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Township of Chestnuthill, PA
Monroe County
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For the purposes of this chapter, certain 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 feminine gender; and words of feminine gender include 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 word "person" includes an individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, corporation, unit of government, or any other similar entity.
D. 
The words "shall" and "must" are mandatory; the words "may" and "should" are permissive.
E. 
The words "used or occupied" include the words "intended, designed, maintained, or arranged to be used, occupied or maintained."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCELERATED EROSION
The removal of the surface of the land through the combined action of man's activity and the natural processes of a rate greater than would occur because of the natural process alone.
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
The work of producing crops and raising livestock including tillage, plowing, disking, harrowing, pasturing and installation of conservation measures. For purposes of regulation by this chapter, construction of new buildings or impervious area is not considered an agricultural activity.
ALTERATION
As applied to land, a change in topography as a result of the moving of soil and rock from one location or position to another; also the changing of surface conditions by causing the surface to be more or less impervious; land disturbance.
APPLICANT
A person who has filed an application for approval to engage in any regulated activities as defined in § 92-4 of this chapter.
AS-BUILT DRAWINGS
Those maintained by the contractor as he constructs the project and upon which he documents the actual locations of the building components and changes to the original contract documents. These, or a copy of same, are turned over to the engineer at the completion of the project.
BANKFULL
The channel at the top-of-bank or point where water begins to overflow onto a floodplain.
BASE FLOW
The portion of stream flow that is sustained by groundwater discharge.
BIORETENTION
A stormwater retention area which utilizes woody and herbaceous plants and soils to remove pollutants before infiltration occurs.
BMP (BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE)
Stormwater structures, facilities and techniques to control, maintain or improve the quantity and quality of surface runoff and groundwater recharge.
BUFFER
The area of land immediately adjacent to any wetland, lake, pond, vernal pond, or stream, measured perpendicular to and horizontally from the delineated edge of the wetland, lake, pond, or vernal pond, or the top-of-bank on both sides of a stream.
CHANNEL EROSION
The widening, deepening, and headward cutting of small channels and waterways caused by stormwater runoff or bankfull flows.
CISTERN
An underground reservoir or tank for storing rainwater.
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
The Monroe County Conservation District.
CONSUMPTIVE WATER USE
That part of water removed from the immediate water environment not available for other purposes such as water supply, maintenance of stream flows, water quality, fisheries and recreation, as opposed to water that is used non-consumptively, which is returned to surface water, where practicable, and groundwater.
CULVERT
A structure with appurtenant works which carries water under or through an embankment or fill.
DAM
An artificial barrier, together with its appurtenant works, constructed for the purpose of impounding or storing water or another fluid or semifluid, or a refuse bank, fill or structure for highway, railroad or other purposes which does or may impound water or another fluid or semifluid.
DEPARTMENT
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
DESIGNEE
The agent of the Monroe County Planning Commission, Monroe County Conservation District and/or agent of the governing body involved with the administration, review or enforcement of any provisions of this chapter by contract or memorandum of understanding.
DESIGN PROFESSIONAL (QUALIFIED)
A Pennsylvania registered professional engineer, registered landscape architect or a registered professional land surveyor trained to develop stormwater management plans.
DESIGN STORM
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.
DETENTION BASIN
An impoundment structure designed to manage stormwater runoff by temporarily storing the runoff and releasing it at a predetermined rate.
DETENTION DISTRICT
Those subareas in which some type of detention is required to meet the plan requirements and the goals of Act 167.
DEVELOPMENT SITE
The specific tract of land for which a regulated activity is proposed.
DIFFUSED DRAINAGE DISCHARGE
Drainage discharge not confined to a single point location or channel, such as sheet flow or shallow concentrated flow.
DISTURBED AREAS
Land area where an earth disturbance activity is occurring or has occurred.
DOWNSLOPE PROPERTY LINE
That portion of the property line of the lot, tract, or parcels of land being developed located such that overland or pipe flow from the site would be directed towards it.
DRAINAGE CONVEYANCE FACILITY
A stormwater management facility designed to transmit stormwater runoff and shall include channels, swales, pipes, conduits, culverts, storm sewers, etc.
DRAINAGE EASEMENT
A right granted by a grantor to a grantee, allowing the use of private land for stormwater management purposes.
DRAINAGE PERMIT
A permit issued by the Municipal governing body after the drainage plan has been approved.
