[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Brookville 11-7-1989 by Ord. No. 932. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 75.
Floodplain management — See Ch. 115.
Sewers — See Ch. 176.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 189.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 193.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 198.
Zoning — See Ch. 230.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Grading Ordinance," implementing Title 25, Rules and Regulations, Part I, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection, Sub-part C, Protection of Natural Resources, Article II, Water Resources, Chapter 102 - Erosion Control.
The purposes of this chapter are to regulate the modification of the natural terrain, the alteration of drainage, and to provide for certain erosion and sediment control measures within the Borough of Brookville to assure and safeguard health, safety, ecology and the general welfare in the Borough of Brookville.
From and after the effective date of this chapter, any subdivision and/or land development approved under Chapter 198, Subdivision and Land Development, or Chapter 230, Zoning, or activity qualified under §§ 106-5 and 106-6 herein shall be in conformity with this chapter. In the event of a conflict between this chapter and floodplain regulations,[1] the floodplain regulations shall take precedent.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 115, Floodplain Management.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
CUT AND/OR FILL
Process of earthmoving by excavating part of an area and/or using excavated material for embankments or fill areas.
[1]
EROSION
A. 
The wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind, ice, chemical or other geological agents.
B. 
Detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
GRADE
A. 
The slope of a road, channel, or natural ground.
B. 
The finished surface of a canal bed, roadbed, top of embankment, or bottom of excavation; any surface prepared for the support of construction like paving or laying a conduit.
C. 
To finish the surface of a canal bed, roadbed, top of embankment, or bottom or excavation.
RUNOFF (HYDRAULICS)
That portion of the precipitation on a drainage area or watershed that is discharged from the area in stream channels; types include surface runoff, groundwater runoff, or seepage.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity, or ice and has come to rest on the earth's surface either above or below sea level.
SLOPE
Degree of deviation of a surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percent or degrees.
[2]
WATERCOURSE
A natural drainage route or channel for the flow of water.
[1]
Editor's Note: The original definition of “alluvial soils,” which immediately preceded this definition, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[2]
Editor's Note: The original definition of “soil drainage,” which immediately followed this definition, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Whenever the landscape is to be permanently disturbed as to either contours, soil or slope characteristics, or vegetation or any ground cover is to be permanently removed, a plan is required showing how resulting erosion and sediment shall be controlled. This plan shall include the following:
A. 
The amount of site alteration proposed.
B. 
Development of schedule.
C. 
Erosion and sediment control practices (both temporary and permanent) and the operation and maintenance arrangements.
The following activities require a grading permit:
A. 
Modifying, disturbing, blocking, diverting or otherwise adversely affecting the natural overland or subsurface flow of stormwater.
B. 
Construction, erection, or installation of any drainage dam, ditch, culvert, drain pipe, bridge or any other structure or obstruction affecting the drainage of any premises.
C. 
Paving, filling, stripping, excavating, grading or regrading of any land.
D. 
Disturbing the landscape, vegetation or any ground cover by any proposal involving an area in excess of 5,000 square feet.
The following activities require no grading permit:
A. 
Improvements, such as erection of retaining walls, driveway paving, minor regrading or activities on a property which do not adversely affect the natural overland or subsurface flow of stormwater, drainage of any premises, or adversely disturb the landscape, in a gross area of up to 25 acres on any one property.
B. 
Farming, gardening, or land restoration, but not including sod farming.
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation proposing to engage in an activity requiring a grading permit hereunder shall apply by the submission of a plan.
B. 
The applicant should, before submitting a preliminary plan for review, consult Chapter 230, Zoning; Chapter 115, Floodplain Management; and Chapter 198, Subdivision and Land Development, which regulate the development of land in the Borough of Brookville.
C. 
A separate plan shall be required for each grading permit.
D. 
Five copies of the proposed plan, including specification and development schedules, shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer for a grading permit. The Secretary-Treasurer shall forward one copy of the plan to the Planning Commission, one copy to the Brookville Borough Engineer and one copy to the Zoning Officer.
E. 
The plan for a grading permit shall be accompanied by a fee established in the Council of the Borough of Brookville's schedule of fees and collection procedure for all applications and other matters pertaining to Chapter 198, Subdivision and Land Development, and this chapter.
The plan for a grading permit shall include:
A. 
A valid boundary line survey of the site on which the work is to be performed.
B. 
A description of the features, existing and proposed, surrounding the site which are of importance to the proposed development.
