No land-disturbing activity subject to the control of this chapter shall be undertaken except in accordance with the following mandatory standards:
(A) Buffer zone; standard buffer. No land-disturbing activity during periods of construction or improvement to land shall be permitted in proximity to a lake or natural watercourse unless a buffer zone is provided along the margin of the watercourse of sufficient width to confine visible siltation within the 25% of the buffer zone nearest the land-disturbing activity.
(1) Projects on, over or under water. This standard shall not apply to a land-disturbing activity in connection with the construction of facilities to be located on, over, or under a lake or natural watercourse.
(2) Buffer measurement. Unless otherwise provided, the width of a buffer zone is measured horizontally from the top of bank to the nearest edge of the disturbed area, with the 25% of the strip nearer the land-disturbing activity containing natural or artificial means of confining visible siltation.
(B) Graded slopes and fills. The angle for graded slopes and fills shall be no greater than the angle that can be retained by vegetative cover or other adequate erosion control devices or structures. In any event, slopes left exposed will, within 14 calendar days of completion of any phase of grading, be planted or otherwise provided with temporary or permanent ground cover, devices, or structures sufficient to restrain erosion. The angle for graded slopes and fills must be demonstrated to be stable. Stable is the condition where the soil remains in its original configuration, with or without mechanical constraints.
(C) Fill material. Unless a permit from the Department's Division of Waste Management to operate a landfill is on file for the official site, acceptable fill material shall be free of organic or other degradable materials, masonry, concrete and brick in sizes exceeding 12 inches, and any materials which would cause the site to be regulated as a landfill by the State of North Carolina.
(D) Ground cover. Whenever land-disturbing activity is undertaken on a tract, the person conducting the land-disturbing activity shall install erosion and sedimentation control devices and practices that are sufficient to retain the sediment generated by the land disturbing activity within the boundaries of the tract during construction and development of said tract, and shall plant or otherwise provide a permanent ground cover sufficient to restrain erosion after completion of construction or development. Provisions for a ground cover sufficient to restrain erosion must be accomplished within 14 calendar days following completion of construction or development if an NCG01 permit is required. Unless where otherwise specified in the Act or the rules of this chapter, provisions for permanent ground cover sufficient to restrain erosion shall be accomplished within 90 calendar days following completion of construction or development.
(E) Prior plan approval. No person shall initiate any land-disturbing activity that will disturb more than one acre on a tract unless, 30 or more days prior to initiating the activity, a plan for the activity is filed with and approved by the town. The land-disturbing activity may be initiated and conducted in accordance with the plan once the plan has been approved.
(F) De-watering. The town shall forward to the Director of the Division of Water Resources a copy of each plan for a land-disturbing activity that involves the utilization of ditches for the purpose of de-watering or lowering the water table of the tract.
(G) The land-disturbing activity shall be conducted in accordance with the approved erosion and sedimentation control plan.
(H) All individuals that obtain a state or locally-approved erosion and sedimentation control plan that disturb one acre or more of land are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to obtain coverage under the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Construction General Permit No. NCG010000 (NCG01). The requirements in NCG01 for temporary or permanent ground cover may differ from the ground cover, or stabilization, requirements in this chapter. It is the responsibility of the person conducting the land-disturbing activity to ensure compliance with the NCG01.
(Ord. 2020-09-07, passed 9-21-20)