As used in this chapter, the words and phrases listed below
shall have the following meanings:
That point, as determined by the Department of Planning and
Growth Management and Charles Soil Conservation District, where stormwater
can be released to a channel without causing scouring, erosion, or
resulting sedimentation to the receiving channel or its floodplain.
Where necessary, the outlet shall include structural and vegetative
measures to assure nonerosive velocities.
The State of Maryland Department of the Environment.
Any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including their
quality, quantity, surface area, species composition, aesthetics or
usefulness for human or natural uses. Such deleterious effect is or
may potentially be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare,
safety or property, to biological productivity, diversity, or stability
or which unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life or property,
including outdoor recreation.
Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land
in order to further crop and livestock production and conservation
of related soil and water resources. Logging, timber removal and land
clearing operations may not be considered a part of this definition
for the purposes of this chapter.
Any person who executes the necessary forms to procure official
approval of a project or a permit to carry out construction of a project.
The American Society for Testing and Materials.
A relatively flat area (i.e., less than 2% grade) constructed
on sloping land to planned dimensions and grades. Bench terraces are
applied along the contour with the length and width controlled by
the natural terrain and the required erosion limitations.
A structural device or nonstructural practice as defined
by the Stormwater Management Ordinance.[1]
A signed and sealed, written statement from an individual
licensed in the State of Maryland (engineer, surveyor, landscape architect)
that specific constructions, inspections or tests (where required)
have been performed and that such comply with the applicable requirements
of this chapter.
Any activity which removes the vegetative ground cover while
leaving the root mat intact.
Densification of a soil or rock fill by mechanical or other
acceptable procedures.
See "excavation."
The Department of Planning and Growth Management.
A person, partnership, corporation, firm, or governmental
agency undertaking or proposing the construction of a building, a
project consisting of interrelated buildings, or other construction,
and who is primarily financially responsible for the proposed.
A permit issued to authorize work to be performed under this
chapter.
The Charles Soil Conservation District.
A channel, ditch or ridge constructed across a slope as to
intercept and divert surface run-off.
That area contributing runoff to a single point measured
in a horizontal plane, which is enclosed by a ridge line.
See "watercourse."
See "fill."
See "professional engineer."
The process by which the land surface is worn away by the
action of wind, water, ice or gravity.
A system of structural and vegetative measures that minimize
soil erosion and off-site sedimentation.
An erosion and sediment control strategy or plan, to minimize
erosion and prevent off-site sedimentation by containing sediment
on-site or by passing sediment-laden runoff through a sediment control
measure, prepared and approved in accordance with the specific requirements
of the District and this chapter, and designed and approved in accordance
with the Standards and Specifications.
Any act by which soil or rock is cut into, dug, quarried,
uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated and shall include the conditions
resulting therefrom.
Those land development activities that are not subject to
the erosion and sediment control requirements contained in this chapter.
The vertical location of the existing ground surface prior
to excavating or filling.
A deposit of soil, rock or other materials placed by man.
The final approval of construction of infrastructure, including
grading, roads, storm drainage, stormwater management, public water
and sewer systems, reforestation, recreational amenities, landscaping,
dedication documents and related items associated with a permit and
as further defined in the Standards and Specifications for Construction
Manual.
Plans prepared and approved in accordance with the specific
requirements of the Charles Soil Conservation District and this chapter
and designed in accordance with the Standards and Specifications.
The final grade or elevation of the ground surface conforming
to the proposed design.
That land typically adjacent to a body of water with ground
surface elevations that are inundated by the base flood, excepting
the land adjoining the banks of ponds, lakes or stormwater management
detention and retention facilities when the banks of such water bodies
provide containment of the base flood.
To disturb earth by, including, but not limited to, excavating,
filling, stockpiling, grubbing, removing root mat or topsoil or any
combination thereof.
Any stripping, excavating, filling, including hydraulic fill,
stockpiling or any combination thereof and shall include the land
in its excavated or filled condition.
The maximum contiguous area allowed to be graded at a given
time. For the purposes of this chapter, a grading unit is 20 acres
or less.
Land with erodible soil types as defined in the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) Maryland Technical Guide.
Those soils with a slope greater than 15% or those soils
with a soil erodability factor, K, greater than 0.35 and with slopes
greater than 5%.
The administration or, if delegated enforcement authority,
Charles County.
Any facility, earthwork, or fill placed in a controlled manner
to support structural foundations or vehicular traffic, the instability
of which would constitute a public hazard or nuisance.
Designing stormwater management systems so that all reasonable
opportunities for using ESD planning techniques and treatment practices
are exhausted and only where absolutely necessary is a structural
BMP implemented.
The ground surface in its original state before grading,
stripping, excavation or filling.
A person undertaking, or for whose benefit, activities covered
by this chapter are carried on. General contractors or subcontractors,
or both, without a proprietary interest in a project are not included
within this definition.
Any person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this chapter.
Includes, in addition to any other meaning it may have under
this chapter, an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an incorporated
association, an agency, the federal government, the state, any county,
municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state,
or any of their units, or an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian,
executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind,
or any partnership, firm, association, public or private corporation,
or any of their affiliates, or any other similar entity whatsoever.
A person who has been duly registered and licensed to practice
professional architecture and/or landscape architecture under requirements
of state law.
A person licensed to practice engineering in the State of
Maryland.
A person licensed to practice surveying in the State of Maryland.
Any grading performed with the approval of, and in accordance
with, criteria established by this chapter.
Any foreman, superintendent or project engineer who is in
charge of on-site clearing and grading operations or sediment control
associated with earth changes or disturbances and has a certification
of training at a Maryland Department of the Environment approved training
program for the control of sediment and erosion.
Soils or other surficial materials transported or deposited
by the action of wind, water, ice, gravity or any artificial means.
Any tract, lot or parcel of land or combination of tracts,
lots or parcels of land which are in one ownership, or are contiguous
and in diverse ownership, where development is to be performed as
part of a unit, subdivision or project.
The inclined exposed surface of a fill, excavation or natural
terrain.
All earth material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock,
including, but not limited to, the decomposed zone of bedrock which
can be readily excavated by mechanical equipment.
The Charles County Standards and Specifications for Construction
Manual.
The prevention of soil movement by any of various vegetative
and/or structural means.
The 2011 Maryland Standards and Specifications for Soil Erosion
and Sediment Control or any subsequent revisions.
A slope over fifteen-percent grade, which is characterized
by increased run-off, erosion and sediment hazards.
Water that originates from a precipitation event.
Any activity which removes the vegetative surface cover,
including tree removal, clearing, grubbing and storage of removal
of topsoil.
Fills constructed predominately of rock materials for the
purpose of supporting structures.
The approval of the basic construction of utilities, storm
drainage facilities, bituminous concrete base and intermediate surface
course, street and regulatory signs, and other improvements required
to meet standards as further defined in the Standards and Specifications
for Construction Manual for issuance of use and occupancy certificates.
The severing of trees at or above the ground level leaving
the stump and root system intact.
Modification of the criteria set forth in this chapter, the
Standards and Specifications and the Specifications Manual.
Any natural or artificial watercourse (including, but not
limited to, streams, rivers, creeks, ditches, channels, canals, conduits,
culverts, drains, waterways, gullies, ravines or washes) in which
water flows in a definite direction or course, either continuously
or intermittently; and including any area adjacent thereto which is
subject to inundation by reason of overflow or floodwater.
The total drainage area contributing runoff to a single point.
Any area that has saturated soils or periodic high groundwater
levels and vegetation adapted to wet conditions and periodic flooding.
