For the purposes of this chapter, the 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 the feminine gender; and words of
feminine gender include the 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:
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.
The Storm Water Management Act, Act of October 4, 1978, P.L.
864, No. 167, as amended by the Act of May 24, 1984, No. 63, 32 P.S. §§ 680.1
et seq.
Activities associated with agriculture such as agricultural
cultivation, agricultural operation, and animal heavy use areas. This
includes the work of producing crops and raising livestock including
tillage, land clearing, plowing, disking, harrowing, planting, harvesting
crops, or pasturing and raising of livestock and installation of Conservation
Practices. Except for high tunnels that are exempt pursuant to the
provisions of Act 15 of 2018,[1] construction of new buildings or impervious areas are
not considered an agricultural activity.
A barnyard, feedlot, loafing area, exercise lots, or other
similar animal confinement areas that will not maintain a growing
crop, or where deposited manure nitrogen is in excess of crop needs,
but excluding areas managed as pastures or other cropland, and pasture
access ways, if they do not cause direct flow of nutrients to surface
water or groundwater.
A landowner, developer or other person who has filed an application
for development or for approval to engage in any regulated earth disturbance
activity at a project site in the Township.
Drawings showing the stormwater management system of a site
as built, created after the completion of construction and intended
for use as a permanent record of the stormwater management system.
Activities, facilities, designs, measures or procedures used
to manage stormwater impacts from regulated development 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 perceptible natural or artificial waterway which periodically
or continuously contains moving water or which forms a connecting
link between two bodies of water, having a definite bed and banks
which confine the water.
Title 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control.
Title 25 Pa. Code Chapter 105, Dam Safety and Water Management.
A sewer system designed to serve as both a sanitary sewer
and storm sewer.
The Westmoreland Conservation District (WCD), 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.
A plan written by an NRCS- or SCS-certified planner that
identifies conservation practices and includes site-specific BMPs
for agricultural plowing or tilling activities and animal concentration
areas.
Practices installed on agricultural lands to improve farmland,
soil and/or water quality which have been identified in a current
conservation plan.
An intermittent flow or other untreated discharge from a
municipal combined sewer system (including domestic, industrial and
commercial wastewater and stormwater) which results from a flow in
excess of the dry weather carrying capacity of the system.
A closed conduit for the free passage of surface drainage
under a highway, railroad, canal or other embankment.
A stormwater management project on an alternative site or
sites within the same watershed as the proposed development that will
provide equal or better achievement of the purpose of the ordinance
and will not substantially or permanently impair the appropriate use
or development of adjacent property. Examples include: stream bank
stabilization, creation or enhancement of riparian buffers, removal
of existing impervious surfaces and establishment of "green" easements,
installation of stormwater management and water quality facilities,
etc.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
See "storm frequency."
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 pond, basin, reservoir or underground system constructed
to impound or retard surface runoff temporarily.
A person that seeks to undertake or undertakes the activities
associated with changes in land use or seeks to undertake or undertakes
any regulated earth disturbance activities at a project site in the
Township. The term "developer" includes, but is not limited to, the
term subdivider, owner, builder or another person with a similar interest
in the project, even though the person involved in successive stages
of a project may change or vary.
An "earth disturbance activity," as herein defined, and any
activity, construction, alteration, change in land use or practice
that affects stormwater runoff characteristics. The term also includes
redevelopment.
The specific tract of land where any development or earth
disturbance activities in the Township are planned, conducted, undertaken
or maintained.
The flow or rate of flow from a canal, conduit, channel or
other hydraulic structure.
A land area where an earth disturbance activity is occurring
or has occurred.
In general, the removal of surface water from a given area
commonly applied to surface water and groundwater.
Any of the following activities:
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, land development,
building construction, oil and gas activities, well drilling, mineral
extraction, and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of
soil, rock or earth materials.
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.
The process by which land, including channels, is worn away
by water, wind, or chemical action.
