Merger 01 - Glossary of Terms

401 Certification/Water Quality Certification: Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires the states to issue a 401 Water Quality Certification for all projects that require a Federal Permit (such as a Section 404 Permit). The "401" is essentially a verification by the state that a given project will not degrade Waters of the State or otherwise violate water quality standards.

Abatement [Noise]: A reduction in the degree or intensity of traffic and other noise sources through various forms of 'mitigative' measures, such as noise barriers or walls.
Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST): Usually a metal, fiberglass or plastic storage tank generally considered to be containing a oil, gasoline or other hazardous material which is located at or near the ground surface (See Underground Storage Tank).
Abstain or Abstention: Under Merger 01, abstain means that a team member does not actively object to a concurrence point but the agency representative does not sign the concurrence point form. The process may continue and the agency representative agrees not to revisit the concurrence point. Written justification for abstaining from a concurrence point should be provided to the project team within 5 days of the concurrence meeting.
Access Control: [See Control of Access].
Administrative Dispute Resolution Act (ADRA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Adverse Effects: General phrase referring to potentially negative impacts to certain resources, such as changes to the setting characteristics and visual changes to a historic property.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP): An independent Federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement and productive use of our Nation's historic resources and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. There are 20 statutorily designated members.
Affected Environment: The physical features, land area or areas to be influenced, or impacted, by an alternative alignment under consideration. This term also includes various social and environmental factors and conditions pertinent to an area.
Agency Coordination [Process]: See Bridge Replacement Process III
Air Pollutants/Air Pollution: Substances in the air (generally considered man-made in origin) that could, at high enough concentrations, harm humans, animals, vegetation or materials. Five major air pollutants generally involving transportation projects include (ground-level) ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
Air Quality Index (AQI): The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. There are six categories with AQI values ranging from 0 to 500, levels of health concern between good and hazardous and their corresponding colors of green, yellow, orange, red, purple and maroon. The AQI focuses on five major air pollutants: (ground-level) ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
Air Quality and Noise Management Plan (AQNMP): A general subset of a Comprehensive Transportation Plan that examines human quality of life indicators such as air pollution associated with transportation projects and traffic noise.
Air Quality Standards: Levels of air pollutants prescribed by regulations that may not be exceeded during a specified time in a defined area. EPA establishes national air quality standards for major pollutants, including (ground-level) ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
Alignment Refinement [See Horizontal & Vertical Alignment]: General phrase referring to an improvement and/or adjustment to a highway alignment to potentially avoid or minimize impacts to the environment or to correct a design deficiency.
Alternative: One of a number of specific transportation improvements proposals, alignments, options, design choices, etc., in a defined study area.
Ambient: Surrounding or existing environmental conditions. Generally used in reference to background noise levels, air quality conditions, water quality conditions, etc.
American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Anadromous Fish: Species of fish that live the majority of their lives in a marine environment, but swim up freshwater streams and rivers to spawn.
Antiquities Act of 1906: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT): The total volume of traffic passing a point or segment of highway facility in both directions for 1 year, divided by the number of days in the year. (HCM 2000)
Aquatic Resource of National Importance (ARNI): Under the Clean Water Act Section 404(q) Memoranda of Agreement between USEPA and the Department of the Army and between the USFWS and the USACE (dated August 11 and December 21, 1992, respectively), the USEPA or USFWS can elevate a disagreement over a proposed decision by USACE to issue a Section 404 permit if the proposal would have a substantial and unacceptable impact on an ARNI. The disagreement is elevated to higher authorities within each agency for a decision. ARNI is analogous to rivers designated as Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW).
Aquifer: An underground geologic formation, or group of formations, containing groundwater that can supply wells and springs. There are potentially shallow and deep level groundwater sources or aquifers (e.g., Castle Hayne Aquifer).
Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Archaeological Predictive Model: A GIS technology tool utilized by NCDOT to identify, predict and quantify potential archeological resources early in the NEPA process and assess potential impacts from various alternatives. This is part of a phased identification process using background reports and/or archeological probabilities to establish context based upon information from known sites near a given project.
Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Area of Potential Effect (APE): The geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist. The area of potential effects is influenced by the scale and nature of an undertaking and may be different for different kinds of effects caused by the undertaking (Implementing Regulations for Section 106 of NHPA: 36 CFR 800.16d).
Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs): Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC's) are the foundation of the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission's (CRC's) permitting program for coastal development. An AEC is an area of natural importance. It may be easily destroyed by erosion or flooding; or it may have environmental, social, economic or aesthetic values that make it valuable to our state. The CRC classifies areas as AEC's to protect them from uncontrolled development, which may cause irreversible damage to property, public health or the environment. AEC's cover almost all coastal waters and about 3 percent of the land in the 20 coastal counties. The CRC has established four categories of AECs: The Estuarine and Ocean System; The Ocean Hazard System; Public Water Supplies; and Natural and Cultural Resource Areas.
Arterial: A class of roads serving major traffic movements (high speed, high volume) for travel between major points. An AASHTO design classification.
Average Daily Traffic (ADT): The total volume of traffic passing a point or segment of a highway facility in both directions for an average weekday.
Avoidance Alternative: A general term used to refer to any alignment proposal, which has been developed, modified, shifted, or downsized to specifically avoid impacting one or more resources (e.g., an alternative that avoids an eligible historic property).
Avoidance and Minimization: A general phrase addressed in NEPA and Section 404 regulations which provides that potential impacts to the natural and human environment are avoided and minimized to the extent practicable. Under the Merger 01 process, this phrase refers to Concurrence Point 4A.

Baffle: A device or structure that reduces water velocity and provides an adequate depth of flow in a culvert to facilitate fish passage.
Bankfull Elevation: For streams with an active floodplain, it is elevation at which flooding occurs.
Bents: A transverse structural member or frame supporting spans of a bridge. Bents consist of a horizontal bent cap supported by vertical piles, drilled piers or columns. A bent with columns will include foundations of either spread footings, footings on piles, or footings on drilled piers.
Berm [Earthen]: An earthen berm is a narrow ledge or shelf as along a slope or a shoulder of a road. Berms are often used to deflect precipitation and overland surface flows to basins, ponds and other stormwater control devices.
Best Fit Alignment: Road widening design that utilizes symmetrical or asymmetrical widening alignments (or a combination of both) in order to provide a cost effective alternative that avoids and minimizes impacts to the natural and human environment.
Best Management Practices (BMPs): Techniques that minimize water quality impacts when performing work in or around bodies of waters or jurisdictional areas. (See NCDOT Construction and Maintenance BMP Manual, February 2003).
Biological Assessment (BA): The information prepared by another agency or the document itself which has been prepared under Section 7 of the ESA to determine whether a proposed major construction activity under the authority of a Federal action agency is likely to adversely affect listed species, proposed species or designated critical habitat.
Biological Opinion (BO): When a Federal agency determines through a Biological Assessment or other review that a proposed action is likely to adversely affect a listed species, the Federal action agency submits to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) a request for formal consultation (90 days). Following the consultation process, the FWS will prepare a Biological Opinion on whether the proposed activity will jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species. The FWS has 45 days after completion of the formal consultation to write the BO.
