sheds and similar structures, streets, driveways, access drives, parking areas, and sidewalks. Any areas designed to be covered by loose surfacing materials such as gravel, stone and/or crushed stone, and intended for storage of and/or travel by vehicles, or pedestrians shall be considered impervious. Surfaces or areas designed, constructed and maintained to permit infiltration may be considered pervious.
IN-KIND REPAIR/REPLACEMENT
Repair or replacement which uses the same or similar materials in the same location.
INFILTRATION
Water flowing downward through the ground surface.
INVASIVE/EXOTIC PLANTS
Plant species on the Invasive Exotic Plants in Pennsylvania List published by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as amended.
KARST
A type of topography or landscape characterized by surface depressions, sinkholes, rock pinnacles/uneven bedrock surface, underground drainage, and caves. Karst is formed on carbonate rocks, such as limestone or dolomite.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Includes any of the following activities:
A. 
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts, or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1) 
A group of two or more residential or nonresidential buildings, whether proposed initially or cumulatively, or a single nonresidential building on a lot or lots regardless of the number of occupants or tenure; or
(2) 
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants by means of, or for the purpose of, streets, common areas, leaseholds, condominiums, building groups, or other features.
B. 
A subdivision of land.
LIMIT OF DISTURBANCE
A line provided on the E&S plan or SWM plan that indicates the total area to be disturbed over the life of the project.
LOADING RATIO
The ratio of impervious area draining to a stormwater management facility to the area of the stormwater management facility itself.
MUNICIPALITY
Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
NOXIOUS PLANT
Those species as listed in the Pennsylvania Noxious Weed Control Law (3 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 1501, 1502, 1511, 1515 through 1519, 1526, 1542 and 1543), as amended and/or recodified.
NPDES
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, as authorized by the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq. [1972], as amended).
NPDES PERMIT
A permit required for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities, as required by the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq. [1972], as amended).
NRCS
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously SCS).
O&M
Operation and maintenance.
O&M PLAN
Operation and maintenance plan.
PCSM
Post-construction stormwater management.
PCSM PLAN
Post-construction stormwater management plan.
PEAK DISCHARGE
The maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm event.
PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE
Act of 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as reenacted and amended.
PERVIOUS AREA
Any area not defined as impervious.
POINT SOURCE
Any discernible, confined, or discrete conveyance, including, but not limited to: any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, CAAP, CAFO, landfill leachate collection system, or vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged.
PROJECT SITE (SITE)
The specific area of land where any regulated activity in the municipality is planned for, conducted on, constructed, or maintained.
REDUCTION FACTOR
A form of safety factor that, when multiplied by the site-tested infiltration rate, is used to help determine the design infiltration rate for a stormwater management facility.
REGULATED ACTIVITIES
Any earth disturbance activities or any activities that involve the alteration or development of land in a manner that may affect stormwater runoff.
REMOVED RUNOFF
The volume of runoff that is captured and not released directly into the surface waters of the commonwealth during or after a storm event.
RETENTION BASIN
An impoundment in which stormwater is stored and not released to surface waters of the commonwealth.
RETURN PERIOD
The average interval, in years, within which a storm event of a given magnitude can be expected to occur one time. For example, the twenty-five-year return period rainfall would be expected to occur on average once every 25 years; or, stated in another way, the probability of a twenty-five-year storm occurring in any one year is 0.04, i.e., a 4% chance.
RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFER
A type of riparian buffer that consists of permanent vegetation that is predominantly native trees and shrubs along surface waters that is maintained in a natural state or sustainably managed to protect and enhance water quality, stabilize stream channels and banks, and separate land use activities from surface waters.
ROAD MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES
See definition as found in Title 25, § 102.1, of the Pa. Code.
RUNOFF
Any part of precipitation that flows over the land.
SAFETY FACTOR
An adjustment applied to a site-tested infiltration rate to ensure that the designed infiltration rate for a stormwater management facility is less than that shown under tested conditions.
SEDIMENT
Soils or other materials transported by surface water as a product of erosion.
SIMPLIFIED APPROACH (SA)
A process that property owners proposing certain types of projects may utilize to prepare a stormwater management plan without having to conduct the detailed technical analysis and design required for larger projects.
SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS
Those areas outlined in Chapter 7 of the BMP Manual. Special management areas include: brownfields, highways and roads, karst areas, mined lands, water supply well areas, surface water supplies and special protection waters.
STATE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The regulatory requirements to protect, maintain, reclaim, and restore water quality under Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code and the Clean Streams Law, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq.
STORM SEWER
A pipe or conduit, or a system of pipes or conduits, which intercepts and carries surface stormwater runoff, but excludes sewage, industrial wastes and similar discharges.
STORMWATER
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from precipitation, snow melt or ice melt.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
Any structure, natural or man-made, that, due to its condition, design, or construction, conveys, stores, or otherwise affects stormwater runoff. Typical stormwater management facilities include, but are not limited to: detention and retention basins; open channels; storm sewers; pipes; and infiltration facilities.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (THE PLAN)
The Adams County Stormwater Management Plan of November 23, 2011, which incorporates the requirements of the Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864 (Act 167), as amended, and known as the "Storm Water Management Act."
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SITE PLAN (SWM SITE PLAN)
A plan prepared by the developer or his representative indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at the development site in accordance with this chapter.
SUBDIVISION
The division or re-division of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts or parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes of an area of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall not be considered a subdivision.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers and/or carries surface water runoff.
SWM
Stormwater management.
TOWNSHIP
Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. See also "municipality."
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture.
WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches, watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands, ponds, springs, and all other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and underground water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of the commonwealth.
WATERSHED
Region or area drained by a river, watercourse, or other surface water of this commonwealth.
WETLAND
Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.