ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES. The erection, construction, alteration, or maintenance by public utilities or municipal departments or commissions of underground, surface, or overhead gas, electrical, steam, or water transmission or distribution systems, collection, communication supply or disposal systems. These may include, but are not necessarily limited to, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, wires, cables, fire alarm boxes, traffic signals, hydrants, towers, poles, and other similar equipment, and accessories in connection therewith reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such public utilities or municipal departments or commissions or for the public health or general welfare. Essential public services shall not include buildings other than such buildings as are primarily enclosures or shelters of the above essential public service equipment. Cellular telephone or communications towers as defined by this subchapter shall not be considered essential services.
EXCAVATION. Removal or recovery by any means whatsoever of soil, rock, sand, gravel, peat, muck, marrow, shale, limestone, clay or other mineral or organic substances, other than vegetation, from water or land, whether exposed or submerged.
EXISTING USE. The use of a parcel of land or a structure at the time of the enactment of this chapter.