[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (now
County Council) of Cecil County 4-19-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-06. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the health, safety,
and general welfare of the citizens of Cecil County through the regulation
of non-stormwater discharges to all storm drainage systems in the
County to the maximum extent practicable as required by federal and
state law. This chapter 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
chapter 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 chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:
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.
The federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251
et seq.), and any subsequent amendments thereto.
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.
Employees or designees of the Cecil County Department of
Public Works designated to enforce this chapter.
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.
Any direct or indirect non-stormwater discharge to the storm drain system, except as exempted in § 322-7 of this chapter.
An illicit connection is defined as either of the following:
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 non-stormwater
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
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.
Activities subject to NPDES industrial stormwater permits
as defined in 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14).
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
Cecil County and designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater,
and that is not used for collecting or conveying sewage.
A permit issued by EPA [or by a state under authority delegated
pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1342(b)] that authorizes the discharge
of pollutants to waters of the state, whether the permit is applicable
on an individual, group, or general areawide basis.
Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed
entirely of stormwater.
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.
Anything which causes or contributes to pollution. Pollutants
may include, but are not limited to: paints, varnishes, and solvents;
petroleum hydrocarbons and other automotive fluids; cooking grease;
detergents (biodegradable or otherwise); nonhazardous liquid and solid
wastes; yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded
or abandoned objects and accumulations that 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.
Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land, whether
improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
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.
Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely
of water from any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from
such precipitation.
Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated stormwater,
discharged from a facility.
A specific body or channel of water which is part of the
waters of the state.
Include:
Both surface and underground waters within the boundaries of
this state subject to its jurisdiction, including part of the Atlantic
Ocean within the boundaries of this state, the Chesapeake Bay and
its tributaries, and ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, tidal and nontidal
wetlands, public ditches, tax ditches, and public drainage systems
within this state, other than those designed and used to collect,
convey, or dispose of sanitary sewage.
The floodplain of free-flowing waters determined by the Department
of Natural Resources on the basis of the one-hundred-year flood frequency.
This chapter shall apply to all water entering the storm drain
system generated on any developed and undeveloped lands.
The Department of Public Works shall administer, implement,
and enforce the provisions of this chapter. Any powers granted or
duties imposed upon the Department of Public Works may be delegated
in writing by the Director of the Department of Public Works, or his
or her duly authorized agent to persons or entities acting in the
beneficial interest of or in the employ of the Department.
This chapter is not intended to modify or repeal any other ordinance,
rule, regulation, or other provision of law. The requirements of this
chapter are in addition to the requirements of any other ordinance,
rule, regulation, or other provision of law, and where any provision
of this chapter 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.
The standards set forth herein and promulgated pursuant to this
chapter are minimum standards; therefore, this chapter does not intend
or imply that compliance by any person will ensure that there will
be no contamination, pollution, or unauthorized discharge of pollutants.
A.
Prohibition of illegal discharges.
(1)
No person shall throw, drain, or otherwise discharge, cause, or allow
others under its control to throw, drain, or otherwise discharge into
the County separate storm sewer system or watercourses any pollutants
or waters containing any pollutants, that cause or contribute to a
violation of applicable water quality standards, other than stormwater.
(2)
The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge
to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows:
(a)
The following discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions
established by this chapter:
[1]
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,
and dechlorinated swimming pool discharges.
[2]
Discharges or flow from fire fighting, and other discharges
specified in writing by the Department of Public Works as being necessary
to protect public health and safety.
[3]
Discharges associated with dye testing; however, this activity
requires a verbal notification to the Department of Public Works prior
to the time of the test.
(b)
The prohibition shall not apply to any non-stormwater 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.
(3)
If any discharge contained within the above exemptions causes an
adverse impact, as determined by the Department of Public Works, then
the discharge shall not be considered exempt from this chapter.
B.
Prohibition of illicit connections.
(1)
The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit
connections to the storm drain 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 connection.
(3)
A person is considered to be in violation of this chapter if the
person connects a line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows such
a connection to continue.
(4)
Improper connections in violation of this chapter must be disconnected
and redirected, if necessary, to an approved on-site wastewater management
system or the sanitary sewer system upon approval of the Health Department.
(5)
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 Department of Public Works
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 a 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 Department of Public Works.
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.
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 Department of Public Works prior to the
allowing of discharges to the MS4.
A.
Right of entry; inspection and sampling. The Department of Public Works shall be permitted to enter and inspect facilities subject to regulation under this chapter as often as may be necessary to determine compliance with this chapter, subject to the following: Prior to entering the property, the Department of Public Works will obtain written permission from the property owner; or the Department of Public Works will obtain consent in conformance with Subsection B.
(1)
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 Department of Public Works.
(2)
Facility operators shall allow the Department of Public Works 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 Department of Public Works shall have the right to set up on
any permitted facility such devices as are necessary in the opinion
of the Department of Public Works to conduct monitoring and/or sampling
of the facility's stormwater discharge.
(4)
The Department of Public Works 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 the
discharger's expense. All devices used to measure stormwater flow
and quality shall be calibrated to ensure their accuracy.
(5)
Any temporary or permanent obstruction that prohibits 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 Department
of Public Works and shall not be replaced. The costs of clearing such
access shall be borne by the operator.
(6)
Unreasonable delays in allowing the Department of Public Works access
to a permitted facility are a violation of a stormwater discharge
permit and of this chapter. 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 Department of
Public Works reasonable access to the permitted facility for the purpose
of conducting any activity authorized or required by this chapter.
B.
Search warrants. If the Department of Public Works 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 chapter, 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 chapter or any order issued
hereunder, or to protect the overall public health, safety, and welfare
of the community, then the Department of Public Works may seek issuance
of a search warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction.