Blue-line stream: The term blue-line stream is short-hand for a surface water that is approximately shown on the most recent version of the 1:24,000 scale (7.5 minute) quadrangle topographic map prepared by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS). Blue-line streams are one of several sources of information that the N.C. Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) uses when determining whether a water feature falls under the jurisdiction of the NCDWQ surface water and wetlands standards.
Borrow Areas: Sites used to gather fill material (i.e. soil, sand, and gravel) that can be used at another site during construction.
Boulevard: A facility with a functional purpose of moderate mobility and low to moderate access. The facility has limited or partial control of access, traffic signals, and a minimum of two travel lanes with a median. Connections are provided primarily at at-grade intersections with major and minor cross streets.
Box Culvert: A box (rectangular) shaped culvert, usually made of concrete, which conveys water flow through a roadway embankment. May also be used as a pedestrian or wildlife crossing under roadways.
Bridge Replacement Process: See Process III
Buffer Rules: Regulations with the purpose of protecting riparian buffers. These rules are described in 15A NCAC 02B of state law. Currently, buffer rules are in effect for the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River Basins, the main stem of the Catawba River Basin, and the Randleman Reservoir subbasin.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): See Acronym Cross Reference

Capacity Analysis: The use of engineering analytical tools to determine Level of Service for existing or projected traffic volumes. Used to evaluate degrees of traffic congestion.
Carbon Monoxide (CO): An odorless, colorless gas formed when carbon in fuels does not completely burn and a primary air pollutant. Vehicle exhaust contributes approximately 60 percent of all carbon monoxide emissions nationwide.
Carolina Bays: Wetlands, usually elliptical in shape, which are located in natural shallow depressions and are largely fed by rain and shallow groundwater. Carolina Bays are unique coastal plain geologic formations that once were found from the mid-Atlantic states to Florida. The highest concentration of bays occurs in North and South Carolina. The bays are typically oriented along a northwest to southeast alignment. Undisturbed Carolina Bays usually represent high quality wetlands with unique flora and fauna species.
Categorical Exclusion (CE): A category of actions defined under Section 40 CFR 1508.4 (NEPA) which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human (and natural) environment and for which neither an environmental assessment (EA) nor environmental impact statement (EIS) is required. FHWA actions which typically qualify as Categorical Exclusions are specifically defined at 23 CFR 771.117(a). CEs are typically issued for most bridge replacement projects.
Causeway: An earthen or stone fill that extends into a floodplain, wetland or surface water (e.g., pond, stream, reservoir, or estuary). Causeways are typically found at the ends of bridges, and can also be used as a temporary access for construction, especially for bridges in larger streams and rivers.
Central Business District (CBD): A general phrase typically referring to the downtown area of a city or metropolitan area where there is a concentration of retail and commercial buildings. Some typical characteristics of a central business district include a predominance of an area's public buildings, it features 'vertical zoning' and it usually has the highest land values of the region.
Citizens Information Workshop (CIW): Public meeting held to inform citizens about an upcoming project; often there will be workshops for the public at various stages during the planning/design process.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Clean Air Act (CAA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Clean Water Act (CWA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
[NC] Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 (CAMA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982 (CBRA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Coastal Plain Counties (versus CAMA counties): There are 41 coastal plain counties in eastern North Carolina that are listed in Appendix C of the Merger 01 Process. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries) and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) must be contacted when a merger project is in one of these counties to determine if they will participate on the project team. The 20 CAMA counties are a subset of the coastal plain counties.
Coastal Zone: The coastal waters (including the lands therein and thereunder) and the adjacent shorelands (including the waters therein and thereunder), strongly influenced by each other and in proximity to the shorelines of the several coastal states, and includes islands, transitional and intertidal areas, salt marshes, wetlands, and beaches. The zone extends in Great Lakes waters, to the international boundary between the United States and Canada and, in other areas, seaward to the outer limit of the outer limit of State title and ownership under the Submerged lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), the Act of March 2, 1917 (48 U.S.C. 749), the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, as approved by the Act of March 24, 1976 (48 U.S.C. 1681 note), or section 1 of the Act of November 20, 1963 (48 U.S.C. 1705) as applicable. The zone extends inland from the shorelines only to the extent necessary to control shorelands, the uses of which have a direct and significant impact on the coastal waters. Excluded from the coastal zone are lands the use of which is by law subject solely to the discretion of or which is held in trust by the Federal Government, its officers or agents and to control those geographical areas which are likely to be affected by or vulnerable to sea level rise.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Coastal Wetlands (CAMA): The Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) defines coastal wetlands as any salt marsh or other marsh subject to regular or occasional flooding by tides, including wind tides (whether or not the tide waters reach the marshland areas through natural or artificial watercourses), provided this shall not include hurricane or tropical storm tides. Coastal wetlands contain some, but not necessarily all, of the following marsh plant species: (1) Cord Grass (Spartina alterniflora), (2) Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus), (3) Glasswort (Salicornia spp.), (4) Salt Grass (Distichlis spicata), (5) Sea Lavender (Limonium spp.), (6) Bulrush (Scirpus spp.), (7) Saw Grass (Cladium jamaicense), (8) Cat-tail (Typha spp.), (9) Salt Meadow Grass (Spartina patens), (10) Salt Reed Grass (Spartina cynosuroides). The coastal wetlands AEC includes any contiguous lands designated by the Secretary of ENR pursuant to G.S. 113-230 (a).
Code of Conduct: The Public Service Code of Conduct is a 1-page document that describes the following seven principles: professionalism; fairness and reasonableness; knowledge; honesty; timeliness; accountability; and respect. The Merger 01 roles and responsibilities document states that Merger participants will abide by the Code of Conduct.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): See Acronym Cross Reference
Cofferdam: A temporary barrier for creating a dry work space in an area that is normally submerged. It is usually made of interlocking steel piles but may be made from other impermeable material. It is used in constructing the foundations of bridges.
Collector: In rural areas, routes that serve intracounty rather than statewide travel. In urban areas, streets that provide direct access to neighborhoods and arterials. An AASHTO Design Classification.
Columns: Slender vertical structural compression members of bridge bents. Columns rest on foundations and support bent caps.
Comment Period: The comment period is the period of time whereby a State or Federal agency requests public and other agency review input on a NEPA document or a Section 404 permit decision. The comment period for EAs is typically 30 days and for DEISs it is 45 days. Comment periods for USACE Public Notices are typically 30 days. Comment periods may be utilized for requesting input on start of study letters and scoping notices and they may also be extended by the lead or issuing agency upon request.
Community Cohesion: Projects should attempt to promote or maintain community togetherness; disruption of community cohesion should be considered when analyzing the environmental impacts.
Community Impact Analysis (CIA): Community impact analysis is a process to evaluate the effects of a transportation action on a community and its quality of life. The assessment process is an integral part of project planning and development that shapes the outcome of a project. (CG)
Compensatory Mitigation: Replacing the environment impacted by a project or providing substitute resources or environments. For purposes of Section 10/404, compensatory mitigation is the restoration, creation, enhancement, or in exceptional circumstances, preservation of wetlands and/or other aquatic resources for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable adverse impacts which remain after all appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization has been achieved.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) ["Superfund"]: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP): A multimodal series of maps depicting the transportation infrastructure needed to handle the area's travel demand for a minimum 20 year period. It is mutually adopted by NCDOT and the appropriate local agency (municipality, county, or MPO) and will serve as an official guide to providing a well-coordinated, efficient, and economical transportation system that utilizes all modes of transportation.
