[Adopted 3-16-2015 by Ord. No. 1051]
ACT
The Storm Water Management Act (Act of October 4, 1978, P.L.
864 No. 167; 32 P.S. §§ 680.1-680.17, as amended by
Act of May 24, 1984, No. 63).
APPLICANT
A landowner, developer or other person who has filed an application
for approval to engage in any regulated earth disturbance activity
at a project site in the Municipality.
APPLICANT
A landowner or developer who has filed an application for
development including his/her heirs, successors and assigns.
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 article. Stormwater BMPs
are commonly grouped into one of two broad categories or measures:
"structural" or "nonstructural." In this article, 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.
CHANNEL
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 definite bed and banks
which confine the water.
COUNTY
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
CULVERT
A closed conduit for the free passage of surface drainage
under a highway, railroad, canal or other embankment.
DEP
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DESIGN CRITERIA
A.
Engineering guidelines specifying construction details and materials.
B.
Objectives, results, or limits which must be met by a facility,
structure, or process in performance of its intended functions.
DETENTION
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.
DETENTION POND
A pond or reservoir, usually small, constructed to impound
or retard surface runoff temporarily.
DEVELOPER
The person, persons, or any corporation, partnership, association,
or other entity or any responsible person therein or agent therefore
that undertakes the activities associated with changes in land use.
The term "developer" is intended to include by not necessarily be
limited to the term "subdivider," "owner," and "builder" even though
the individuals involved in successive stages of a project may vary.
DEVELOPMENT
Any activity, construction, alteration, change in land use
or practice that affects stormwater runoff characteristics.
DISCHARGE
The flow or rate of flow from a canal, conduit, channel or
other hydraulic structure.
DRAINAGE
In general, the removal of surface water from a given area.
Commonly applied to surface water and ground water.
DRAINAGE AREA
A.
The area of a drainage basin or watershed, expressed in acres,
square miles, or other unit of area. Also called catchment area, watershed,
river basin.
B.
The area served by a sewer system receiving storm and surface
water, or by a watercourse.
EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
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.
ENCROACHMENT
Any structure or activity which in any manner changes, expands
or diminishes, the course; current or cross section of any watercourse,
floodway or body of water.
EROSION
Wearing away of the lands by running water, glaciers, winds
and waves.
EROSION CONTROL
The application of measures to reduce erosion of land surfaces.
FOREST MANAGEMENT/TIMBER OPERATIONS
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.
GROUND WATER
Subsurface water occupying the saturation zone, from which
wells and springs are fed.
GROUND WATER RECHARGE
Replenishment of ground water naturally by precipitation
or runoff or artificially by spreading or injection.
HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP (HSG)
Soils are classified into four HSGs designated 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.
IMPERVIOUS
Not allowing or allowing only with great difficulty the movement
of water; impermeable.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE (IMPERVIOUS AREA)
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. Decks,
parking areas, and driveway areas are not counted as impervious areas
if they do not prevent infiltration.
INFILTRATION
A.
The flow or movement of water through the interstices or pores
of a soil or other porous medium.
B.
The absorption of liquid by the soil.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
Any of the following activities:
A.
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts
or parcels or 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.
(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 or, or for the purpose of streets, common areas,
leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
LAND DISTURBANCE
Any activity involving the changing, grading, transportation,
fill and any other activity which causes land to be exposed to the
danger of erosion.
MAINTENANCE
The upkeep necessary for efficient operation of physical
properties.
MUNICIPALITIES PLANNING CODE
Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act of July 31,
1968, P.L. 805, No. 247; 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., as amended).
NATURAL STORMWATER RUNOFF REGIME
A watershed where natural surface configurations, runoff
characteristics and defined drainage conveyances have attained the
conditions of equilibrium.
OUTFALL
A.
The point, location or structure where drainage discharges from
a sewer, drain or other conduit.
B.
The conduit leading to the ultimate discharge point.
OUTLET CONTROL STRUCTURE
The means of controlling the relationship between the headwater
elevation and the discharge, placed at the outlet or downstream end
of any structure through which water may flow.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
A standard which establishes an end result or outcome which
is to be achieved but does not prescribe specific means for achieving
it.
