D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 21, § 599
599.1 When used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed
Adverse Impact - any deleterious effect on waters or wetlands, including quality, quantity, surface area, special composition, aesthetics or usefulness for human or natural uses which are or may be harmful or injurious to human health, welfare, safety or property. (35 DCR 28)
Applicant - any person who requests approval of development. (35 DCR 28)
Aquifer - a porous water bearing geologic formation generally restricted to materials capable of yielding an appreciable supply of water. (35 DCR 28)
Clearing - the removal of trees and brush from the land, excluding the ordinary mowing of grass, pruning of trees or other forms of long-term landscape maintenance. (35 DCR 28)
Construction - any on-site activity which will result in the creation of a new storm water discharge facility, including the building, assembling, expansion, modification or alteration of the existing contours of the property, the erection of buildings or other structures, or any part thereof, or land clearing. (35 DCR 28).
Department - the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.
Director - the Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs or the Director's representative, agent, or designee.
Erosion - the process by which the ground surface is worn away by the action of wind and/or water.
Erosion and sedimentation control standards and specifications - the written procedures, requirements or plans to control erosion and sedimentation as officially adopted by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs of the District of Columbia pursuant to this chapter.
Excavation or Cut - an act by which soil or rock is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced or relocated and the conditions resulting from those actions.
Grading - any stripping, excavating, stockpiling, or any combination thereof, including the conditions resulting from those actions.
Land disturbing activity - any earth movement or land change which may result in soil erosion from water or wind and the movement of sediments in the District of Columbia, including, but not limited to, stripping, grading, excavating, transporting and filling of land, construction or demolition of buildings or structures.
The term - "land disturbing activity" shall not include any minor land disturbing activity such as the following:
(d) Installation of fence and sign posts or poles; or
(e) Emergency work to protect life, limb or property, and emergency repairs; Provided, that if the land disturbing activity would have required an approved erosion and sedimentation control plan if the activity were not an emergency, then the land disturbed shall be shaped and stabilized in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. (D.C. Law 10-166)
Landfilling - any act by which soil is deposited, placed, or pushed, where it had not previously been located.
Mayor - the Mayor of the District of Columbia or his or her designee.
Permit Applicant - the lawful owner of any property where a soil disturbing activity is to take place, or the lawful owner's designated representative who applies to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for a building permit. When work is to be done under contract the lawful owner of the property is responsible for securing the building permit.
Person - any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, public or private corporation, trust, estate, commission, board, public or private institution, cooperative, or any other legal entity.
Sedimentation - the deposit of or transportation of soil from one place to another as a result of an erosion process.
Soil - all earth material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock and may include the decomposed zone of bedrock which can be readily excavated by mechanical equipment.
Soil erosion and sedimentation control plan - a document to be prepared by a permit applicant and submitted to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for approval before a building permit can be issued by the District.
Stripping - any activity which removes or significantly disturbs the vegetative surface cover including clearing, grubbing of stumps and rock mat, and top soil removal.
SOURCE: Section 8-2802 of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act of 1977, D.C. Law 2-23.24 DCR 792 (July 22, 1977); as amended by §8-2:802 of the Water Quality Standard Approval Act of 1977, D.C. Law 2-68, 24 DCR 6809 (February 17, 1978); by Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 21, 28 (January 1, 1988); 8 DCRR, Health Regulations (1965 Edition); and by §4 of the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Amendment Act of 1994 D.C. Law 10.166. 41 DCR 4892, 4893 (July 22, 1994).