[1972 Code § 18A-1.1]
This Article shall be known as the "Piscataway Township Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance."
[1972 Code § 18A-1.2]
The purpose of this Article, is to control soil erosion sediment damage and related environmental damage by requiring adequate provisions for surface water retention and drainage and for the protection of exposed soil surfaces in order to promote the safety, public health, convenience and general welfare of the community.
[1972 Code § 18A-2.1]
For the purpose of this Article certain rules of word usage apply to the text as follows:
a. 
Words used in the present tense include the future tense; and the singular includes the plural, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary.
b. 
The term "shall" is always mandatory and not discretionary; the word "may" is permissive.
c. 
The word or term not interpreted or defined by this section shall be used with a meaning of common or standard utilization.
[1972 Code § 18A-2]
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this Article, unless otherwise specifically stated:
APPLICANT
Shall mean a person, partnership, corporation or public agency requesting permission to engage in land disturbance activity.
CRITICAL AREA
Shall mean a sediment-producing, highly erodible or severely eroded area.
EROSION
Shall mean detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice and gravity.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
Shall mean a plan which fully indicates necessary land treatment measures, including a schedule of the timing for their installation, which will effectively minimize soil erosion and sedimentation. Such measures shall be in accordance with standards as adopted by the State Soil Conservation Committee.
EXCAVATION or CUT
Shall mean any act by which soil or rock is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated.
LAND
Shall mean any ground, soil or earth, including marshes, swamps, drainageways and areas not permanently covered by water, within the municipality.
LAND DISTURBANCE
Shall mean any activity involving the clearing, grading, transporting, filling and any other activity which causes land to be exposed to the danger of erosion.
MULCHING
Shall mean the application of plant residue or other suitable materials to the land surface to conserve moisture, hold in place and aid in establishing plant cover.
PERMIT
Shall mean a certificate issued to perform work under this Article.
SEDIMENT
Shall mean solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported or has been moved from its site or origin by air, water or gravity as a product of erosion.
SEDIMENT BASIN
Shall mean a barrier or dam built at suitable locations to retain rock, sand, gravel, silt or other material.
SITE
Shall mean any plot, parcel or parcels of land.
SOIL
Shall mean all unconsolidated mineral and organic material of any origin.
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Shall mean a governmental subdivision of this State which encompasses this municipality, organized in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:24-17.1 et seq.
STANDARDS
Shall mean Standards for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control in New Jersey as promulgated by the State Soil Conservation Committee.
STATE SOIL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
Shall mean an agency of the State established in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 4:24-2.1 et seq.
STRIPPING
Shall mean any activity which significantly disturbs vegetated or otherwise stabilized soil surface, including clearing and grubbing operations.
[1972 Code § 18A-3.1]
No land area shall be disturbed by any person, partnership, corporation, municipal corporation or other public agency within this municipality unless the applicant has submitted to the Township Engineer a plan to provide for soil erosion and sediment control for such land area, in accordance with the standards, and such plan has been approved and a valid land disturbance permit has been issued by the Township Engineer, except as exempted by Section 26-29.
[1972 Code § 18A-3.2]
The applicant must submit a separate soil erosion and sediment control for each noncontiguous site. The applicant may consult with the Freehold Soil Conservation District in the selection of appropriate erosion and sediment control measures and the development of the plan. Such plan shall contain:
a. 
Location and description of existing natural and man-made features on and surrounding the site, including general topography and soil characteristics and a copy of the soil conservation district soil survey.
b. 
Location and description of proposed changes to the site.
c. 
Measures for soil erosion and sediment control which must meet or exceed the standards. The standards shall be on file at the offices of the local soil conservation district and the Township Clerk.
d. 
A schedule of the sequence of installation of planned erosion and sediment control measures as related to the progress of the project, including anticipated starting and completion dates.
e. 
All proposed revisions of data required shall be submitted for approval.
[1972 Code § 18A-3.3]
a. 
Soil erosion and sediment control plans shall be reviewed by the Township Engineer or his designee and approved when in conformance with the Standards for Erosion and Sediment Control.
b. 
Such review and approval shall be made within a period of 30 days of submission of a complete application unless, by mutual agreement in writing between the municipality and the applicant, this period is extended for an additional 30 days. Failure of the municipality to make a decision with such period or such extension thereof shall constitute certification. An approval shall expire three years from the date of certification.
c. 
The applicant shall be provided with written notice of such decision by the Township Engineer or his designee or other authorized municipal agent. A copy of such decision including name of applicant, site location by street address and block and lot number and proposed land use shall be sent to the Freehold Soil Conservation District. The municipality shall also make available such other information as may be required by the district.
d. 
The Township Engineer or his designee may seek the assistance of the Freehold Soil Conservation District in the review of such plans and may deem as approved those plans which have been reviewed and determined adequate by the district.
