A. “AKART” means all known, available, and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment and is one component of pollution prevention plan development and implementation. AKART refers to technology-based treatments of pollutant sources that are implemented along with BMPs to treat, prevent and control the release of contaminants to surface water and groundwater. See also the State Water Pollution Control Act, RCW 90.48.010 and 90.48.520.

B. “Applicant” means a person who files an application for approval under this chapter and who is either the owner of the land on which that proposed activity would be located, a contract vendee, a lessee of the land, the person who would actually control and direct the proposed activity, or the authorized agent of such a person.

C. “Application” as defined in Section 1.030(A) of the city of Lacey Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards.

D. “Aquifer” means a geologic stratum containing groundwater that can be withdrawn and used for human purposes.

E. “Best management practices (BMPs)” means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and structural and/or managerial practices approved by the Department of Ecology that, when used singularly or in combination, prevent or reduce the release of pollutants and other adverse impacts to waters of Washington State. See WAC 173-200-020.

F. “Category I critical aquifer recharge areas” means those areas with extreme aquifer sensitivity due to the presence of soils that provide very rapid recharge with little natural water quality treatment. Category I areas contain coarse soil textures and soil materials, and are derived from glacial outwash materials. The predominant soil series in Category I CARAs are listed in LMC 14.36.070(B).

G. “Category II critical aquifer recharge areas” are those areas with high aquifer sensitivity due to soils which provide slightly lower recharge than Category I, but provide little protection and natural water quality treatment. Category II soils are derived from materials of glacial deposit. The predominant soil series in Category II CARAs are listed in LMC 14.36.070(B).

H. “Category III critical aquifer recharge areas” are those areas with aquifers present but have moderate aquifer sensitivity due to surface soil material that encourages run-off and slows water entry into the ground. The predominant soil series in Category III CARAs are listed in LMC 14.36.070(B).

I. “Category IV low aquifer sensitivity areas” are those areas of low ground water availability and whose soils series are derived from basaltic or andesitic rock or ancient glacial till (more consolidated, more clay at surface), and which have not formed geological strata that provide abundant ground water.

J. “Critical aquifer recharge areas (CARA)” means those areas that overlay aquifers that are used for potable water supply, and have soils and geologic characteristics that allow precipitation and runoff to infiltrate and replenish natural groundwater systems and aquifers. CARAs are further designated into Categories I, II, and III based on soil type, texture, and origin as listed in LMC 14.36.070(B), with these categories determining the stringency of land use management controls needed to be protective of underlying aquifers.

K. “Hazardous materials” means substances that may create a public nuisance or constitute a hazard to humans, animals, fish or fowl, or any solid, dangerous, or extremely hazardous waste, as defined by Chapter 173-303 or 173-304 WAC. Harmful materials also include substances that, when released into the environment, may cause non-compliance with the following chapters of the WAC: 173-200, 173-201, 173-204, 173-340, and/or 246-290.

L. “Health expert” means a person employed or contracted by the city of Lacey and licensed by the state as a registered sanitarian and with the necessary expertise and experience to provide information required by this chapter relating to health issues and concerns.

M. “Health officer” means the Thurston County health officer as defined in Chapter 70.05 RCW or his or her authorized representative.

N. “Hydrogeology” means the study of the interrelationships of geologic materials and processes with water, especially groundwater. Hydrogeology is a science that involves the study of the waters of the Earth, and the collection of data concerning waters and their interaction with other materials in the atmosphere, on the Earth’s surface, or in the interior of the Earth.

O. “MPCs” means reasonable methods of prevention and control. Examples of MPCs include but are not limited to pollution prevention plan development and implementation, routine maintenance, secondary containment, and measures to eliminate contaminant pathways to the source water.

P. “Pollution prevention plan” means a site-specific plan that addresses the avoidance of unplanned chemical release in the air, water, or land. It is based upon deliberate waste management planning, site design, and operational practices.

Q. “Sanitary control area” means the one-hundred-foot radius around any potable water supply well that shall be established and protected from all potential sources of contamination as required under WAC 246-290-135.

R. “Stormwater BMP/facility” means a constructed component of a stormwater drainage system, designed or constructed to perform a particular function, or multiple functions. Stormwater BMPs/facilities include, but are not limited to, pipes, swales, ditches, culverts, street gutters, detention ponds, retention ponds, constructed wetlands, infiltration devices, catch basins, oil-water separators, bioretention, permeable pavement, and biofiltration swales. Stormwater BMPs/facilities are described in the Stormwater Design Manual. “Stormwater BMP/facility” includes both public and privately owned facilities.

S. “Underground injection control well (UIC well)” means a structure built to discharge fluids from the ground surface into the subsurface; a bored, drilled, or driven shaft whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension; or an improved sinkhole, which is a natural crevice that has been modified; or a subsurface fluid distribution system that includes an assemblage of perforated pipes, drain tiles, or other similar mechanisms intended to distribute fluids below the surface of the ground. Examples of UIC wells or subsurface infiltration systems include drywells, drain fields, infiltration trenches with perforated pipe, storm chamber systems with the intent to infiltrate, French drains, bioretention systems intended to distribute water to the subsurface by means of perforated pipe installed below the treatment soil, and other similar devices that discharge to the ground.

T. “Wellhead protection area (WHPA)” means the surface and subsurface area surrounding a well or well field, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach such water well or well field within six months, one, five, and ten years. WHPAs for Lacey’s water supply wells are adopted in Lacey’s Water System Comprehensive Plan which is approved by the Washington State Department of Health. (Ord. 1638 §7, 2023; Ord. 1505 §44 (part), 2017).