[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
The purpose of this Part is to provide for the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of West Homestead Borough through the regulation of nonstormwater discharges to the storm drainage system to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and state law. This Part establishes methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) in order to comply with requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process. The objectives of this Part are:
A. 
To regulate the contribution of pollutants to the MS4 by stormwater discharges by any user.
B. 
To prohibit illicit connections and discharges to the MS4.
C. 
To establish legal authority to carry out all inspection, surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this Part.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
For the purposes of this Part, the following shall mean:
AUTHORIZED ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
Employees or designees of the director of the municipal agency designated to enforce this Part.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs)
Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general good housekeeping practices, pollution prevention and educational practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to stormwater, receiving waters, or stormwater conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.
CLEAN WATER ACT
The federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), and any subsequent amendments thereto.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
Activities subject to NPDES construction permits. These include construction projects resulting in land disturbance of one acre or more. Such activities include but are not limited to clearing and grubbing, grading, excavating, and demolition.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Any material, including any substance, waste, or combination thereof, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety, property, or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
ILLEGAL DISCHARGE
Any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge to the storm drain system, except as exempted in § 18-408 of this Part.
ILLICIT CONNECTIONS
An illicit connection is defined as either of the following:
A. 
Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, that allows an illegal discharge to enter the storm drain system, including but not limited to any conveyances that allow any nonstormwater discharge, including sewage, process wastewater, and wash water, to enter the storm drain system and any connections to the storm drain system from indoor drains and sinks, regardless of whether said drain or connection had been previously allowed, permitted, or approved by an authorized enforcement agency; or
B. 
Any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial land use to the storm drain system that has not been documented in plans, maps, or equivalent records and approved by an authorized enforcement agency.
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY
Activities subject to NPDES industrial stormwater permits as defined in 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14).
MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4)
The system of conveyances (including sidewalks, roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) owned and operated by West Homestead Borough and designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater, and that is not used for collecting or conveying sewage.
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) STORMWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT
A permit issued by the EPA [or by a state under authority delegated pursuant to 33 USC § 1342(b)] that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general area-wide basis.
NONSTORMWATER DISCHARGE
Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater.
PERSON
Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity recognized by law and acting as either the owner or as the owner's agent.
POLLUTANT
Anything which causes or contributes to pollution. Pollutants may include, but are not limited to: paints, varnishes, and solvents; oil and other automotive fluids; nonhazardous liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects, ordinances, and accumulations, so that same may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes and residues that result from constructing a building or structure; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.
PREMISES
Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land, whether improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM
Publicly owned facilities by which stormwater is collected and/or conveyed, including but not limited to any roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, gutters, curbs, inlets, piped storm drains, pumping facilities, retention and detention basins, natural and human-made or altered drainage channels, reservoirs, and other drainage structures.
STORMWATER
Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely of water from any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
A document which describes the best management practices and activities to be implemented by a person or business to identify sources of pollution or contamination at a site and the actions to eliminate or reduce pollutant discharges to stormwater, stormwater conveyance systems, and/or receiving waters to the maximum extent practicable.
WASTEWATER
Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated stormwater, discharged from a facility.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
This Part shall apply to all water entering the storm drain system generated on any developed and undeveloped lands unless explicitly exempted by West Homestead Borough.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
West Homestead Borough shall administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of this Part. Any powers granted or duties imposed upon the Borough may be delegated in writing by the Mayor of West Homestead to persons or entities acting in the beneficial interest of or in the employ of the agency.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
This Part is not intended to modify or repeal any other ordinance, rule, regulation, or other provision of law. The requirements of this Part are in addition to the requirements of any other ordinance, rule, regulation, or other provision of law, and where any provision of this Part imposes restrictions different from those imposed by any other ordinance, rule, regulation, or other provision of law, whichever provision is more restrictive or imposes higher protective standards for human health or the environment shall control.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
The provisions of this Part are hereby declared to be severable. If any provision, clause, sentence, or paragraph of this Part or the application thereof to any person, establishment, or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or application of this Part.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
The standards set forth herein and promulgated pursuant to this Part are minimum standards; therefore this Part does not intend or imply that compliance by any person will ensure that there will be no contamination, pollution, or unauthorized discharge of pollutants.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
Prohibition of Illegal Discharges.
A. 
No person shall throw, drain, or otherwise discharge, cause, or allow others under its control to throw, drain, or otherwise discharge into the MS4 any pollutants or waters containing any pollutants, other than stormwater. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows:
(1) 
The following discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established by this Part: water line flushing, landscape irrigation, diverted stream flows, rising groundwaters, uncontaminated groundwater infiltration, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, discharges from potable water sources, foundation drains, air-conditioning condensation, irrigation water, springs, water from crawl space pumps, footing drains, lawn watering, individual residential car washing, flows from riparian habitats and wetlands, dechlorinated swimming pool discharges, and street wash water.
