J102.1 - Definitions.  


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  • For the purposes of this Appendix, the terms, phrases, and words listed in this Section and their derivatives shall have the indicated meanings.

    APPROVAL. When the proposed work or completed work conforms to this Appendix, as determined by and to the satisfaction of the Building Official.

    AS-BUILT. See Section J105.12.

    BEDROCK. The relatively solid, undisturbed rock in place either at the ground surface or beneath superficial deposits of alluvium, colluvium and/or soil.

    BENCH. A relatively level step excavated into earth material on which fill is to be placed.

    BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP). Practices, prohibitions of practices, or other activities to reduce or eliminate the discharge of pollutants to surface waters. BMPs include structural and nonstructural controls, management practices, operation and maintenance procedures, and system, design, and engineering methods that are required to be employed in order to comply with the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued to the County of Los Angeles (see Section 106.4.3 and Title 31 - Green Building Standards Code - of the Los Angeles County Code).

    BORROW. Earth material acquired from an off-site location for use in grading on a site.

    CIVIL ENGINEER. A professional engineer licensed in the State of California to practice in the field of civil works.

    CIVIL ENGINEERING. The application of the knowledge of the forces of nature, principles of mechanics, and the properties of materials to the evaluation, design, and construction of civil works.

    COMPACTION. The densification of a fill by mechanical means.

    CUT. See "Excavation."

    DESILTING BASINS. Physical structures, constructed for the removal of sediments from surface water runoff.

    DESIGN ENGINEER. The Civil Engineer responsible for the preparation of the grading plans for the site grading work.

    DOWN DRAIN. A device for collecting water from a swale or ditch located on or above a slope, and safely delivering it to an approved drainage facility.

    EARTH MATERIAL. Any rock, natural soil, or fill or any combination thereof.

    ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST. A geologist experienced and knowledgeable in engineering geology, holding a license as a geologist in the specialty of engineering geology issued by the State of California under the applicable provisions of the Geologist and Geophysicist Act of the Business and Professions Code.

    ENGINEERING GEOLOGY. The application of geologic knowledge and principles in the investigation and evaluation of naturally occurring rock and soil for use in the design of civil works.

    EROSION. The wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind, water, or ice.

    EXCAVATION. The removal of earth material by artificial means, also referred to as a cut.

    FIELD ENGINEER. The Civil Engineer responsible for performing the functions as set forth in Section J105.3.

    FILL. Deposition of earth materials by artificial means.

    GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER. See "Soils Engineer".

    GEOTECHNICAL HAZARD. An adverse condition due to landslide, settlement, and/or slippage. These hazards include, but are not limited to, loose debris, slopewash, and mud flows from natural or graded slopes.

    GRADE. The vertical location of the ground surface.

    GRADE, EXISTING. The grade prior to grading.

    GRADE, FINAL. See Section J105.7.

    GRADE, FINISHED. The grade of the site at the conclusion of all grading efforts.

    GRADE, INITIAL. See Section J105.7.

    GRADE, ROUGH. See Section J105.7.

    GRADING. An excavation or fill or combination thereof.

    KEY. A compacted fill placed in a trench excavated in earth material beneath the toe of a slope.

    LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. A person who holds a certificate to practice landscape architecture in the State of California under the applicable landscape architecture provisions of Division 3, Chapter 3.5 of the Business and Professions Code.

    LINE. The horizontal location of the ground surface.

    PERMITTEE. See Section J105.6.

    PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. A septic tank with effluent discharging into a subsurface disposal field, into one or more seepage pits, or into a combination of a subsurface disposal field and a seepage pit or of such other facilities as may be permitted in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in Title 28 - Plumbing Code - of the Los Angeles County Code and as required by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

    PROJECT CONSULTANTS. The professional consultants required by this Code which may consist of the Design Engineer, Field Engineer, Soils Engineer, Engineering Geologist, and Landscape Architect as applicable to this Appendix.

    PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION. The inspection required by this Code to be performed by the Project Consultants. Such inspections shall be sufficient to form an opinion relating to the conduct of the work.

    QSD. Qualified SWPPP Developer as defined in the California State Construction General Permit.

    QSP. Qualified SWPPP Practitioner as defined in the California State Construction General Permit.

    SITE. A lot or parcel of land or contiguous combination thereof, under the same ownership, where grading is performed or permitted.

    SLOPE. An inclined surface, the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.

    SOIL. Naturally occurring superficial deposits overlying parent bedrock.

    SOILS ENGINEER (GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER). A licensed civil engineer experienced and knowledgeable in the practice of soils engineering.

    SOILS ENGINEERING (GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING). The application of the principles of soils mechanics in the investigation, evaluation, and design of civil works involving the use of earth materials and the inspection or testing of construction thereof.

    STORM DRAIN SYSTEM. A conveyance or system of conveyances, including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, and man-made channels, designed or used for collecting and conveying storm water.

    STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN (SWPPP). A site drawing with details, notes, and related documents that identify the measures proposed by the permittee to: (1) control erosion and prevent sediment and construction-related pollutants from being carried offsite by storm water, and (2) prevent non-storm-water discharges from entering the storm drain system.

    SURFACE DRAINAGE. Flows over the ground surface.

    SOIL TESTING AGENCY. An agency regularly engaged in the testing of soils and rock under the direction of a Civil Engineer experienced in soil testing.

    TERRACE. A relatively level step constructed in the face of a graded slope for drainage and maintenance purposes.

(Ord. 2016-0053 § 105, 2016.)