Concurrence [Point]: Refer to Memorandum of Understanding and Roles & Responsibilities for the concept and related statement.
Conformity: Transportation conformity is a Clean Air Act requirement that ensures that federally supported highway and transit projects are consistent with ('conform to') a state air quality implementation plan or SIP. Project specific air quality impacts are 'pre-planned' and pre-budgeted during the conformity analysis for particular air pollutants in areas or regions with air quality challenges.
Consensus: A term to mean general accord or collective opinion. Under Merger 01, consensus may refer to the 'majority' of the team representative's opinion on a particular issue.
Consistency Decision (i.e. coastal program): A consistency decision is required for all NCDOT projects in the 20 Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) counties. If a project impacts a CAMA Area of Environmental Concern (AEC), then a CAMA permit is required. The CAMA permit, if issued, then also serves as the consistency decision. If a CAMA permit is not required, then DOT must follow a separate process to obtain a consistency decision by submitting a consistency certification to the N.C. Division of Coastal Management (DCM). Upon receiving a consistency certification submission, DCM will evaluate it for completeness. If complete, DCM will review the proposed project for conformance with the enforceable policies of the State's certified coastal management program. As part of this review process, the proposed project is circulated to the public and a variety of State agencies for comment. After considering the comments and evaluating the proposed project's conformance with the enforceable policies of the State's coastal management program, DCM will issue either a letter of "concurrence" or "objection". This is the consistency decision.
Construction Management Plan (CMP): Details the measures and procedures to be used to comply with the quality control provisions of the construction contract.
Constructive Use: Constructive use occurs when the transportation project does not incorporate land from a section 4(f) resource, but the project's proximity impacts are so severe that the protected activities, features, or attributes that qualify a resource for protection under section 4(f) are substantially impaired. Substantial impairment occurs only when the protected activities, features or attributes of the resource are substantially diminished. Sec. 771.135 Section 4(f) (49 U.S.C. 303).
Context Sensitive Design (CSD): Designs that result in a transportation project that reflects community consensus on purpose and need, with project features addressing equally safety, mobility and preservation of scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources. It involves policy judgments in the balancing of competing interests.
Control of Access: The regulation of public access rights to and from properties and public streets crossing highway facilities.
Full: Connections to a facility provided only via ramps at interchanges. All cross-streets are grade-separated. No private driveway connections allowed. A control of access fence is placed along the entire length of the facility and at a minimum of 1000 feet beyond the ramp intersections on the Y lines (minor facility) at interchanges (if possible).
Limited: Connections to a facility provided only via ramps at interchanges (major crossings) and at-grade intersections (minor crossings and service roads). No private driveway connections allowed. A control of access fence is placed along the entire length of the facility, except at intersections, and at a minimum of 1000 feet beyond the ramp intersections of the Y lines (minor facility) at interchanges (if possible).
Partial: Connections to a facility provided via ramps at interchanges, at-grade intersections, and private driveways. Private driveway connections are normally defined as a maximum of one connection per parcel. One connection is defined as one ingress and one egress point. The use of shared or consolidated connections is highly encouraged. Connections may be restricted or prohibited if alternate access is available through other adjacent public facilities. A control of access fence is placed along the entire length of the facility, except at intersections and driveways, and at a minimum of 1000 feet beyond the ramp terminals on the minor facility at interchanges (if possible).
No Control: Connections to a facility provided via ramps at interchanges, at-grade intersections and private driveways. No physical restrictions, i.e., a control of access fence, exist. Normally, private driveway connections are defined as one connection per parcel. Additional connections may be considered if they are justified and if such connections do not negatively impact traffic operations and public safety.
Cooperating Agency: "Cooperating agency" means any Federal agency other than a lead agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposal (or a reasonable alternative) for legislation or other major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. (Merger Roles and Responsibilities)
Corridor: A linear geographical area of an existing or proposed transportation facility. In the Merger 01 process, study corridors are normally 1000' wide for new location projects and 500 feet wide for widening projects.
Corridor/Design Public Hearing: Public hearings provide a forum for an open exchange of views concerning the need for the project, alternate locations, alternate major design features, and the related potential social, economic, and environmental effects. These features most generally can be covered during Conceptual Studies in a combined corridor and design hearing; however, for a difficult or controversial project, it may be expedient to hold separate corridor and design hearings.
Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP): A circular metal pipe with corrugations used to convey flow in storm drainage systems or through a roadway embankment.
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ): Established under NEPA within the Executive Office of the President, the Council coordinates Federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives. The Council may act as a referee in environmental assessment disputes between Federal agencies.
Cowardin Classification: This is a wetland and deepwater habitat hierarchical system of classification. Wetlands under this system are defined by plants (Hydrophytes), soils (Hydric soils) and frequency of flooding. Under the classification hierarchy there are five major types defined, including Marine, Estuarine, Riverine, Lacustrine and Palustrine. The Marine and Estuarine systems each have two subsystems, Subtidal and Intertidal. The Riverine system has four subsystems, including Tidal, Lower Perennial, Upper Perennial and Intermittent. The Lacustrine system has two subsystems, including Littoral and Limnetic. The Palustrine has no subsystems under this classification.
Creation [Mitigation]: 1. The establishment of a wetland or other aquatic resource where one did not formerly exist. (60 Federal Register (FR) 228, pp. 58605-58614, "Federal Guidance for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Mitigation Banks," 28Nov95; )
2. The construction of a wetland in an area where wetlands did not exist in the recent past (15A NORTH CAROLINA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE (NCAC) 2H .0506 (h)(4)(A), (B), (C), (D);)
Critical Habitat [under Endangered Species Act]: An ecosystem or part of an ecosystem designated by the FWS needing conservation or other protective measures to ensure the survival and potential recovery of a threatened or endangered species. Critical habitat is required to be designated at the time a species is listed under the ESA unless designation would not be prudent or the critical habitat is not determinable.
Cumulative Impact: The impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time (40 CFR 1508.7). NCDOT uses interchangeably with Cumulative Effect. NCDOT will normally use Cumulative Effect in the Merger 01 process. DWQ considers cumulative impacts to be the combination of cumulative impacts and indirect effects as defined above.
Curb and Gutter: Streets are usually directly connected to stormwater drainage systems by concrete curb and gutter. The function of curb and gutter is to intercept and convey stormwater runoff from the highway or roadway to a drainage structure.

Deck Drains: Drains (usually 6-inch vertical pipes) located in a bridge deck to drain water off the bridge. The drains can also be placed horizontally (usually 4-inch pipes) through the bridge rails.
DeMinimus Impact (4f): Under SAFETEA-LU, the Secretary can comply with Section 4(f) in a streamlined manner by finding that the program or project will have a "deminimus" impact on the area - i.e., there are no adverse effects of the project and the relevant State Historic Preservation Officer or other official with jurisdiction over a property concurs.
Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [Section 4(f)]: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Design-Build Process: A construction project that combines two usually separate services into a single contract. Design-build allows an agency to contract a team of both designers and a contractor to simultaneously design and construct a project. The design-build entity may be a single firm, a consortium, joint venture or other organization assembled for a particular project. (CG)
Design Speed: A selected speed used to determine the various geometric design features of the roadway. The assumed design speed should be a logical one with respect to topography, the adjacent land use, the classification of the highway and the anticipated operating speed.
Detention Ponds: Ponds that are sized and configured to provide significant removal of pollutants from the incoming stormwater runoff. They maintain a permanent pool of water that is designed for a target sediment removal rate according to the size and imperviousness of the contributing watershed. Water is released at a rate such that downstream erosion is lessened.
Direct Effects: Effects caused by the action and occurring at the same time and place (40 CFR 1508.8). Changes in noise levels, fill discharges in wetlands and relocations of homes and businesses are some examples of direct effects. Used interchangeably with Direct Impacts. NCDOT will normally use Direct Impacts in the Merger 01 process. Other agencies may consider that when an effect is quantified it becomes a direct impact.
Disposal Areas: [See Waste Areas] The disposal site for surplus excavated materials. Waste and debris is disposed of in areas outside of highway right of way and the areas are to be provided by the contractor.
Disturbed/Maintained Land: A general land use category contained in environmental documents that includes lawns, parking lots, cleared areas, and other properties which have been substantially altered or developed. It does not include terrestrial forests, wetlands, prime farmlands and other specific natural resource land uses.
Division Environmental Officer (DEO): As of 2001, all NCDOT Divisions have a DEO. The DEO Program's functions are to increase environmental stewardship, assist with obtaining permits, build relationships with local agencies, and provide environmental training.
Division of Air Quality (N.C. DAQ): See Acronym Cross Reference
Division of Coastal Management (N.C. DCM): See Acronym Cross Reference
Division of Community Assistance (N.C. DCA): See Acronym Cross Reference
Division of Forest Resources (N.C. DFR): See Acronym Cross Reference
Division of Marine Fisheries (N.C. DMF): See Acronym Cross Reference
Division of Water Quality (N.C. DWQ): See Acronym Cross Reference
Detailed Study Alternatives [Carried Forward] (DSAs): Under Merger 01, DSAs are preliminary alternatives found to be reasonable and feasible transportation alternatives that are studied and evaluated in greater detail for presentation in the environmental document. The alternatives selected and to be further considered under Concurrence Point 2.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS): The preliminary environmental document prepared by a State or Federal agency on the environmental impacts of its project and/or program proposals. The general FHWA criteria for preparing DEISs is found at 23 CFR 771.115 and the procedures for issuance at 23 CFR 771.123.
Drilled Pier: A deep foundation designed to support loads from a bent by distributing those loads to surrounding soils. A drilled pier is constructed by placing fluid concrete and reinforcing steel in a drilled hole.
Drilled Shaft: See Drilled Pier

Easement: Access given to individuals other than the owner, allowing them to use a property for a specific purpose. Some examples are temporary construction and utility easements. (CG)
Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP): NCDOT and NCDENR partnered to create the Ecosystem Enhancement Program, in order to deal with a rapidly expanding transportation program that would impact acres of wetlands and streams. The EEP protects the state's natural resources through the assessment, restoration, enhancement, and preservation of ecosystem functions, and through identifying and implementing compensatory mitigation programmatically, at the watershed level. Created by MOA between DENR, NCDOT, and USACE; Performs compensatory mitigation for stream and wetland projects (both DOT and in-lieu fee projects).
Edge of Pavement: The dividing line or point of intersection between the pavement and earth shoulder of a highway or roadway. The line or lines indicate the limits of the pavement.
Effect [See Environmental Effect]: As a general term, an effect is something brought about by an agent or cause. Synonyms include consequence, outcome and result.
Efficient Transportation Decision-Making (ETDM): It is a project development process developed by the State of Florida, which includes extensive use of GIS data layers, and early interactive involvement by agencies into decision-making. The process creates linkages between land use, transportation systems and environmental resources to develop reasonable and feasible project alternatives.
Elevation Process: General phrase which most often refers to the Merger 01 Process Guidelines, Appendix B, "Implementation Guidance for Conflict or Dispute Resolution". There are other types of specific elevation processes under Federal laws and regulations, including NEPA and Section 404 of the CWA.
Emergent Vegetation: A rooted herbaceous plant species that has parts extending above a water surface (USACE; Technical Report Y-87-1, Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual, Department of the Army, Waterways Experiment Station, January 1987;).
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Endangered Species Management Plan (ESMP): A plan required by the ESA for Federal facilities (e.g., Fort Bragg) for all listed and proposed threatened and endangered species that can be used as a tool to achieve conservation objectives for populations of threatened and endangered species and to minimize effects to the facility's primary mission. These plans should be consistent with the FWS's published Species Recovery Plans.
Enhancement [Wetland Mitigation]: 1. The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a wetland site (undisturbed or degraded) to heighten, intensify, or improve specific function(s) or to change the growth stage or composition of the vegetation present. Enhancement is undertaken for specified purposes such as water quality improvement, floodwater retention, or wildlife habitat. Enhancement results in a change in wetland function(s) and can lead to a decline in other wetland functions, but does not result in a gain in wetland acres. This term includes activities commonly associated with enhancement, management, manipulation and directed alteration (USACE, Regulatory Guidance Letter 02-2, Guidance on Compensatory Mitigation Projects for Aquatic Resource Impacts Under the Corps Regulatory Program Pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, 24 December 2002;).
2. Activities conducted in existing wetlands or other aquatic resources which increase one or more aquatic functions (60 FR 228, pp. 58605-58614, "Federal Guidance for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Mitigation Banks," 28Nov95).
3. Increasing one or more of the functions of an existing wetland by manipulation of vegetation or hydrology (15A NCAC 2H .0506 (h)(4)(A), (B), (C), and (D);).
4. The net improvement an alternative plan, or project, makes to fish and wildlife resources (singularly or collectively) compared with the "without" plan or project conditions (USACE; Engineer Regulation (ER) 1105-2-100, 15Dec89;).
Environmental Assessment (EA): The preliminary environmental document, which includes those, project or program actions which do not have a significant environmental impact. The FHWA criteria and procedures for EA's are contained at 23 CFR 771.115 and 771.119.
Environmental Effect: See Direct and Indirect Effects
Environmental Features Map: A topographic or photogrammetric map of the study area illustrating resource areas of concern, both natural and human environment. This mapping is used to identify alternatives that warrant study on a screening level basis.
Environmental Impact: See Direct Effects and Indirect Effects
Environmental Justice (EJ): Under Merger 01, it is both the analysis and principals applied to transportation planning efforts under the Executive Order 12898 to ensure full and fair participation of low income and minority populations and communities in the decision-making process. There are three fundamental environmental justice principles
1. To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.
2. To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process.
3. To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations.
Environmental Management Commission (N.C. EMC): See Acronym Cross Reference
Environmental Restoration: [See Restoration]
Environmental Stewardship: A general Federal and State initiative which demonstrates the care and commitment for preserving and enhancing the natural and human environment in delivering and maintaining an improved transportation system.
