[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of Falls Township 12-4-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-06.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 122,
Earth Disturbance, Drainage and Erosion Control, adopted 5-6-1988
by Ord. No. 88-8, as amended.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Falls Township
Earth Disturbance, Drainage and Erosion Control Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards
to safeguard persons, to protect property and water resources, and
to promote the public welfare by regulating and controlling the design,
construction, quality of materials, use, location and maintenance
of grading, excavation, fill, and site development activities. The
provisions of this chapter are designed to:
A.
Control stormwater runoff, erosion and sedimentation by use of accepted
standards and facilities.
B.
Maintain or improve flows and water quality in all streams and watercourses
within the Township.
C.
Focus on infiltration of stormwater, to maintain groundwater recharge,
to prevent degradation of surface and groundwater quality and to otherwise
protect water resources.
D.
Meet legal water quality requirements under state law, including
regulations at 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93, § 93.4a, to protect
and maintain existing uses and maintain the level of water quality
to support those uses in all streams, and to protect and maintain
water quality in special protection streams.
E.
Manage stormwater runoff impacts at their source by regulating activities
that produce negative impacts.
F.
Provide review procedures and performance standards for stormwater
planning and management.
G.
Utilize and preserve the existing natural drainage systems as much
as possible.
H.
Manage stormwater impacts close to the runoff source, which requires
a minimum of structures and relies on natural processes.
I.
Prevent scour and erosion of streambanks and streambeds.
J.
Provide for proper operation and maintenance of all permanent stormwater
management best management practices (BMPs) that are implemented in
the Township.
K.
Provide a mechanism to identify controls necessary to meet the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements.
A.
Word usage.
(1)
Words in the singular number include the plural, and words in the
plural number include the singular, present tense includes the future;
words of masculine gender include feminine gender; and words of feminine
gender include masculine gender; the word "building" shall be deemed
to include the word "structure," and "individuals" shall be deemed
to include any person, group of persons, partnership or corporation.
(2)
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.
(3)
The words "shall" and "must" are mandatory; the words "may" and "should"
are permissive.
B.
ACCELERATED EROSION
APPLICANT
BASINS
(1)
(2)
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP)
BUILDING PERMIT
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
CUT
DEP
DEVELOPER
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT SITE
DISCHARGE
EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
EARTHMOVING
EROSION
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
EXCAVATION
FILL
(1)
(2)
(3)
FLOODPLAIN DISTRICT
GRADE
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
IMPERVIOUS GROUND COVER
LAND DEVELOPMENT
NPDES
OUTFALL
PERSON
POINT SOURCE
PROJECT SITE
RATIONAL METHOD
REDEVELOPMENT
REGULATED EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY
RUNOFF
RUNOFF FROM A FULLY DEVELOPED AREA UPSTREAM
SEDIMENTATION
SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM
SITE
SLOPE
SOIL COVER COMPLEX METHOD
SOIL STABILIZATION
STATE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
(1)
(2)
(3)
STEEP SLOPES
STORMWATER
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
STRIPPING
SUBDIVISION
SURFACE WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
TIME OF CONCENTRATION
TOWNSHIP
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR
WATERCOURSE
WATERSHED
WETLANDS
Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words
shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings herein stated:
The removal of the surface of the land, through the combined
action of human activities and the natural processes, at a rate greater
than would occur because of the natural process alone.
A landowner, developer or other person who has filed an application
for approval to engage in any earth disturbance activity regulated
by the provisions of this chapter at a project site in the Township.
DETENTION BASINSBasins designed for temporary storage of stormwater to reduce peak discharges. They are characterized by shorter detention periods and are normally dry, except for short periods following a storm event. Stored stormwater is released at a controlled rate.
RETENTION BASINSBasins designed for impoundment of stormwater to reduce peak discharges. They are usually wet continually but are designed to store excess stormwater above the normal pool elevation. The excess stormwater is released at a controlled rate.
Activities, facilities, designs, measures or procedures used
to manage stormwater impacts from earth disturbance activities associated
with land development and construction activities, to meet state water
quality requirements, to promote groundwater recharge and to otherwise
meet the purposes of this chapter. BMPs include, but are not limited
to, infiltration, filter strips, low- impact design, bioretention,
wet ponds, permeable paving, grassed swales, forested buffers, sand
filters and detention basins.
