Coastal Services Center

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Glossary

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# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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401 Certification - State Water Quality certification required by Section 401 of CWA.

404(b)(1)Guidelines - Regulatory Guidelines for discharges of dredged or fill material implementing Section 404(b)(1) of the CWA, 40 CFR Part 230.

404(c) - EPA's authority to prohibit or restrict Section 404 of CWA.

404(f) - Activities exempt from Section 404 of CWA.

404(q) MOA - MOA pursuant to Section 404(q) of CWA.

404(r) - Federal project exempt from Section 404.

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A

ACHP - Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

APP - Abbreviated Permit Process (for issuing letters of permission).

Appendix B 33 CFR 325 - Appendix B, Regulatory NEPA regulations.

Appendix C 33 CFR 325 - Appendix C, Regulatory Historic Property regulations.

ARNI - Aquatic resources of national importance as used in 404(q) MOAs (Pronounced R-knee).

ASA(CW) - Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

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B

b(1) Guidelines - See 404(b)(1) Guidelines, the preferred term.

BA - Biological assessment of impacts to endangered species required only for EIS projects.

Barrier islands - Coastal barriers detached from a mainland.

Barrier spits - Coastal barriers extending into open water and attached to a mainland.

Bay barriers - Coastal barriers connecting two headlands and enclosing a pond, marsh, or other aquatic habitat.

Beach nourishment - Placing sand on an eroding beach to provide a protective buffer against storm and wave damage or for the purpose of beach enhancement to increase recreational value.

BO - Biological opinion issued by NMFS or USFWS during "formal consultation" or review of a "biological assessment" pursuant to Section 7 of ESA.

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C

CAA - Clean Air Act.

Categorical Exclusion (CE) - If no extraordinary circumstances exist which might cause a significant impact in the specific case, some actions can be "categorically excluded" from documentation in an EA or EIS. Unlike an EA or EIS, there is no formal pre-decision comment period with a categorical exclusion (except for scoping).

CECW-OR - Headquarters, Corps of Engineers, Civil Works, Operations, Regulatory Branch, that is, OCE regulatory staff (pronounced Sequor).

CEQ - Council on Environmental Quality.

CEQ Regulations 40 CFR 1500, Council on Environmental Quality - Regulations implementing NEPA.

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations.

CG - U.S. Coast Guard (see USCG, the preferred term).

Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 P.L. 101-591 (amendment to CBRA) - Expands the definition of a coastal barrier and adds "otherwise protected areas" and areas along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts to the CBRS.

Coastal Barrier Resource System - Areas designated by CBRS and subsequent amendment (CBIA), including modifications by the Secretary of the Interior, as undeveloped, high-risk coastal barriers (boundaries are defined by USFWS maps).

Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 P.L. 97-348 - Prohibits Federal expenditures for development of designated undeveloped coastal barriers and their associated aquatic habitat, including wetlands, estuaries, and inlets.

Coastal barriers - "Unique land forms that provide protection for diverse aquatic habitats and serve as the mainland's first line of defense against the impacts of severe coastal storms and erosion" (USFWS 2002b).

Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 and 1990 reauthorization PL 92-583 - Assures that federally supported activities, including development projects directly affecting the coastal zone, are consistent with approved state coastal management programs.

CWA - Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 466 and following).

CZM Concurrence - A state agency approval of an applicant's consistency determination pursuant to the CZMA.

CZMA - Coastal Zone Management Act.

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D

DA - Department of the Army.

DE - District Engineer.

Decision Memo (DM) - This type of decision is used when the environmental analysis has been "categorically excluded" (CE) from documentation in an EA or an EIS. Ordinarily, decisions documented in a Decision Memo are not subject to administrative appeal; the exception is the category of small timber sales.

Decision Notice (DN) - When an Environmental Assessment (EA) is conducted and it is concluded that no significant environmental impact will result from implementing the preferred alternative, a Decision Notice is issued. If a significant environmental impact will result, an EIS must be prepared, and a Record of Decision is issued. Decisions documented in a Decision Notice are subject to administrative appeal.

DEIS - Draft EIS.

DHP - Designated Historic Property (33 CFR 325, Appendix C).

DNR - Designated non-federal representative (i.e., applicant or agent) designated to prepare BA or conduct "informal consultation" under ESA.

DOC - Department of Commerce.

DOI - Department of the Interior.

Dune or beach barriers - Broad, sandy barrier beaches with hills or ridges of sand.

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E

EA - Environmental Assessment.

EIS - Environmental Impact Statement.

Environmental Assessment (EA) - This document discloses the environmental impacts to be expected from a proposed timber sale and from specific alternatives to the proposed action. An EA is prepared when the USFS does not anticipate significant environmental impacts or when there is a question as to the extent of the impacts. Comments are usually due within 30 days of release of an EA. Comments are responded to in an appendix to the EA.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - A formal public document prepared to analyze the impacts on the environment of a proposed project or action and released for comment and review. An EIS is prepared, instead of an EA, when significant environmental impacts are anticipated by the USFS or are pointed out by the public. Comments are usually due within 45 days after the release of a Draft EIS (DEIS). Comments are responded to in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

EO - Executive Order. Periodically established federal policy.

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency.

ESA - Endangered Species Act.

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F

FAA - Federal Aviation Administration.

Federal Register - Publication of federal agency rulemaking.

FEIS - Final EIS.

FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency (pronounced Fee-mah).

FERC - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (pronounced Fur-k).

FHWA - Federal Highway Administration.

