As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
BOROUGH ENGINEER
A person registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as
a professional engineer in the field of civil engineering and appointed
by the Borough to review information and materials submitted in conjunction
with this chapter.
CLEAN FILL
Uncontaminated, non-water-soluble, non-decomposable, inert,
solid material. The term includes soil, rock, stone, dredged material,
used asphalt, and brick, block or concrete from construction and demolition
activities that are separate from other waste and are recognizable
as such. The term "used asphalt" does not include milled asphalt or
asphalt that has been processed for reuse.
CLEARING
Any activity which removes vegetative ground cover, and includes
root mat or topsoil removal.
CUT
(See also "excavation.") A portion of land surface or area
from which earth has been removed by excavation. The difference in
elevation between a point on the original ground and designated point
of lower elevation of the final grade.
EARTH DISTURBANCE
The 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.
EROSION
The detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by
water, wind, ice or gravity, including such processes as gravitational
creep. The removal of surface materials by the action of natural elements.
EXCAVATION
See also "cut." Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock
mineral substances, or organic substance, other than vegetation, is
dug into, cut, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated,
or bulldozed, including the conditions resulting therefrom.
FILL (EMBANKMENT)
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock, or any other
material is placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported, or moved
to a new location above the natural surface of the ground or on top
of the stripped surface, including the conditions resulting therefrom.
The difference in elevation between a point on the original ground
and designated point of higher elevation on the final grade. The material
used in the act of filling, creating embankments, or backfilling previously
excavated areas. See also "engineered fill" and "clean fill."
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
A person registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as
a professional engineer in the field of civil engineering and who
has training and experience in the branch of soils engineering.
GRADE
The existing slope of the earth or the placement of fill
materials to create a slope. Also, the gradient of a slope, road or
other surface.
GRADING
Any excavation, or filling, or combination of any act where
earth, sand, gravel, rock, or combination of earthen and man-made
material is placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported, or moved
to a new location above or below the natural surface of the ground,
including the conditions resulting from any excavation or fill. The
process or means of excavating an area or using excavated material
to alter ground elevations or contours.
GRADING ADMINISTRATOR
The Borough Engineer, or employee of, or agent appointed
by the Borough of Oakdale to administer the provisions of this chapter.
PADEP
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
REGULATED EARTH-DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
Under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 92, a PADEP NPDES construction
activities permit is required for any earth disturbance activity of
one acre or more with a discernible, confined and discrete discharge
point to surface waters or the Borough's storm sewer system,
or five acres or more regardless of the planned runoff. This includes
earth disturbance on any portion of, or during any stage of, a larger
common plan of development.
RETAINING WALL
A wooden, reinforced concrete or masonry wall that is engineered
for the purpose of retaining (or holding back) soil.
RUNOFF
The portion of rainfall, melted snow, irrigation water, and
any other liquid that flows across the ground surface and is eventually
returned to streams. Overland or channeled water flowing downhill
from a site. Types include surface runoff, groundwater runoff or seepage.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is suspended
in water, is being transported or has been moved from its site of
origin by air, water, gravity or ice.
SITE
A lot, tract or parcel of land, or a series of lots, tracts
or parcels of land, including public lands or rights-of-way, where
any earth-disturbance activities are planned, conducted or maintained.
SLOPE
The face of an embankment or cut section. Any ground surface
that creates an angle with the plane of the horizon, usually expressed
in a percentage based upon vertical difference in feet per 100 feet
of horizontal distance, or as a ratio of vertical feet to horizontal
feet.
SOIL
The top layer of the Earth's surface, containing unconsolidated
rock and mineral particles mixed with organic material.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
A system of natural or engineered structures which collect
and transport runoff through or from a drainage area to a point of
final outlet, including but not limited to any of the following: conduits
and appurtenant features, canals, channels, ditches, swales, streams,
culverts, streets, detention or retention ponds and tanks, and pumping
stations.
WATERCOURSE
Any natural or artificial conveyance of surface water, such
as a stream, creek, ditch, channel, canal, or culvert, in which water
flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently,
and has a defined channel bed and banks, including any area adjacent
thereto subject to inundation by reason of overflow or floodwater.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
The employee of the Borough of Oakdale charged with administration
of all zoning issues, as well as oversight of such items hereinafter
outlined.