A permit issued by the Building Inspector pursuant to provisions
of the Falls Township Building Code for the construction, erection,
or alteration of a structure or building.
The Bucks County Conservation District.
An excavation; the difference between a point on original
ground and a designated point of lower elevation on the final grade;
also, the material removed in excavation.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
A person that seeks to undertake any earth disturbance activities
regulated by the provisions of this chapter at a project site in the
Township.
See "earth disturbance activity." The term includes redevelopment.
The specific tract of land where any earth disturbance activities
in the Township are planned, conducted or maintained.
The outflow of water, silt or other mobile substances passing
along a conduit, watercourse or channel or released from any type
of detention or stormwater management feature.
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the
surface of the land, including but not limited to clearing and grubbing;
certain paving, embankments, road maintenance, filling, stripping,
grading, regrading; cutting, removal of vegetation or natural ground
covers; excavation, digging, earthmoving; the moving, depositing,
stockpiling or storing of soil, rock or earth materials; or land development
undertaken by an individual on private or public property as herein
set forth.
An activity resulting in the movement of earth or stripping
of vegetative cover from the earth.
The processes by which the surface of the land, including
channels, is worn by water, wind or chemical action.
A plan for a project site which identifies BMPs to minimize
accelerated erosion and sedimentation.
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar
materials is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced,
relocated, or bulldozed and shall include the conditions resulting
therefrom.
The act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material
is deposited in a new location above the natural surface of the ground
or on top of the strip surface and shall include the conditions resulting
therefrom.
The difference in elevation between a point on the original
ground and a designated point of final elevation in the final grade.
The material used to make a fill.
Shall include areas adjoining any watercourse, drainage course or body of water subject to periodic inundation or overflow and subject to regulations pursuant to Chapter 131, Floodplain Management, of the Falls Township Code.
The elevation of the existing ground surface or the finished
elevation at the location of any proposed excavation or fill.
Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies.
A surface that prevents the infiltration of water into the
ground. All buildings, parking areas, driveways, roads, sidewalks,
and any areas in concrete, asphalt and packed stone shall be considered
impervious surfaces within this definition. Any surface areas designed
to initially be gravel or crushed stone shall be assumed to be impervious
surfaces. In addition, other areas determined by the Township Engineer
to be impervious within the meaning of this definition will also be
classed as impervious surfaces.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, the federal
government's system for issuance of permits under the Clean Water
Act, which is delegated to DEP in Pennsylvania.
"Point source" as described in 40 CFR 122.2, at the point
where the Township's storm sewer system discharges to surface waters
of the commonwealth.
An individual, partnership, public or private association
or corporation, or a governmental unit, public utility or any other
legal entity whatsoever which is recognized by law as the subject
of rights and duties.
Any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including
but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, or conduit from
which stormwater is or may be discharged, as defined in state regulations
at 25 Pa. Code § 93.1.
The specific area of land where any earth disturbance activities
regulated by the provisions of this chapter in the Township are planned,
conducted or maintained.
The Rational Equation is as follows:
Q = CIA
|
Where:
| |||
Q
|
=
|
Maximum expected discharge in cubic feet per second
| |
C
|
=
|
Runoff factor expressed as a percent of the total water falling
on an area that is dependent upon the land cover of the watershed
| |
I
|
=
|
The rate of rainfall from the time of concentration of the drainage
area in inches per hour for a given storm frequency
| |
A
|
=
|
Drainage area expressed in acres
|
Earth disturbance activities on land which has previously
been disturbed or developed.
Earth disturbance activity of 1,000 square feet or more,
or any alteration project that would divert the existing stormwater
runoff patterns on the site. This includes earth disturbance on any
portion of, part of, or during any stage of, a larger common plan
of development.
That portion of the precipitation on a drainage area that
is not absorbed and, therefore, is discharged from the area. Types
include surface runoff, surface groundwater runoff and seepage.
The surface water runoff that can be reasonably anticipated
upon maximum development of the area of the watershed upstream from
the subject tract, as permitted by prevailing zoning or the Township
Comprehensive Plan.
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated
or deposited by moving wind, water or gravity. Once this matter is
deposited, or remains suspended in water, it shall be referred to
as "sediment."
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with
drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters,
ditches, man-made channels or storm drains) primarily used for collecting
and conveying stormwater runoff.