FIA - Flood Insurance Administration.

Field Supervisor - USFWS official responsible for routine coordination with the DE.

FR - Federal Register.

Fringing mangroves - Bands of mangroves along tropical or subtropical mainland shores.

FWPCA - Federal Water Pollution Control Act (see CWA).

FWS - U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (preferred abbreviation).

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G

GP - General Permit.

GPO - Government Printing Office.

Guidelines - See 404(b)(1) Guidelines, the preferred term.

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H

HP - Historic Property. See 33 CFR part 325, Appendix C.

HQUSACE - Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers (formal designation).

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I

Incidental Take - The taking of endangered species, associated with a permit, authorized through consultation with USFWS or NMFS.

IP - Individual Permit.

ISTEA - Intermodal Surface Transportation & Enhancement Act (pronounced Ice-tea).

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J

JD - Jurisdiction Determination.

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L

Land and Water Conservation Fund - Act of 1965 amended in 1996 PL 88-578 (amended as P.L. 104-333) provides for Congress to appropriate funds (on a matching basis) for planning, acquiring land and water areas for outdoor recreational use, and construction of outdoor recreation facilities.

Legal Notice - A notice of an appealable decision published in the Federal Register or in the legal notices section of a newspaper of general circulation as required by 36 CFR 217.2. Be careful to ascertain the official "paper of record" for this date.

LOP - Letter of Permission.

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M

MHWM - Mean High Water Mark (tidal areas; for non-tidal areas see OHWM).

MMS - Minerals Management Service, DOI.

MOA/MOU - Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding.

MPRSA - Marine Protection, Research & Sanctuaries Act.

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N

National Register - National Register of Historic Places.

NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act (pronounced Kneepah).

NHPA - National Historic Preservation Act.

NMFS - National Marine Fisheries Act (pronounced Nymphs).

NOAA - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

NOII - Notice of Intent to Issue.

NOS - National Ocean Service.

Notice of Intent (NOI) - A notice printed in the Federal Register announcing that an "Environmental Impact Statement" will be prepared. (40 CFR 1508.22).

NPDES - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System authorized by Section 402 of CWA.

NPS - National Park Service.

NR - National Register of Historic Places.

NRCS - National Resource Conservation Service.

NWP - Nationwide Permit.

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O

OCE - Office of Chief of Engineers (informal) (see HQUSACE).

OCS - Outer Continental Shelf.

OCSLA - Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

OHWM - Ordinary High Water Mark (non-tidal areas; for tidal areas see MHWM).

OMB - Office of Management and Budget.

Otherwise Protected Areas - Undeveloped coastal barriers within land boundaries reserved for wildlife refuges, parks, or other conservation purposes.

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P

PBO - Preliminary Biological Opinion issued by NMFS or USFWS pursuant to "early consultation" under Section 7 of ESA.

PCN - Pre-construction Notification.

PDN - Pre-discharge Notification.

PGP - Programmatic General Permit.

PN - Public Notice.

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R

R&D - Research and Development.

RA - Regional Administrator of EPA.

RD - Regional Director of USFWS or NMFS.

Record of Decision (ROD) - This type of decision is used when an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been produced. Decisions documented in a Record of Decision are subject to administrative appeal.

REG(s) - Regulation(s) (Usually Corps regulation at 33 CFR 320- 330).

RGL - Regulatory Guidance Letter (pronounced Regal).

RP - Regional General Permit.

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S

SAMP - Special Area Management Plan (pronounced Samp).

Scope - Scope consists of the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts the USFS determines will be considered in an environmental document (either EA or EIS).

Scoping - Scoping requires that the USFS examine a proposed action and its possible effects, establish the depth of environmental analysis required, and determine the analysis procedures and data needed. If the public does not raise an issue at this point in NEPA the USFS will often claim later it was not raised during scoping to avoid the issue entirely. Usually there is a 30-day scoping comment period after release of the scoping statement.

Section 10 of ESA - Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (Takings permits).

Section 10 - Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

Section 103 - Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (Ocean Dumping).

Section 106 - Section 106 of NHPA (Take into account effects on Historic Properties).

Section 110 - Section 110 of the NHPA (federal agency responsibilities).

Section 13 - Section 13 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

Section 402 - Section 402 of the CWA (See NPDES).

Section 7 - Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

Section 9 of ESA - Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (Takings prohibition).

Section 9 - Section 9 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

SHPO - State Historic Preservation Officer (pronounced Ship-poe).

SOF - Statement of Findings.

SOP - Standard Operating Procedure.

Special Case - Designated area where EPA rather than the Corps will determine the extent of waters of the US for purposes of Section 404.

Special Matters - Designated situation where EPA rather than the Corps will determine whether an activity is exempt under Section 404(f) of CWA.

SPGP - State Program General Permit.

Swamp Buster - Provision of Food Securities Act of 1985.

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T

Taking - 5th Amendment - When speaking about property rights, this term refers to the Fifth Amendment prohibition against the taking of personal property without due compensation.

Taking - ESA - When speaking of endangered species, this term means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct towards a federally listed species.

Tombolos - Sand or gravel beaches connecting offshore islands with each other or to a mainland.

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U

USACE - US Army Corps of Engineers (pronounced You-sace).

USC - US Code (codification for Federal Laws).

USCG - US Coast Guard.

USFWS - US Fish and Wildlife Service (see FWS, the preferred abbreviation).

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W

WDM - Wetland Delineation Manual.

WES - Waterways Experiment Station.

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