A plan for a project site which identifies BMPs to minimize
accelerated erosion and sedimentation of land.
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.
Materials and/or vegetation covering the ground surface.
Subsurface water occupying the saturation zone, from which
wells and springs are fed.
Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies.
A structure which meets the following:
Is used for the production, processing, keeping, storing, sale
or shelter of an agricultural commodity as defined in Section 2 of
the Act of December 19, 1974 (P.L. 973, No. 319), known as the "Pennsylvania
Farmland and Forestland Assessment Act of 1974," 72 P.S. § 5490.2,
or for the storage of agricultural equipment and supplies; and
Areas where land use or activities generate highly contaminated
runoff, with concentrations of pollutants that are higher than those
typically found in stormwater (e.g., vehicle salvage yards and recycling
facilities, vehicle fueling stations, fleet storage areas, vehicle
equipment and cleaning facilities, vehicle service and maintenance
facilities, and certain industrial/commercial activity areas).
Soils whose infiltration rates vary widely and are affected
by subsurface permeability as well as surface intake rates. Soils
of this type 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.
Soils in the development site may be identified from a soil survey
report obtained from local NRCS offices or conservation district offices.
Soils become less permeable as the HSG varies from A to D (NRCS1,2).
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, gravel areas, and driveway areas are counted as impervious
areas if they directly prevent infiltration.
Any of the following activities:
Any of the following activities:
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts
or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
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.
The division or allocation of land or space, whether initially
or cumulatively, between or among two or more existing or prospective
occupants by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas,
leaseholds, condominiums, building groups or other features.
A subdivision of land.
Any activity involving the changing, grading, transportation,
fill and any other activity which causes land to be exposed to the
danger of erosion.
Site design approaches and small-scale stormwater management
practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration,
evapotranspiration, and reuse of rainwater. LID can be applied to
new development, urban retrofits, and revitalization projects. LID
utilizes design techniques that infiltrate, filter, evaporate, and
store runoff close to its source. Rather than rely on costly large-scale
conveyance and treatment systems, LID addresses stormwater through
a variety of small, cost-effective landscape features located on site.
The upkeep necessary for efficient operation of physical
properties.
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with
drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters,
ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains):
Owned or operated by a state, city, town, township, county,
parish, district, association, authority or other public body (created
by or pursuant to state law), including special districts under state
law such as a sewer district, flood control district or drainage district,
or similar entity, or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal
organization, or a designated and approved management agency under
Section 208 of the Clean Water Act that discharges into waters of
the United States;
Designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater;
Which is not a combined sewer; and
Which is not part of a publicly owned treatment works (POTW)
as defined at 40 CFR 122.2.
Act 247 of 1968, as amended by Act 170 of 1988, 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq.
Unity Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Plant species that have historically grown in Pennsylvania
and are not invasive species, controlled plants or noxious weeds as
defined by PA DCNR, or PA Department of Agriculture.
A watershed where natural surface configurations, runoff
characteristics and defined drainage conveyances have attained the
conditions of equilibrium.
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.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously Soil Conservation
Service).
A "point source" as described in 40 CFR 122.2 at the point
where the Township storm sewer system discharges to surface waters
of the commonwealth. Also, the point, location or structure where
drainage discharges from a sewer, drain or other conduit as well as
the conduit leading to the ultimate discharge point.
The means of controlling the relationship between the head
water elevation and the discharge, placed at the outlet or downstream
end of any structure through which water may flow.
Flooding that occurs for a variety of reasons all stemming
from excessive stormwater runoff, including too much rain in too little
time, added impervious development, change in land use, malfunction
or clogging of existing stormwater systems.
The maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm
event.
Maximum flow.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
A standard which establishes an end result or outcome which
is to be achieved but does not prescribe specific means for achieving
it.
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 having 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.
Any material or surface that allows water to pass through
at a rate equal to or greater than natural ground cover.