A lot, tract or parcel of land, or a series of lots, tracts
or parcels of land, joined together where grading work is continuous
and performed at the same time.
The face of an embankment or cut section; any ground where
surface makes an angle with the plane of the horizon. Slopes shall
be expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical or in a
percentage based upon vertical difference in feet per 100 feet of
horizontal distance.
A mathematical formula to compute runoff developed by the
Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which
provides for accurate consideration of the effect of applied conservation
measures on runoff rates and volume.
Chemical, physical, or structural treatment of a mass of
soil to increase or maintain stability or otherwise improve its engineering
properties.
As defined under state regulations, protection of designated
and existing uses (per 25 Pa. Code Chapters 93 and 96), including:
Each stream segment in Pennsylvania has a designated use, such
as "cold-water fishery" or "potable water supply," which are listed
in Chapter 93. These uses must be protected and maintained, under
state regulations.
Existing uses are those attained as of November 1975, regardless
whether they have been designated in Chapter 93. Regulated earth disturbance
activities must be designed to protect and maintain existing uses
and maintain the level of water quality necessary to protect those
uses in all streams and to protect and maintain water quality in special
protection streams.
Water quality involves the chemical, biological and physical
characteristics of surface water bodies. After regulated earth disturbance
activities are complete, these characteristics can be impacted by
addition of pollutants such as sediment, and changes in habitat through
increased flow volumes and/or rates, as a result of changes in land
surface area from those activities. Therefore, permanent discharges
to surface waters must be managed to protect the streambank, streambed
and structural integrity of the waterway, to prevent these impacts.
The surface runoff generated by precipitation reaching the
ground surface.
Any element in a stormwater management system which is made
or improved by man.
Facilities used for conveying to, through or from a drainage
area to a point of final outlet, including but not limited to the
following: conduits and pertinent features, canals, channels, swales,
ditches, streams, culverts, streets, ponds and basins.
The removal of vegetation, including trees, and/or topsoil.
The normal process of gardening or property maintenance shall be excluded
from this definition.
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 water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within
or on the boundaries of this commonwealth.
The interval of time required for water to travel from the
most hydraulically distant point of the drainage area to a given point
(point of reference).
Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
A professional engineer registered in the State of Pennsylvania
and designated by the Board of Supervisors to perform the duties of
engineer as herein specified.
A licensed attorney designated by the Board of Supervisors
to perform the duties of solicitor as herein specified.
A channel or conveyance of surface water, such as a stream
or creek, having defined bed and banks, whether natural or artificial,
with perennial, intermittent, or base flow.
Region or area drained by a river, watercourse or other body
of water, whether natural or artificial.
Those 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. The term includes but is
not limited to wetland areas listed in the State Water Plan, the United
States Forest Service Wetlands Inventory of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania
Coastal Zone Management Plan, and any wetland area designated by a
river basin commission.
No person shall commence or perform any earth disturbance activity as herein defined without first having obtained an earth disturbance permit from the Township. All provisions of Chapter 122 shall apply to any earth disturbance activity conducted in the Township. An earth disturbance permit will not be required in the following situations:
A.
Any excavation which does not exceed 20 cubic yards, total, of material
removed.
B.
A fill which does not exceed 20 cubic yards, total, of material deposited.
C.
An excavation below finished grade for:
(1)
Basements and footings of buildings;
(2)
Driveways between a single-family residence building site and the
street which are less than 100 feet in length;
(3)
The grading of excavated materials into the site from which excavated
and including the provision of additional topsoil as may be required
for seed bed preparation, provided that such grading shall not exceed
20 cubic yards, alter drainage patterns, accelerate erosion, interfere
with existing stormwater facilities, or adversely impact adjoining
properties.
D.
Plowing, tilling, irrigation and drainage for agricultural purposes;
nursery operations such as removal of cultivated sod, shrubs, and
trees for transplantation; and the addition of topsoil with a change
in natural contours of one foot or less, provided that the activity
will not alter drainage patterns, accelerate erosion, interfere with
existing stormwater facilities, or adversely impact adjoining properties.
A.
Every applicant for a minor earth disturbance permit shall file an
application with the Township.
B.
Such application shall:
(1)
Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done, by lot,
block, tract, or street address, or similar description which will
readily identify and definitively locate the proposed work.