PA DEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, public or private association
or corporation, firm, trust, estate, municipality, governmental unit,
public utility or any other legal entity whatsoever which is recognized
by law as the subject of rights and duties. Whenever used in any section
prescribing or imposing a penalty, the term "person" shall include
the members of a partnership, the officers, members, servants and
agents of an association, officers, agents and servants of a corporation,
and the officers of a municipality or county, but shall exclude any
department, board, bureau or agency of the commonwealth.
PROJECT SITE
The specific area of land where any regulated activities
in the Borough are planned, conducted, or maintained.
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL
Any person licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of State
for the services they are providing.
REGULATED ACTIVITIES
Any earth disturbance activities or any activities that involve
the alteration, development or redevelopment of land in a manner that
may affect stormwater runoff.
REGULATED EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
Activity involving earth disturbance subject to regulation
under 25 Pa. Code 92, 25 Pa. Code 102, or the Clean Streams Law Release
Rate Percentage. The watershed factor determined by comparing the
maximum rate of runoff from a subbasin to the contributing rate of
runoff to the watershed peak rate at specific points of interest.
RETENTION POND
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.
RETURN PERIOD
The average interval in years over which an event of a given
magnitude can be expected to recur.
RUNOFF
That part of precipitation which flows over the land.
RUNOFF CHARACTERISTICS
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.
SCS
U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service.
SEDIMENT
Mineral or organic solid material that is being transported
or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water or ice and
has come to rest.
SEDIMENTATION
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated
or deposited by moving water, wind or gravity.
STATE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
The regulatory requirements to protect, maintain, reclaim,
and restore water quality under Title 25 of the Pa. Code and the Clean
Streams Law.
STORM FREQUENCY
The average interval in years over which a storm event of
a given precipitation volume can be expected to occur.
STORM SEWER
A sewer that carries intercepted surface runoff, street water
and other drainage but excludes domestic sewage and industrial waste.
STORMWATER
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from
precipitation or snow or ice melt.
STORMWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM
Natural or man-made structures that collect and transport
stormwater through or from a drainage area to the point of final outlet
including, but not limited to, any of the following: conduits and
appurtenant features, canals, channels, ditches, streams, culverts,
streets, and pumping stations.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
The plan for managing stormwater runoff adopted by Allegheny
County as required by the Storm Water Management Act.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SITE PLAN
The plan prepared by the developer or his representative
indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at the development
site in accordance with this article. Stormwater Management Site Plan
will be designated as SWM Plan throughout this article.
SUBDIVISION
The division or re-division of a lot, tract or parcel of
land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, 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 into parcels of more than 10 acres,
not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential
dwelling shall be exempted.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface
water runoff.
WATERCOURSE
Any channel for conveyance of surface water having a defined
bed and banks, whether natural or artificial, with perennial or intermittent
flow.
WATERSHED
The entire region or area drained by a river or other body
of water whether natural or artificial. A "designated watershed" is
an area delineated by the PA DEP and approved by the Environmental
Quality Board for which counties are required to develop watershed
stormwater management plans.
WATERS 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.
WATERSHED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
The plan for managing stormwater runoff throughout a designated
watershed adopted by Allegheny County as required by the Pennsylvania
Storm Water Management Act.
[Adopted 3-16-2015 by Ord. No. 1052]
For the purposes of this article, 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.
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 article. Stormwater BMPs
are commonly grouped into one of two broad categories or measures:
"structural" or "nonstructural." In this article, 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.
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
A conservation district, as defined in § 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 102.
DEP
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
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. Earth disturbance activity is subject to regulation
under 25 Pa. Code 92, 25 Pa. Code 102, or the Clean Streams Law.
MUNICIPALITY
Borough of Edgewood, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
NRCS
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously SCS).
REGULATED ACTIVITIES
Any activities that may affect stormwater runoff and any
activities that may contribute non-stormwater discharges to a regulated
small MS4.
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.
STORMWATER
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from
precipitation or snow or ice melt.
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture.
WATERS 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.