(2) 
Discharges or flow from firefighting, and other discharges specified in writing by the Borough as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(3) 
Discharges associated with dye testing; however, this activity requires a verbal notification to West Homestead Borough prior to the time of the test.
(4) 
The prohibition shall not apply to any nonstormwater discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and provided that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the storm drain system.
B. 
The local government may evaluate and remove any of the above exemptions if it is determined that they are causing an adverse impact.
2. 
Prohibition of Illicit Connections.
A. 
The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the storm drain system is prohibited.
B. 
This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.
C. 
A person is considered to be in violation of this Part if the person connects a line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue.
D. 
Improper connections in violation of this Part must be disconnected and redirected, if necessary, to an approved on-site wastewater management system or the sanitary sewer system upon approval of the Borough.
E. 
Any drain or conveyance that has not been documented in plans, maps or equivalent, and which may be connected to the storm sewer system, shall be located by the owner or occupant of that property upon receipt of written notice of violation from the Borough requiring that such locating be completed. Such notice will specify a reasonable time period within which the location of the drain or conveyance is to be determined, that the drain or conveyance be identified as storm sewer, sanitary sewer or other, and that the outfall location or point of connection to the storm sewer system, sanitary sewer system or other discharge point be identified. Results of these investigations are to be documented and provided to the Borough.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
Every person owning property through which a watercourse passes, or such person's lessee, shall keep and maintain that part of the watercourse within the property free of trash, debris, excessive vegetation, and other obstacles that would pollute, contaminate, or significantly retard the flow of water through the watercourse. In addition, the owner or lessee shall maintain existing privately owned structures within or adjacent to a watercourse, so that such structures will not become a hazard to the use, function, or physical integrity of the watercourse.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
Submission of NOI to Borough.
A. 
Any person subject to an industrial or construction activity NPDES stormwater discharge permit shall comply with all provisions of such permit. Proof of compliance with said permit may be required in a form acceptable to the Borough prior to the allowing of discharges to the MS4.
B. 
The operator of a facility, including construction sites, required to have an NPDES permit to discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity shall submit a copy of the notice of intent (NOI) to the Borough at the same time the operator submits the original notice of intent to the EPA as applicable.
C. 
The copy of the notice of intent may be delivered to the Borough either in person or by mailing it to:
Notice of Intent to Discharge Stormwater
West Homestead Borough
456 West 8th Avenue
West Homestead, PA 15120
D. 
A person commits an offense if the person operates a facility that is discharging stormwater associated with industrial activity without having submitted a copy of the notice of intent to do so to the Borough.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
Right of entry: Inspection and sampling. West Homestead Borough shall be permitted to enter and inspect facilities subject to regulation under this Part as often as may be necessary to determine compliance with this Part.
A. 
If a discharger has security measures in force which require proper identification and clearance before entry into its premises, the discharger shall make the necessary arrangements to allow access to representatives of the Borough.
B. 
Facility operators shall allow the Borough ready access to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, examination and copying of records that must be kept under the conditions of an NPDES permit to discharge stormwater, and the performance of any additional duties as defined by state and federal law.
C. 
The Borough shall have the right to set up on any permitted facility such devices as are necessary in the opinion of the Borough to conduct monitoring and/or sampling of the facility's stormwater discharge.
D. 
The Borough has the right to require the discharger to install monitoring equipment as necessary. The facility's sampling and monitoring equipment shall be maintained at all times in a safe and proper operating condition by the discharger at its own expense. All devices used to measure stormwater flow and quality shall be calibrated to ensure their accuracy.
E. 
Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to the facility to be inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly removed by the operator at the written or oral request of the Borough and shall not be replaced. The costs of clearing such access shall be borne by the operator.
F. 
Unreasonable delays in allowing the Borough access to a permitted facility is a violation of a stormwater discharge permit and of this Part. A person who is the operator of a facility with an NPDES permit to discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity commits an offense if the person denies the Borough reasonable access to the permitted facility for the purpose of conducting any activity authorized or required by this Part.
2. 