Environmental Streamlining: An initiative aimed at identifying ways that transportation and environmental agency representatives can more effectively work together in a collaborative and cooperative manner to avoid unnecessary delays in processing environmental documents, approvals and permits. The environmental streamlining provision was contained in TEA-21.
Ephemeral Stream: Generally, streams that form only during and immediately after precipitation (usually dry within 48 hours after a rain event). Ephemeral streams often do not have a well-defined channel and there may be no clear demarcation from other surface runoff. Some commonly used names for ephemeral streams include stormwater channel, drain, swale, gully, hollow, or saddle. In North Carolina, ephemeral channels are not normally regulated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
Erosion: The general term referring to the 'natural' wearing away of the soil and land by precipitation, wind or other geological forces. Erosion is often accelerated and intensified by land-clearing human activities related to farming, residential and commercial development and public improvement projects such as highway construction. Accelerated erosion typically has adverse environmental effects to water quality and aquatic resources, increased air-borne particulate matter, and declines in arable land, etc.
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH): EFH consists of both the water column and the underlying surface (e.g., Seafloor) of a particular area and NMFS designated areas essential to the long-term survival and health of our Nation's fisheries. This includes breeding, spawning, nursery, feeding and protection habitat functions for managed fishery species.
Estuarine Waters (CAMA) Access: In the 20 Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) counties of North Carolina, the rules of the Coastal Resources Commission require that "Development shall not impede navigation or create undue interference with access to, or use of, public trust areas or estuarine waters." Estuarine waters are defined by CAMA to include all the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary of North Carolina and all the waters of the bays, sounds, rivers and tributaries thereto seaward of the dividing line between coastal fishing waters and inland fishing waters. The boundaries between inland and coastal fishing waters are set forth in an agreement adopted by the Wildlife Resources Commission and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and in the most current revision of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Regulations for Coastal Waters, codified at 15A NCAC 3Q .0200.
Estuary: A generally broad portion of a river or stream near its outlet that is influenced by the marine water body into which it flows. The demarcation line is generally the mean tide level. Executive Order (E.O.) - An order signed by the President of the United States that has essentially the full force and effect as a Federally-promulgated law or regulation.
Expressway: A facility with a functional purpose of high mobility and low to moderate access. The facility has limited or partial control of access, no traffic signals, and a minimum of 4 travel lanes with a median. Connections are provided only at interchanges for major cross streets and at-grade intersections for minor cross streets.

Farmland Conversion Impact Rating: A NRCS method of determining prime and unique farmland impacts from a project based on twelve (12) site assessment criteria. Agricultural lands which score160 points or greater should be disclosed in the environmental document and should discuss alternatives to avoid farmland impacts. Typically, Form CPA-106 is used for corridor type projects and Form AD-1006 is utilized for alternatives. Specific requirements can be found at 7 CFR 658.5. NCDOT generally provides copies of the NRCS forms in an appendix to the environmental document.
Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981 (FPPA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Feasibility Studies: A Feasibility Study is the investigation of a candidate Transportation Improvement Project (TIP) requested by the public, local governments, and/or Board of Transportation members. The purpose of the study is to describe the proposed project, including costs of a few potential alternatives and identify potential problems and impacts, but not based on extensive analysis. NCDOT management and the Board of Transportation use the findings in selecting projects for the TIP.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): See Acronym Cross Reference
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): See Acronym Cross Reference
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): See Acronym Cross Reference
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): See Acronym Cross Reference
Federal Lead Agency: The Federal Lead Agency is the agency preparing or having taken primary responsibility for preparing the environmental document. Where federal-aid funding is anticipated, the U.S. Department of Transportation (FHWA) shall be the Federal lead agency in the environmental review process for a project. Where no federal-aid funding is anticipated, the USACE will normally be the lead agency. (Merger Roles and Responsibilities)
Federal Participating Agency: "Federal Participating Agency" means any Federal agency (other than a lead agency) which has jurisdiction or authority with respect to the project, has expertise or information relevant to the project, and intends to submit comments on the project. (Merger Roles and Responsibilities)
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): See Acronym Cross Reference
Federal Species of Concern (FSC): A plant or animal species that may or may not be listed under the ESA as threatened or endangered in the future. Typically, FSC can include those plants and animals that are uncommon to rare, there is insufficient information to include them for listing or have very specific needs or diminishing habitat and may be candidates for future listing under the ESA. These species are not afforded Federal protection under Section 7 of the ESA.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA): See Acronym Cross Reference
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): The final environmental document for a project or program action which incorporates and addresses substantial concerns identified by the public or from review agencies following the issuance of the DEIS. FHWA requirements are specified at 23 CFR 771.125.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI or FNSI): The final environmental document where there has been a determination that the proposed action will not have a significant impact on the environment. FHWA requirements are specified at 23 CFR 771.121.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Flat [Wet Flat]: Typically found in the inner and outer coastal plain and sandhills on flat areas in interstream divides. These areas are seasonally saturated or inundated by a high or perched water table and soils are mineral to slightly organic. Non-riverine wetlands where the primary source of hydrology is precipitation. Vegetation varies from hardwoods to mixed pine hardwoods, to pine (NCDENR; A Field Guide to North Carolina Wetlands, EPA # 904/B-94/001, DEM Report No.96-01, January 1996;).
Floodplain: Generally, it is a plain or any land area bordering a river or stream subject or susceptible to periodic flooding. Often times the abbreviated term is utilized in reference to the 100-year floodplain which is the area adjoining a river or stream covered by water in the event of a 100-year flood. The 100-year flood is the flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in magnitude in any given year. Contrary to popular belief, the 100-year flood is not a flood occurring once every 100 years.
Floodway: The floodway is the channel of a river or stream and the adjacent area that must be reserved in order to discharge the 100-year flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot.
Form AD 1006: See Farmland Conversion Impact Rating
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Freeway: A facility with a functional purpose of high mobility and low access. The facility has full control of access; no traffic signals, no driveways, and a minimum of 4 travel lanes with a median. Connections are provided only at interchanges for major cross streets. All cross streets are separated.
Footings: A shallow foundation designed to support and distribute the load of the above structure to soils below. A footing may sit directly on the soil or may sit atop a group of piles or drilled piers. A footing atop piles or drilled piers is sometimes referred to as a pile cap.
Functional Design: Very general highway design that includes horizontal and vertical alignments, edge of pavement, construction limits and right of way limits for all alignments, intersections and interchanges with in a study corridor. Functional designs are prepared on orthophotography with Graphic Information System (GIS) features after project purpose and need is established (Concurrence Point No. 1). Functional Designs are prepared to determine constructability, estimate human and environmental impacts and establish a project cost.
Future 'No-build' Average Daily Traffic: [See ADT]

Geographical Information Systems (GIS): Tools (including the computer programs) used to gather, transform, manipulate, analyze and produce information related to the surface of the Earth. This information or data may be represented by maps, three dimensional models, tables and/or lists.
Green Sheets: A green-colored sheet with a list of special project commitments developed during the NEPA process is included in each final environmental document (CE, FONSI, DEIS). Additional commitments that are identified during the subsequent project development and permitting, including permit conditions, are included in the green sheet, which is incorporated into the construction contract as necessary.
