§ 102-3. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ACCELERATED SOIL EROSION

The increased lay occurring as a result of man's activities.

BUILDING OFFICIAL

The Chief of the Building Department of the City or his or her duly authorized representative.

CERTIFICATION OF COMPLETION

A signed written statement by the City Engineer or the Building Official that specific construction has been inspected and found to comply with all grading plans and specifications.

CITY ENGINEER

The City Engineer or his or her duly authorized representative.

DEBRIS

Loose refuse or earth material not suitable for use as presently situated or constituted, as determined by the City Engineer.

EARTH CHANGE

A man-made change in the natural cover or topography of land, including cut and fill activities, which change may result in or contribute to soil erosion or sedimentation of the waters of the state. "Earth change" shall not apply to the practice of plowing and tilling soil for the purpose of crop production.

EROSION

The process by which the ground surface is worn away by action of wind, water, gravity or a combination thereof.

EXCAVATION or CUT

Any act by which soil or rock is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated, and includes the conditions resulting therefrom.

FILL

A deposit of soil, rock or other material, placed or replaced by man or machine, which raises an existing elevation.

FLOODPLAIN

That area which would be inundated by storm runoff or flood water equivalent to that which would occur with a rainfall or flood with a one-hundred-year recurrence frequency after total development of the watershed.

GRADING

Any stripping, excavating, filling, stockpiling or combination thereof, including land in its excavated or filled condition.

GRADING PERMIT

A permit issued to authorize work to be performed under this chapter.

HAUL ROAD

An on-site roadway constructed to prevent the spread of debris onto the public right-of-way.

HAZARD

Any danger to public health, welfare and safety, including exposure to risk of damage to property or liability for personal injury, or risk of harm to land, air or water resulting in environmental degradation. "Hazard" includes flooding and ponding, compaction and settling, landslides, earthquakes, toxic chemicals, radiation, fire and disease.

LAND USE

A use of land which may result in an earth change, including, but not limited to, subdivision, residential, commercial, industrial, recreational or other development, private and public highway, road and street construction, drainage construction, logging operations, agricultural practices and mining.

NATURAL FEATURES

Includes, but is not limited to, existing streams, soil, vegetation and trees two inches or greater in diameter or 15 inches or greater in height, whichever is less.

NATURAL GROUND SURFACE

Any ground surface in its original state before any grading, excavation or filling, and established by the City Engineer when there is any question of its location.

NONEROSIVE VELOCITY

A speed of water movement which is not conducive to the development of accelerated soil erosion.

PERMANENT SOIL EROSION CONTROL MEASURES

Those control measures which are installed or constructed to control soil erosion and which are maintained after completion of the project.

PERSON

A natural person, firm, corporation, partnership or association.

SEDIMENT

Any solid particulate material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension in, is being transported by, or has been moved from its origin by air, water or gravity as a product of soil erosion.

SITE

Any lot or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land where grading is performed or permitted.

SLOPE

Any inclined, exposed surface or a fill, excavation or natural terrain.

SOIL

All earth material, of whatever origin, that overlies bedrock, including the decomposed zone of bedrock which can be readily excavated by mechanical equipment.

SOIL EROSION CONTROL FACILITY

A facility or measure placed or constructed as necessary for the successful control or abatement of accelerated soil erosion.

STABILIZATION

The proper placement of earth materials or rock for temporary periods of time in accordance with the requirements of this chapter for the purpose of facilitating construction operations.

STOCKPILING

The depositing of earth materials or rock for temporary periods of time in accordance with the requirements of this chapter for the purpose of facilitating construction operations.

STREAM

A river, stream, creek or other surface waterway which may or may not be serving as a drain, as defined by Act No. 40 of the Public Acts of 1956, as amended, being MCLA 280.1 to 280.630, as amended, and which has definite banks, a bed and visible evidence of a continued flow or continued occurrence of water, including the connecting waters of the Great Lakes.

STRIPPING

Any activity which removes or significantly disturbs the vegetative surface cover, and includes clearing and grubbing operations.

TEMPORARY SOIL EROSION CONTROL MEASURES

Interim control measures which are installed or constructed for the control of soil erosion until permanent soil erosion control is effected.