§ 4.01.05. Soil and Water

A.

Minimization of Impact

1.

Proposed improvements shall be designed and located to minimize land alteration activities which would unnecessarily remove the existing vegetation or alter the topography of the natural land surface.

2.

Adequate protection measures, such as hay bales, baffles, sodding and sandbagging, shall be provided as necessary to minimize erosion and downstream sedimentation caused by surface water runoff on exposed land surfaces.

B.

Surface Water Discharges

1.

The turbidity of surface water discharged off-site or into any wetland or natural body of water on-site shall not violate the water quality standard for turbidity as stated in the Rules of the EPC. Turbid water in violation of this standard shall be treated prior to discharge off-site or into any wetland or natural body of water on-site by using sediment control measures such as settling basins, berms, interceptor ditches, silt screens and other sediment traps. Whenever sediment control measures are necessary, they shall be installed prior to initial clearing and grading operations and maintained throughout the land alteration activity as a condition of granting the permit.

2.

Surface water runoff shall be discharged only within the drainage area that normally receives this runoff, unless otherwise approved.

C.

Excavation

1.

Excavating activities shall not adversely impact the quality of groundwater on surrounding property. Applicants must ensure the proposed excavating activities meet the standards of the EPC and other applicable agencies.

2.

Excavating activities shall not adversely impact water levels of either surface water or groundwater on surrounding property. The Administrator may set limits on water level declines at the property line, may require the installation of appropriate monitoring/observation wells, and may require the submittal of monitoring reports regarding water level fluctuation.

D.

Exposed Soils

Exposed soils shall be vegetated upon completion of land alteration activities. Areas may be sodded, plugged, sprigged, seeded or covered with other vegetation as desired. In areas where erosion is likely, such as slopes greater than 5:1 or areas of erosion prone soils, the Administrator may determine that sodding is required. Where erosion is found to be occurring, sodding shall be required. In areas where grass seed is used, nurse grass seed (e.g. rye, millet) shall also be sown for immediate effect.

E.

Placement of Fill

1.

Fill shall not be placed in wetlands, natural water bodies, natural water courses, or their floodplains up to and including the 100-year floodplain, manmade channels, or any natural or manmade stormwater storage area unless approved otherwise by appropriate regulatory agencies.

2.

No filling with clean fill or any other material shall be permitted on any site located within a five-mile radius from the perimeter of the Hillsborough Heights Landfill, except as exempted under 4.01.03 or for grading or filling (with soil only) necessary to construct an approved single-family or two-family residence or construct an approved subdivision or site development project, or topsoiling to establish vegetative cover.

3.

Filling activities using shell, stone, concrete and/or reinforced concrete rubble shall require the upper two feet of the filling activity to consist of soil, only.

4.

Filling activities using mulch shall be restricted as follows:

a.

Mulch shall not be placed in any natural or artificial body of water;

b.

Mulch shall not be placed in an open sinkhole or dewatered pit; and

c.

Mulch shall not be placed in any area prone to frequent or periodic flooding.

(Ord. No. 09-62, Item D, 10-26-09, eff. 2-1-2010)