(2)
Be accompanied by three copies of plans, narrative and specifications
prepared by a registered professional engineer or registered professional
land surveyor qualified in hydrology. Such plans and specifications
shall include the following:
(a)
Date, name, professional seal, and address of the preparer(s)
of the plan for each portion thereof.
(b)
Name and address of the owner of the site.
(c)
Lot, block, tract or street address, tax parcel number with
deed book and page number, or similar description which identifies
and locates the proposed work.
(d)
Purpose of the earth disturbance.
(e)
A complete outline survey of the affected property showing all
courses, distances and area, and boundaries of all adjoining properties
with tax parcel number and name of landowner.
(f)
Types, depth and aerial extent of predominant soils on the property.
(g)
Location map on plan at scale of one inch equals 800 feet.
(h)
North arrow.
(i)
Written and graphic scales, including scale of location map.
(j)
Streets on and adjacent to the site with legal and ultimate
rights-of-way, cartway widths and any existing easements.
(k)
Existing contours and proposed finished grades measured at vertical
intervals of one foot.
(l)
A delineation of the limits of work and the areas to remain
undisturbed, along with a statement, in square feet, of the total
site area and the disturbed area and all steep slope, floodplain areas
as defined in the Falls Township ordinances.
(m)
A delineation of areas reserved for proposed fill.
(n)
Established street grades (elevation). For plans prepared in
conjunction with preliminary subdivision and land development plans,
tentative street grades may be utilized.
(o)
Size, location and construction details of all existing and
proposed impervious ground cover, including but not limited to structures,
streets, parking areas and sidewalks.
(p)
Size, location and construction details of all existing and
proposed storm drainage facilities.
(q)
Estimated development schedule for the site, including:
[1]
Stripping and/or clearing.
[2]
Rough grading and construction.
[3]
Installation of improvements, including streets, underground
utilities, buildings, driveways, parking areas, and other structures
and facilities.
[4]
Final grading and vegetation establishment.
[5]
Maintenance, including disposal of materials removed from the
control facilities.
(3)
Plans and written procedures for minimizing erosion and sedimentation
in conformity with any regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4)
Plans and supporting calculations detailing proposed stormwater drainage
and stormwater management systems required by regulations adopted
pursuant to the Falls Township code.
C.
The Township Engineer may waive the requirements for any and all
plans and specifications listed above if he finds that the information
on the application is sufficient to show that the work contemplated
will conform to the provisions of this chapter.
D.
Any plans for earth disturbance activity involving less than one
acre may require a review by the Bucks County Soil Conservation District.
In all other instances where the extent of proposed earth disturbance
activity is one acre or more, the applicant must obtain the following:
E.
The applicant for an earth disturbance permit shall pay a fee with
the application for each site as set forth in the Township Schedule
of Fees established by the Board of Supervisors. The fees required
may cover:
(1)
Administrative/clerical costs.
(2)
Review of the earth disturbance permit plan by the Township Engineer.
(3)
Site inspections, including but not limited to preconstruction meetings,
inspections during construction and final inspection upon completion
of the construction performed in conjunction with the earth disturbance
permit.
(4)
Any additional work required to monitor and enforce any provisions
of this chapter, correct violations, and assure proper completion
of stipulated remedial actions.
F.
Application review period.
(1)
The Township Engineer shall review all earth disturbance permit applications, submitted as required by § 122-4 of this chapter, and take final action within 30 days of a determination that the application is complete.
(2)
If the Township Engineer determines that the earth disturbance permit
application does not comply with this chapter, he shall advise applicant
in writing of the deficiencies. All necessary revisions shall be made
by the applicant and the application shall be resubmitted to the Township
Engineer.
A.
Adequate rights-of-way and/or easements shall be provided to the
Township for all stormwater management, storm sewer facilities and
BMPs, as required by the Township. Minimum width of a storm sewer
easement shall be 20 feet.
B.
Detention basins and permanent lakes and ponds utilized for stormwater
management shall be accessible to a street to permit periodic maintenance,
and an access easement shall be provided to permit such access.
C.
Where stormwater or surface water will be gathered within the site
and discharged or drained in volume over lands within or beyond the
boundaries of the site, the applicant or owner shall reserve or obtain
easements over all lands affected thereby; which easements shall be
adequate for discharge or drainage and for the carrying off of such
water and for the maintenance, repair and reconstruction of the same
by vehicles, machinery and other equipment for such purposes, and
which shall be sufficient width for such passage and work. The applicant
or owner shall convey, free of charge or cost, such easements to the
Township upon demand.
