2378                            County Local Laws

(15)    "Existing Grade" means the vertical location of the exist-
ing ground surface prior to excavating or filling.

(16)    "Embankment" or "Fill" means a deposit of soil, rock or
other materials placed by man.

(17)     "Finished Grade" means the final grade or elevation of
the ground surface conforming to the proposed design.

(18)    "Floodplain" means that area defined by an elevation plus
one foot (1') below which no development may take place, and which,
after total development of its watershed, would be inundated by water
runoff from a storm equivalent to the heaviest rainfall in a fifty (50)
year period.

(19)     "Grading" means any stripping, excavating, filling (includ-
ing hydraulic fill), stockpiling or any combination thereof, including
the land in its excavated or filled condition.

(20)     "Grading Permit" means a permit issued to authorize
work to be performed under this Subtitle.

(21)    "Load Bearing Fill" means any facility, earthwork or fill
placed in a controlled manner to support structural foundations or
vehicular traffic, the instability of which would constitute a public
hazard or nuisance.

(22)     "Natural Ground Surface" means the ground surface in
its original state before grading, stripping, excavation or filling.

(23)    "Permittee" means any person to whom a permit is issued
pursuant to this Subtitle.

(24)     "Professional Engineer" means an engineer duly regis-
tered by the State of Maryland to practice professional engineering
in accordance with the provisions of Article 75½ of the Annotated
Code of Maryland.

(25)     "Professional Land Surveyor" means a person who has
been duly registered and licensed in accordance with the provisions
of Article 75½ of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

(26)    "Regulated Grading" means any grading performed in
accordance with the provisions of this Subtitle.

(27)    "Sediment" means soils or other superficial materials
transported by wind or surface water as a product of erosion.

(28)    "Site" means THAT PORTION OF any lot or parcel of
land, or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land upon which
grading is performed or permitted.

(29)    "Slope" means the inclined exposed surface of a fill, exca-
vation or natural terrain.

(30)    "Steep Slope" means a slope greater than fifteen percent
(15%) grade, which is characterized by increased runoff, erosion and
sediment hazards.