For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE or BMP. Any structural or nonstructural control measure utilized to improve the quality and, as appropriate, reduce the quantity of storm water runoff. The term includes schedules of activities, prohibitions of practice, treatment requirements, operation and maintenance procedures, use of containment facilities, land use planning, policy techniques, and other management practices.
CLEARING. Any activity that removes the vegetative surface cover.
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY. Land-disturbing activities associated with the construction of infrastructure or structures. The term CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY does not include routine ditch or road maintenance or minor landscaping projects.
CONSTRUCTION PLAN. An ordered collection of drawings, narratives, data and documents assembled for review, approval, authorization and establishment of guidelines for the initiation, management and completion of construction activities at a project site regulated by this chapter. A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) is a part of the construction plan.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SITE. The physical location(s) or legal boundaries within which a construction activity or a series of construction activities is planned to be or is being accomplished.
CONSTRUCTION SITE ACCESS. A stabilized stone surface at all points of construction-related egress from a project site, planned and installed in accordance with specification from an approved reference manual, and maintained throughout the period of land-disturbing activities to capture and detain sediment carried by tires, tracks or other surface-contact components of vehicles, earthmoving equipment, or material and personnel transport conveyances.
DEPARTMENT. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
DEVELOPER. A project site owner or person financially responsible for construction activity; or an owner of property who sells, leases, or offers for sale or lease, any lot(s) in a subdivision or larger common plan of development or sale.
DIRECTOR. The chief executive officer of IDEM.
DRAINAGE WAY. Any channel that conveys surface storm water runoff.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN. A set of plans prepared by, or under the direction of, a licensed professional engineer, licensed land surveyor, or certified professional in storm water quality (CPSWQ), indicating the specific measures and sequencing to be used to control sediment and erosion on a development site during and after construction.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL SYSTEM. Appropriate control measures combined to prevent or minimize the wearing away of soil, sediment and rock fragments by water, wind or ice, and to intercept detached or suspended particles to prevent their discharge from or within a project site.
EROSION CONTROL. A measure that prevents erosion.
FINAL STABILIZATION. The establishment of permanent vegetative cover, or the application of a permanent, non-erosive material to areas where all land-disturbing activities have been completed and no additional land-disturbing activities are planned under the current plan.
GRADING. Excavation or fill of material, including the resulting conditions thereof.
INDIVIDUAL BUILDING LOT. A single parcel of land in a multi-parcel development
LAND-DISTURBING ACTIVITY. Any manmade change of the land surface, including removing vegetative cover that exposes the underlying soil, excavating, filling, transporting and grading.
MEASURABLE STORM EVENT. A precipitation event that results in a total measured accumulation of precipitation equal to or greater than one-half inch of rainfall.
MS4 AREA. The area of Howard County permitted under an NPDES Permit and regulated by 327 I.A.C. 15-13. The MS4 AREA includes the sections designated, and from time to time updated by the County Commissioners, excluding incorporated limits of cities or towns. A map showing the MS4 AREA shall be kept in the MS4 Operator's office for public review.
MS4 OPERATOR. The person locally responsible for development, implementation or enforcement of the Storm Water Quality Management Plan (SWQMP) for Howard County, as regulated under 327 I.A.C. 15-13, or an authorized representative thereof.
MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM or MS4. A system of storm water conveyances, either owned or operated or regulated by a governmental agency that IDEM has designated as responsible to eliminate or minimize pollutant loadings of the storm water entering waters of the state.
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM or NPDES. A program administered by IDEM to reduce or eliminate pollutant loadings into public waters.
NOTICE OF PLAN APPROVAL or NPA. A notification, from the MS4 Operator to the project site owner, that the construction plan for a project site has been reviewed and approved by the MS4 Operator.
PEAK DISCHARGE. The maximum rate of flow from a point of storm water discharge during or immediately following a storm event, usually in reference to a specific return period or design storm.
PERIMETER CONTROL. A barrier that prevents sediment from leaving a site by filtering sediment-laden runoff or diverting it to a sediment trap or basin.
PERMANENT STABILIZATION. The establishment, at a uniform minimum of 70% across the disturbed areas, of vegetative cover or permanent non-erosive material that ensures the resistance of the underlying soil to erosion, sliding or other movement.
PHASING OF CONSTRUCTION. Sequential development of smaller portions of a large project site, stabilizing each portion before initiating land- disturbing activities on the next portion, to minimize exposure of land to erosion.
RESPONSIBLE PERSON. The person who is responsible for any violation of this chapter.
RUNOFF. An accumulation of storm water flow that is moving across the surface of the earth as sheet flow or concentrated flow in natural surface watercourses, drains or waterways.
SEDIMENT. Solid material, both organic and mineral, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity or ice, and has come to rest on the earth's surface.
SEDIMENT CONTROL. Measures that prevent eroded sediment from leaving the site.
SEDIMENTATION. The settling and accumulation of unconsolidated sediment carried by storm water runoff.
SITE. A parcel of land, or a contiguous combination thereof, where grading work is performed as a single unified operation.
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. A permit issued by the municipality for the construction or alteration of ground improvements and structures for the control of erosion, runoff and grading.
START OF CONSTRUCTION. The first land- disturbing activity associated with a development, including land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; installation of streets and walkways; excavation for basements, footings, piers or foundations; erection of temporary forms; and installation of accessory buildings such as garages.
STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN or SWP3. A plan developed to minimize the impact of storm water pollutants resulting from construction and post-construction activities, including the erosion and sediment control plan.
STORM WATER QUALITY MEASURE. A practice or combination of practices to control or minimize pollutants associated with storm water runoff.
TEMPORARY STABILIZATION. The covering of soil to ensure its resistance to erosion, sliding or other movement. The term includes vegetative cover, anchored mulch, or other non-erosive materials applied at a uniform minimum density of 70% across the disturbed areas of a project site.
TRACKING. The movement and re-depositing of dirt, mud, aggregate, sediment or other storm water pollutants from a project site by the actions of wheels, tires, skids, tracks or other surface-contact components of cars, trucks, heavy equipment, or material and personnel transport conveyances.
WATERCOURSE. Any body of water, including but not limited to, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and bodies of water delineated within the county.
WATERWAY. A channel that directs surface runoff to a watercourse or to the public storm drainage system.
(Ord. 2004-BCC-38, passed 11-1-04)