[Adopted 6-14-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-2]
The purpose of this article is to provide for the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania through the regulation of nonstormwater discharges into the storm drainage or storm sewer system of Lancaster Township, to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and state law. This article establishes methods for controlling the introduction of pollutants into the Lancaster Township's separate storm drainage or sewer system (the "MS4") in order to comply with requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process. The objectives of this article are:
A. 
To regulate the contribution of pollutants into Lancaster Township's separate storm drainage or storm sewer system ("MS4") through stormwater discharges by any user;
B. 
To prohibit illicit connections and illegal discharges into the Lancaster Township's separate storm drainage or sewer system ("MS4");
C. 
To establish and adopt rules, regulations and the authority to perform all inspections, surveillance and monitoring procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this article.
As used in the article, terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
AUTHORIZED ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
Employees, representatives or designees of Lancaster Township who are designated and authorized by the Board of Supervisors of the Township to enforce this article.
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 designed to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly into stormwater, receiving waters, or stormwater conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating procedures, and practices designed 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.
COMMONWEALTH
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
Activities subject to NPDES construction permits, these include construction projects resulting in land disturbance of five acres 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, general welfare, property, or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
ILLEGAL DISCHARGE
Any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge into the storm drainage system, except as otherwise permitted in § 209-37 of this article.
ILLICIT CONNECTIONS
Shall be either of the following:
A. 
Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows an illegal discharge to enter the storm drainage system, including but not limited to any conveyances which allow any nonstormwater discharge, including sewage, process wastewater, and wash water to enter the storm drainage system and any connections to the storm drainage 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 into the storm drainage system which has not been documented in plans, maps, or equivalent records and approved by an authorized enforcement agency.
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY
Activities subject to NPDES industrial permits as defined in 40 CFR, Section 122.26 (b)(14).
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) STORMWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT
A permit issued by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency [or by a state under authority delegated pursuant to 33 USC § 1342(b)] that authorizes the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general areawide basis.
NONSTORMWATER DISCHARGE
Any discharge into the storm drainage system that is not composed entirely of stormwater.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others, shall have:
A. 
Legal title to any premises, dwelling, dwelling unit or commercial or industrial establishment, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
B. 
Charge, care, control of any premises, dwelling, dwelling unit, or commercial or industrial establishment, as a tenant, subtenant, owner or tenant of owner or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of the article and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner.
PERSON
Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm, corporation, public utility, tenant, lessee 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, 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 the Township's separate storm drainage or storm sewer system ("MS4") and 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 POLLUTION PREVENTION 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 premises and the actions to eliminate or reduce pollutant discharges into stormwater, storm drainage system, and/or receiving waters to the maximum extent practicable.
TOWNSHIP
Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
WATERCOURSE
A channel or conveyance of surface water, such as a stream or creek, having defined beds and banks, whether natural or artificial, with perennial or intermittent flow.
WASTEWATER
Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated stormwater, discharged from a facility or premises.
This article shall apply to all water or other discharges entering the storm drainage system generated on any developed and undeveloped lands or premises, unless explicitly exempted by an authorized enforcement agency.
Lancaster Township, through its authorized enforcement agency, shall administer, implement and enforce the provisions of this article. Any powers granted or duties imposed upon the authorized enforcement agency may be delegated in writing by the Board of Supervisors of Lancaster Township to persons or entities acting in the beneficial interest of or in the employ of Lancaster Township.
The provisions of this article are hereby declared to be severable. If any provision, clause, sentence, or paragraph of this article or the application thereof to any person, establishment, or circumstance shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or the application of this article.
Any ordinance inconsistent with any of the provisions of this article is hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
The standards set forth herein and promulgated pursuant to this article are minimum standards; therefore, this article does not intend nor imply that compliance by any person will ensure that there will be no contamination, pollution, nor unauthorized discharge of pollutants.
A. 
Prohibition of illegal discharges. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the storm drainage system or watercourses of the Township, commonwealth or the United States any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than stormwater. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge into the storm drainage system is prohibited except as herein described:
(1) 
The following discharges are exempt from the discharge prohibitions established by this article: waterline or other potable water sources; flushing landscape irrigation or lawn watering; diverted stream flows; rising groundwater; groundwater infiltration to storm drains; uncontaminated pumped groundwater; foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems); crawl space pumps; air conditioning condensation; springs; noncommercial washing of vehicles; natural riparian habitat or wetland flows; swimming pools (if dechlorinated, typically less than one PPM chlorine); fire-fighting activities; and any other water source not containing pollutants.
