For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Words and phrases not defined in this section, but defined in § 156.020 of this chapter, shall be given the meanings thus set forth. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings or captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this subchapter.
APPLICANT. Any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, fiduciary, agent or other organization or representative of any kind either public or private, submitting an application for natural resource excavation approval.
EXCAVATION. The removal of natural resources by excavating, stripping, leveling or any other process, together with all other types of mining operations where natural resources are removed from the earth. The provisions of this subchapter shall not apply to the removal of sod or topsoil; provided that, any removal of sod or topsoil shall not be closer than ten feet to any property line, involve excavation depths in excess of 18 inches or adversely affect the drainage, stability, vegetation or air quality of the area. Further, this subchapter shall not apply to ditching and land leveling for agricultural purposes, so long as such land leveling for agricultural purposes does not include the removal of natural resources from the site for other uses.
OPERATION. Those activities conducted on the surface of the land directly involved in or incidental to the exploration for, or development or extraction of, natural resources from their natural occurrences, including surface mining and surface effects of underground mining, on-site transportation and other processing.
OPERATOR. Any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, fiduciary, agent or other organization or representative of any kind either public or private, owning, controlling or managing natural resource excavation operations or proposed operations, including exploring for or developing of a mineral deposit.
OWNER. Any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership, receiver, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, fiduciary, agent or other organization or representative of any kind either public or private, owning, controlling or managing a mineral deposit or the surface of lands employed in natural resource excavation operations.
PARCEL. A parcel of property shall mean a contiguous quantity of land, existing as a separate legal description with a separate tax identification number on or before 2-19-1998. Land in one ownership, but with more than one legal description or tax identification number, shall not be considered one PARCEL. Land assembled into one legal description or tax identification number after 2-19-1998 shall not be considered one PARCEL for purposes of this zoning regulation. Land in one ownership, but physically divided by a public or private highway, road or street, is not considered contiguous under this definition.
PERMITTEE. An owner or operator who has received or is in the process of applying for a conditional use permit for natural resource excavation.
RECLAMATION. Actions performed during and after natural resource excavation operations to shape, stabilize, re-vegetate or otherwise treat the land affected in order to achieve a safe, stable, ecological condition.
(Prior Code, § 29.28.030) (Ord. 00-03, passed 1-20-2000)