D.
To the fullest extent possible, stormwater and drainage easements
shall be centered on or adjacent to rear or side lot lines.
E.
No structure or plantings, except for a lawn or herbaceous plantings,
i.e., sedges, rushes, etc., shall be set or put within the area of
a stormwater or drainage easement without prior approval of the Township.
F.
Where a site is traversed by a watercourse, there shall be provided
a drainage easement or right-of-way conforming substantially with
the line of such watercourse and of such width as will be adequate
to preserve natural drainage and adjacent riparian vegetation but
not less than 50 feet, or as may be required or directed by the Township
Engineer. The applicant or owner shall properly grade and seed slopes
and fence any open ditches when it is deemed necessary by the Township
Engineer.
G.
The Township Board of Supervisors reserves the right to require an
access easement to and over stormwater management systems and facilities
in a form acceptable to the Township Solicitor.
H.
All easements must be documented in the form of an easement agreement,
approved by the Township Solicitor and recorded at the Office of the
Recorder of Deeds in and for Bucks County.
Every earth disturbance permit shall expire and become null
and void if the work authorized by such permit has not been commenced
within six months or is not completed within one year from the date
of issue, provided that the Township Engineer may, if the permit holder
presents satisfactory evidence that unusual circumstances have prevented
work being started or completed within the specified time limits,
grant reasonable extensions of time, and provided that the application
for extension of time is made before the date of expiration of the
permit.
A.
The Township Engineer shall deny an earth disturbance permit where,
in his opinion, the work as proposed by the applicant may endanger
any property or any street or alley or fails to meet Township standards.
In determining whether the proposed work is likely to endanger any
property or streets or alleys, or create hazardous conditions, the
Township Engineer shall give due consideration to possible saturation
by rains, earth movements, runoff of surface waters, and subsurface
conditions such as the stratification and faulting of rock and the
nature and type of the soil or rock.
A.
Whenever sedimentation is caused by an earth disturbance activity,
it shall be the responsibility of the person causing such sedimentation
to remove it from all affected surfaces, drainage systems and watercourses,
on site and off site, and to repair any damage at his expense immediately.
B.
All stormwater management facilities and systems, including but not
limited to retention and detention basins and BMPs designed and constructed
for the purposes specified under this chapter, shall be maintained
in proper working order in accordance with those design plans filed
with the Township Engineer and shall be the responsibility of the
property owner(s) upon whose property the facilities are located.
In the case of a subdivision and/or land development, the Township
may approve a homeowners' association or the execution of restrictive
covenants to provide for the maintenance of the stormwater management
facilities and systems and BMPs. All entities that own and maintain
stormwater management facilities shall enter into an operation and
maintenance agreement with the Township, in form and substance acceptable
to the Township Solicitor.
C.
In order to ensure proper maintenance and function of stormwater
management facilities and BMPs, the Township Engineer or his designee
will perform inspections carried out in accordance with the operation
and maintenance agreement.
D.
If at any time the Township Engineer or his designee discovers any
violation or condition not conforming with those designs and plans
filed with the Township in regard to the operation of a stormwater
management facility or a BMP, he shall notify the responsible persons
of the violation, informing them of the nature of such violation and
the manner in which it shall be corrected.
E.
It shall be unlawful to alter or remove any permanent stormwater
BMP required by an approved earth disturbance permit or BMP operations
and maintenance plan, or to allow the property to remain in a condition
which does not conform to an approved minor earth disturbance permit
or BMP operations and maintenance plan, unless an exception is granted
in writing by the Township.
F.
In the event the person shall refuse or neglect to comply with the
provisions of this chapter or the requirements of the Township Engineer,
and noncompliance is creating a danger to the health, safety and welfare
of the community, the Board of Supervisors may take appropriate measures
to correct the violation and assess all expenses of such measures
against the person. The Board of Supervisors may seek reimbursement
by any means permitted by law.
G.
Responsibilities for operation and maintenance of BMPs.
(1)
The operations and maintenance agreement for the project site shall
establish responsibilities for the continuing operation and maintenance
of all permanent stormwater BMPs.
