[Ord. 436, 5/13/2008, § 22]
1. 
If any site to be graded contains a Geologic Hazard Area, the applicant shall submit a Geologic Hazard Investigation Report.
2. 
If a site to be graded does not contain a Geologic Hazard Area, then site grading shall meet the following requirements.
A. 
Excavation. Maximum steepness of a cut slope shall be no greater than two horizontal or one vertical for minimizing erosion and landslide hazards.
(1) 
If a slope steeper than two horizontal to one vertical is desired the applicant must meet the requirements of § 9-302.
(2) 
A retaining wall or other approved support, designed by a professional engineer and approved by the Administrator may be used to support the face of the excavation.
(3) 
The Administrator shall require an excavation to be constructed with a cut slope flatter than two horizontal to one vertical if he finds the material in which the excavation is to be made is subject to erosion and is prone to landslides, or if other conditions exist which under applicable engineering practices, requires such flatter cut slope necessary for stability and safety.
B. 
Fills and Embankments. Maximum steepness of a fill slope or embankment shall be no greater than two horizontal to one vertical.
(1) 
The site shall be prepared by cutting toe benches and other keyways so as to provide a firm base on which to place the fill. No fill or embankment shall be made on landslide-prone soils without adequate engineered design of the area to be filled.
(2) 
If a slope steeper than two horizontal to one vertical is desired the applicant must submit a geologic Hazard Investigation Report.
(3) 
The Administrator shall require that an embankment or fill be constructed with a fill slope flatter than two horizontal to one vertical if he finds that specific conditions require that such a flatter surface is necessary for stability and safety.
(4) 
Fills, embankments and finish grading shall be designed in accordance with the following:
(a) 
The type of fill material available in each stage of the grading operation shall be determined in order to plan proper filling procedures.
1) 
Rock shall be incorporated in fills and embankments, but only in layers 24 inches thick, maximum, as per the latest edition of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications. Publication 408, with voids filled and a blanket of compacted fill separating one layer of rock from the next. Rock fill shall not be placed near the bottom of proposed foundations, building caissons and subsurface utility installations. Suitable earth shall be reserved or provided to cover rock fill under proposed seeded or planted areas.
2) 
No unsuitable material, such as coal, boney, red-dog, expansive shale and cinders, shall be placed in fill areas.
3) 
Wood or other solid waste material shall not be placed in fill areas.
(b) 
No fill of any kind shall be placed over topsoil, trees, stumps or other material that would create a hazard or nuisance.
(c) 
Benching of the existing surface shall be required and indicated on the cross-section.
(d) 
A porous drain shall be installed on the bottom and back wall of the toe bench, together with a drainpipe and suitable discharge pipe to the exiting non-erosive surface beyond and below the toe of the proposed fill.
(e) 
Overfilling of slopes is required to permit final shaping of the surface to proposed grade without the addition of loose fill over the surface of the slope provided that no fill shall be higher than 10 feet vertically before the slope is shaped to proper grade.
(f) 
At the end of each workday, the horizontal surface of the fill shall be shaped, compacted and rolled to provide for drainage.
(g) 
All fills shall be compacted to provide stability of materials and to prevent settlement. The fill (excepting rock) shall be spread in a series of layers, each not exceeding 12 inches in thickness, and shall be compacted by a sheepsfoot roller or other approved method after each layer is spread. Fill shall be placed at the optimum moisture content for the specified degree of compaction. The Administrator shall require tests or other information if, in his opinion, the conditions or materials are such that additional information is needed. Where fills are to have streets, structures or public utilities placed in or on them, a Modified Proctor Density of 95% shall be achieved (ASTM test designation D 1557).
[Ord. 436, 5/13/2008, § 23]
1. 
Applicant shall submit a Geologic Hazard Investigation Report.
A. 
Applicant shall prepare a summary of the records, if any, of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, Division of Mine Subsidence Insurance and Mine Subsidence Regulations, regarding the location, depth and physical Characteristics of any mine that underlies the subject property or adjacent properties.
B. 
After review by applicant's geotechnical engineer of all pertinent information, he shall submit a sealed report that includes whether or not the property as it exists is safe for the proposed use, whether the site can be made safe and stable for the proposed use, and any specific recommendations for construction and/or control techniques. If the report states that the site, as it exists, is not safe but the site can be made safe by using engineered construction and control techniques, then he shall prepare an engineering design, plan and specifications that will make the site safe and stable for the proposed use as well as protect adjacent properties from potential hazards. The report shall also confirm that if the recommendations and designs are followed, there is a negligible possibility of failure.
C. 
The applicant shall agree, in writing, to follow all the recommendations and designs of the geotechnical engineer.
2. 
Review of Applicants Submission. The Borough may, at its sole option, hire its own geotechnical engineer at the applicant's expense to review the engineering design, grading and construction plans and specifications of the applicant's geotechnical engineer to determine their compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. The Borough shall determine the amount of the escrow account to be established for purposes of compensating its geotechnical engineer.
[Ord. 436, 5/13/2008, § 24]
1. 
Applicant shall submit a Geologic Hazard Investigation Report.
A. 