Groundwater: Water that is found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock.

Habitat Fragmentation: Is a potential effect to wildlife species beyond direct project impacts that may fragment needed habitat for a species survival. Many animals require a range of resources that are naturally patchy and therefore need to move around between resource sites. Linear projects, such as new rail lines and highway projects, can cause extensive fragmentation of wildlife habitat and result in isolated and degraded wildlife populations or increase mortality rates through direct conflicts. Wildlife passages constructed for highway projects are one potential method of minimizing some of the more direct impacts from fragmentation.
Hazardous Spill Catch/Retention Basin (HSCB): A unique retention facility that is provided at strategic locations along arterial system highways to aid in containment and clean up of accidental spills from tanker trucks. The determination of these strategic locations is based on high truck usage and highway segments over Outstanding Resource Waters or within the critical area of water supply watersheds.
Headwaters: The source and extreme upper reaches of a stream or river [including the land draining to the stream or river. (University of Washington, School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences; www.cbr.washington.edu/crisp/models/crisp1manual/theory16/TCVchp72.html). USACE defines headwaters as being above the point on a non-tidal stream at which the average annual flow is five cubic feet per second (33 CFR 330, Part C, Condition 26(a).).
Herbaceous: 1. Nonwoody vegetation. (Lewis, R. R. Wetlands Restoration/Creation/Enhancement Terminology: Suggestions for Standardization, 1989;). 2. Having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season. (Webster)
High Quality Waters (HQW): Waters which are rated as excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through DWQ monitoring or special studies, native and special native trout waters (and their tributaries) designated by WRC, primary areas designated by the Marine Fisheries Commission and other functional nursery areas, all water supply watershed which are either classified as WS-I or WS-II by DWQ and all SA waters.
Highway Needs Inventory (HNI): A long term planning document, which identifies highway improvements to serve existing and projected population and economic activity in the state.
Highway Trust Fund Act of 1989: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Horizontal and Vertical Alignment: Horizontal alignment is a measure of the curvature of the roadway, while vertical alignment is a measure of the grade (slope) of the roadway.
Human Environment Unit (HEU, formerly OHE): Part of NCDOT's PDEA branch, the HEU is responsible for public involvement, community studies, noise, air, archaeology, and historic architecture.
Hydric Soil: A soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. (USDA; Revised Definition and Criteria for Hydric Soils, 19Aug94;)
Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC): A phrase to express the hierarchical system for identifying and sub-dividing river basin units of the U.S. by codes. The system includes the hydrologic data based upon region, sub-region, accounting unit and sub-basin. Sub-basins are identified using an eight-digit code number (e.g., Northeast Cape Fear River near Chinquipin, NC: HUC #03030007).
Hydrophytic Vegetation: Hydrophytic vegetation is defined in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual as the sum total of macrophytic plant life that occurs in areas where the frequency and duration of inundation or soil saturation produce permanently or periodically saturated soils of sufficient duration to exert a controlling influence on the plant species present. The vegetation occurring in a wetland may consist of more than one plant community (species association). The plant community concept is followed throughout the manual. Emphasis is placed on the assemblage of plant species that exert a controlling influence on the character of the plant community, rather than on indicator species. Thus, the presence of scattered individuals of an upland plant species in a community dominated by hydrophytic species is not a sufficient basis for concluding that the area is an upland community. Likewise, the presence of a few individuals of a hydrophytic species in a community dominated by upland species is not a sufficient basis for concluding that the area has hydrophytic vegetation.

Immediate Corrective Action (ICA): An internal NCDOT notification to contractors or NCDOT crews to immediately correct potential violations to the Sediment and Erosion Control Act or to the Clean Water Act, to avoid a formal Notice of Violation (NOV) from a regulatory agency.
Implementation Guidelines: Refers to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Section 404/NEPA Merger 01 Process Information document dated April 25, 2005, by the primary signatory agencies. Implementation Guidelines for Conflict or Dispute Resolution are addressed in Appendix B of this document and are defined under "elevation process".
Improve Existing: (Widen Existing) This option involves improvements to the existing roadway, as an alternative to a road on new location.
Indirect and Cumulative Effect (ICE) Analysis: CEQ Regulations require FHWA and other federal agencies to address and consider indirect and cumulative effects in the NEPA and decision-making process. The ICE Analysis uses appropriate methods to evaluate the potential for indirect and cumulative effects from a proposed project. The methods use a variety of factors such as zoning, land use plans, demographics, traffic models, growth and development trends, other likely infrastructure, and other information sources to provide an assessment of the foreseeable indirect and cumulative effects of a proposed project on a qualitative basis. NCDOT uses interchangeably with Indirect and Cumulative Impact. NCDOT will normally use Indirect and Cumulative Effect in the Merger 01 Process. Other agencies such as DWQ may require more detailed information in an ICI analysis.
Indirect and Cumulative Impact (ICI) Analysis: See Indirect and Cumulative Effects Analysis
Indirect Effects: Effects caused by the action and are later in time or further removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect effects may include growth inducing effects and other effects related to induced changes in the pattern of land use, population density or growth rate, and related effects on air and water and other natural systems, including ecosystems (40 CFR 1508.8). NCDOT uses this term interchangeably with Indirect Impacts. However, NCDOT will normally use Indirect Effects in the Merger 01 process.
Infiltration Basin: A shallow impoundment that is designed to infiltrate stormwater into the soil. Infiltration basins are believed to have a high pollutant removal efficiency, and can also help recharge the groundwater, thus restoring low flows to stream systems.
Inlet: The end of a culvert where flow enters the culvert. Also used to describe drainage structures that collect surface water runoff as part of the storm drainage system.
In-lieu Fee Mitigation: Stream, buffer, or wetland mitigation in which a regulatory agency collects fees in lieu of requiring a developer to compensate for losses through onsite mitigation or acquiring credits generated by a mitigation bank. The fees are accumulated for use in future mitigation projects (or banking programs) by the agency or by a designated resource agency. (Institute of Water Resources, National Wetlands Mitigation Banking (WMB) Study Reports 94-WMB-2, 94-WMB-6;)
Individual Permit (IP): DA authorization that is issued following a case-by-case evaluation of a specific project in accordance with the procedures of the applicable regulation and 33 CFR Part 325, and a determination that the proposed structure or work is in the public interest pursuant to 33 CFR Part 320. (33 CFR 322)
Interagency Agreement (IAG): A general term used to denote a form of legal contract between two government organizations. As a Federal contract instrument, an interagency agreement is different from a MOUs or MOAs in that there is typically monetary considerations for agreed to services in an IAG.
Intermittent Stream: A stream that contains water for only part of the year, typically during winter and spring in North Carolina, when the aquatic bed is below the water table; flow occurs in a well-defined channel; groundwater is the primary source of water, but the flow may be heavily supplemented by stormwater runoff; often lacking the biological and hydrological characteristics commonly associated with the continuous conveyance of water.