Search warrants. If West Homestead Borough has been refused access to any part of the premises from which stormwater is discharged, and he/she is able to demonstrate probable cause to believe that there may be a violation of this Part, or that there is a need to inspect and/or sample as part of a routine inspection and sampling program designed to verify compliance with this Part or any order issued hereunder, or to protect the overall public health, safety, and welfare of the community, then the Borough may seek issuance of a search warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
West Homestead Borough will adopt requirements identifying best management practices for any activity, operation, or facility which may cause or contribute to pollution or contamination of stormwater, the storm drain system, or waters of the United States. The owner or operator of such activity, operation, or facility shall provide, at their own expense, reasonable protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses through the use of these structural and nonstructural BMPs. Further, any person responsible for a property or premises that is, or may be, the source of an illicit discharge, may be required to implement, at said person's expense, additional structural and nonstructural BMPs to prevent the further discharge of pollutants to the MS4. Compliance with all terms and conditions of a valid NPDES permit authorizing the discharge of stormwater associated with industrial activity, to the extent practicable, shall be deemed compliance with the provisions of this section. These BMPs shall be part of a stormwater management plan (SWMP) as necessary for compliance with requirements of the NPDES permit.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
Notwithstanding other requirements of law, as soon as any person responsible for a facility or operation, or responsible for emergency response for a facility or operation, has information of any known or suspected release of materials which are resulting or may result in illegal discharges or pollutants discharging into stormwater, the storm drain system, or waters of the United States, said person shall take all necessary steps to ensure the discovery, containment, and cleanup of such release. In the event of such a release of hazardous materials, said person shall immediately notify emergency response agencies of the occurrence via emergency dispatch services. In the event of a release of nonhazardous materials, said person shall notify West Homestead Borough in person or by phone or facsimile no later than the next business day. Notifications in person or by phone shall be confirmed by written notice addressed and mailed to the Borough within three business days of the phone notice. If the discharge of prohibited materials emanates from a commercial or industrial establishment, the owner or operator of such establishment shall also retain an on-site written record of the discharge and the actions taken to prevent its recurrence. Such records shall be retained for at least three years.
2. 
Failure to provide notification of a release as provided above is a violation of this Part.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
Violations.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this Part. Any person who has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this Part may be subject to the enforcement actions outlined in this section or may be restrained by injunction or otherwise abated in a manner provided by law.
B. 
In the event the violation constitutes an immediate danger to public health or public safety, West Homestead Borough is authorized to enter upon the subject private property, without giving prior notice, to take any and all measures necessary to abate the violation and/or restore the property. The Borough is authorized to seek costs of the abatement as outlined in § 18-417.
2. 
Warning Notice. When West Homestead Borough finds that any person has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this Part, or any order issued hereunder, the Borough may serve upon that person a written warning notice, specifying the particular violation believed to have occurred and requesting the discharger to immediately investigate the matter and to seek a resolution whereby any offending discharge will cease. Investigation and/or resolution of the matter in response to the warning notice in no way relieves the alleged violator of liability for any violations occurring before or after receipt of the warning notice. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority of the Borough to take any action, including emergency action or any other enforcement action, without first issuing a warning notice.
3. 
Notice of Violation.
A. 
Whenever West Homestead Borough finds that a person has violated a prohibition or failed to meet a requirement of this Part, the Borough may order compliance by written notice of violation to the responsible person.
B. 
The notice of violation shall contain:
(1) 
The name and address of the alleged violator;
(2) 
The address, when available, or a description of the building, structure or land upon which the violation is occurring, or has occurred;
(3) 
A statement specifying the nature of the violation;
(4) 
A description of the remedial measures necessary to restore compliance with this Part and a time schedule for the completion of such remedial action;
(5) 
A statement of the penalty or penalties that shall or may be assessed against the person to whom the notice of violation is directed;
(6) 
A statement that the determination of violation may be appealed to West Homestead Borough by filing a written notice of appeal within 30 days of service of notice of violation; and
(7) 
A statement specifying that, should the violator fail to restore compliance within the established time schedule, the work will be done by a designated governmental agency or a contractor and the expense thereof shall be charged to the violator.
C. 
Such notice may require without limitation:
(1) 
The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(2) 
The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
(3) 
That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease and desist;
(4) 
The 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; and
(6) 
The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.
4. 
Compensatory Action. In lieu of enforcement proceedings, penalties, and remedies authorized by this Part, West Homestead Borough may impose upon a violator alternative compensatory actions, such as storm drain stenciling, attendance at compliance workshops, creek cleanup, etc.
5. 
Suspension of MS4 Access.
A. 
Emergency Cease-and-Desist Orders.
(1) 
When West Homestead Borough finds that any person has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this Part, or any order issued hereunder, or that the person's past violations are likely to recur, and that the person's violation(s) has (have) caused or contributed to an actual or threatened discharge to the MS4 or waters of the United States which reasonably appears to present an imminent or substantial endangerment to the health or welfare of persons or to the environment, the Borough may issue an order to the violator directing it immediately to cease and desist all such violations and directing the violator to:
(a) 
Immediately comply with all ordinance requirements; and
(b) 
Take such appropriate preventive action as may be needed to properly address a continuing or threatened violation, including immediately halting operations and/or terminating the discharge.
