For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs): Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general good housekeeping practices, pollution prevention and educational practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to stormwater, receiving waters, or stormwater conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY: Development and redevelopment projects resulting in any land disturbance including, but not limited to, clearing and grubbing, grading, excavating, and demolition.
DEPARTMENT: City of Helena public works department.
DETENTION/RETENTION BASINS: A normally dry area designed to capture and hold stormwater. The stormwater may be captured and released at a uniform rate after the storm peak flow has passed (detention) or the stormwater may be held for evaporation or infiltration into the ground and not released at all (retention).
DISCHARGE: Any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge to the storm drain system.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: Any material, including any substance, waste, or combination thereof, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety, property, or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed. This includes materials defined as hazardous by the United States environmental protection agency and the Montana department of environmental quality.
ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS: Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows an illegal discharge to enter the storm drain system including, but not limited to, any conveyances that allow any nonstormwater discharge, including sewage, processed wastewater, and wash water to enter the storm drain system, and any connections to the storm drain system from indoor drains and sinks, regardless of whether said drains or connections had been previously allowed, permitted, or approved by the department, or any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial land use to the storm drain system which has not been documented in plans, maps, or equivalent records, and approved by the department.
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY: Activities subject to MPDES industrial permits as defined in 40 CFR, section 122.26(b)(14).
MS4: The municipal separate storm sewer system including stormwater drainage facilities and system.
MANMADE DRAINAGEWAY: An open channel designed to carry stormwater.
MONTANA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (MPDES) STORMWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT: A permit issued by the Montana department of environmental quality that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to surface waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general areawide basis. Also includes permits issued by the United States environmental protection agency.
NATURAL DRAINAGEWAY: A recognizable drainage which has historically carried storm or runoff water. The drainageway may still be in its native state or may be partially or totally encroached upon. The limits of the drainageway are considered to be the outermost area of flow for the design storm or the prescribed easement for the drainageway.
NONSTORMWATER DISCHARGE: Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater.
PERSON: Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity recognized by law.
POLLUTANT: Anything which causes or contributes to pollution. Pollutants may include, but are not limited to, paints, varnishes, and solvents; oil and other automotive fluids; nonhazardous liquid and solid wastes; and refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects and accumulations, so that same may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; hazardous materials and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform, and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes and residues that result from constructing a building or structure; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.
PREMISES: Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land, whether improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM OR FACILITIES: City owned or controlled facilities that are part of the MS4 by which stormwater is collected or conveyed, including, but not limited to, any roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, gutters, curbs, inlets, piped storm drains, pumping facilities, retention and detention basins, natural and humanmade or altered drainage channels, reservoirs, and other drainage structures.
STORMWATER: Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely of water from any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation.
STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN: A written document which describes the best management practices and activities to be implemented by a person to identify sources of pollution or contamination at a site, and the actions to eliminate or reduce pollutant discharges to stormwater, stormwater conveyance systems, or receiving waters to the maximum extent practicable.
STORMWATER UTILITY: A funding mechanism for maintenance and operation of, as well as capital improvements to, the stormwater drainage system. The utility is a user fee charged equitably to all property within the service area which benefits from the utility.
WASTEWATER: Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated stormwater, discharged from a facility. (Ord. 3120, 12-21-2009)