(2) 
Discharges specified in writing by the authorized enforcement agency as being necessary to protect the public health, safety and general welfare.
(3) 
Dye testing shall be an allowable discharge, but only if a written notification is given to the authorized enforcement agency 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 Federal Environmental Protection Agency, 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 into the storm drainage system.
B. 
Prohibition of illicit connections.
(1) 
The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections into the storm drainage system is prohibited.
(2) 
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 initial connection.
(3) 
A person is considered to be in violation of this article if the person connects a line conveying sewage to the storm drainage system or allows such a connection to continue.
A. 
Suspension due to illegal discharges or illicit connections in emergency situations. Lancaster Township, through its authorized enforcement agency may, without prior notice, suspend storm drainage system 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, safety or general welfare of persons, or to the storm drainage system or waters of the Township, commonwealth or the United States. If the violator fails to comply with a suspension order issued in an emergency, the authorized enforcement agency may take such steps as are deemed necessary to prevent or minimize damage to the storm drainage system or waters of the Township, commonwealth or United States, or to minimize danger to persons.
B. 
Suspension due to the detection of illegal discharges or illicit connections.
(1) 
Any person discharging into the storm drainage system in violation of this article may have their storm drainage system access terminated if such termination would abate or reduce an illegal discharge or illicit connection. The authorized enforcement agency will notify a violator of the proposed termination of its storm drainage system access. The violator may petition the authorized enforcement agency for a reconsideration and hearing.
(2) 
A person commits an offense if the person reinstates storm drainage system access to a premises terminated pursuant to this section, without the prior approval of the authorized enforcement agency.
Any person subject to a construction or industrial 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 authorized enforcement agency prior to allowing discharges into the storm drainage system.
A. 
Applicability. This section applies to all facilities and any premises that have stormwater discharges associated with commercial or industrial activity, including construction activity.
B. 
Access to facilities.
(1) 
The authorized enforcement agency shall be permitted to enter and inspect facilities or a premises subject to regulation under this article as often as may be necessary to determine compliance with this article. If a discharger has security measures in force which require proper identification and clearance before entry into premises, the discharger shall make the necessary arrangements to allow access to the authorized enforcement agency or its representatives.
(2) 
Facility operators shall allow the authorized enforcement agency or its representatives 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.
(3) 
The authorized enforcement agency and its representatives shall have the right to set up on any such permitted facility or premises such devices as are necessary in the opinion of the authorized enforcement agency to conduct monitoring and/or sampling of the facility's or premises' stormwater discharge.
(4) 
The authorized enforcement agency has the right to require the discharger to install monitoring equipment as necessary. The facility's or premises' sampling and monitoring equipment shall be maintained at all times in a safe and proper operating condition by the discharger at its own cost and expense. All devices used to measure stormwater flow and quality shall be calibrated on an annual basis to ensure their accuracy. The discharger shall provide to the authorized enforcement agency copies of such calibration test results.
(5) 
Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to a facility or premises to be inspected and/or sampled shall be promptly removed by the owner of such facility or premises at the written or oral request of the authorized enforcement agency and shall not be replaced. The costs of clearing such access shall be borne by the owner of such facility.
(6) 
Unreasonable delays in allowing the authorized enforcement agency or its representatives access to a permitted facility or premises is a violation of the NPDES stormwater discharge permit and of this article. A person who is the operator or owner of a facility or premises with an NPDES permit to discharge stormwater associated with a commercial or industrial activity commits an offense if such person denies the authorized enforcement agency or its representatives reasonable access to the permitted facility or premises for the purpose of conducting any activity authorized or required by this article.
(7) 
If the authorized enforcement agency or its representatives have been refused access to any part of a facility or 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 article 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 article or any order issued hereunder or to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Township or the commonwealth, then the authorized enforcement agency may seek issuance of a search warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction.
A. 
The Township, through its authorized enforcement agency, 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 drainage system, or waters of the Township, commonwealth or United States.
B. 
