For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms and words used
herein shall be interpreted as follows:
A.
Words used in the present tense include the future tense; the singular
number includes the plural, and the plural number includes the singular;
words of masculine gender include feminine gender; and words of feminine
gender include masculine gender.
B.
The word "includes" or "including" shall not limit the term to the
specific example but is intended to extend its meaning to all other
instances of like kind and character.
C.
The words "shall" and "must" are mandatory; the words "may" and "should"
are permissive.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
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.
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.
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. Stormwater BMPs
are commonly grouped into one of two broad categories or measures:
structural or nonstructural. In this chapter, nonstructural BMPs or
measures refer to operational and/or behavior-related practices that
attempt to minimize the contact of pollutants with stormwater runoff
whereas structural BMPs or measures are those that consist 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.
A perceptible natural or artificial waterway which periodically
or continuously contains moving water or which forms a connecting
link between two bodies of water. It has a defined bed and banks which
confine the water.
A conservation district, as defined in Section 3(c) of the
Conservation District Law [3 P. S. § 851(c)] 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.
Blair County, Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
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. Also see "return
period."
The slowing, dampening or attenuating of runoff flows entering
the natural drainage pattern or storm drainage system by temporarily
holding water on a surface area in a detention basin or within the
drainage system.
A basin or reservoir, constructed to impound or retard surface
runoff temporarily. A detention basin is designed to drain completely
after a storm event.
The volume of runoff that is captured and released into the
waters of this commonwealth at a controlled rate.
The person, persons, or any corporation, partnership, association,
or other entity or any responsible person therein or agent therefor
that undertakes the activities associated with changes in land use.
The term "developer" is intended to include but not necessarily be
limited to the term "subdivider," "owner," and "builder" even though
the individuals involved in successive stages of a project may vary.
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, the
placement of mobile homes, the construction, extension, and/or installation
of streets and other paving, utilities, mining, dredging, filling,
grading, excavation or drilling operations, and the subdivision of
land.
See "project site."
The flow or rate of flow from a canal, conduit, channel or
other hydraulic structure.
An impervious or impermeable surface which is disconnected
from any stormwater drainage or conveyance system and is redirected
or directed to a pervious area which allow for infiltration, filtration,
and increased time of concentration as specified in Pennsylvania Stormwater
BMP Manual (BMP Manual)1, Disconnected
Impervious Area.
An unstabilized land area where an earth disturbance activity
is occurring or has occurred.
The removal of surface water or groundwater from land by
drains, grading or other means, and includes control of runoff to
minimize erosion and sedimentation during and after construction or
development.
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the
surface of the land, including, but not limited to, clearing and grubbing,
grading, excavations, embankments, road maintenance, building construction,
and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock,
or earth materials.
The natural process by which the surface of the land is worn
away by water, wind, or chemical action.
The application of measures to reduce erosion of land surfaces.
The dominant land cover during the five-year period immediately
preceding a proposed regulated activity.
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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. Also includes areas that comprise
Group 13 Soils, as listed in Appendix A of the Pennsylvania DEP Technical
Manual for Sewage Enforcement Officers (as amended or replaced from
time to time by DEP).
The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the
adjoining floodplains that are reasonably required to carry and discharge
the one-hundred-year flood. Unless otherwise specified, the boundary
of the floodway is as indicated on maps and flood insurance studies
provided by FEMA. In an area where no FEMA maps or studies have defined
the boundary of the one-hundred-year floodway, it is assumed —
absent evidence to the contrary — that the floodway extends
from the stream to 50 feet from the top of the bank of the stream.
Planning and activities necessary for the management of forestland.
These include conducting a timber inventory, preparation of forest
management plans, silvicultural treatment, cutting budgets, logging
road design and construction, timber harvesting, site preparation,
and reforestation.
Systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes
to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or reuse stormwater on the site where
it is generated.
[Added 11-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-03]
Materials covering the ground surface.
Subsurface water occupying the saturation zone, from which
wells and springs are fed.
Infiltration rates of soils vary widely and are affected
by subsurface permeability as well as surface intake rates. Soils
are classified into four HSGs (A, B, C, and D) according to their
minimum infiltration rate, which is obtained for bare soil after prolonged
wetting. The NRCS defines the four groups and provides a list of most
of the soils in the United States and their group classification.
The soils in the area of the development site may be identified from
a soil survey report that can be obtained from local NRCS offices
or Conservation District offices. Soils become less pervious as the
HSG varies from A to D (NRCS3,4).
A surface that prevents the infiltration of water into the
ground. Impervious surfaces (or areas) shall include, but not be limited
to, roofs, additional indoor living spaces, patios, garages, storage
sheds and similar structures, and any new streets or sidewalks. In
addition, any areas to be designated initially as gravel or crushed
stone shall be assumed to be impervious.
A structure designed to direct runoff into the ground, e.g.,
French drains, seepage pits, dry wells and seepage trenches.
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.
Inclusive of any or all of the following meanings:
Any activity, construction, alteration, change in land use or
practice that effects stormwater runoff characteristics.
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts,
or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
Any subdivision of land;
Development in accordance with Section 503(1.1) of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code.[1]
The upkeep necessary for efficient operation of physical
properties.
A professional engineer licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
duly appointed by the Township of Blair.
Blair Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously SCS).
The maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm
event.
Maximum flow.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
A standard which establishes an end result or outcome which
is to be achieved but does not prescribe specific means for achieving
it.
Any area not defined as impervious.
The specific area of land where any regulated activities
in the municipality are planned, conducted, or maintained.
Any person licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of State
or otherwise qualified by law to perform the work required by this
chapter.
Any earth disturbance activities or any activities that involve
the alteration or development of land in a manner that may affect
stormwater runoff.
Activity involving earth disturbance subject to regulation
under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 92a, 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102, or the Clean
Streams Law, 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq.
[2]A basin, usually enclosed by artificial dikes, that is used
to retard stormwater runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and
releasing it at a predetermined rate.
The volume of runoff that is captured and not released directly
into the surface waters of this commonwealth during or after a storm
event.
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).
Any part of precipitation that flows over the land.
The surface components of any watershed which affect the
rate, amount, and direction of stormwater runoff. These may include
but are not limited to vegetation, soils, slopes and man-made landscape
alterations.[3]
Soils or other materials transported by surface water as
a product of erosion.
The rise or fall of the land usually measured in percent
slope. The percent slope is equal to the rise or fall in feet for
a horizontal distance.
The regulatory requirements to protect, maintain, reclaim,
and restore water quality under Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code
and the Clean Streams Law.[4]
See "detention pond" and "retention pond."
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from
precipitation or snow or ice melt.
Is abbreviated as BMPs or SWM BMPs throughout this chapter.
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.
The plan prepared by the developer or his representative
indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at the development
site in accordance with this chapter. Stormwater management site plan
will be designated as SWM site plan throughout this chapter.
As defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247.[5]
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface
water runoff.
United States Department of Agriculture.
Region or area drained by a river, watercourse, or other
surface water of this 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 this commonwealth.
Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10503(1.1).
[3]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "SCS," which immediately
followed this definition, was repealed at time of adoption of Code
due to the statutory nomenclature change creating a duplicative definition.
See now "NRCS."
[4]
Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 691.1 et seq.
[5]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