Applicant shall prepare a summary of the records, if any, of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, Division of Mine Subsidence Insurance and Mine Subsidence Regulations, regarding the location, depth and physical characteristics of any mine that underlies the subject property or adjacent properties.
B. 
After review by applicant's geotechnical engineer of all pertinent information, he shall submit a sealed report that includes whether or not the property as it exists is safe for the proposed use, whether the site can be made safe and stable for the proposed use, and any specific recommendations for construction and/or control techniques. If the report states that the site as it exists is not safe but the site can be made safe by using engineered construction and control techniques, then he shall prepare an engineering design, plan and specifications that will make the site safe and stable for the proposed use as well as protect adjacent properties from potential hazards. The report shall also confirm that if the recommendations and designs are followed, there is a negligible possibility of failure.
C. 
The applicant shall agree, in writing, to follow all the recommendations and designs of the geotechnical engineer.
2. 
Review of Applicants Submission. The Borough may, at its sole option, hire its own geotechnical engineer at the applicant's expense to review the engineering design, grading and construction plans and specifications of the applicant's geotechnical engineer to determine their compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. The Borough shall determine the amount of the escrow account to be established for purposes of compensating its geotechnical engineer.
[Ord. 436, 5/13/2008, § 25]
1. 
Retaining walls shall be designed and constructed in accordance with sound engineering practice and the current edition of the International Building Code. The design for construction of any proposed retaining wall shall be included in the application for a grading permit and shall meet the requirements for approval and inspection.
2. 
An engineer shall design the retaining wall and the plans submitted for approval shall bear his seal and signature on walls exceeding four feet in height.
3. 
The backfilling of retaining walls and the construction of subterranean drainage facilities shall be performed in accordance with sound engineering practice.
4. 
Where a retaining wall is to be constructed, the vertical face of the wall shall be at least five feet back from the adjoining property.
A. 
This requirement may be waived by the Administrator if it can be satisfactorily demonstrated that such an exception is necessary to ensure reasonable use of the property and does not create a hazard.
B. 
No portion of the retaining wall structure shall encroach upon adjacent property. This requirement may also be waived when the proposed retaining wall is a joint venture between adjacent property owners, and the necessary documents evidencing the same are filed with the application for the permit.
[Ord. 436, 5/13/2008, § 26]
1. 
No grading work shall be started prior to approval and implementation of a stormwater management plan in conformance with the requirements of the Borough's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
2. 
Provisions shall be made according to sound engineering practice to prevent surface water from damaging the cut face of excavations, the face of fill and embankment slopes and/or adjacent properties. Interception and diversion facilities for stormwater and surface water runoff, both above and below the cut and fill slope areas, during and after construction, shall be included in the design.
3. 
The drainage pattern of the existing site conditions and proposed construction shall be indicated on the plans. Measures according to sound engineering practice shall be taken to prevent any erosion and water runoff damage to adjacent properties during the construction and after completion of construction.
4. 
Storm sewers, inlets, drainage ditches and swales necessary to protect adjacent properties, and reduce erosion, whether permanent or temporary, shall be constructed before any excavation or filling is started. The storm sewers, inlets, drainage ditches and swales shall be maintained, cleaned, and kept open during and after construction. If the above is not complied with, the Administrator shall stop all clearing, grubbing and grading on the site until the necessary drainage facilities are completed.
5. 
New storm sewers and utilities traversing a proposed fill area shall have a minimum cover of three feet from top of pipe to proposed grade. Fill shall be constructed in that area prior to installation of said sewers and utilities. The minimum size storm sewer, exclusive of toe or bench drains, shall be 15 inches in diameter unless the Administrator approved a variation in size. The type of storm sewer pipe to be located under pavement areas shall be approved by the Administrator.
6. 
Drainage ditches and swales with a grade of 5% or greater shall be surfaced with concrete, hot bituminous material, brick, half pipe, stone or other hard non-erodible material or fabric material designed and approved to prevent erosion for the proposed grades.
7. 
Drainage ditches with a grade of less than 5% shall be grassed using a fabric material and sloped in such a manner that they can be conveniently cut and maintained.
8. 
Drainage structures, storm sewers, detention ponds, sedimentation ponds and appurtenances shall be designed and constructed according to sound engineering practice to discharge surface and subsurface water to the nearest existing storm drain or natural watercourse approved by the Administrator or his authorized representative. Approval by the Administrator does not relieve the owner of his legal responsibility to adjacent property owners. The owner shall also comply with all state laws and regulations dealing with enclosing or discharging stormwater runoff into existing streams, channels or storm sewers.
9. 
The grading plans shall follow vegetative control methods and ditch conduit control methods as specified in the current Department of Environmental Protection Erosion and Sediment Control Manual.
10. 
The one-hundred-year storm shall be used to design all permanent storm sewers and drainage facilities. The twenty-five-year storm shall be used to design all temporary storm sewers and drainage facilities.
11. 
No rock fill shall be placed around or over storm sewers or drainage facilities other than that designed as part of the site drainage facilities.
[Ord. 436, 5/13/2008, § 27]
All grading work within designated or known floodplains shall conform to the requirements and standards of Title 25 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 105 Environmental Resources, Dam Safety and Waterways Management and Title 25 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 106, Flood Plain Management.