A.
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 is resulting or may result
in illegal discharges or pollutants discharging into stormwater, the
storm drain system, or waters of the state, 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 the Department
of Public Works 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 Department of Public
Works 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.
B.
Failure to provide notification of a release as provided above is
a violation of this chapter.
A.
Violations.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail
to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter. Any person
who has violated or continues to violate the provisions of this chapter
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.
(2)
In the event the violation constitutes an immediate danger to public health or public safety, the Department of Public Works 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 Department of Public Works is authorized to seek costs of the abatement as outlined in § 322-15.
B.
Warning notice.
(1)
When the Department of Public Works finds that any person has violated,
or continues to violate, any provision of this chapter, or any order
issued hereunder, the Department of Public Works 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.
(2)
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
Department of Public Works to take any action, including emergency
action or any other enforcement action, without first issuing a warning
notice.
C.
Notice of violation. Whenever the Department of Public Works finds
that a person has violated a prohibition or failed to meet a requirement
of this chapter, the Department of Public Works may order compliance
by written notice of violation to the responsible person.
(1)
The notice of violation shall contain:
(a)
The name and address of the alleged violator;
(b)
The address, when available, or a description of the building,
structure or land upon which the violation is occurring, or has occurred;
(c)
A statement specifying the nature of the violation;
(d)
A description of the remedial measures necessary to restore
compliance with this chapter and a time schedule for the completion
of such remedial action;
(e)
A statement of the penalty or penalties that shall or may be
assessed against the person to whom the notice of violation is directed;
(f)
A statement that the determination of violation may be appealed
to the Circuit Court of Cecil County by filing a written notice of
appeal within five business days of service of the notice of violation;
and
(g)
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.
(2)
Such notice may require, without limitation:
(a)
The performance of monitoring, analyses, and reporting;
(b)
The elimination of illicit connections or discharges;
(c)
That violating discharges, practices, or operations shall cease
and desist;
(d)
The abatement or remediation of stormwater pollution or contamination
hazards and the restoration of any affected property;
(e)
Payment of a fine to cover administrative and remediation costs;
and
(f)
The implementation of source control or treatment BMPs.
D.
Compensatory action. In lieu of enforcement proceedings, penalties,
and remedies authorized by this chapter, the Department of Public
Works may impose upon a violator alternative compensatory actions,
such as storm drain stenciling, attendance at compliance workshops,
creek cleanup, etc.
E.
Suspension of MS4 access.
(1)
When the Department of Public Works finds that any person has violated,
or continues to violate, any provision of this chapter, 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 state which reasonably appears to present an imminent
or substantial endangerment to the health or welfare of persons or
to the environment, the Department of Public Works may issue an order
to the violator directing it immediately to cease and desist all such
violations and directing the violator to:
(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 Department of Public
Works may take such steps as deemed necessary to prevent or minimize
harm to the MS4 or waters of the state, 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 Department of Public Works may allow the person to recommence
its discharge when it has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
Department of Public Works that the period of endangerment has passed,
unless further termination proceedings are initiated against the discharger
under this chapter. A person who 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 Department
of Public Works within 30 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.
F.
Suspension due to illicit discharges in emergency situations. The
Department of Public Works 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 state. If the
violator fails to comply with a suspension order issued in an emergency,
the Department of Public Works may take such steps as deemed necessary
to prevent or minimize damage to the MS4 or waters of the state, or
to minimize danger to persons.
G.
Suspension due to the detection of illicit discharge. Any person
discharging to the MS4 in violation of this chapter may have his/her
MS4 access terminated if such termination would abate or reduce an
illicit discharge. The Department of Public Works will notify a violator
of the proposed termination of its MS4 access. The violator may petition
the Department of Public Works 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 Department of Public Works.
H.
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 10 days, or
such greater period as the Department of Public Works shall deem appropriate,
after the Department of Public Works has taken one or more of the
actions described above, the Department of Public Works 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. All penalties collected will turn over to an
Environmental Restoration Fund, to be created by and held by the County.
I.
Criminal prosecution. Any person who has violated or continues to
violate this chapter shall be liable to criminal prosecution to the
fullest extent of the law, and shall be subject to a criminal penalty
of $1,000 per violation per day and/or imprisonment for a period of
time not to exceed 60 days, or both. Each act of violation and each
day upon which any violation shall occur shall constitute a separate
offense.
Any person aggrieved by the action of any official charged with
the enforcement of this chapter, as the result of issuance of a written
notice of violation, or an alleged failure to properly enforce the
chapter in regard to a specific application, shall have the right
to appeal the action to the Circuit Court of Cecil County. The appeal
must be filed in writing within five business days from the date of
the notice of violation or determination to the applicant and shall
clearly state the grounds on which the appeal is based.
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 10 business days of the decision of the Circuit Court of Cecil
County, upholding the decision of the Department of Public Works,
then representatives of the Department of Public Works 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.
Within 30 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 10 days. If the amount
due is not paid within a timely manner as determined by the decision
of the Department of Public Works 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 chapter shall become liable to Cecil County by reason of such
violation. The liability shall be paid in not more than 12 equal payments.
Interest at the rate of 10% per annum shall be assessed on the balance
beginning on the 30th day after an invoice for the cost of abatement,
including administrative costs, has been presented to the owner of
the affected property.
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 chapter 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.
The remedies listed in this chapter are not exclusive of any
other remedies available under any applicable federal, state or local
law and it is within the discretion of the Department of Public Works
to seek cumulative remedies. The Department of Public Works may recover
all attorneys' fees court costs and other expenses associated
with enforcement of this chapter, including sampling and monitoring
expenses.