Intermodal: Interconnectivity between various types (modes) of transportation
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Invasive (Nuisance) Species: Species of plants that detract from or interfere with a mitigation project, such as most exotic species and those indigenous species whose populations proliferate to abnormal proportions. (Lewis, R. R. Wetlands Restoration/Creation/Enhancement Terminology: Suggestions for Standardization, 1989)
Isolated Wetland: A wetland that is not adjacent to, or does not have a surface water connection to, navigable waters, tributaries to navigable waters, or non-isolated wetlands; unless it has a clear nexus (link) to interstate commerce, it is not normally regulated by the USACE under Section 404; however, it can be regulated by NCDWQ.

Jeopardy: A significant adverse effect on listed species or critical habitat to the extent that USFWS determines that the proposed action would jeopardize the continued existence of the listed species under the Endangered Species Act. (ESA)
Joint Lead Agency: More than one agency can be a "Joint Lead Agency." Any project sponsor that is a State or local governmental entity receiving funds under Title 23 US Code or Chapter 53 of Title 49 US Code for the project shall serve as a joint lead agency with the USDOT for purposes of preparing any environmental document under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and may prepare any such environmental document required in support of any action or approval by the Secretary if the Federal lead agency furnishes guidance in such preparation and independently evaluates such document and the document is approved and adopted by the Secretary prior to the Secretary taking any subsequent action or making any approval based on such document, whether or not the Secretary's action or approval results in Federal funding. See Merger Roles and Responsibilities
Jurisdictional Impacts: Impacts to waters of the US (including wetlands) buffers or other areas subject to regulation under Section 10, Section 404, or NC-DENR's buffer rules, coastal management regulations, or other rules.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1964, as amended Section 6(f): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Land Use Plan: A plan that establishes strategies for the use of land to meet identified community needs. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/glossary/glossary_listing.cfm
Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA): Based upon the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, the LEDPA is the preferred alternative that is least damaging to aquatic resources (i.e., Wetlands and other waters of the U.S.), unless this alternative results in other significant adverse impacts. The evaluation of practicable alternatives must consider the impact to waters of the U.S. that would result from an alternative before compensatory mitigation is considered and requires the selection of an alternative that avoids and minimizes impacts to wetlands and other waters of the U.S. The Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines require that the LEDPA to aquatic resources be chosen unless this alternative results in other significant environmental consequences. Impacts to other resources such as residential and business relocations, historic resources, endangered species, and public community facilities, may be considered in selecting the LEDPA. The selection of a LEDPA also occurs after the public and other parties have had an opportunity to review and comment on alternatives under consideration in an USACE Public Notice or an environmental document. In the Merger 01 process, the selection of the LEDPA is Concurrence Point 3.
Letting: Opening of bids at a specified time on projects that NCDOT has advertised for receipt of bids from contractors. NCDOT normally takes bids on projects on one day each month (third Tuesday).
Level of Service (LOS): A qualitative assessment of a road's operating conditions. It is a standard measurement used by transportation officials which reflects the relative ease of traffic flow on a scale of A to F. LOS A is free-flow with no delays while LOS F is rated congested and significant delays.
Level Spreader: A structural BMP device that diffuses storm water flow into sheet flow through buffers for compliance with riparian buffer protection rules.
Logical Termini: Logical termini for project development are defined as (1) rational end points for a transportation improvement, and (2) rational end points for a review of the environmental impacts.
Long-range Transportation Plan (LRTP): A document resulting from regional or statewide collaboration and consensus on a region or state's transportation system, and serving as the defining vision for the region's or state's transportation systems and services. In metropolitan areas, the plan indicates all of the transportation improvements anticipated to be funded over the next 20 years. The statewide plan, titled the Long-Range Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan, establishes a recommended investment scenario.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Major Structures: Bridges, retaining walls, tunnels, and large reinforced concrete culverts.
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Maritime Forest: A forested community located by or near the sea on the mainland side of a barrier beach or island. It is characterized by its stunted growth due to the stresses imposed by its proximity to salt spray from the ocean. Typical vegetation includes live oak, red maple and swamp tupelo.
Marsh: An ecosystem of more or less continuously waterlogged soil dominated by emersed herbaceous plants but without a surface accumulation of peat. A marsh differs from a swamp in that it is dominated by rushes, reeds, cattails, and sedges, with few if any woody plants, and differs from a bog in having soil rather than peat as its base. Freshwater marshes are herbaceous areas that are flooded for extended periods during the growing season. Included are marshes within lacustrine systems, managed impoundments, some Carolina Bays, and other non- tidal marshes (i.e. marshes which do not fall into the Salt/Brackish Marsh category). Typical communities include species of sedges, millets, rushes and grasses that are not specified in the coastal wetland regulations. Also included are giant cane, arrowhead, pickerelweed, arrow arum, smartweed, and cattail. Salt/Brackish Marshes are any salt marshes or other marshes subject to regular or occasional flooding by tides, including wind tides (whether or not the tide waters reach the marshland areas through natural or artificial watercourses), as long as this flooding does not include hurricane or tropical storm waters. Coastal wetland plant species include: smooth cordgrass; black needlerush; glasswort; salt grass; sea lavender; salt marsh bullrush; saw grass; cattail; salt meadow cordgrass; and big cordgrass.
May Affect - Not Likely to Adversely Affect (MA-NLAA): In a Biological Evaluation the groundwork is established for a determination of "may affect, not likely to adversely affect" or "may affect, likely to adversely affect" for species and habitat protected under the Endangered Species Act. This determination is initially made by the State DOT. Sufficient information must be provided to the USFWS/NMFS to make a "not likely to adversely affect" or "likely to adversely affect" determination in informal consultation, or a "jeopardy/adverse modification" or "non-jeopardy/no adverse modification" determination in formal consultation.
Median: A median is the portion of highway separating opposing directions of the traveled way. Median width is expressed as the dimension between the edges of the traveled way and includes the left shoulders, if any.
Merger Implementation Team (MIT): A small group of senior level representatives from the Merger 01 primary signatory agencies (DENR, NCDOT, FHWA and USACE) that meet on a monthly basis to discuss and troubleshoot any programmatic and policy- level issues that arise regarding implementation of the Merger 01 process.
Merger Training Team (MTT): A group of representatives from several participating agencies who guided the development of Merger 01 Training.
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): A regional policy body, required in urbanized areas with populations over 50,000, that is responsible for carrying out the metropolitan planning requirements of federal highway and transit legislation in cooperation with state and other transportation providers; develops transportation plans and programs for the metropolitan area.
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Mitigation: 1. For the purposes of Section 10/404 and consistent with the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines and the Memorandum of Agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army Concerning the Determination of Mitigation under the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, mitigation means sequentially avoiding impacts, minimizing impacts, and compensating for remaining unavoidable impacts. (60 FR 228, pp. 58605-58614, "Federal Guidance for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Mitigation Banks," 28Nov95);
2. The practice of allowing unavoidable losses of wetlands in exchange for their replacement elsewhere through restoration or through creation of new wetlands. (National Research Council (NRC), Committee of Characterization of Wetlands, 1995. Wetlands, Characteristics and Boundaries, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 308pp.);
3. Mitigation can also refer to activities or practices done to moderate the impacts a project has on human or natural resources, such as an historic architecture site or an endangered species. (See State Highway Corridor - Glossary of Terms); http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/tpb/SHC/pdf/shc_concept_development_report_glossary.pdf).
