AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITYThe 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.
APPLICANTA landowner, developer or other person who has filed an application to the City of Scranton for approval to engage in any regulated activity at a project site in the City of Scranton.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP)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 Part
3. Stormwater BMPs are commonly grouped into one of two broad categories or measures: "structural" or "non-structural." In this Part
3, non-structural 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, rain gardens, sand filters, detention basins, and manufactured devices. Structural stormwater BMPs are permanent appurtenances to the project site.
An area of permanent native vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation, that exists or is established to protect a stream system, lake, reservoir, or costal estuarine area.
CFSCubic feet per second.
CHANNELA natural or artificial watercourse that conveys, continuously or periodically, flowing water.
CONSERVATION DISTRICTA conservation district, as defined in Section 3(c) of the Conservation District Law (3 P. S. § 851(c)), which has the authority under a delegation agreement executed with the Department to administer and enforce all or a portion of the erosion and sediment control program in this commonwealth.
DEPThe Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DESIGN STORMThe 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."
DETENTIONThe volume of runoff that is captured and released into the waters of this commonwealth at a controlled rate.
DETENTION BASINAn impoundment (above or below ground) designed to collect and retard stormwater runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined rate. Detention basins are designed to drain completely shortly after any given rainfall event and are dry until the next rainfall event.
DISCHARGEThe release of water from a project, site, aquifer, drainage basin or other point of interest (verb); The rate and volume of flow of water such as in a stream, generally expressed in cubic feet per second (volume per unit of time) (noun).
DISTURBED AREAAn unstabilized land area where an earth disturbance is occurring or has occurred.
DITCH/SWALEAn artificial waterway for irrigation or stormwater conveyance.
DRAINAGE AREAThat land area contributing runoff to a single point and that is enclosed by a ridge line.
DRAINAGE SYSTEMAll facilities and natural features used for the movement of stormwater through and from a drainage area, including, but not limited to, any and all of the following: conduits, pipes and appurtenant features, channels, ditches, flumes, culverts, streets, swales, gutters as well as all watercourses, water bodies and wetlands.
EARTH DISTURBANCEA 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.
EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency.
EROSIONThe wearing away of land surface by water or wind which occurs naturally from weather or runoff, but is often intensified by human activity.
EXISTING CONDITIONThe dominant land cover during the five-year period immediately preceding a proposed regulated activity.
FEMAFederal Emergency Management Agency.
FLOODPLAINAny 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. Included are lands adjoining a river or stream that have been or may be expected to be inundated by a 100-year flood. Also included are areas that comprise Group 13 soils, as listed in Appendix A of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Technical Manual for Sewage Enforcement Officers (as amended or replaced from time to time by PADEP).
FLOODWAYThe 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.
FOREST MANAGEMENT/TIMBER OPERATIONSPlanning 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.
HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP (HSG)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).
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE (IMPERVIOUS AREA)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. "Net increase of impervious surface" refers to the difference between the existing impervious coverage and the total impervious surface proposed.
INFILTRATIONMovement of surface water into the soil, where it is absorbed by plant roots, evaporated into the atmosphere, or percolates downward to recharge groundwater.
INTENSITYThe depth of accumulated rainfall per unit of time.
KARSTA 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.
LAND DEVELOPMENT (DEVELOPMENT)Inclusive of any or all of the following meanings:
A. The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous lots, tracts, or parcels of land for any purpose involving:
(1) A group of two or more buildings; or
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;
Development in accordance with Section 503(1.1) of the PA Municipalities Planning Code.
LOADINGThe total amount (generally measured in pounds or kilograms per acre per year) of material (sediment, nutrients, oxygen-demanding material, or other chemicals or compounds) brought into a lake, stream or water body by inflowing streams, runoff, direct discharge through pipes, groundwater, the air (aerial or atmospheric deposition) and other sources over a specific period of time (often annually).
MAINTENANCEThe action taken to restore or preserve the as-built functional design of any facility or system.
MEADOW CONDITIONA natural groundcover with less than one viable tree of a DBH (diameter at breast height, 4.5 feet) of six inches or greater per 1,500 square feet within three years of application; a cover condition for which SCS curve numbers have been assigned or to which equivalent rational method runoff coefficients have been assigned.
MS4Municipal separate storm sewer system.
NOAANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NON-STRUCTURAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICESPassive, site design approaches or regulatory approaches that positively impact water quality and reduce or minimize the generation of stormwater runoff without requiring the construction of specific or discrete stormwater management control structures.
NRCSUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously SCS).
OPEN CHANNELAny natural or man-made watercourse or conduit in which water flows with a free surface.
OPEN VEGETATED CHANNELAlso known as swales, grass channels, and biofilters. These systems are used for the conveyance, retention, infiltration and filtration of stormwater runoff.
PA BMP MANUALPennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, PA DEP Document Number: 363-0300-002, as amended and updated.
PACDPennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts.
PADEPPennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
PEAK DISCHARGEThe maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm event.
Penn DOTPennsylvania Department of Transportation.
PROJECT SITEThe specific area of land where any regulated activities in the City of Scranton are planned, conducted, or maintained.
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALAny person licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of State or otherwise qualified by law to perform the work required by the part.
REGULATED ACTIVITIESAny earth disturbances or any activities that involve the alteration or development of land in a manner that may affect stormwater runoff.
RETENTION/REMOVED RUNOFFThe volume of runoff that is captured and not released directly into the surface waters of this commonwealth during or after a storm event.
RETURN PERIODThe 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. The probability of a twenty-five-year storm occurring in any one year is 0.04 (i.e., a 4% chance).
RUNOFFAny part of precipitation that flows over the land.
SEDIMENTSoils or other materials transported by surface water as a product of erosion.
STATE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTSThe regulatory requirements to protect, maintain, reclaim, and restore water quality under Pennsylvania Code Title
25 and the Clean Streams Law.
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from precipitation or snow or ice melt.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITYAny 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 structures.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLANThe Lackawanna River Watershed Stormwater Management Plan for managing stormwater runoff adopted by the County of Lackawanna as required by the Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864, (Act 167), as amended, and known as the "Storm Water Management Act."
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SITE PLANThe plan prepared by the developer or his representative indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at the development site in accordance with this Part
3. "Stormwater Management Site Plan" will be designated as "SWM site plan" throughout this Part
3.
For purposes of administration of this Part
3 (other regulatory agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers have a different definition), a stream is defined as a perennial or intermittent watercourse identified through site inspection and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maps. Perennial streams are those which are depicted on a USGS map with a solid blue line. Intermittent streams are those which are depicted on a USGS map with a dotted blue line.
As defined in The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247.
USDAUnited States Department of Agriculture.
WATERS OF THIS COMMONWEALTHRivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches, watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands, ponds, springs and other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and undergroundwater, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial, within or on the boundaries of this commonwealth.
WATERSHEDRegion or area drained by a river, watercourse or other surface water of the commonwealth.
WETLANDThose 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, fens, and similar areas.