As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
CALIPER
The diameter of a tree trunk measured in inches, six inches
above ground level for trees up to four inches at DBH and 12 inches
above ground level for trees over four inches at DBH. Diameter should
be measured using a tree caliper, a diameter tape or a Biltmore stick.
CLEAR-CUTTING
Removing all, or a majority of, trees from the area logged.
COMPLETE APPLICATION
Submittal of all forms, information and plans as required
for the review and/or issuance of a timber harvesting permit.
CUTTING BLOCK
An area of property to be logged, approximately 10 to 15
acres in size, depicting the phase number, defined by natural boundaries
and determined by a professional forester.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH)
The diameter of a tree is measured at a height of 4.5 feet
above the ground, on the uphill side of the stem, using a tree caliper,
a diameter tape or a Biltmore stick.
DIAMETER LIMIT CUTTING
The practice of cutting all and only all trees above a certain
diameter within the area logged.
DRIPLINE
The outside edge of the area located directly beneath the
canopy of a plant upon which rain is intercepted before it falls to
the ground.
FELLING
The act of cutting a standing tree so that it falls to the
ground.
FORESTRY OPERATOR
An individual, partnership, company, firm, association or
corporation engaged in timber harvesting, including the agents, subcontractors
and employees thereof.
HAUL ROAD
A constructed road of dirt and/or gravel utilized for moving
cut trees from the point where they are loaded on a truck to exit
from the site.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATION
The submittal of an application determined by the Township
Zoning Officer to not contain all the required information for the
review and/or issuance of a timber harvesting permit.
LANDING
The place where logs, pulpwood or firewood are assembled
for transportation to a processing facility.
LANDOWNER
The legal or beneficial owner or owners of land.
LANDSCAPING
The design, location, planting and removal of vegetation
on a lot by a landowner for the purposes of achieving a desirable
appearance.
LITTER
Discarded items not naturally occurring on the site.
PERSONAL USE
A good, product or resource used for personal consumption
and not in a trade or business.
PRECOMMERCIAL STAND IMPROVEMENT
A forest practice such as thinning or pruning that results
in better growth, structure, species composition or health for the
residual stand but that does not yield a net income to the landowner.
PROFESSIONAL FORESTER
A person who has earned a four-year college degree in forest
management, is registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
and can demonstrate expertise in environmentally sound forest management/timber
harvesting practices.
SKID ROAD
An improved road that is used by forestry equipment to transport
felled trees to the landing site and can be used by other vehicles.
SKID TRAIL
A path traveled by ground skidding equipment while moving
trees or logs to a landing.
SKIDDING
The dragging of trees on the ground from the stump to the
landing by any means.
SLASH
All debris resulting from timber harvesting operations, including
stems, limbs and parts thereof. "Tops" shall be the word used to refer
to the upper portion of a felled tree not normally merchantable. Typically,
a "top" becomes part of the "slash" produced by a timber harvesting
operation.
STAND
Any area of forest vegetation whose site conditions, past
history and current species composition are sufficiently uniform to
be managed as a unit.
STUMP
The base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree
has been felled.
THINNING
The systematic removal of selected trees to improve the health
and growth of the residual stand.
TIMBER HARVESTING
The act of cutting/harvesting live or dead trees for cordwood,
for timber, for pulp or for any commercial purpose, excepting therefrom
a landowner and/or any agent of a landowner cutting on the property
of the landowner for the use solely of the landowner, any properly
approved clearing for development of building sites or clearing for
farming operations. A landowner who cuts/harvests trees or permits
such cutting/harvesting of trees upon the landowner's property
for other than the landowner's own use is a person engaging in
timber harvesting and in a timber harvesting operation. A timber harvesting
operation shall include the acts of tree harvesting, site cleanup
and site restoration.
TIMBER HARVESTING OPERATION
The process of cutting down trees or removing logs from the
forest for the primary purpose of sale or commercial processing into
wood products.
TIMBER HARVESTING PLAN
A plan prepared by a surveyor and so certified providing
all the information as required.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Ross, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Township, the designee
of the Township Manager, and/or the designee of the Township Board
of Commissioners charged with enforcement of the Township's codes
and ordinances.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
A professional engineer licensed as such in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, duly appointed by the Board of Commissioners to serve
as the engineer for the Township.
TOWNSHIP FORESTER
A professional forester retained by the Township Board of
Commissioners.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL
Any Township elected official, Manager, Director of Community
Development, Zoning Officer/Administrator, Building Code Official,
Fire Marshal, or Code Enforcement Officer.
TOWNSHIP ZONING ADMINISTRATOR/OFFICER
The authorized official of the municipality as designated
by the Board of Commissioners to administer the provisions of the
Township Subdivision and Land Development and Zoning Ordinances and
the Code of Ordinances. For purposes of the Township, the Zoning Administrator/Officer
shall be considered the Planning Director as defined in the PA Municipalities
Planning Code.
TREE
Any self-supporting woody plant, not less than a two-inch
caliper.
TREE MAINTENANCE
An operation performed on a tree for the removal of any branches,
alive, diseased, or dead, to prevent or suppress diseases or to balance
or shape the tree for any reason.
TREE PROTECTION ZONE
An area that is radial to the trunk of a tree in which no
construction activity shall occur. The zone shall be at least five
feet beyond the dripline of the tree. Where there is a group of trees
or woodlands, the zone shall be the aggregate of the protection zones
of the trees.
TREETOP
The upper portion of a felled tree that is not merchantable
because of small size, taper or defect.
VEGETATION
Trees, shrubs, ground cover and other plants that stabilize
the soil.