§ 175-171. Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this article clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory. The definitions below are the same as or based on the corresponding definitions in the NJDEP Stormwater Management Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:8-1.2 unless otherwise defined in the Pinelands CMP at N.J.A.C. 7:50-2.11 in which case the definition corresponds to the CMP definition.
   COMPACTION — The increase in soil bulk density.
   CONTRIBUTORY DRAINAGE AREA — The area from which stormwater runoff drains to a stormwater management measure, not including the area of the stormwater management measure itself.
   COUNTY REVIEW AGENCY — An agency designated by the County Commissioners to review municipal stormwater management plans and implementing ordinance(s). The county review agency may either be:
      (1)   A county planning agency; or
      (2)   A county water resource association created under N.J.S.A 58:16A-55.5, if the ordinance or resolution delegates authority to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove municipal stormwater management plans and implementing ordinances.
   DESIGN ENGINEER — A person professionally qualified and duly licensed in New Jersey to perform engineering services that may include, but not necessarily be limited to, development of project requirements, creation and development of project design and preparation of drawings and specifications.
   DEVELOPMENT — The change of or enlargement of any use or disturbance of any land, the performance of any building or mining operation, the division of land into two or more parcels, and the creation or termination of rights of access or riparian rights including, but not limited to:
      (1)   A change in type of use of a structure or land;
      (2)   A reconstruction, alteration of the size, or material change in the external appearance of a structure or land;
      (3)   A material increase in the intensity of use of land, such as an increase in the number of businesses, manufacturing establishments, offices or dwelling units in a structure or on land;
      (4)   Commencement of resource extraction or drilling or excavation on a parcel of land;
      (5)   Demolition of a structure or removal of trees;
      (6)   Commencement of forestry activities;
      (7)   Deposit of refuse, solid or liquid waste or fill on a parcel of land;
      (8)   In connection with the use of land, the making of any material change in noise levels, thermal conditions, or emissions of waste material; and
      (9)   Alteration, either physically or chemically, of a shore, bank, or flood plain, seacoast, river, stream, lake, pond, wetlands or artificial body of water.
      In the case of development on agricultural land, i.e. lands use for an agricultural use or purpose as defined at N.J.A.C. 7:50-2.11, development means: any activity that requires a State permit, any activity reviewed by the County Agricultural Board (CAB) and the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC), and municipal review of any activity not exempted by the Right to Farm Act, N.J.S.A. 4:1C-1 et seq.
   DISTURBANCE — The placement or reconstruction of impervious surface or motor vehicle surface, or exposure and/or movement of soil or bedrock or clearing, cutting, or removing of vegetation. Milling and repaving is not considered disturbance for the purposes of this definition.
   DRAINAGE AREA — A geographic area within which stormwater runoff, sediments, or dissolved materials drain to a particular receiving waterbody or to a particular point along a receiving waterbody.
   ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREA — An area or feature which is of significant environmental value, including but not limited to: stream corridors, natural heritage priority sites, habitats of endangered or threatened species, large areas of contiguous open space or upland forest, steep slopes, and well head protection and groundwater recharge areas. Habitats of endangered or threatened species are identified using the NJDEP Landscape Project as approved by the NJDEP Endangered and Nongame Species Program.
   EROSION — The detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
   GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE — A stormwater management measure that manages stormwater close to its source by:
      (1)   Treating stormwater runoff through infiltration into subsoil;
      (2)   Treating stormwater runoff through filtration by vegetation or soil; or
      (3)   Storing stormwater runoff for reuse.
   HIGH POLLUTANT LOADING AREAS — Areas in industrial and commercial developments where solvents and/or petroleum products are loaded/unloaded, stored, or applied, areas where pesticides are loaded/unloaded or stored; areas where hazardous materials are expected to be present in greater than "reportable quantities" as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 40 CFR 302.4; areas where recharge would be inconsistent with NJDEP approved remedial action work plan or landfill closure plan and areas with high risks for spills of toxic materials, such as gas stations and vehicle maintenance facilities.
   HUC-11 or HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE 11 — An area within which water drains to a particular receiving surface water body, also known as a subwatershed, which is identified by an 11-digit hydrologic unit boundary designation, delineated within New Jersey by the United States Geological Survey.
   HUC 14 or HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODE 14 — An area within which water drains to a particular receiving surface water body, also known as a subwatershed, which is identified by a 14-digit hydrologic unit boundary designation, delineated within New Jersey by the United States Geological Survey.
   IMPERVIOUS SURFACE — Any surface that has been compacted or covered with a layer of material so that it prevents, impedes or slows infiltration or absorption of fluid, including stormwater directly into the ground, and results in either reduced groundwater recharge or increased stormwater runoff sufficient to be classified as impervious in Urban Areas by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Title 210 - Engineering, 210-3-1 - Small Watershed Hydrology (WINTR-55) Version 1.0, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, available with user guide and tutorials at http://www.wsi.nrcs.usda.gov/products/W2Q/H&H/Tools_Models/WinTr55.html or at Natural Resources Conservation Service, 220 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ 08873. Such surfaces may have varying degrees of permeability.
   INFILTRATION — The process by which water seeps into the soil from precipitation.
   MAJOR DEVELOPMENT — Any division of land into five or more lots; any construction or expansion of any housing development of five or more dwelling units; any construction or expansion of any commercial or industrial use or structure on a site of more than three acres; or any grading, clearing or disturbance of an area in excess of 5,000 square feet.
