As used in this chapter, the words and phrases listed below
shall have the following meanings:
ACCEPTABLE OUTFALL
That point, as determined by the Department of Planning and
Growth Management and Charles Soil Conservation District, where stormwater
can be released to a channel without causing scouring, erosion, or
resulting sedimentation to the receiving channel or its floodplain.
Where necessary, the outlet shall include structural and vegetative
measures to assure nonerosive velocities.
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 which 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, timber removal and land
clearing operations may not be considered a part of this definition
for the purposes of this chapter.
APPLICANT
Any person who executes the necessary forms to procure official
approval of a project or a permit to carry out construction of a project.
ASTM
The American Society for Testing and Materials.
BENCH TERRACE
A relatively flat area (i.e., less than 2% grade) constructed
on sloping land to planned dimensions and grades. Bench terraces are
applied along the contour with the length and width controlled by
the natural terrain and the required erosion limitations.
CERTIFICATION
A signed and sealed, written statement from an individual
licensed in the State of Maryland (engineer, surveyor, landscape architect)
that specific constructions, inspections or tests (where required)
have been performed and that such comply with the applicable requirements
of this chapter.
CLEAR
Any activity which removes the vegetative ground cover while
leaving the root mat intact.
COMPACTION
Densification of a soil or rock fill by mechanical or other
acceptable procedures.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Planning and Growth Management.
DEVELOPER
A person, partnership, corporation, firm, or governmental
agency undertaking or proposing the construction of a building, a
project consisting of interrelated buildings, or other construction,
and who is primarily financially responsible for the proposed.
DISTRICT
The Charles Soil Conservation District.
DIVERSION
A channel, ditch or ridge constructed across a slope as to
intercept and divert surface run-off.
DRAINAGE AREA
That area contributing runoff to a single point measured
in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a ridge line.
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, to minimize
erosion and prevent off-site sedimentation by containing sediment
on-site or by passing sediment-laden runoff through a sediment control
measure, prepared and approved in accordance with the specific requirements
of the District and this chapter, and designed and approved in accordance
with the Standards and Specifications.
EXCAVATION or CUT
Any act by which soil or rock is cut into, dug, quarried,
uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated and shall include the conditions
resulting therefrom.
EXEMPTION
Those land development activities that are not subject to
the erosion and sediment control requirements contained in this chapter.
EXISTING GRADE
The vertical location of the existing ground surface prior
to excavating or filling.
FINAL COMPLETION ACCEPTANCE
The final approval of construction of infrastructure, including
grading, roads, storm drainage, stormwater management, public water
and sewer systems, reforestation, recreational amenities, landscaping,
dedication documents and related items associated with a permit and
as further defined in the Standards and Specifications for Construction
Manual.
FINAL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
Plans prepared and approved in accordance with the specific
requirements of the Charles Soil Conservation District and this chapter
and designed in accordance with the Standards and Specifications.
FINISHED GRADE
The final grade or elevation of the ground surface conforming
to the proposed design.
FLOODPLAIN
That land typically adjacent to a body of water with ground
surface elevations that are inundated by the base flood, excepting
the land adjoining the banks of ponds, lakes or stormwater management
detention and retention facilities when the banks of such water bodies
provide containment of the base flood.
GRADE
To disturb earth by, including, but not limited to, excavating,
filling, stockpiling, grubbing, removing root mat or topsoil or any
combination thereof.
GRADING
Any stripping, excavating, filling, including hydraulic fill,
stockpiling or any combination thereof and shall include the land
in its excavated or filled condition.
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 LAND
Land with erodible soil types as defined in the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) Maryland Technical Guide.
HIGHLY ERODIBLE SOILS
Those soils with a slope greater than 15% or those soils
with a soil erodability factor, K, greater than 0.35 and with slopes
greater than 5%.
INSPECTION AGENCY
The administration or, if delegated enforcement authority,
Charles County.
LOAD-BEARING FILL
Any facility, earthwork, or fill placed in a controlled manner
to support structural foundations or vehicular traffic, the instability
of which would constitute a public hazard or nuisance.
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.
NATURAL GROUND SURFACE
The ground surface in its original state before grading,
stripping, excavation or filling.
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 permit is issued pursuant to this chapter.
PERSON
Includes, in addition to any other meaning it may have under
this chapter, an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an incorporated
association, an agency, 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 similar entity whatsoever.
PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT
A person who has been duly registered and licensed to practice
professional architecture and/or landscape architecture under requirements
of state law.
REGULATED GRADING
Any grading performed with the approval of, and in accordance
with, criteria established by this chapter.
RESPONSIBLE PERSONNEL
Any foreman, superintendent or project engineer who is in
charge of on-site clearing and grading operations or sediment control
associated with earth changes or disturbances and has a certification
of training at a Maryland Department of the Environment approved training
program for the control of sediment and erosion.
SEDIMENT
Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited
by the action of wind, water, ice, gravity or any artificial means.
SITE
Any tract, lot or parcel of land or combination of tracts,
lots or parcels of land which 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.
SLOPE
The inclined exposed surface of a fill, excavation or natural
terrain.
SOIL
All earth material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock,
including, but not limited to, the decomposed zone of bedrock which
can be readily excavated by mechanical equipment.
STABILIZATION
The prevention of soil movement by any of various vegetative
and/or structural means.
STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS
The 2011 Maryland Standards and Specifications for Soil Erosion
and Sediment Control or any subsequent revisions.
STEEP SLOPE
A slope over fifteen-percent grade, which is characterized
by increased run-off, erosion and sediment hazards.
STORMWATER
Water that originates from a precipitation event.
STRIPPING
Any activity which removes the vegetative surface cover,
including tree removal, clearing, grubbing and storage of removal
of topsoil.
STRUCTURAL ROCK FILLS
Fills constructed predominately of rock materials for the
purpose of supporting structures.
SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION ACCEPTANCE
The approval of the basic construction of utilities, storm
drainage facilities, bituminous concrete base and intermediate surface
course, street and regulatory signs, and other improvements required
to meet standards as further defined in the Standards and Specifications
for Construction Manual for issuance of use and occupancy certificates.
TIMBER HARVESTING
The severing of trees at or above the ground level leaving
the stump and root system intact.
VARIANCE
Modification of the criteria set forth in this chapter, the
Standards and Specifications and the Specifications Manual.
WATERCOURSE and/or DRAINAGEWAY
Any natural or artificial watercourse (including, but not
limited to, streams, rivers, creeks, ditches, channels, canals, conduits,
culverts, drains, waterways, gullies, ravines or washes) in which
water flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously
or intermittently; and including any area adjacent thereto which is
subject to inundation by reason of overflow or floodwater.
WATERSHED
The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.
WETLANDS
Any area that has saturated soils or periodic high groundwater
levels and vegetation adapted to wet conditions and periodic flooding.