DRAINAGE PLAN
The documentation of the stormwater management system, if any, to be used for a given development site, the contents of which are established in § 92-19.
EARTH DISTURBANCE
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the surface of land, including, but not limited to, clearing and grubbing, grading, excavations, embankments, agricultural plowing or tilling, timber harvesting activities, road maintenance activities, mineral extraction, and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock or earth materials.
EMERGENCY SPILLWAY
A conveyance area that is used to pass peak discharge greater than the maximum design storm controlled by the stormwater facility.
ENCROACHMENT
A structure or activity that changes, expands or diminishes the course, current or cross-section of a watercourse, floodway or body of water.
EROSION
The movement of soil particles by the action of water, wind, ice, or other natural forces.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN
A site-specific plan that is designed to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation during construction.
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE WATERS
Surface waters of high quality which satisfy Pennsylvania Code Title 25, Environmental Protection, Chapter 93, Water Quality Standards, Section 93.4b(b) (relating to anti-degradation).
EXISTING CONDITIONS
The initial condition of a project site prior to the proposed alteration. If the initial condition of the site is undeveloped land, the land use shall be considered as "meadow" unless the natural land cover is proven to generate lower curve numbers or Rational "C" value.
FLOOD
A temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of land areas from the overflow of streams, rivers, and other waters of this Commonwealth.
FLOODPLAIN
Any land area susceptible to inundation by water from any natural source or delineated by applicable Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Insurance Administration Flood Hazard Boundary mapped as being a special flood hazard area.
FLOODWAY
The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplains, which are reasonably required to carry and discharge the one-hundred-year frequency 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 frequency 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 OPERATIONS
Planning and activities necessary for the management of forest land with no change of land use proposed. These include timber inventory and preparation of forest management plans, silvicultural treatment, cutting budgets, logging road design and construction, timber harvesting and reforestation.
FREEBOARD
A vertical distance between the elevation of the design high-water and the top of a dam, levee, tank, basin, swale, or diversion berm. The space is required as a safety margin in a pond or basin.
GRADE
A slope, usually of a road, channel or natural ground specified in percent and shown on plans as specified herein. (To) grade: to finish the surface of a roadbed, top of embankment or bottom of excavation.
GRASSED WATERWAY
A natural or constructed waterway, usually broad and shallow, covered with erosion-resistant grasses, used to convey surface water.
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Replenishment of existing natural underground water supplies without degrading groundwater quality.
HEC-HMS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) - Hydrologic Modeling System (HMS) computer program.
HIGH-QUALITY WATERS
Surface waters having quality which exceeds levels necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water by satisfying Pennsylvania Code Title 25, Environmental Protection, Chapter 93, Water Quality Standards, Section 93.4b(a).
HYDROLOGIC REGIME (NATURAL)
The hydrologic cycle or balance that sustains quality and quantity of stormwater, baseflow, storage, and groundwater supplies under natural conditions.
HYDROLOGIC SOIL GROUP
A classification of soils by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, formerly the Soil Conservation Service, into four runoff potential groups. The groups range from A soils, which are very permeable and produce little runoff, to D soils, which are not very permeable and produce much more runoff.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that prevents the percolation of water into the ground such as rooftops, pavement, sidewalks, driveways, gravel drives, roads and parking, and compacted fill, earth or turf to be used as such.
IMPOUNDMENT
A retention or detention basin designed to retain stormwater runoff and release it at a controlled rate.
INFILL
Development that occurs on smaller parcels that remain undeveloped but are within or very close proximity to urban areas. The development relies on existing infrastructure and does not require an extension of water, sewer or other public utilities.
INFILTRATION
For stormwater to pass through the soil from the surface.
INFILTRATION STRUCTURES
A structure designed to direct runoff into the underground water (e.g., French drains, seepage pits, seepage trench).
INLET
The upstream end of any structure through which water may flow.
LAND DEVELOPMENT
A. 
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; or 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;
B. 
A subdivision of land;
C. 
Development in accordance with Section 503(1.1) of the PA Municipalities Planning Code.
LIMITING ZONE
A soil horizon or condition in the soil profile or underlying strata which includes one of the following:
A. 
A seasonal high water table, whether perched or regional, determined by direct observation of the water table or indicated by soil mottling.
B. 
A rock with open joints, fracture or solution channels, or masses of loose rock fragments, including gravel, with insufficient fine soil to fill the voids between the fragments.
C. 