(2)
An as-built survey of all stormwater BMPs must be submitted to the
Township in paper and digital (dwg) formats for all BMP operations
and maintenance plans.
H.
Operations and maintenance agreement for privately owned stormwater
BMPs.
(1)
Any regulated earth disturbance activity requires the property owner to sign an operations and maintenance agreement with the Township addressing all stormwater BMPs that are to be privately owned. The format of the agreement shall be consistent with the sample agreement set forth as Appendix C to Chapter 187 of the Falls Township Code.
(2)
Other items may be included in the agreement where determined necessary
to guarantee the satisfactory operation and maintenance of all permanent
stormwater BMPs. The agreement shall be subject to the review and
approval of the Township.
A.
The Township Engineer, or his authorized representative, shall make
the inspections hereinafter required and shall either approve that
portion of the work which has been completed or notify the permit
holder wherein the same fails to comply with the provisions of this
chapter. Where it is found by inspection that the soil or other conditions
are not as stated or shown in the application, the Township Engineer
may refuse to approve further work until approval is obtained for
a revised earth disturbance plan.
B.
Plans for the earth disturbance activity, as approved by the Township
Engineer, shall be maintained at the site during the progress of the
grading work and until the work has been completed.
C.
The permit holder shall notify the Township Engineer in order to
obtain inspections in accordance with the following schedule and at
least 48 hours before the inspection is to be made:
(1)
Initial inspection: when work on the excavation or fill is about
to be commenced.
(2)
Rough grading: when all rough grading has been completed.
(3)
Drainage facilities: when drainage facilities are to be installed
and before such facilities are backfilled.
(4)
BMPs: when BMPs are to be installed and before such facilities are
backfilled.
(5)
Special structures: when excavations are complete for retaining and
crib walls and when reinforcing steel is in place and before concrete
is poured.
(6)
Final inspection: when all work, including the installation of all
drainage and other structures, has been completed.
D.
If at any stage of the work the Township Engineer shall determine
by inspection that the nature of the excavation or fill activities
are such that further work, as authorized by an existing permit, is
likely to endanger property or streets or alleys or create hazardous
conditions, the Township Engineer may require as a condition to allowing
the work to be done that such reasonable safety precautions be taken
as the Township Engineer considers advisable to avoid such likelihood
of danger. Safety precautions may include but shall not be limited
to specifying a flatter exposed slope, construction of additional
drainage facilities, berms, terracing, compaction or cribbing.
E.
Right of entry.
(1)
Upon presentation of proper credentials, duly authorized representatives
of the Township may enter at reasonable times upon any property within
the Township to inspect the implementation, condition, or operation
and maintenance of the stormwater BMPs in regard to any aspect governed
by this chapter.
(2)
BMP owners and operators shall allow persons working on behalf of
the Township ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes
of determining compliance with this chapter.
(3)
Persons working on behalf of the Township shall have the right to
temporarily locate, on any BMP in the Township, such devices as are
necessary to conduct monitoring and/or sampling of the discharges
from such BMPs.
(4)
Unreasonable delays in allowing the Township access to a BMP is a
violation of this chapter.
A.
Any permit issued under this chapter may be revoked or suspended
by the Township for:
(1)
Violation of any condition of the permit.
(2)
Violation of any provision of this chapter or any other applicable
law, ordinance, rule or regulation relating to the work.
(3)
Existence of any condition or the doing of any act constituting or
creating a nuisance, hazard or endangering human life or the property
of others.
B.
Before such revocation, the Township Engineer shall if possible first
give written notice to the permit holder and to the owner of the property
involved, specifying the defective condition and stating that unless
such defective condition is remedied satisfactorily, within a specified
time, the grading certificate may be revoked. If the defective condition
is remedied, the certificate shall not be revoked.
A.
Bond required. The Township Engineer may, before issuing a permit,
require a performance bond in a form and amount satisfactory to him
and approved by the Township Solicitor, conditioned upon the faithful
performance of the runoff, erosion control measures, BMPs and other
conditions specified in the permit within the times specified, or
within any extension thereof granted by the Township Engineer, in
the amount of 110% of the total estimated cost of all runoff, erosion
and sediment control measures, BMPs and safeguards of adjoining properties
or, in the alternative, the posting of a letter of credit or deposit
of funds equal to 110% of the cost of measures pursuant to a security
agreement. No portion of said funds may be released except upon order
of the owner, occupier, homeowners' association and the Township Engineer,
or a designated official of the Township of Falls, for payment of
the cost of labor, material and other costs of the installation of
the aforesaid improvements. In the event that the owner, occupier
or homeowners' association should fail to complete the improvements
within a prescribed period of time, the Township shall have the right
to demand and receive from the escrow account the amount then remaining
in the escrow fund.
