Definition of TERMS

Administrative Unit Affected –District on which projects would be implemented. 

Appeal Period – The 45-day period after publication of a decision in which an appeal can be filed.

Categorical Exclusion (CE) - A category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. Neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

Comment Period - The time allowed for interested persons to provide comments to a Responsible Official on a proposed action.

Decision Memo (DM) - A concise written record of the responsible official's decision to implement an action that has been categorically excluded from documentation.

Decision Notice (DN) - A concise written record of the responsible official's decision based on an environmental assessment and a finding of no significant impact.

Environmental Analyses – process used for NFMA and NEPA analyses and documented in NFMA reports or an EIS, EA, or CE.

Environmental Assessment (EA) - A document that presents issues and concerns important to a project, alternate means of accomplishing a project, and environmental effects of each of those alternatives.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - This document is required for proposed actions that may have significant effects on the human environment. The contents are similar to an environmental assessment, and it includes some additional sections.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) – Document prepared by a federal agency presenting the reasons why an action, not otherwise excluded, won’t have a significant effect on the human environment and for which an EIS will not be prepared.

Implementation Date – date proposed activities are expected to begin.

Initial Scoping Date – Date the public is provided information about an environmental analysis or is asked to comment on a specific project(s).

NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 - procedural guide for the decision making process for site-specific projects.

National Forest Management Act Process (NFMA) - Analysis that utilizes resource data and field review to describe the existing condition of the area, and the Forest Plan to describe the desired future condition. The differences between these two conditions provide project opportunities that can move the area from the existing condition toward the desired future condition.

Opportunity Areas (OA) – Smaller areas of contiguous MNF land where one management prescription predominates (Forest Plan, A-1).

Paper of Record – paper identified in the “Federal Register” that a responsible official uses to inform the public of potential National Forest management.

Proposed Action - A proposal made by the Forest Service to authorize, recommend, or implement an action on National Forest System lands to meet a specific purpose and need which is subject to public notice comment provisions.

Responsible Official – The Forest Service line officer (e.g. Forest Supervisor or District Ranger) who has the authority and responsibility to make decisions on proposed actions subject to notice, comment, and appeal under 36 CFR 215.

Scoping - Includes agency and public involvement to determine the range of issues to be addressed. Scoping aids in developing alternatives for a proposed action.

Significance - As used in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires consideration of both context and intensity.