A. The location of all sinkholes, disappearing streams, or other karst features identified during the geotechnical investigation program and shown on documents submitted under the Phase I and/or Phase II Checklist shall be drawn on all final plats. The plats shall also note any site remediation techniques utilized to stabilize any solution channels or subsidence karst features. All final subdivision deeds shall contain the following wording:

Block ___ Lot ___ is underlain by limestone formations. Limestone formations are susceptible to surface collapse (or sinkholes) and subsidence caused by the physical erosion and chemical alteration of the soil and bedrock.

B. The design and construction of the improvements listed in Table 1 shall be accomplished so as to minimize, to the greatest extent practical, the development of future sinkholes or other karst hazards and the pollution of surface and groundwater resources.

Carbonate formations present complex design and engineering challenges. For example, design and engineering solutions which may be appropriate for a single family home may not work for a high rise office building.

As a result, the provisions of Table 1 were developed to provide an outline of design concerns which apply to different construction activities. Table 1 also provides rudimentary suggestions as to current engineering and geotechnical procedures, and minimum standards that might be useful to those using this ordinance. None of the items is intended to preclude the application of judgment, innovation and experience. Table 1 represents the best technical judgment available at this time. As a municipality gains experience with the carbonate chapter and the local geologic conditions, both the level of review and the scope of

Table 1. These include direct methods, such as site reconnaissance, test pits, test probes and test borings. These direct methods are essentially those procedures which allow the investigator to physically see or sample some of the geotechnical parameters of the site. Direct methods can provide an accurate picture of known site locations. It is then necessary to extrapolate these known data points to the entire site.

Indirect methods include the use of such items as aerial photography, satellite imagery and geophysical procedures. With geophysical procedures one records some earth properties and attempts to correlate each property with more specific site characteristics, such as rock properties or depths. Indirect methods must be used with great care because of the complex nature of karst sites. Indirect methods may not detect small variations in the carbonate bedrock features which may be of great significance to the project design.

For purposes of better understanding Table 1, a number of specific items are discussed herein.

A. Site Reconnaissance. An on-site reconnaissance, by a person with knowledge of local geology, is important to develop an understanding of the site constraints. Prior to conducting reconnaissance on-site, field personnel should review aerial photography to look for the presence of such features as photo lineaments, vegetation changes and depression areas. Black and white aerial photographs, when viewed in a stereo image, can reveal such features as sinkholes, closed surface depressions, lineaments and bedrock pinnacles. Older aerial photographs are a valuable resource to document changes in the land forms or karst features which have occurred on the site over time.

B. Test Pits. As described in Checklist II , test pits are a simple, inexpensive way to view the overburden materials and the condition and variability of the carbonate rock surface. Test pits are backhoe excavations generally to the depth of the bedrock or limitation of backhoe.

C. Test Probes. These generally consist of advancing a steel bit into the ground by an air-percussion machine. Essentially a large, mobile "jack-hammer" is used. Depth of normal penetration is usually less than 50 feet. The "cuttings" are blown out of the hole and examined. Although quite disturbed, these cuttings yield a sample of the materials penetrated. The amount of air injected and return of cuttings at the surface can indicate the presence of fractures and cavities. The rate of speed of the advance of the probe provides a qualitative estimate of the competency of the material encountered. Back-filling with a fluid cement grout and recording the volume of materials placed in the drill hole (of known dimension) can also yield a measure of the size of openings encountered in the subsurface during the downward progress of the probe.

D. Test Borings. As discussed in Checklist II, test borings can yield virtually complete and undisturbed soil and rock samples. These provide visual evidence of fractures, weathering, fracture fillings and even the vertical dimensions of cavities. A measure of the drilling fluid losses can also indicate the volume and nature of any soil or rock cavities encountered. Back-filling with a fluid cement grout and recording the volume of materials placed in the drill hole (of known dimension) can also yield a measure of the size of openings encountered in the subsurface during the downward progress of the probe.

A. Aerial Photography. This is the simplest indirect technique, particularly when photos taken over a long time period are analyzed. Open depressions, bedrock exposures, vegetation and moisture changes over time can be detected on either black and white or color photographs. Piles of rock or small groups of brush or trees in otherwise open fields can indicate active sinkholes or rock pinnacles breaking the ground surface. Images defined at wave lengths other than visible light can be as useful as, or even more useful than, conventional aerial photographs. These images are generally available from satellite mapping work.

B. Geophysical Procedures. Various geophysical investigation techniques which can be used in karst terrains include: ground penetrating radar, electrical conductivity, electrical resistivity, magnetic field, very low frequency measurement (ELF), gravity field recording and seismic velocity measurements. In general, none of these methods has the ability to discriminate all fractures and small cavities. The data provides information on the variation in underground conditions which should be interpreted by a person trained in geophysics.