B.
Default.
(1)
Whenever the Township Engineer shall find that a default has occurred
in the performance of any term or condition of the permit or bond,
written notice thereof shall be given to the principal and to the
surety of the bond. Such notice shall state the work to be done, the
estimated cost thereof and the period of time deemed by the Township
Engineer to be reasonably necessary for the completion of such work.
(2)
In the event of any default in the performance of any term or condition
of the permit or the bond, Falls Township, the surety or any person
employed or engaged on his behalf shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to go upon the site to complete the required work or make
it safe.
(3)
In the event the Township of Falls undertakes the work with the funds
from the escrow fund, such escrow funds shall be used to pay the cost
of contracting, including engineering and administration, for restoration
of the site to meet the requirements of the permit. If the cost of
the work exceeds the amount of the escrow fund or performance bond,
the permittee shall continue to be firmly bound under a continuing
obligation for payment of all excess costs and expenses incurred by
the Township.
(4)
The Township Engineer shall submit a bill for all such excess costs
and expenses to the Township. All such excess costs and expenses incurred
by the Township shall be a personal obligation of the permittee and
shall be a lien upon the premises. Whenever a bill therefor remains
unpaid for a period of 60 days after it has been rendered by the Township
Engineer, the Township Solicitor may file a municipal claim or commence
action for collection of such costs and expenses in the manner provided
by law for the collection of debts and municipal claims.
C.
Return of the bond. The performance bond, letter of credit, or escrow
fund shall remain in force and effect until it is found that the work
authorized by the permit has been satisfactorily completed in accordance
with the requirements imposed upon final inspection of all earth-disturbing
or site-improvement work. At such time, the Township Engineer will
certify that the work is approved, and the performance bond, letter
of credit, or escrow fund shall be returned to the applicant.
D.
Liability insurance.
(1)
If, in the opinion of the Township Engineer, the nature of the work
is such that it may create a hazard to human life or endanger adjoining
property at a higher or lower elevation, or any street improvement,
or any other public property, then the Township Engineer may, as a
condition of approval, require that the applicant file a certificate
of insurance, prior to construction, showing that he is insured against
claims for damages for personal injury, bodily injury and property
damage, including damage to the Township of Falls, by deposit or washing
of material onto municipal streets or other public improvements (which
may arise from or out of the performance of the work, whether such
performance is by himself, his subcontractor or any person directly
or indirectly employed by or for him), in limits prescribed by the
Township in accordance with the nature of the risks involved but not
less than $1,000,000 bodily injury and $500,000 property damage, and
including the Township as an additional insured. Such insurance shall
be written by a company licensed to do business in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
(2)
Neither issuance of the permit nor compliance with the provisions
hereto or any condition imposed by the Township Engineer shall relieve
any person from any responsibility for damage to persons or property
otherwise imposed by law, nor impose any liability upon the Township
of Falls or its officers and employees for damage to persons or property.
A.
Prohibited discharges.
(1)
No person in the Township shall allow, or cause to allow, stormwater discharges into the Township's storm sewer system which are not composed entirely of stormwater, except as provided in Subsection A(2), below, and discharges allowed under a state or federal permit.
(2)
Discharges which may be permitted, based on a finding by the Township
that the discharge(s) do not significantly contribute to pollution
to surface waters of the Commonwealth, are:
(a)
Discharges from fire-fighting activities.
(b)
Potable water sources, including dechlorinated waterline and
fire hydrant flushings.
(c)
Irrigation drainage.
(d)
Routine external building wash down (which does not use detergents
or other compounds).
(e)
Air conditioning condensate.
(f)
Water from individual residential car washing.
(g)
Springs.
(h)
Water from crawl-space pumps.
(i)
Uncontaminated water from foundation or from footing drains.
(j)
Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands.
(k)
Lawn watering.
(l)
Pavement wash waters where spills or leaks of toxic or hazardous
materials have not occurred (unless all spill material has been removed)
and where detergents are not used.