   MINOR DEVELOPMENT — All development other than major development.
   MOTOR VEHICLE — Land vehicles propelled other than by muscular power, such as automobiles, motorcycles, autocycles, and low speed vehicles. For the purposes of this definition, motor vehicle does not include farm equipment, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorized wheelchairs, go-carts, gas buggies, golf carts, ski-slope grooming machines, or vehicles that run only on rails or tracks.
   MOTOR VEHICLE SURFACE — Any pervious or impervious surface that is intended to be used by "motor vehicles" and/or aircraft, and is directly exposed to precipitation including, but not limited to, driveways, parking areas, parking garages, roads, racetracks, and runways.
   NEW JERSEY STORMWATER BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP) MANUAL or BMP MANUAL — The manual maintained by the NJDEP providing, in part, design specifications, removal rates, calculation methods, and soil testing procedures approved by the NJDEP as being capable of contributing to the achievement of the stormwater management standards specified in this article. The BMP Manual is periodically amended by the NJDEP as necessary to provide design specifications on additional best management practices and new information on already included practices reflecting the best available current information regarding the particular practice and the NJDEP's determination as to the ability of that best management practice to contribute to compliance with the standards contained in this article. Alternative stormwater management measures, removal rates, or calculation methods may be utilized, subject to any limitations specified in this article, provided the design engineer demonstrates to the municipality, in accordance with § 175-172F. and N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.2(g), that the proposed measure and its design will contribute to achievement of the design and performance standards established by this article.
   NUTRIENT — A chemical element or compound, such as nitrogen or phosphorus, which is essential to and promotes the development of organisms.
   PERMEABILITY — The rate at which water moves through a unit area of soil, rock, or other material at hydraulic gradient of one.
   PERSON — An individual, corporation, public agency, business trust, partnership, association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal entity.
   POLLUTANT — Any dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, filter backwash, sewage, garbage, refuse, oil, grease, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, medical wastes, radioactive substance (except those regulated under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 2011 et seq.)), thermal waste, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, industrial, municipal, agricultural, and construction waste or runoff, or other residue discharged directly or indirectly to the land, ground waters or surface waters of the State, or to a domestic treatment works. "Pollutant" includes both hazardous and nonhazardous pollutants.
   RECHARGE — The amount of water from precipitation that infiltrates into the ground and is not evapotranspired.
   REGULATED MOTOR VEHICLE SURFACE — Any of the following, alone or in combination:
      (1)   A net increase in motor vehicle surface; and/or
      (2)   The total area of motor vehicle surface that is currently receiving water quality treatment either by vegetation or soil, by an existing stormwater management measure, or by treatment at a wastewater treatment plant, where the water quality treatment will be modified or removed.
   SEASONAL HIGH WATER TABLE — The level below the natural surface of the ground to which water seasonally rises in the soil in most years.
   SEDIMENT — Solid material, mineral or organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water or gravity as a product of erosion.
   SITE — The lot or lots upon which development is to occur or has occurred.
   SOIL — All unconsolidated mineral and organic material of any origin.
   SOURCE MATERIAL — Any material(s) or machinery, located at an industrial facility, that is directly or indirectly related to process, manufacturing or other industrial activities, which could be a source of pollutants in any industrial stormwater discharge to groundwater. Source materials include, but are not limited to, raw materials; intermediate products; final products; waste materials; by-products; industrial machinery and fuels, and lubricants, solvents, and detergents that are related to process, manufacturing, or other industrial activities that are exposed to stormwater.
   STORMWATER — Water resulting from precipitation (including rain and snow) that runs off the land's surface, is transmitted to the subsurface, or is captured by separate storm sewers or other sewage or drainage facilities, or conveyed by snow removal equipment.
   STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BMP — An excavation or embankment and related areas designed to retain stormwater runoff. A stormwater management BMP may either be normally dry (that is, a detention basin or infiltration system), retain water in a permanent pool (a retention basin), or be planted mainly with wetland vegetation (most constructed stormwater wetlands).
   STORMWATER MANAGEMENT MEASURE — Any practice, technology, process, program, or other method intended to control or reduce stormwater runoff and associated pollutants, or to induce or control the infiltration or groundwater recharge of stormwater or to eliminate illicit or illegal non-stormwater discharges into stormwater conveyances.
   STORMWATER RUNOFF — Water flow on the surface of the ground or in storm sewers, resulting from precipitation.
   WATERS OF THE STATE — The ocean and its estuaries, all springs, streams, wetlands, and bodies of surface or groundwater, whether natural or artificial, within the boundaries of the State of New Jersey or subject to its jurisdiction.
   WETLANDS or WETLAND — Lands which are inundated or saturated by water at a magnitude, duration and frequency sufficient to support the growth of hydrophytes. Wetlands include lands with poorly drained or very poorly drained soils as designated by the National Cooperative Soils Survey of the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. Wetlands include coastal wetlands and inland wetlands, including submerged lands. The "New Jersey Pinelands Commission Manual for Identifying and Delineating Pinelands Area Wetlands--a Pinelands Supplement to the Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands," dated January, 1991, as amended, may be utilized in delineating the extent of wetlands based on the definitions of wetlands and wetlands soils contained in N.J.A.C. 7:50-2.11, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5.
   WETLAND TRANSITION AREA — An area within 300 feet of any wetland.