Mitigation Bank: 1. A site where wetlands and/or other aquatic resources are restored, created, enhanced, or in exceptional circumstances, preserved expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation in advance of authorized impacts to similar resources. For the purposes of Section 10/404, use of a mitigation bank may only be authorized when impacts are unavoidable. (60 FR 228, pp. 58605-58614, "Federal Guidance for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Mitigation Banks," 28Nov95);
2. Wetland restoration, creation, enhancement, and in exceptional circumstances, preservation, and contributions to such activities, undertaken expressly for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable wetland impacts or losses due to construction of one or more (highway) projects. Mitigation banks are usually developed in advance of project construction for situations when compensatory mitigation cannot be achieved on-site or where on-site mitigation would not be as environmentally beneficial (23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 777/FHWA).
Moratorium: A temporary ban or halt to a specific activity. For NCDOT Projects, a moratorium usually refers to a defined period of time (i.e., "season" or "window") during which specific construction activities are not allowed in order to protect sensitive animal species from disturbance. For example, the typical moratorium for anadromous fish is from February 15th to June 30th. A moratorium usually does not apply to the entire project, but instead to certain aspects of the project, such as in-water work. The most common animals that receive protection from moratoriums in North Carolina are various fish species, mussels, piping plovers, sea turtles and manatees. Other endangered species may also be protected by moratoriums.

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
National Highway System (NHS): The Interstate System as well as other roads important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility; developed by the United States Department of Transportation in cooperation with the states, local officials, and metropolitan planning organizations.
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) [Sections 106 & 110]: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS): See Acronym Cross Reference
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): See Acronym Cross Reference
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit: A permit issued for point source (end of pipe) discharges under the "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System" [per Section 402 of the Clean Water Act]; also used to regulate stormwater discharges from certain urban areas and developing counties. http://www.nceep.net/resources/glossary.pdf
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP): The Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Section 106 of the NHPA applies to resources listed in or eligible for listing in the NRHP. http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/about.htm
National Trails System Act of 1968: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI): The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) produces information on the characteristics, extent, and status of the Nation's wetlands and deepwater habitats. Congressional mandates in the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act require USFWS to map wetlands, and to digitize, archive and distribute the maps. With funding from other Federal, State, Tribal, local and private organizations, the Service has produced final maps for much of the nation. About half are digitized and available to the public on the Internet. Hard-copy maps are available through Cooperator-run Distribution Centers. A Congressional mandate also requires USFWS to produce status and trends reports to Congress at ten-year intervals. NWI maps and digital data are distributed widely throughout the country and the world. NWI wetlands status and trends and other reports are used widely and referenced in policy decisions.
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Nationwide Permit/Nationwide General Permit: General permits are USACE authorizations that are issued on a nationwide or regional basis for a category or categories of activities. This refers to both those regional permits issued by District or Division Engineers on a regional basis and to nationwide permits that are issued by the Chief of Engineers through publication in the Federal Register. (33 CFR 325) Nationwide Permits (NWPs) are general permits issued on a nationwide basis to authorize minor activities with minimal evaluation time. The thresholds for the impacts and the types of activities allowed under the Nationwide Program are established as national policy. Additionally, there are regional conditions associated with each Nationwide Permit used in North Carolina, which are established by the USACE Wilmington District and approved by the USACE Division Office in Atlanta.
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA): See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Natural Environment Unit (NEU, formerly ONE): Part of NCDOT's PDEA branch, the NEU is primarily responsible for Natural Resource Surveys and Reports, Endangered Species Surveys, permits and on-site mitigation.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): See Acronym Cross Reference. Formerly USDA Soil Conservation Service or SCS.
New Location: A proposed alternative that does not utilize the alignment or right of way of an existing roadway or corridor.
No-Build Alternative: The proposed action would not take place and the resulting environmental effects from taking no action would be compared with the effects of the build alternatives. Serves as a baseline for comparison to the proposed build alternatives.
Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC): The noise level above which projects will require consideration of noise abatement measures when studies identify a noise impact. For more detailed information, see NCDOT's Traffic Noise Abatement Policy.
Non-Attainment: It is an area that violates the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health standards for air quality as defined in the Clean Air Act. An area may be an attainment area for one pollutant (i.e. Ozone, PM2.5) and a nonattainment area for others.
Non-Federal Participating Agency: "Non-Federal Participating Agency" means any agency (other than a joint lead agency) which has jurisdiction or authority with respect to the project, has expertise or information relevant to the project, and intends to submit comments on the project.
N.C. Certified Sites: A N.C. Department of Commerce designation for properties that meet Phase I environmental assessment requirements and are 'certified' as being potential priority development parcels.
N.C. Environmental Policy Act: See State Environmental Policy Act - SEPA or NCEPA
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2): A yellowish-brown, acid gas priority air pollutant that can cause respiratory problems. Nitrogen dioxide and other oxides of nitrogen are a concern because they cause a significant role in the formation of ozone, particle pollution, haze and acid rain. Vegetative burning following clearing and grubbing activities can be a major localized source of nitrogen dioxide emissions.
Noise Control Act of 1972: See Glossary of Environmental Laws
Non-Attainment: Designated areas of the country where air pollution levels persistently exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone (1-hour and 8-hour), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5) or lead.
Non-Point Source (of pollution): Any source of pollution that enters the environment through some means other than a discrete conveyance, such as a pipe from a sewage treatment plant. Nonpoint source pollution is diffuse in character. The main form of non-point source pollution is the polluted runoff that drains into our streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries.
North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC): See Acronym Cross Reference
North Carolina Coastal Region Evaluation of Wetland Significance (NCCREWS): NCCREWS is a GIS-based model developed by DCM that measures 3 major wetland functions (i.e., Hydrology, Water Quality and Wildlife Habitat), 7 wetland subfunctions, and 39 landscape and wetland parameters. Wetlands are assigned ratings of Beneficial, Substantial or Exceptional Significance, depending on how well they perform the various wetland functions.
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT): See Acronym Cross Reference
North Carolina Department of Commerce (NCDOC): See Acronym Cross Reference
North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR): See Acronym Cross Reference
North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (NCDENR): See Acronym Cross Reference
North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) [See DFR]: See Acronym Cross Reference
North Carolina Moving Ahead!: In accordance with House Bill 48, identified as "North Carolina Moving Ahead", ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly, the NCDOT is authorized to use Highway Trust Fund cash balances in the amount of 630 million dollars ($630,000,000) in fiscal years 2003-2005 for highway system preservation, modernization, and maintenance projects that will enhance safety, reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, reduce accidents, upgrade pavement widths and shoulders, extend pavement life, improve pavement smoothness, and rehabilitate or replace deficient bridges.
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP): See Acronym Cross Reference
North Carolina Thinking Ahead!: A special working group looking for ways to meet more of the state's growing transportation needs. This 12-member group brings together a range of transportation stakeholders and experts from across the state and is examining short-term transportation needs such as safety, maintenance and economic development, as well as studying solutions to find resources to implement the state's long-range transportation plan.
North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA): The North Carolina Turnpike Authority was created in 2002 to study, develop, construct, operate and maintain toll roads in the state. The Authority's charge is to deter