For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCELERATED EROSION. Any increase over the rate of natural erosion as a result of land-disturbing activity.
ACT. The State Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973, being G.S. §§ 113A-50 et seq., and all rules and orders adopted pursuant to it.
ADEQUATE EROSION CONTROL MEASURE, STRUCTURE OR DEVICE. One which controls the soil material within the land area under responsible control of the person conducting the land-disturbing activity.
AFFILIATE. A person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control of another person.
BEING CONDUCTED. A land-disturbing activity has been initiated and permanent stabilization of the site has not been completed.
BORROW. Fill material which is required for on-site construction and is obtained from other locations.
BUFFER ZONE. The strip of land adjacent to a lake or natural watercourse.
COMMISSION. The State Sedimentation Control Commission.
COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION OR DEVELOPMENT. That no further land-disturbing activity is required on a phase of a project except that which is necessary for establishing a permanent ground cover.
DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Division of Energy Mineral and Land Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
DISCHARGE POINT. The point at which storm water runoff leaves a tract of land.
DISTRICT. The Polk Soil and Water Conservation District created pursuant to G.S. Ch. 139.
ENERGY DISSIPATOR. A structure or a shaped channel section with mechanical armoring placed at the outlet of pipes or conduits to receive and break down the energy from high velocity flow.
EROSION. The wearing away of land surfaces by the action of wind, water, gravity, or any combination thereof.
GROUND COVER. Any natural vegetative growth or other material which renders the soil surface stable against accelerated erosion.
HIGH QUALITY WATERS. Those classified as such in 15A NCAC 2B.0101(e)(5) General Procedures, which is incorporated herein by reference to include further amendments pursuant to G.S. § 150B-14(c).
HIGH QUALITY WATER (HQW) ZONES. Areas within one mile and draining to HQWs.
LAKE OR NATURAL WATERCOURSE. Any stream, river, brook, swamp, sound, bay, creek, run, branch, canal, waterway, estuary, and any reservoir, lake, or pond, natural or impounded in which sediment may be moved or carried in suspension, and which could be damaged by accumulation of sediment.
LAND-DISTURBING ACTIVITY. Any use of the land by any person in residential, industrial, education, institutional or commercial development, highway and road construction and maintenance, that results in a change in the natural cover or topography and that may cause or contribute to sedimentation.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Any county, incorporated village, town, or city, or any combination of counties, incorporated villages, towns, and cities, acting through a joint program pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
NATURAL EROSION. The wearing away of the earth’s surface by water, wind, or other natural agents under natural environmental conditions undisturbed by humans.
PARENT. An affiliate that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls another person.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, public or private corporation, trust, estate, commission, board, public or private institution, utility, cooperative, interstate body, or other legal entity.
PERSON CONDUCTING LAND-DISTURBING ACTIVITY. Any person who may be held responsible for violation unless expressly provided otherwise by this chapter, the Act, or any order adopted pursuant to this chapter or the Act.
PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIOLATION. The developer or other person who has or holds himself or herself out as having financial or operation control over the land-disturbing activity; or
The landowner or person in possession or control of the land that has directly or indirectly allowed the land-disturbing activity, or benefitted from it or failed to comply with a duty imposed by any provision of this chapter, the Act, or any order adopted pursuant to this chapter or the Act.
PHASE OF GRADING. One of two types of grading: rough or fine.
PLAN. An erosion and sedimentation control plan.
SEDIMENT. Solid particulate matter, both mineral and organic, that has been or is being transported by water, air, gravity, or ice from its site of origin.
SEDIMENTATION. The process by which sediment resulting from accelerated erosion has been or is being transported off the site of the land-disturbing activity or into a lake or natural watercourse.
SILTATION. Sediment resulting from accelerated erosion which is settleable or removable by properly designed, constructed and maintained control measures; and which has been transported from its point of origin within the site of a land-disturbing activity; and which has been deposited, or is in suspension in water.
STORM DRAINAGE FACILITIES. The system of inlets, conduits, channels, ditches, and appurtenances which serve to collect and convey storm water through and from a given drainage area.
STORM WATER RUNOFF. The surface flow of water resulting from precipitation in any form and occurring immediately after rainfall or melting.
SUBSIDIARY. An affiliate that is directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlled by another person.
TEN-YEAR STORM. The storm water runoff resulting from precipitation of an intensity expected to be equaled or exceeded, on the average, once in ten years, and of a duration, which will produce the maximum peak rate of runoff for the watershed of interest under average antecedent wetness conditions.
TRACT. All contiguous land and bodies of water being disturbed or to be disturbed as a unit, regardless of ownership.
TWENTY-FIVE YEAR STORM. The storm water runoff resulting from precipitation of an intensity expected to be equaled or exceeded on the average, once in 25 years, and of a duration which will produce the maximum peak rate of runoff for the watershed of interest under average antecedent wetness conditions.
UNCOVERED. The removal of ground cover from, on or above the soil surface.
UNDERTAKEN. The initiating of any activity, or phase of activity, which results or will result in a change in the ground cover or topography of a tract of land.
VELOCITY. The average velocity of flow through the cross section of the main channel at the peak flow of the storm of interest. The cross section of the main channel shall be that area defined by the geometry of the channel plus the area of flow below the flood height defined by vertical lines at the main channel banks. Overload flows are not to be included for the purpose of computing velocity of flow.
WASTE. Surplus materials resulting from on-site land-disturbing activities and being disposed of at other locations.
WORKING DAYS. Days exclusive of Saturday and Sunday during which weather conditions or soil conditions permit land-disturbing activity to be undertaken.
(Ord. 2007-11, passed 10-16-2008; Am. Ord. 2015-01, passed 1-8-2015)