C. 
A plan of the general topography (including drainage) and soil conditions on the site (latter available through the County Conservation District).
D. 
The location and a description of existing and future man-made features of importance to the proposed development (i.e., cuts and/or fills, buildings, roads, and driveways).
E. 
Plans and specifications of soil erosion and sediment control measures in accordance with standards and specification of the Borough of Brookville and the County Conservation District.
F. 
A development schedule indicating the anticipated starting and completion dates of the development sequence and the time of exposure of each area prior to the completion of effective erosion and sediment control measures.
In addition to the requirements of § 106-9, and where deemed necessary by the Brookville Borough Engineer and the Planning Commission, or the Council of the Borough of Brookville, the applicant shall submit with the plan a detailed drainage study prepared by a registered professional engineer qualified in hydrology in the commonwealth. This study shall include:
A. 
A plan of the property showing the location of all present and proposed ditches, streams, pipe and other drainage structures, and proposed cuts and/or fills. In addition to showing present elevations and dimensions, and location and extent of all proposed grading and/or drainage, the plan shall clearly indicate all woodlands, buildings, parking areas and driveways. Further, the plan shall indicate the present and proposed sources, storage and disposition of water being channeled through or across the premises, together with elevations, gradients, and maximum flow rates. The plan shall describe the work to be performed and disposition of cut and/or fill, the materials to be used and the manner or method of performance including provisions for protecting and maintaining existing drainage facilities whether on public or private property. The applicant shall also supply the supporting data for the plan as developed by the engineer.
B. 
Calculations to determine runoff, which shall be based on the Soil-Cover Complex Method, a description of which is available from the USDA Soil Conservation Service.
(1) 
The design criteria for storm sewer piping on inlet systems within a subdivision being developed shall be designed for a twenty-five-year-frequency storm; culverts across roadways shall be designed for a fifty-year-frequency storm; open watercourses or swales shall be designed for a one-hundred-year-frequency storm prescribed in accordance with the following:
(a) 
The coefficient of runoff used for all areas upstream of any drainage structure shall be computed on the basis of existing land use and the projected land use described and shown on the Borough of Brookville Comprehensive Plan, and adjacent municipalities' comprehensive plans, where applicable.
(2) 
The following provisions apply to the carrying and disposal of stormwater runoff:
(a) 
All drainage facilities shall be designed to carry surface water in such a manner as to prevent erosion or overflow.
(b) 
The applicant shall agree to the granting and recording of easements covering the installation and maintenance of drainage facilities.
(c) 
The rate of runoff shall be no greater during and after a one-hundred-year-frequency storm when the development is completed than that which existed before the development began and appropriate measurements of calculations shall be provided to verify such positions.
C. 
A soils investigation report, if load-bearing fill is proposed, which shall consist of test borings, laboratory testings and engineering analysis to correlate surface and subsurface conditions with the proposed grading plan. The results of the investigation shall be presented in a report by a registered professional soils engineer and shall include data regarding the nature, distribution and supporting ability of existing soils and rocks on the site, conclusions and recommendations to insure stable soil conditions and ground water control as applicable. The Borough of Brookville may require such supplemental reports and data as is deemed necessary by the Brookville Borough Engineer. Recommendations included in such reports and approved by the Municipal Engineer shall be incorporated in the plan or specifications. In addition:
(1) 
Fills toeing out on natural slopes steeper than four horizontal to one vertical shall not be deemed acceptable by the Brookville Borough Engineer and approved by the Council of the Borough of Brookville. The reports shall be made by a registered professional soils engineer certifying that he has investigated the property, made soils tests and that in his opinion such steeper slopes will safely support the proposed fill.
(2) 
Natural and/or existing slopes exceeding five horizontal to one vertical shall be benched or continuously stepped into competent materials prior to placing all classes of fill.
Upon the approval of the plan by the Brookville Borough Engineer, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue the necessary grading permits.
A. 
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any conditions of the grading permit, the permittee is responsible for the prevention of damage to other property, or personal injury, which may be effected by the activity requiring a grading permit.
B. 
No person, firm or corporation shall modify, fill, excavate, pave, grade, or regrade land in any manner so close to a property line as to endanger or damage any adjoining street, alley, or any other public or private property without supporting and protecting such property from settling, cracking, erosion, sediment, flooding, or any other physical damage or personal injury which might result.
C. 
No person, firm or corporation shall deposit or place any debris or any other material whatsoever, or cause such to be thrown or placed, in any drainage ditch or drainage structure in such a manner as to obstruct free flow.