These procedures are used to identify zones of variation across a site. Areas showing variation are then targeted for additional direct testing procedures. Geophysical procedures should not be used as the only method of verifying underground conditions. Information gathered with geophysical procedures is useful when extrapolating directly measured data.

The variability in physical properties and the solutioned nature of most carbonate rock sites require an increase in the number of sites analyzed and the use of several investigation methods to provide a reliable interpretation of the subsurface conditions.

A. All applicants filing for site plan or subdivision approval, building permits, zoning permits, land grading permits, conditional use approval, septic system certification, well installation, pond construction (except for agricultural uses), or undertaking any other activity affected by the presence of limestone on or near the project site, shall undertake a geotechnical investigation program. Projects located in the Carbonate Drainage Area shall complete the Phase I Checklist. Projects located in the Carbonate Rock District shall first complete the Phase I Checklist. Submission of the Phase II Checklist shall be based on the recommendation of the municipal geotechnical consultant as per Section 106.1 F.

B. The geotechnical investigation program shall be prepared by a professional engineer or geologist with experience in karst terrains. The municipality's geotechnical consultant (GTC) shall be similarly qualified to review all projects submitted.

C. The geotechnical investigation program shall identify the geologic nature of the materials underlying the site.

D. The Geologic Investigation Report shall evaluate site information gathered during the geotechnical investigation, and provide recommendations for the planning, engineering design, and construction techniques to be utilized. All design recommendations shall minimize, to the greatest extent practical, impacts upon water quality and structural hazards associated with limestone formations.

E. In the case of applications for site plans or subdivisions, the geologic investigation program may be completed and filed prior to a formal application for preliminary approval.

F. After the submission of the information required in the Phase I Checklist, the authorized approval authority may grant a waiver from the requirement of part or all of the geotechnical investigation and report requirements under Sections 106.4 and 106.5 below, upon recommendation of the municipal geotechnical consultant.

A. Phase I - completion of the Phase I Checklist by applicant and review by the municipal GTC, action on completeness by approval authority.

B. Phase II - completion of the Phase II Checklist and proposed Geotechnical Investigation Program by applicant, review by the municipal GTC and action on completeness by approval authority; issuance of permit to undertake on-site testing.

C. Applicant undertakes on-site geotechnical investigation program, with observation by municipal GTC.

D. Submission of a Geologic Investigation Report and site recommendation by applicant.

E. Municipality GTC review, report and final recommendation forwarded to approval authority.

F. Approval authority acts on the geotechnical aspects of the proposed project.

A. An investigation program shall be commenced by completing the Phase I Checklist. The Phase I Checklist shall be submitted to the approval authority and shall be reviewed by the municipal geotechnical consultant. A report from the GTC shall be rendered to the approval authority within 30 days of the submission by applicant of the Phase I Checklist. The approval authority shall rule on the completeness of the Checklist within 30 days of the receipt of the GTC completeness report. The GTC's report shall either recommend that the Phase II Checklist be prepared and submitted or, in the alternative, that portions or all of the requirements of the Phase II Checklist be waived.

B. If the Phase II Checklist is required, it shall be submitted to the approval authority and be reviewed by the GTC for completeness. A completeness report shall be made to the approval authority within 30 days of the submission by applicant of the Phase II Checklist. The approval authority shall rule on the completeness of the checklist within 30 days of the receipt of the GTC's completeness report. The GTC's completeness report shall also advise the applicant as to whether any proposed testing methodology is prohibited because of the potential danger the methodology may pose to the integrity of the site or the health, safety and welfare of the community. If the geotechnical consultant recommends the disapproval of the testing program, the recommendation shall include suggestions on alternate methodology which would provide the requisite data. The geotechnical consultant may also recommend waiver of some or all of the required investigations in appropriate cases pursuant to Section 106.1 F.

C. At the applicant's option, both the Phase I and or the Phase II Checklist may be submitted simultaneously, in which case the GTC shall submit a completeness report to the approval authority within 30 days of submission of the checklist(s) by applicant. The approval authority shall act on the completeness report within 30 days of submission of the GTC's report.

D. After the Phase I and Phase II Checklists have been deemed complete by the approval authority and the GTC has advised that the testing methodology poses no danger to the integrity of the site or to the health, safety and welfare of the community, a permit shall be issued to the applicant authorizing the commencement of the testing procedure.

A. Any on-site investigations and tests undertaken pursuant to this chapter shall not begin until the applicant has received a permit pursuant to Section 106.3 D. Applicant shall also be responsible for providing, at least fifteen (15) days prior to commencement of any testing procedures, written notice of same to the municipal clerk, which notice shall be transmitted by certified mail, returned receipt requested or served personally. All site investigations shall be properly closed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:9-9.1 et seq.