(m)
Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges.
(n)
Uncontaminated groundwater.
(3)
In the event that the Township determines that any of the discharges identified in Subsection A(2) significantly contribute to pollution of waters of the commonwealth, or if so notified by DEP, the Township will notify the responsible person to cease the discharge.
(4)
Upon notice provided by the Township under Subsection A(3), the discharger will have a reasonable time, as determined by the Township, to cease the discharge consistent with the degree of pollution caused by the discharge.
(5)
Nothing in this section shall affect a discharger's responsibilities
under state law.
B.
Prohibited connections. The following connections are prohibited; except as provided in Subsection A(2), above:
(1)
Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which
allows any non-stormwater discharge, including sewage, process wastewater,
and wash water, to enter the storm sewer system, and any connections
to the storm drain system from indoor drains and sinks.
(2)
Any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial
land use to the storm sewer system which has not been documented in
plans, maps or equivalent records and approved by the Township.
C.
Roof drains.
(1)
Roof drains shall generally not be connected to streets, sanitary
or storm sewers or roadside ditches.
(2)
When it is more advantageous to connect directly to streets or storm
sewers, connections of roof drains to streets or roadway drainage
facilities may be permitted by the Township.
(3)
Roof drains shall discharge to infiltration areas or vegetative BMPs
to the maximum extent practicable.
D.
Alteration of BMPs.
(1)
No person shall modify, remove, fill, landscape or alter any existing
stormwater BMP, unless it is part of an approved maintenance program,
without the written approval of the Township.
(2)
No person shall place any structure, fill, landscaping or vegetation
into a stormwater BMP or within a drainage easement which would limit
or alter the functioning of the BMP, without the written approval
of the Township.
A.
No person shall construct, enlarge, alter, repair or maintain any
grading, excavation or fill, or cause the same to be done, contrary
to or in violation of any provision of this chapter or any permit
granted hereunder.
B.
Whenever the Township finds that a person has violated a prohibition
or failed to meet a requirement of this chapter, the Township may
order compliance by written notice to the responsible person. Such
notice may require without limitation:
(1)
The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting.
(2)
The elimination of prohibited connections or discharges.
(3)
Cessation of any violating discharges, practices, or operations.
(4)
The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination
hazards and the restoration of any affected property.
(5)
Payment of a fine to cover administrative and remediation costs.
(6)
The implementation of stormwater BMPs.
(7)
Operation and maintenance of stormwater BMPs.
C.
Such notification shall set forth the nature of the violation(s)
and establish a time limit for correction of these violation(s). Said
notice may further advise that, if applicable, should the violator
fail to take the required action within the established deadline,
the work will be done by the Township or designee and the expense
thereof shall be charged to the violator.
D.
Failure to comply within the time specified shall also subject such
person to the penalty provisions of this chapter. All such penalties
shall be deemed cumulative and shall not prevent the Township from
pursuing any and all other remedies available in law or equity.
E.
Any building, grading or other permit or approval issued by the Township
may be suspended or revoked by the Township for:
(1)
Noncompliance with or failure to implement any provision of the permit.
(2)
A violation of any provision of this chapter.
(3)
The creation of any condition or the commission of any act during
construction or development which constitutes or creates a hazard
or nuisance, pollution, or which endangers the life or property of
others.
F.
A suspended permit shall be reinstated by the Township when:
G.
A permit which has been revoked by the Township cannot be reinstated.
The applicant may apply for a new permit under the procedures outlined
in this chapter.
H.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall,
upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed the maximum
fine of $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment
of such fine and costs of prosecution, imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 30 days; provided, however, that if the District Justice
determines that the defendant is without the financial means to pay
the fines and costs immediately or in a single remittance, such defendant
shall be permitted to pay the fines or costs in installations and
over such period so of time as the District Justice deems to be just.
I.
In addition, the Township, through its Solicitor, may institute injunctive,
mandamus or any other appropriate action or proceeding at law or in
equity for the enforcement of this chapter. Any court of competent
jurisdiction shall have the right to issue restraining orders, temporary
or permanent injunctions, mandamus or other appropriate forms of remedy
or relief.
Any person aggrieved by any action of the Township or its designee,
relevant to the provisions of this chapter, may appeal to the relevant
judicial or administrative body according to law, within the time
period allowed.