D. 
No person, firm or corporation shall fail to adequately maintain, in good operating order, any drainage facility on his premises. All drainage ditches, culverts, drain pipes, and drainage structures shall be kept open and free-flowing at all times.
E. 
The owner of any property on which any work has been done pursuant to a grading permit granted under this chapter shall continuously maintain and repair all graded surfaces and anti-erosion devices, retaining walls, drainage structures or means and other protective devices, plantings and ground cover, installed or completed. The Borough of Brookville is responsible for maintenance and repair within the right-of-way of municipal roads.
F. 
All graded surfaces shall be permanently seeded, sodded and/or planted or otherwise protected from erosion within 30 days, weather permitting, and shall be tended and/or maintained until growth is well established. The disturbed area and duration of exposure shall be kept to a minimum using temporary erosion and sediment control measures immediately.
G. 
All trees in an area of extreme grade change shall be protected with suitable tree wells, unless the necessity for removal is established. Precautions shall be taken to prevent the unnecessary removal of trees.
H. 
When required, adequate provisions shall be made for dust control measures as are deemed acceptable by the Brookville Borough Engineer.
I. 
All plans and specifications submitted for a grading permit shall include provisions for both interim (temporary) and ultimate (permanent) erosion and sediment control. The design, installation and maintenance of erosion and sediment control measures shall be accomplished in accordance with standards and specifications established by the County Soil Conservation District as adopted from standards and specifications of the United States Soil Conservation Service.
(1) 
Technical standards for the design and installation of erosion and sediment control measures are on file with the Borough of Brookville, the office of the County Conservation District and other governmental agency offices.
(2) 
Standards and specifications adopted for the purposes of this chapter and by the County Conservation District include, but are not limited to, the following basic conservation measures:
(a) 
Temporary cover on critical areas.
(b) 
Permanent grass and legume cover for critical areas on prepared seedbed.
(c) 
Permanent grass and legume cover for critical areas on unprepared seedbed.
(d) 
Sodding.
(e) 
Mulching.
(f) 
Temporary diversion.
(g) 
Permanent diversion.
(h) 
Grassed waterway or outlet.
(i) 
Grade stabilization structure.
(j) 
Debris basin.
(k) 
Drain.
(l) 
Drainage, mains or laterals.
J. 
A quality control program is critical for fills; therefore, wherever fill material is to be used, the person, firm, or corporation shall be responsible for testing to determine its dry density as per ASTM D1556. The density of each layer shall be not less than 95% of maximum density as determined by ASTM D1557.
(1) 
Inspection procedure shall follow the general procedure as stated in § 106-13.
(2) 
Compaction test reports shall be kept on file at the site and be subject to review at all times.
(3) 
Degree of compaction required shall be determined by the Brookville Borough Engineer following the guidelines in this section.
A. 
All inspections shall be the responsibility of the Brookville Borough Engineer, or, in his absence, a qualified person acceptable to the Brookville Borough Engineer and the Borough of Brookville.
B. 
Inspections will be carried out on a random basis, except as stated below. However, a set of "as-built" plans shall be on file at the site and authenticated by a registered professional engineer. When it is deemed acceptable to the Brookville Borough Engineer, a designated qualified person may authenticate the “as-built” plans and will assume full responsibility for the quality of work.
C. 
Any and all "as-built" plans shall be available on the site at all times and be subject to inspection and inquiry.
D. 
Engineering check notes shall accompany all "as-built" plans which involve structural or mechanical measures and shall serve as supporting evidence that structures meet design standards and specifications specified herein.
E. 
A final inspection shall be conducted by the Brookville Borough Engineer to certify compliance with this chapter. Satisfactory compliance with this chapter shall be necessary before issuance of an occupancy or use permit.
Permittees shall bear all costs of inspections required or permitted hereunder and shall deposit with the Council of the Borough of Brookville such sums as the Borough of Brookville shall determine, to guarantee payment of the costs of such inspections. The costs of inspections shall be in accordance with the established schedule of fees and collection procedure for matters pertaining to this chapter.
The fee for a grading permit shall be fixed by resolution of the Council of the Borough of Brookville from time to time.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
In addition to the penalties set forth in § 106-16, any movement of the landscape, vegetation, or any ground cover performed in violation of this chapter shall be restored to its previous condition, including replacement of excavated earth, removal of illegally placed fill, and restoration of grades and planting.