Environmental Management Terms and Definitions
BMPs
Best Management Practices
Clearing
Any activity that removes the vegetative surface cover.
Construction Site Stormwater Control
Uncontrolled stormwater runoff from a construction site can impact the environment in many ways. Pollution of rivers, lakes and estuaries is common when stormwater runoff is uncontrolled and in many cases this sediment will reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches aquatic plants, harming fish. In many cases uncontrolled Stormwater runoff has been found to smother aquatic habitat and even impede waterway navigation.
Drainage Way
A conduit, ditch, or similar structure for draining water from an area.
Environmental Management
The proper application and mobilization of resources and implementation of regulations to ensure the protection, conservation and presentation of the environment, for which an organization or individual is responsible
Erosion Control
The practice of preventing or controlling wind or water erosion in agriculture, land development and construction
Control Plan
Indicating the specific measures and sequencing to be used to control sediment and erosion on a development site during and after construction.
Grading
Excavation or fill of material, including the resulting conditions thereof.
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Perimeter Control
A barrier that serves as the last protection before sediment enters the roadway, storm drains, waterways, or adjacent properties.
Phasing
Clearing a parcel of land in distinct phases, with the stabilization of each phase completed before the clearing of the next.
Sediment Control
The practice of keeping soil particles on a site.
Site
A parcel of land or a contiguous combination thereof, where grading work is performed as a single unified operation.
Silt Fence
A silt fence is a temporary barrier designed to retain sediment
SWPPP
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
Stabilization
The use of practices that prevent exposed soil from eroding.
Watercourse
Any body of water, including, but not limited to lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and bodies of water
Waterway
A channel that directs surface runoff to a waterway or to a storm drain.