B. The proposed development site shall be subject to inspection by the GTC or designated municipal inspectors at any time. All testing data and results shall be made available to municipal officials and inspectors on demand.

C. All samples taken shall be properly preserved and shall be available for examination by the municipality upon request until final action is taken by the approval authority on the application.

A. At the completion of the field investigation a formal site investigation report shall be submitted and include any of the following required information gathered during the testing protocol: logs of all borings, test pits, and probes including evidence of cavities, loss of drilling fluid circulation during drilling, voids encountered and similar cavities, type of drilling or excavation technique employed, drawings of monitoring or observation wells as installed, time and dates of explorations and tests, reports of chemical analyses of on-site surface and ground water, names of individuals conducting tests if other than the professional engineer referred to in the checklist, analytical methods used on soils, water samples, and rock samples; a 1" = 100' scale topographic map of the site (at a contour interval of two feet) locating all test pits, borings, wells, seismic or electromagnetic conductivity or other geophysical surveys and analysis of the ground water including any potentiometric maps constructed from site data or aquifer tests with rate and direction of flow; a geologic interpretation of the observed subsurface conditions, including soil and rock type, jointing (size and spacing), faulting, voids, fracturing, grain size, and sinkhole formation.

B. The report shall define the extent of geotechnical findings at the site in relation to the planned development or land use. The engineering solutions proposed to minimize environmental and structural impacts for the useful life of the project, as well as during construction, must be clearly detailed.

A. Within forty-five (45) days of submission of the Geotechnical Investigation Report by the applicant the GTC shall review and prepare a completeness report for submission to the approval authority. During the GTC's review of the Geotechnical Investigation Report for proposed development in the CRD the GTC shall consider the data, formal reports, maps, drawings and related submission materials and shall advise the approval authority whether or not the applicant has provided the municipality with:

1. Sufficient design, construction and operational information to insure that the proposed development of the tract will not adversely impact on the health, safety and welfare of the community;

2. Proof that the proposed method of development of the tract will minimize any adverse effects on the quality of surface or subsurface water, and will not alter the character of surface and/or subsurface water flow in a manner detrimental to known on-site or off-site conditions;

3. Specific details insuring that design concepts and construction and operational procedures intended to protect surface and subsurface waters will be properly implemented;

4. Specific details on inspection procedures to be followed during construction and after project completion.

B. The approval authority shall, within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of the report from the geotechnical consultant, approve or disapprove the proposed geotechnical aspects of the development plan and associated construction techniques. In the event the approval authority denies the proposed development plan and associated construction procedures the approval authority shall state in the resolution its reasons for disapproval.

A. In certain situations, a specific geologic hazard may not be identified while the geologic investigation program is underway and may be discovered during or after construction. In such cases the applicant shall:

1. Report the occurrence of the hazard to the municipal clerk within twenty-four (24) hours of discovery;

2. Halt construction activities which would impact the geologic hazard;

3. Prepare a report on the geologic hazard which analyzes the impact of the hazard and details a remediation plan for review and approval by the municipal geotechnical consultant;

4. After obtaining approval from the municipality, perform necessary remediation of the hazard to prevent or minimize damage to buildings, structures, utilities, driveways, parking areas, roadways, and other site improvements, and to minimize pollution of the groundwater;

5. Repair any damage to improvements and restore ground cover and landscaping;

6. In those cases where the hazard cannot be repaired without adversely affecting the site plan or subdivision, the applicant shall file an amended application for a site plan or subdivision approval in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

A. Compliance with this chapter is required prior to the granting of municipal subdivision or site plan approval, the granting of zoning or building permits, or the municipal endorsement of State permits and treatment works approvals, unless the applicant is exempted from the provisions of this chapter or the requirements in this chapter have been waived. The enforcement officials for any application requiring the approval of the planning board or board of adjustment and subject to this chapter shall be the municipal engineer and the municipal GTC. The enforcement official for zoning or building permit applications that are subject to this chapter shall be the zoning officer or construction code official. For well and septic system installation, the municipality's sanitarian shall serve as the enforcement officer. The municipal GTC, engineer, or sanitarian shall serve as the enforcement officials for wastewater systems requiring NJDEPE permits or Treatment Works Approvals.

B. Failure to comply with any of the conditions in this chapter may result in the issuance of a stop-work order, revocation of building permits, or denial of certificates of occupancy. Remedial and corrective measures may be mandated if the appropriate construction and site planning techniques, as outlined in the applicant's approved geotechnical report, are not followed and result in actions which adversely impact karst features.

A. Escrow for the Phase I Checklist: $______ plus $______ per acre for each acre of the project site in the Carbonate Rock Area, plus $______ per acre of land in the Carbonate Drainage Area;

B. Escrow for the Phase II Checklist: $______ plus $______ per acre of land being developed in the Carbonate Rock Area.