(2) 
Any person notified of an emergency order directed to it under this subsection shall immediately comply and stop or eliminate its endangering discharge. In the event of a discharger's failure to immediately comply voluntarily with the emergency order, the Borough may take such steps as deemed necessary to prevent or minimize harm to the MS4 or waters of the United States, and/or endangerment to persons or to the environment, including immediate termination of a facility's water supply, sewer connection, or other municipal utility services. The Borough may allow the person to recommence its discharge when it has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Borough that the period of endangerment has passed, unless further termination proceedings are initiated against the discharger under this Part. A person that is responsible, in whole or in part, for any discharge presenting imminent endangerment shall submit a detailed written statement, describing the causes of the harmful discharge and the measures taken to prevent any future occurrence, to the Borough within 15 days of receipt of the emergency order. Issuance of an emergency cease-and-desist order shall not be a bar against, or a prerequisite for, taking any other action against the violator.
B. 
Suspension Due to Illicit Discharges in Emergency Situations. West Homestead Borough may, without prior notice, suspend MS4 discharge access to a person when such suspension is necessary to stop an actual or threatened discharge which presents or may present imminent and substantial danger to the environment, or to the health or welfare of persons, or to the MS4 or waters of the United States. If the violator fails to comply with a suspension order issued in an emergency, the Borough may take such steps as deemed necessary to prevent or minimize damage to the MS4 or waters of the United States, or to minimize danger to persons.
C. 
Suspension Due to Detection of Illicit Discharge. Any person discharging to the MS4 in violation of this Part may have their MS4 access terminated if such termination would abate or reduce an illicit discharge. West Homestead Borough will notify a violator of the proposed termination of its MS4 access. The violator may petition the Borough for a reconsideration and hearing. A person commits an offense if the person reinstates MS4 access to premises terminated pursuant to this section without the prior approval of the Borough.
6. 
Civil Penalties. In the event the alleged violator fails to take the remedial measures set forth in the notice of violation or otherwise fails to cure the violations described therein within 15 days, or such greater period as West Homestead Borough shall deem appropriate, after the Borough has taken one or more of the actions described above, the Borough may impose a penalty not to exceed $1,000 (depending on the severity of the violation) for each day the violation remains unremedied after receipt of the notice of violation.
7. 
Criminal Prosecution. Any person that has violated or continues to violate this Part shall be liable to criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, and shall be subject to a criminal penalty of $150 per violation per day and/or imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed 90 days. Each act of violation and each day upon which any violation shall occur shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
Any person receiving a notice of violation may appeal the determination of West Homestead Borough. The notice of appeal must be received within 30 days from the date of the notice of violation. Hearing on the appeal before the appropriate authority or his/her designee shall take place within 45 days from the date of receipt of the notice of appeal. The decision of the municipal authority or their designee shall be final.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
If the violation has not been corrected pursuant to the requirements set forth in the notice of violation, or, in the event of an appeal, within 15 days of the decision of the municipal authority upholding the decision of West Homestead Borough, then representatives of the Borough shall enter upon the subject private property and are authorized to take any and all measures necessary to abate the violation and/or restore the property. It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, agent or person in possession of any premises to refuse to allow the government agency or designated contractor to enter upon the premises for the purposes set forth above.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
Within 15 days after abatement of the violation, the owner of the property will be notified of the cost of abatement, including administrative costs. The property owner may file a written protest objecting to the amount of the assessment within 30 days. If the amount due is not paid within a timely manner as determined by the decision of the municipal authority or by the expiration of the time in which to file an appeal, the charges shall become a special assessment against the property and shall constitute a lien on the property for the amount of the assessment. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Part shall become liable to West Homestead Borough by reason of such violation. The liability shall be paid in full within 30 days unless other arrangements have been made.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
In addition to the enforcement processes and penalties provided, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this Part is a threat to public health, safety, and welfare, and is declared and deemed a nuisance, and may be summarily abated or restored at the violator's expense, and/or a civil action to abate, enjoin, or otherwise compel the cessation of such nuisance may be taken.
[Ord. No. 704, 4/10/2018]
1. 
The remedies listed in this Part are not exclusive of any other remedies available under any applicable federal, state or local law, and it is within the discretion of West Homestead Borough to seek cumulative remedies.
2. 
The Borough may recover all attorney's fees, court costs and other expenses associated with enforcement of this Part, including sampling and monitoring expenses.