A rock formation, other stratum or soil condition which is so slowly permeable that it effectively limits downward passage of water.
LOT
A part of a subdivision or a parcel of land used as a building site or intended to be used for building purposes, whether immediate or future, which would not be further subdivided. Whenever a lot is used for a multiple-family dwelling or for commercial, institutional or industrial purposes, the lot shall be deemed to have been subdivided into an equivalent number of single-family residential lots as determined by estimated sewage flows.
MAIN STEM (MAIN CHANNEL)
Any stream segment or other runoff conveyance facility used as a reach in the Brodhead/McMichaels hydrologic model.
MANNING EQUATION (MANNING FORMULA)
A method for calculation of velocity of flow (e.g., feet per second) and flow rate (e.g., cubic feet per second) in open channels based upon channel shape, roughness, depth of flow and slope. "Open channels" may include closed conduits so long as the flow is not under pressure.
MUNICIPALITY
Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
NATURAL HYDROLOGIC REGIME
See "hydrologic regime."
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
Pollution that enters a water body from diffuse origins in the watershed and does not result from discernible, confined, or discrete conveyances.
NONSTRUCTURAL BMPS
Methods of controlling stormwater runoff quantity and quality, such as innovative site planning, impervious area and grading reduction, protection of natural depression areas, temporary ponding on site and other techniques.
NRCS
Natural Resource Conservation Service (previously SCS).
OPEN CHANNEL
A drainage element in which stormwater flows within an open surface. Open channels include, but shall not be limited to, natural and man-made drainage ways, swales, streams, ditches, canals, and pipes flowing partly full.
OUTFALL
Point where water flows from a conduit, stream, or drain.
OUTLET
Points of water disposal from a stream, river, lake, tidewater or artificial drain.
PARENT TRACT
The parcel of land from which a land development or subdivision originates existing as of the date of municipal adoption of the original Brodhead or McMichaels Creek ordinance.
PARKING LOT STORAGE
Involves the use of parking areas as temporary impoundments with controlled release rates during rainstorms.
PEAK DISCHARGE
The maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm event.
PENN STATE RUNOFF MODEL (CALIBRATED)
The computer-based hydrologic modeling technique adapted to the Brodhead/McMichaels watershed for the Act 167 Plan. The model has been "calibrated" to reflect actual recorded flow values by adjoining key model input parameters.
PIPE
A culvert, closed conduit, or similar structure (including appurtenances) that conveys stormwater.
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of Chestnuthill Township.
PMF (PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD)
The flood that may be expected from the most severe combination of critical meteorological and hydrologic conditions that are reasonably possible in any area. The PMF is derived from the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) as determined based on data obtained from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
PRACTICABLE ALTERNATIVE
An alternative that is available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost, existing technology and logistics in light of overall project purposes.
PREDEVELOPMENT
Undeveloped/natural condition.
PRETREATMENT
Techniques employed in structural and nonstructural stormwater BMPs to provide storage or filtering to help trap coarse materials and other pollutants before they enter the system, but not necessarily meet the water quality volume requirements of § 92-10.
RATIONAL FORMULA
A rainfall-runoff relation used to estimate peak flow.
RECHARGE AREA
Surface area or depression where stormwater collects, and a portion of which infiltrates and replenishes the underground and groundwater.
RECORD DRAWINGS
Original documents revised to suit the as-built conditions and subsequently provided by the engineer to the client. The engineer takes the contractor's as-builts, reviews them in detail with his/her own records for completeness, then either turns these over to the client or transfers the information to a set of reproducibles, in both cases for the client's permanent records.
REDEVELOPMENT
Any construction, alteration, or improvement exceeding 5,000 square feet of impervious surface on sites where existing land use is commercial, industrial, institutional, or multifamily residential.
REGULATED ACTIVITIES
Actions or proposed actions that have an impact on stormwater runoff quality and quantity and that are specified in § 92-4 of this chapter.
RELEASE RATE
The percentage of existing conditions peak rate of runoff from a site or subarea to which the postdevelopment peak rate of runoff must be reduced to protect downstream areas.
RETENTION BASIN
A structure in which stormwater is stored and not released during the storm event. Retention basins do not have an outlet other than recharge and must infiltrate stored water in no more than four days.
RETURN PERIOD
The average interval, in years, within which a storm event of a given magnitude can be expected to recur.
RISER
A vertical pipe extending from the bottom of a pond that is used to control the discharge rate from the pond for a specified design storm.
