Ord 2001-077 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(A) All caves that can be entered must be entered and mapped to establish the footprint of the cave, and to identify related surface hydrogeologic features (drainage areas, sinkholes, fractures, etc.) and cultural features (existing or proposed roads, buildings, utilities, etc.). Hydrogeologic features within each cave must be mapped or noted and interpreted to delineate the drainage area for the cave, which includes surface drainage into the cave's entrance( s), plus surface drainage into fractures, sinkholes, streambeds, or other features which appear to contribute recharge into the cave in areas beyond the cave entrance. Excavations must be conducted as part of the effort to fully map the caves when necessary for study and mapping of otherwise inaccessible parts of the caves. Where excavation may be unsafe, such as a passage that ends in collapse and likely continues on the opposite side of the collaj)se, geophysical methods should be employed to determine if and where the cave continues. The geophysical methods must be of a type that has proven accurate and appropriate for the depth, size, and geologic setting of the cave. The geophysical methods should not be used to replace mapping of the cave, but to supplement them and identify areas where excavation or drilling may find the continuation of the cave to allow its further mapping and study. (B) Recharge features that cannot be entered must be excavated to more fully evaluate the hydrogeologic significance of the features, and to determine if they lead to caves. Excavations may be conducted by hand, explosive, and/or mechanized means as appropriate. Excavations will be considered complete if a cave, or bedrock with no openings, or a compact clay at least one foot thick throughout the feature's floors and walls, is found. Where fractures or other openings in the bedrock extend indefinite distances with no fill material or loose fill material, and hydrogeologic indicators suggest the feature may lead to a cave, then geophysical methods should be employed to determine if and where a cave is present to guide further excavation and study under (e)(2)(A) above. {fL Technical reoort. If a development application is for approval of a site development permit or subdivision construction plans for a development in the recharge zone, the application must be accompanied by a technical report that meets all requirements for technical reports under the TNRCC Edwards Aquifer rules, including but not limited to a description of all temporary and permanent BMPs to be used. (gLMitil!ation olan. As provided for under Section 94.528, an aquifer protection plan for a development in the recharge zone may be accompanied by a mitigation plan for improvements on the site that are proposed within a buffer zone. The mitigation plan must be prepared by a Texas-licensed engineer, or by such an engineer and a Texas-registered landscape architect, and must describe temporary and permanent mitigation measures to be installed and maintained at the site. (h) Submission of aquifer orotection olans. (1) An original and ten copies of the aquifer protection plan must be submitted to the planning director, accompanied by the fee set by the city counciL which is nonrefundable. C:\TEMP\Edwards Regulations revision tinal.doc 16