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 § 92.1.[2]
A plan required by the MS4 permit to calculate existing pollutants
of concern and the minimum reduction in loading from stormwater discharges,
and to select the best management practices to achieve the minimum
reductions.
The specific area of land where any development or regulated
earth disturbance activities in the Township are planned, conducted,
undertaken or maintained.
Any person licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of State
or otherwise qualified under Pennsylvania law to perform the work
required by this chapter.
Earth disturbance activities on land which has previously
been disturbed or developed.
Any earth disturbance activities, or any activities that involve the change of land cover, alteration or development of land in a manner that may affect stormwater runoff as listed in the Regulated Development Activity Table. This includes earth disturbance on any portion of, part, or during any stage of a larger common plan of development. With regard to road maintenance activities, the term only includes activities involving one acre or more of earth disturbance. Reference should be made to the Regulated Development Activity Table in Article III of this chapter.
The percentage of existing conditions peak rate of runoff
from a site or subarea to which the proposed conditions peak rate
of runoff must be reduced to protect downstream areas.
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.
Any activity that involves withdrawing materials from the
natural environment.
A pond or 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 immediately
after a storm event.
The average interval in years over which an event of a given
magnitude can be expected to recur.
A permanent area of native vegetation, including herbaceous
material, shrubs and/or trees, located adjacent to streams, lakes,
ponds and wetlands.
Earth disturbance activities within the existing road cross
section, such as grading and repairing existing unpaved road surfaces,
cutting road banks, cleaning or clearing drainage ditches and other
similar activities.
That part of precipitation which 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.
All population, housing and territory not included within
an urban, or urbanized, area as determined from the latest U.S. Census
Bureau data.
Chapter 104, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of Unity Township, as may be amended from time to time hereafter.
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.
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated
or deposited by moving water, wind or gravity.
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. Reference may be made to "MS4" above
for additional details.
Regulated development activities that, measured on a cumulative
basis from five years prior to the application, create additional
impervious areas of more than 1,000 square feet and less than 3,000
square feet or involve earth disturbance activity of an area less
than 5,000 square feet and do not involve the alteration of stormwater
facilities or watercourses.
As defined under state regulations, protection of designated and existing uses (see 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 25 Pa. Code 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 25 Pa. Code 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 stream bank, streambed
and structural integrity of the waterway to prevent these impacts.
Any surface or sub-surface facility that stores stormwater
runoff, see "detention basin" and "retention basin."
The average interval in years over which a storm event of
a given precipitation volume can be expected to occur. 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".
A sewer that carries intercepted surface runoff, street water
and other drainage but excludes domestic sewage and industrial waste.
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from
precipitation or snow or ice melt.
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.
A constructed measure for detention, retention, infiltration
and water quality treatment of stormwater runoff.
An area designated by the Watershed Stormwater Performance
District Map which includes standards for stormwater rate, volume
and water quality. Refer to Appendix A.[3]
The plan for managing stormwater runoff rate, volume and
water quality as required by the Storm Water Management Act, 32 P.S. § 680.1
et seq.
As defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247, 53 P.S. § 10101
et seq., as amended.
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface
water runoff.
An area that is densely populated and/or is significantly
built upon with buildings, pavement, and other man-made features.
Urban (or urbanized) areas are defined in the latest U.S. Census Bureau
data.
United States Department of Agriculture.
A channel or conveyance of surface water, such as a run,
stream or creek, having defined bed and banks, whether natural or
artificial, with perennial or intermittent flow.
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 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 Pennsylvania DEP and approved by the Environmental
Quality Board for which counties are required to develop watershed
stormwater management plans.
The plan for managing stormwater runoff throughout a designated
watershed as required by the Pennsylvania Storm Water Management Act
(Act 167), 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq.
Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water 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 32 P.S. § 680.1 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: The term "point source" is defined in 25 Pa.
Code § 96.1.
[3]
Editor's Note: Appendix A, Stormwater Performance District Maps, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