ROOFTOP DETENTION
Temporary ponding and gradual release of stormwater falling directly onto flat roof surfaces by incorporating controlled-flow roof drains into building designs.
RUNOFF
Any part of precipitation that flows over the land surface.
SALDO
Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[1]
SEDIMENT BASIN
A barrier, dam, retention or detention basin located and designed to retain rock, sand, gravel, silt, or other material transported by water during construction.
SEDIMENTATION
The process by which mineral or organic matter is accumulated or deposited by the movement of water or air.
SEDIMENT POLLUTION
The placement, discharge or any other introduction of sediment into the waters of the Commonwealth.
SEEPAGE PIT/SEEPAGE TRENCH
An area of excavated earth filled with loose stone or similar coarse material, into which surface water is directed for infiltration into the underground water.
SHEET FLOW
Runoff that flows over the ground surface as a thin, even layer.
SOIL-COVER COMPLEX METHOD
A method of runoff computation developed by the NRCS that is based on relating soil type and land use/cover to a runoff parameter called “curve number” (CN).
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION AREAS (SWPA)
The zone through which contaminants, if present, are likely to migrate and reach a public drinking water well or public surface water intake.
SPECIAL PROTECTION SUBWATERSHEDS
Watersheds for which the receiving waters are exceptional value (EV) or high-quality (HQ) waters.
SPILLWAY
A conveyance that is used to pass the peak discharge of the maximum design storm controlled by the stormwater facility.
STORAGE INDICATION METHOD
A reservoir routing procedure based on solution of the continuity equation (inflow minus outflow equals the change in storage) with outflow defined as a function of storage volume and depth.
STORM FREQUENCY
The number of times that a given storm "event" occurs or is exceeded on the average in a stated period of years. See "return period."
STORM SEWER
A system of pipes and/or open channels that convey intercepted runoff and stormwater from other sources, but excludes domestic sewage and industrial wastes.
STORMWATER
The surface runoff generated by precipitation reaching the ground surface.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
Any structure, natural or man-made, that, due to its condition, design, or construction, conveys, stores, or otherwise affects stormwater runoff quality and quantity. Typical stormwater management facilities include, but are not limited to, detention and retention basins, open channels, storm sewers, pipes, and infiltration structures.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
The plan for managing those land use activities that will influence stormwater runoff quality and quantity and that would impact the Brodhead/McMichaels Watershed adopted by Monroe County and Pike County as required by the Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864, (Act 167), and known as the "Brodhead/McMichaels Watershed Act 167 stormwater management plan."
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SITE PLAN
The plan prepared by the applicant or his representative indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at the particular site of interest according to this chapter.
STREAM
A natural watercourse.
STREAM ENCLOSURE
A bridge, culvert or other structure in excess of 100 feet in length upstream to downstream which encloses a regulated water of this Commonwealth.
SUBAREA (SUBWATERSHED)
The smallest drainage unit of a watershed for which stormwater management criteria have been established in the stormwater management plan.
SUBDIVISION
The division or redivision of a lot, tract, or parcel of land by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs or devisees, transfer of ownership, or building or lot development; provided, however, that the subdivision by lease of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving any new street or easement of access or any residential dwelling, shall be exempted.
SWALE
A low-lying stretch of land which gathers or carries surface water runoff.
TIMBER OPERATIONS
See "forest management."
TIME-OF-CONCENTRATION (TC)
The time for surface runoff to travel from the hydraulically most distant point of the watershed to a point of interest within the watershed. This time is the combined total of overland flow time and flow time in pipes or channels, if any.
VERNAL PONDS
Upland areas that are wet only for periods of two or three months in the spring or summer and are typically identified during dry months by the thin film of soil sediment that usually exists on the upper side of the leaf litter covering the forest floor. These very shallow depressions constitute critical habitat for a range of woodland amphibians and related species and provide important storage for stormwater and snowmelt that would otherwise contribute to downstream flooding.
WATERCOURSE
A channel or conveyance of surface water having defined bed and banks, whether natural or artificial, with perennial or intermittent flow.
WATERSHED
A specific land area that drains water into a river system or other body of water.
WATERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Any and all rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, 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.
WELLHEAD
The point at which a groundwater well bore hole meets the surface of the ground.
WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREA
The surface and subsurface area surrounding a water supply well, well field, spring or infiltration gallery supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach the water source.
WETLAND
Those 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 98, Subdivision and Land Development.