For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms
and words used herein shall be interpreted as follows:
A.
Words used in the present tense include the future
tense; the singular number includes the plural, and the plural number
includes the singular; words of masculine gender include feminine
gender; and words of feminine gender include masculine gender.
B.
The words "includes" or "including" shall not limit
the term to the specific example but is intended to extend its meaning
to all other instances of like kind and character.
C.
The words "shall" and "must" are mandatory; the words
"may" and "should" are permissive.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The work of producing crops, including tillage, land clearing,
plowing, disking, harrowing, planting, harvesting crops, or pasturing
and raising of livestock and installation of conservation measures.
Construction of new buildings or impervious area is not considered
an agricultural activity.
A landowner, developer or other person who has filed an application
for approval to engage in any regulated earth disturbance activity
at a project site in the municipality.
Activities, facilities, designs, measures or procedures used
to manage stormwater impacts from regulated activities, to meet state
water quality requirements, to promote groundwater recharge and to
otherwise meet the purposes of this chapter. BMPs include but are
not limited to infiltration, filter strips, low impact design, bioretention,
wet ponds, permeable paving, grassed swales, forested buffers, sand
filters and detention basins. Structural SWM BMPs are permanent appurtenances
to the project site.
A conservation district, as defined in section 3(c) of the
Conservation District Law [3 P. S. § 851(c)], which has
the authority under a delegation agreement executed with the Department
to administer and enforce all or a portion of the erosion and sediment
control program in this commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The magnitude and temporal distribution of precipitation
from a storm event measured in probability of occurrence (e.g., a
five-year storm) and duration (e.g., 24 hours), used in the design
and evaluation of stormwater management systems.
The volume of runoff that is captured and released into the
waters of this commonwealth at a controlled rate.
See “project site.”
An unstabilized land area where an earth disturbance activity
is occurring or has occurred.
A construction or other human activity which disturbs the
surface of the land, including, but not limited to, clearing and grubbing,
grading, excavations, embankments, road maintenance, building construction
and the moving, depositing, stockpiling, or storing of soil, rock
or earth materials.
The natural process by which the surface of the land is worn
away by water, wind or chemical action.
The dominant land cover during the five year period immediately
preceding a proposed regulated activity.
Release of detained runoff, i.e., runoff in excess of permanently
removed volume (PRV) over a period of time not less than 48 and not
more than 96 hours from the start of the design storm.
Any land area susceptible to inundation by water from any natural source or delineated by applicable Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps and studies as being a special flood hazard area. Also included are areas that comprise Group 13 Soils, as listed in Appendix A of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Technical Manual for Sewage Enforcement Officers (as amended or replaced from time to time by PADEP).
The channel of the watercourse and those portions of the
adjoining floodplains that is reasonably required to carry and discharge
the one-hundred-year flood. Unless otherwise specified, the boundary
of the floodway is as indicated on maps and flood insurance studies
provided by FEMA. In an area where no FEMA maps or studies have defined
the boundary of the one-hundred-year floodway, it is assumed, absent
evidence to the contrary, that the floodway extends from the stream
to 50 feet from the top of the bank of the stream.
Planning and activities necessary for the management of forestland.
These include timber inventory and preparation of forest management
plans, silvicultural treatment, cutting budgets, logging road design
and construction, timber harvesting, site preparation and reforestation.
Infiltration rates of soils vary widely and are affected
by subsurface permeability as well as surface intake rates. Soils
are classified into four HSGs (A, B, C, and D) according to their
minimum infiltration rate, which is obtained for bare soil after prolonged
wetting. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the
US Department of Agriculture defines the four groups and provides
a list of most of the soils in the United States and their group classification.
The soils in the area of the development site may be identified from
a soil survey report that can be obtained from local NRCS offices
or conservation district offices. Soils become less pervious as the
HSG varies from A to D.
A surface that prevents the infiltration of water into the
ground. Impervious surfaces (or covers) shall include, but not be
limited to, roofs, additional indoor living spaces, patios, garages,
storage sheds and similar structures, and any new streets or sidewalks.
Decks, parking areas, and driveway areas are not counted as impervious
areas if they do not prevent infiltration.
A type of topography or landscape characterized by surface
depressions, sinkholes, rock pinnacles/uneven bedrock surface, underground
drainage and caves. Karst is formed on carbonate rocks, such as limestone
or dolomite.
Inclusive of any or all of the following meanings:
The improvement of one lot or two or more contiguous
lots, tracts, or parcels of land for any purpose involving a group
of two or more buildings, or the division or allocation of land or
space between or among two or more existing or prospective occupants
by means of, or for the purpose of streets, common areas, leaseholds,
condominiums, building groups, or other features;
Any subdivision of land;
Development in accordance with Section 503(1.1)
of the PA Municipalities Planning Code.[1]
Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (previously SCS).
The maximum rate of stormwater runoff from a specific storm
event.
The volume of runoff that is permanently removed from the
runoff and not released into surface waters of this commonwealth during
or after a storm event.
Any area not defined as impervious.
The specific area of land where any regulated activities
in the municipality are planned, conducted or maintained.
Any person licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of State
or otherwise qualified by law to perform the work required by the
chapter.
Any earth disturbances or any activities that involve the
alteration or development of land in a manner that may affect stormwater
runoff.
The volume of runoff that is captured and not released directly
into the surface waters of this commonwealth during or after a storm
event.
The average interval, in years, within which a storm event
of a given magnitude can be expected to occur one time. For example,
the twenty-five-year return period rainfall would be expected to occur
on average once every twenty-five years.
Any part of precipitation that flows over the land.
Soils or other materials transported by surface water as
a product of erosion.
The regulatory requirements to protect, maintain, reclaim,
and restore water quality under Pennsylvania Code Title 25 and the
Clean Streams Law.[2]
Drainage runoff from the surface of the land resulting from
precipitation or snow or ice melt.
Any structure, natural or man-made, that, due to its condition,
design, or construction, conveys, stores, or otherwise affects stormwater
runoff. Typical stormwater management facilities include, but are
not limited to, detention and retention basins, open channels, storm
sewers, pipes, and infiltration structures.
The plan for managing stormwater runoff adopted by the County
of Westmoreland for the Chartiers, Kiski and Allegheny Watersheds
as required by the Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 864, (Act 167), as
amended, and known as the "Storm Water Management Act."[3]
Is abbreviated as "SWM BMPs" throughout this chapter.
The plan prepared by the developer or his representative
indicating how stormwater runoff will be managed at the development
site in accordance with this chapter. Stormwater management site plan
will be designated as "SWM site plan" throughout this chapter.
As defined in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,
Act of July 31, 1968, P.L. 805, No. 247.[4]
Region or area drained by a river, watercourse or other body
of water, whether natural or artificial.
Rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, impoundments, ditches,
watercourses, storm sewers, lakes, dammed water, wetlands, ponds,
springs and other bodies or channels of conveyance of surface and
underground water, or parts thereof, whether natural or artificial,
within or on the boundaries of this commonwealth.
Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water
or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support,
and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, including
swamps, marshes, bogs, fens, and similar areas.