The owner or operator of a commercial or industrial establishment shall provide, at his own expense, reasonable protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes into the storm drainage system or watercourses through the use of these structural and nonstructural BMPs. Further, any person responsible for a facility or premises, which is or may be the source of an illicit connection or illegal discharge, may be required to implement, at said person's expense, additional structural and nonstructural BMPs to prevent the further discharge of pollutants into the storm drainage system. Compliance with all terms and conditions of a valid NPDES permit authorizing the discharge of stormwater associated with an industrial or commercial activity, to the extent practicable, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this section. These BMPs shall be part of a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPP) as necessary for compliance with requirements of the NPDES permit.
Every person owning a facility or premises through which a watercourse passes, or such person's lessee, shall keep and maintain that part of the watercourse within the premises 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.
Notwithstanding any other requirements of law, as soon as any person responsible for a facility, operation or a premises, or responsible for emergency response for a facility, operation or a premises, 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 drainage system, or waters of the Township, commonwealth or United States, such 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 the authorized enforcement agency 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 authorized enforcement agency 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.
A. 
Notice of violation. Whenever the authorized enforcement agency finds that a person has violated a prohibition or failed to meet a requirement of this article, the authorized enforcement agency may order compliance by written notice of violation to the owner or responsible person. Such notice may require, without limitation:
(1) 
The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(2) 
The elimination of illegal discharges or illicit connections;
(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.
B. 
If abatement of a violation and/or restoration of an affected premises or other property is required, the notice shall set forth a deadline within which such remediation or restoration must be completed. Said notice shall further advise that, should the owner or violator fail to remediate or restore within the established deadline, the work will be done by a designated governmental agency or a contractor selected by the Township and the expense thereof shall be charged to the owner or violator.
Any person receiving a notice of violation may appeal the determination of the authorized enforcement agency. The notice of appeal to the Township's Board of Supervisors must be received within seven days from the date of the notice of violation. Hearing on the appeal before the Board of Supervisors or its designee shall take place within 15 days from the date of receipt of the notice of appeal. The decision of the Board of Supervisors or its designee shall be final.
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 five days of the decision of the Board of Supervisors or its designee upholding the decision of the authorized enforcement agency, then representatives of the authorized enforcement agency shall enter upon the subject private property or premises and are authorized to take any and all measures necessary to abate the violation and/or restore the property or premises. Any costs incurred by the authorized enforcement agency or contractor engaged by it to abate such violation shall be charged to and be collectible from the owner or violator. It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, agent or person in possession of any premises to refuse to allow the authorized enforcement agency or designated contractor to enter upon the premises for the purposes set forth above.
A. 
Within 10 days after abatement of the violation, the owner of the premises will be notified of the cost of abatement, including administrative costs. The owner may file a written protest objecting to the amount of the assessment within seven days. If the amount due is not paid within a timely manner, as determined by the decision of the Board of Supervisors or after the expiration of the time in which to file an appeal, the charges shall become a special assessment against the subject premises and shall constitute a lien on the premises for the amount of the assessment.
B. 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall become liable to the Township by reason of such violation. The assessment may be paid in not more than 12 equal payments. Interest at the rate of 6% per annum shall be assessed on the balance beginning on the 10th day following the bill for such assessment until paid in full.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this article. If a person has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this article, the authorized enforcement agency may petition the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County for a preliminary or permanent injunction restraining the person from activities which would create further violations or compelling that person to perform abatement or remediation of the violation.
In lieu of the enforcement proceedings, penalties, and remedies authorized by this article, the Township, through its Board of Supervisors or the authorized enforcement agency may impose upon a violator alternative compensatory actions, such as storm drain stenciling, attendance at compliance workshops, creek cleanup, and the like.
In addition to the enforcement provisions and penalties provided in this article, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any of the provisions of this article is a threat to the public health, safety and general 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 by means of injunction or other appropriate relief by action at law or in equity. 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.
Any person that has violated or continues to violate this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each violation, recoverable with costs or imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed 30 days, or both. Each day that the violation continues shall be a separate offense.
The authorized enforcement agency and Township may recover all attorneys' fees, court costs and other expenses associated with enforcement of this article, including sampling and monitoring expenses.
The remedies listed in this article are not exclusive of any other remedies available under any applicable federal, state or local law and it is within the discretion of the authorized enforcement agency to seek cumulative remedies.