[1972 Code § 18A-4.1]
Control measures shall apply to all aspects of the proposed land disturbance and shall be in operation during all stages of the disturbance activity. The following principles shall apply to the soil erosion and sediment control plan:
a. 
Stripping of vegetation, grading or other soil disturbance shall be done in a manner which will minimize soil erosion.
b. 
Whenever feasible, natural vegetation shall be retained and protected.
c. 
The extent of the disturbed area and the duration of its exposure shall be kept within practical limits.
d. 
Either temporary seeding, mulching or other suitable stabilization measures shall be used to protect exposed critical areas during construction or other land disturbance.
e. 
Drainage provisions shall accommodate increased runoff resulting from modified soil and surface conditions, during and after development or disturbance. Such provisions shall be in addition to all existing requirements.
f. 
Water runoff shall be minimized and retained on site wherever possible to facilitate groundwater recharge.
g. 
Sediment shall be retained on site to the maximum extent feasible.
h. 
Diversions, sediment basins and similar required structures shall be installed prior to any on-site grading or disturbance.
[1972 Code § 18A-4.2]
All necessary soil erosion and sediment control measures installed under this chapter shall be adequately maintained for one year after completion of the approved plan or until such measures are permanently stabilized as determined by the Township Engineer or his designee. The Township Engineer or his designee shall, upon request, give the applicant a certificate indicating the date on which the measures called for in the approved plans were completed.
[1972 Code § 18A-4.3; Ord. No. 03-03; Ord. No. 12-22]
All fees for soil erosion and sediment control permits and such additional related fees shall be as set forth by the Freehold Soil Conservation District of New Jersey current fee schedule. The fee schedule may be found on file in the Township offices.
[1972 Code § 18A-4.4]
Any person, persons or legal entity who shall disturb any land area other than in accordance with an approved soil erosion and sediment control plan; or who, having commenced the disturbance of any land area in accordance with such approved plan, shall fail to complete the same within the time period provided for such plan; or who, being the owner or in control of land which has been disturbed in accordance with such approved plan, shall fail to maintain the same according to the grades approved by the plan or shall fail to maintain all of the measures, devices and plantings provided for in the plan in effective condition; or if any person violates any of the provisions of this act, any standard promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this act or fails to comply with the provisions of a certified plan, the municipality or the district may institute a civil action in the Superior Court for injunctive relief to prohibit and prevent such violation, and the court may proceed in a summary manner. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this act, any standard promulgated pursuant to this act or fails to comply with the provisions of a certified plan shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $25 nor more than $3,000 to be collected in a summary proceeding pursuant to the Penalty Enforcement Law (N.J.R.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.). The Superior Court, County Court, County District Court and Municipal Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce said Penalty Enforcement Law. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues shall constitute an additional separate and distinct offense. A formal report of such compliance must be filed with the municipal agent authorized to issue certificates of occupancy. A copy of this report shall be sent to the Freehold Soil Conservation District.
The municipality may issue a stop construction order if a project is not being executed in accordance with a certified plan.
No certificate of occupancy for a project shall be issued unless there has been compliance with the provisions of a certified plan for permanent measures to control soil erosion and sedimentation.
[1972 Code § 18A-4.5]
a. 
In addition to any other remedies, the municipality may institute any appropriate action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin or abate any violation of this Article.
b. 
Where the land is disturbed in violation of this Article and is part of land upon which a building or buildings are in the course of construction or are about to be constructed or about to be occupied, and if the safety, public health, convenience and general welfare of the community would not be adequately protected if any such building were permitted to be constructed, completed or occupied while such violation continues, then, and in any such instance, the Construction Official may, upon report of the Township Engineer or his designee as to such violation, refuse to issue a building permit for such buildings, stop the work upon any such buildings for which a building permit has been issued or refuse to issue a certificate of occupancy for any such buildings.
[1972 Code § 18A-5]
The following activities are specifically exempted from this Article:
a. 
Land disturbance of 5,000 square feet or less associated with existing one- and two-family dwellings.
b. 
Use of land for gardening primarily for home consumption.
c. 
Agricultural use of lands.
d. 
Emergency excavations.
[1972 Code § 18A-6]
The requirements of this Article shall be enforced by the Township Engineer or his designee, who shall also inspect or require adequate inspection of the work. If the Township Engineer or his designee finds existing conditions not as stated in the applicant's erosion and sediment control plan, he may refuse to approve further work and may require necessary erosion and sediment control measures to be promptly installed and may seek other penalties as provided in subsections 26-28.4 and 26-28.5.
[1972 Code § 18A-7]
Appeals from decisions under this Article may be made to the Township Council in writing within 10 days from the date of such decision. The appellant shall be entitled to a hearing before the Township Council within 30 days from the date of appeal.