Township of Lower Moreland, PA Article IX Enforcement and Penalties

§ 172-34 Right of entry.

A. Upon presentation of proper credentials, duly authorized representatives of the municipality may enter at reasonable times upon any property within the municipality to inspect the implementation, condition, or operation and maintenance of the stormwater facilities or best management practices (BMPs) in regard to any aspect governed by this Part 1.

B. Landowners with stormwater facilities and BMPs on their property shall allow persons working on behalf of the municipality ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of determining compliance with this Part 1.

C. Persons working on behalf of the municipality shall have the right to temporarily locate on any stormwater facility or BMP in the municipality such devices as are necessary to conduct monitoring and/or sampling of the discharges from such stormwater facilities or BMP.

§ 172-35 Inspection frequency.

Stormwater management (SWM) best management practices (BMPs) should be inspected for proper operation by the landowner, or the owner's designee (including the municipality for dedicated and owned facilities), according to the following list of minimum frequencies:

A. Annually for the first five years;

B. Once every three years thereafter;

C. During or immediately after the cessation of a ten-year or greater storm; and/or

D. As specified in the operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement.

§ 172-36 Enforcement.

All inspections regarding compliance with the stormwater management (SWM) site plan and this Part 1 shall be the responsibility of the municipality.

A. Whenever the municipality finds that a person has violated a prohibition or failed to meet a requirement of this Part 1, the municipality may order compliance by written notice to the responsible person. Such notice may, without limitation, require the following remedies:

(1) Performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;

(2) Elimination of prohibited connections or discharges;

(3) Cessation of any violating discharges, practices, or operations;

(4) Abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination hazards and the restoration of any affected property;

(5) Payment of a fine to cover administrative and remediation costs;

(6) Implementation of stormwater facilities and best management practices (BMPs); and

(7) Operation and maintenance (O&M) of stormwater facilities and BMPs.

B. Such notification shall set forth the nature of the violation(s) and establish a time limit for correction of these violation(s). Said notice may further advise that, if applicable, should the violator fail to take the required action within the established deadline, the work will be done by the municipality and the expense may be charged to the violator.

C. Failure to comply within the time specified may subject a violator to the penalty provisions of this Part 1. All such penalties shall be deemed cumulative and shall not prevent the municipality from pursuing any and all other remedies available in law or equity.

§ 172-37 Suspension and revocation of permits and approvals.

A. Any building, land development, or other permit or approval issued by the municipality may be suspended or revoked, in whole or in part, by the municipality for:

(1) Noncompliance with or failure to implement any provision of the permit;

(2) A violation of any provision of this Part 1; or

(3) The creation of any condition or the commission of any act during construction or development which constitutes or creates a hazard or nuisance, pollution or which endangers the life, health, or property of others.

B. A suspended permit may be reinstated by the municipality when:

(1) The municipality has inspected and approved the corrections to the stormwater facilities and BMPs or the elimination of the hazard or nuisance; and

(2) The municipality is satisfied that all applicable violations in this Part 1 have been corrected.

C. Any permit or approval that has been revoked by the municipality cannot be reinstated. The applicant may apply for a new permit under the procedures outlined of this Part 1.

§ 172-38 Violations and penalties.

A. Any person violating the provisions of this Part 1 shall be subject to penalties of $500 per day and may include liens against the property for each day of violation, including court costs and attorney's fees.

B. In addition, the municipality may institute injunctive, mandamus or any other appropriate action or proceeding at law or in equity for the enforcement of this Part 1. Any court of competent jurisdiction shall have the right to issue restraining orders, temporary or permanent injunctions, mandamus, or other appropriate forms of remedy or relief.

§ 172-39 Appeals.

A. Appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer or Municipal Engineer pursuant to Section 909.1(a)(8)[1] shall be filed with the Lower Moreland Township Zoning Board within 30 days of the Zoning Officer or Municipal Engineer decision. Appeals from the determination of the Zoning Officer or Municipal Engineer insofar as it relates to land development applications shall go to the Board of Commissioners within 30 days of the Zoning Officer or Municipal Engineer action.

[1] Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10909.1(a)(8).

B. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Township Zoning Hearing Board or Board of Commissioners relevant to the provisions of this Part 1 may appeal to the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the Board decision.