As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ACT
The Stormwater Management Act of 2007.
ADMINISTRATION
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Water Management
Administration (WMA).
ADVERSE IMPACT
Any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including their
quality, quantity, surface area, species composition, aesthetics or
usefulness for human or natural uses. Such deleterious effect is or
may potentially be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare,
safety or property, to biological productivity, diversity or stability
or unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life or property,
including outdoor recreation.
AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land
in order to further crop and livestock production and conservation
of related soil and water resources. Logging and timber removal operations
may not be considered a part of this definition.
APPLICANT
Any person, firm, or government agency that executes the
necessary forms to apply for a permit or approval to carry out construction
of a project.
APPROVAL AUTHORITY
The soil conservation district, municipal corporation, specified
agency, commission, or the administration that is authorized by or
pursuant to Environment Article, § 4-105, Annotated Code
of Maryland, to review and approve erosion and sediment control plans
for the given jurisdiction.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP)
A structural device or nonstructural practice designed to
temporarily store or treat stormwater runoff in order to mitigate
flooding, reduce pollution, and provide other amenities.
CLEAR
To remove the vegetative ground cover while leaving the root
mat intact. This includes the removal of trees, brush or understory
from the land but shall not include the ordinary mowing of grass,
or the removal of dead trees and noxious weeds.
CONCEPT PLAN
The first of three required plan approvals that includes
the information necessary to allow an initial evaluation of the stormwater
management and erosion and sediment control BMP's for any proposed
development subject to this chapter.
DEVELOPER
The property owner, company or other entity that directs
or executes the development of land.
DISTURB
The grading, moving, or digging of soils, the removal of
grass and other ground covers, placement of fill or surface material
(such as stone, concrete, asphalt), or the removal of stumps.
DPW
The Cecil County Department of Public Works.
DRAINAGE AREA
That area contributing runoff to a single point measured
in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a ridgeline.
EARTH
Clay, sand, silt, loam, gravels, topsoils, and combinations
thereof.
ENVIRONMENTAL SITE DESIGN (ESD)
Using small-scale stormwater management practices, nonstructural
techniques, and better site planning to mimic natural hydrologic runoff
characteristics and minimize the impact of land development on water
resources. Methods for designing ESD practices are specified in the
2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II, or any subsequent
revisions thereof.
EROSION
The process by which the land surface is worn away by the
action of wind, water, ice or gravity.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
An erosion and sediment control strategy or plan, designed
to minimize erosion and prevent off-site sedimentation, in accordance
with the requirements of the approval authority and the handbook "2011
Maryland Standards and Specifications for Soil Erosion and Sediment
Control" or any subsequent revisions thereof.
EXEMPTION
Those land development activities that are not subject to
the erosion and sediment control requirements contained in this chapter.
FINAL PLAN
The last of three required plan approvals that includes the
information necessary to allow all approvals and permits to be issued
by the approving agency. Final erosion and sediment control plans
shall be prepared and approved in accordance with the specific requirements
of the Cecil Soil Conservation District and this chapter and designed
in accordance with the Standards and Specifications.
GRADE
To disturb earth by, including, but not limited to, excavating,
filling, stockpiling, grubbing, removing root mat or topsoil, or any
combination thereof.
GRADING UNIT
The maximum contiguous area allowed to be graded at a given
time. For the purposes of this chapter, a grading unit is 20 acres
or less.
HIGHLY ERODIBLE SOILS
Those soils with a slope greater than 15% or those soils
with a soil erodibility factor, K, greater than 0.35 and with slopes
greater than 5%.
INSPECTION AGENCY
The administration or, if delegation of enforcement authority
is granted, the appropriate local inspection agency or department.
MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE (MEP)
Designing stormwater management systems so that all reasonable
opportunities for using ESD planning techniques and treatment practices
are exhausted and only where absolutely necessary is a structural
BMP implemented.
NARRATIVE
A document prepared and submitted with each plan approval
phase which describes how ESD will be implemented to the MEP. The
document must describe each ESD element which will be used, justify
any proposed structural practices and must incorporate a list of all
comments received from all of the reviewing agencies/departments and
how each comment was satisfactorily addressed.
OWNER/DEVELOPER
A person undertaking, or for whose benefit, activities covered
by this chapter are carried on. General contractors or subcontractors,
or both, without a proprietary interest in a project are not included
within this definition.
PERMITTEE
Any person to whom a building or grading permit has been
issued.
PERSON
Includes the federal government, the state, any county, municipal
corporation or other political subdivision of the state or any of
their units, or an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor,
administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind or any partnership,
firm, association, public or private corporation, or any of their
affiliates, or any other entity.
POLLUTION
The contamination or other alteration of the physical, chemical,
or biological properties of any waters of the state, including change
in temperature, taste, color, turbidity, or odor of the waters, or
the discharge or deposit of any organic matter, harmful organisms,
liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive, or other substance into any waters
of the state that will render the waters harmful, detrimental, or
injurious to:
A.
Public health, safety or welfare;
B.
Domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational,
or other legitimate beneficial uses; or
C.
Livestock, wild animals, birds, fish or other aquatic life.
PRELIMINARY PLAN
The second of three required plan approvals that includes
the information necessary to allow a detailed evaluation of a proposed
project.
RESPONSIBLE PERSONNEL
Any foreman, superintendent or project engineer who is in
charge of on-site clearing and grading operations or the implementation
and maintenance of an erosion and sediment control plan.
SEDIMENT
Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited
by the action of wind, water, ice, gravity or artificial means.
SITE
Any tract, lot, or parcel of land, or combination of tracts,
lots or parcels of land that are in one ownership, or are contiguous
and in diverse ownership, where development is to be performed as
part of a unit, subdivision, or project.
STABILIZATION
The protection of exposed soils from erosion by the application
of seed and mulch, seed and matting, sod, other vegetative measures,
and/or structural means.
STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS
The 2011 Maryland Standards and Specifications for Soil Erosion
and Sediment Control or any subsequent revisions.
STORMWATER
Water that originates from a precipitation event.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Natural areas, ESD practices, stormwater management measures,
and any other structure through which stormwater flows, infiltrates,
or discharges from a site.
VARIANCE
The modification of the minimum erosion and sediment control
requirements for exceptional circumstances such that strict adherence
to the requirements would result in unnecessary hardship and not fulfill
the intent of this chapter.
WATERSHED
The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.