A.
For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms and words used herein shall be interpreted as follows:
(1)
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 feminine gender; and words of feminine gender include masculine gender.
(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. AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY APPLICANT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP) CAPTURE CONSERVATION DISTRICT DEP DESIGN STORM DETENTION VOLUME DEVELOPMENT SITE (SITE) DISCONNECTED IMPERVIOUS AREA (DIA) DISTURBED AREA EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY EROSION EXISTING CONDITION FEMA FLOODPLAIN FLOODWAY FOREST MANAGEMENT/TIMBER OPERATIONS GEOTEXTILE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE HOTSPOT HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP (HSG) IMPERVIOUS SURFACE (IMPERVIOUS AREA) INFILTRATION KARST LAND DEVELOPMENT (DEVELOPMENT) LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) MUNICIPALITY NRCS PEAK DISCHARGE PERVIOUS SURFACE (PERVIOUS AREA) PROJECT SITE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL REGULATED ACTIVITIES REGULATED EARTH DISTURBANCE ACTIVITY RETENTION VOLUME/REMOVED RUNOFF RETURN PERIOD RIPARIAN BUFFER RUNOFF SEDIMENT SMALL PROJECT STATE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS STORMWATER STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SITE PLAN SUBDIVISION USDA VOID RATIO WATERS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH WATERSHED WETLAND
These definitions do not necessarily reflect the definitions contained in pertinent regulations or statutes, and are intended for this chapter only.
Activities associated with agriculture such as agricultural cultivation, agricultural operation, and animal heavy use areas. This includes the work of producing crops including tillage, land clearing, plowing, disking, harrowing, planting, harvesting crops, or pasturing and raising of livestock and installation of conservation measures. Construction of new buildings or impervious area is not considered an agricultural activity.
A landowner, developer or other person who has filed an application to the municipality for approval to engage in any regulated activity at a project site in the municipality.
Activities, facilities, designs, measures or procedures used to manage stormwater impacts from regulated activities, to meet state water quality requirements, to promote groundwater recharge and to otherwise meet the purposes of this chapter. Stormwater BMPs are commonly grouped into one of two broad categories or measures: "structural" or "nonstructural." In this chapter, nonstructural BMPs or measures refer to operational and/or behavior-related practices that attempt to minimize the contact of pollutants with stormwater runoff whereas structural BMPs or measures are those that consist of a physical device or practice that is installed to capture and treat stormwater runoff. Structural BMPs include, but are not limited to, a wide variety of practices and devices, from large-scale retention ponds and constructed wetlands, to small-scale underground treatment systems, infiltration facilities, filter strips, low impact design, bioretention, wet ponds, permeable paving, grassed swales, riparian or forested buffers, sand filters, detention basins, and manufactured devices. Structural stormwater BMPs are permanent appurtenances to the project site.
Collecting runoff to be stored for reuse or allowed to slowly infiltrate into the ground.
The Cambria County Conservation District, as defined in section 3(c) of the Conservation District Law [3 P.S. § 851(c)], as amended, that has the authority under a delegation agreement executed with the PA Department of Environmental Protection to administer and enforce all or a portion of the regulations promulgated under 25 Pa. Code 102.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
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."
The volume of runoff that is captured and released into the waters of this commonwealth at a controlled rate.
See "project site."
An impervious or impermeable surface which is disconnected from any stormwater drainage or conveyance system and is redirected or directed to a pervious area which allows for infiltration, filtration, and increased time of concentration as specified in Appendix B, Disconnected Impervious Area.[1]
An unstabilized land area where an earth disturbance activity is occurring or has occurred.
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; building construction; the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock or earth materials.
The natural process by which the surface of the land is worn away by water, wind or chemical action.
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 PADEP).
The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplains that are reasonably required to carry and discharge the 100-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 100-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.
A fabric manufactured from synthetic fiber that is used to achieve specific objectives, including infiltration, separation between different types of media (i.e., between soil and stone), or filtration.
Systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or reuse stormwater on the site where it is generated.
Areas where land use or activities generate highly contaminated runoff, with concentrations of pollutants that are higher than those that are typically found in stormwater (e.g., vehicle salvage yards and recycling facilities, vehicle fueling stations, fleet storage areas, vehicle equipment and cleaning facilities, and vehicle service and maintenance facilities).
Infiltration rates of soils vary widely and are affected by subsurface permeability as well as surface intake rates. Soils are classified into four HSG's (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. The soils in the area of the development site may be identified from a soil survey report that can be obtained from local NRCS offices or conservation district offices. Soils become less pervious as the HSG varies from A to D (NRCS).[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, and driveway areas are not counted as impervious areas if they do not prevent infiltration.
Movement of surface water into the soil, where it is absorbed by plant roots, evaporated into the atmosphere, or percolated downward to recharge groundwater.
A type of topography or landscape characterized by surface depressions, sinkholes, rock pinnacles/uneven bedrock surface, underground drainage, and caves. Karst is formed on carbonate rocks, such as limestone or dolomite.
Inclusive of any or all of the following meanings: i) the improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts, or parcels of land for any purpose involving a) a group of two or more buildings, or b) the division or allocation of land or space 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; ii) any subdivision of land; iii) development in accordance with § 503(1.1) of the PA Municipalities Planning Code.
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.
Richland Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously SCS).
The maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm event.
Any area not defined as impervious.
The specific area of land where any regulated activities in the municipality are planned, conducted or maintained.
Any person licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of State or otherwise qualified by law to perform the work required by the chapter.
Any earth disturbance activities or any activities that involve the alteration or development of land in a manner that may affect stormwater runoff and that are specified in § 210-5 of this chapter.
Activity involving earth disturbance subject to regulation under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 92, Chapter 102, or the Clean Streams Law.[3]
The volume of runoff that is captured and not released directly into the surface waters of this commonwealth during or after a storm event.
The average interval, in years, within which a storm event of a given magnitude can be expected to occur one time. For example, the twenty-five-year return period rainfall would be expected to occur on average once every 25 years; or stated in another way, the probability of a twenty-five-year storm occurring in any one year is 0.04 (i.e., a 4% chance).
A permanent area of trees and shrubs located adjacent to streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands.
Any part of precipitation that flows over the land.
Soils or other materials transported by surface water as a product of erosion.
A small project is defined as a regulated activity that creates disconnected impervious areas equal to or greater than 500 square feet and less than 5,000 square feet.
The regulatory requirements to protect, maintain, reclaim, and restore water quality under Pennsylvania Code Title 25 and the Clean Streams Law.[4]
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from precipitation or snow or ice melt.
Abbreviated as BMPs or SWM BMPs throughout this chapter.
Any structure, natural or man-made, that, due to its condition, design, or construction, conveys, stores, or otherwise affects stormwater runoff. Typical stormwater management facilities include, but are not limited to, detention and retention basins, open channels, storm sewers, pipes, and infiltration facilities.
The plans for managing stormwater runoff in the Little Conemaugh River and Stonycreek River watersheds adopted by the County of Cambria as required by the Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864, (Act 167), as amended, and known as the "Storm Water Management Act."[5]
The plan prepared by the developer or his representative indicating how storm water runoff will be managed at the development site in accordance with this chapter. Stormwater Management site plan will be designated as SWM site plan throughout this chapter.
As defined in The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247.[6]
United States Department of Agriculture.
The ratio of the volume of void space to the volume of solid substance in any material.
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 and underground water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of this commonwealth.
Region or area drained by a river, watercourse or other surface water of the commonwealth.
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.