Definition of Resource. Biological Resources include plant and animal species and the habitats in which they occur. For this analysis, biological resources are divided into the following categories: vegetation; wildlife; and protected species including threatened and endangered species and their designated critical habitat. Vegetation and wildlife refer to the plant and animal species, both native and introduced which characterize a region. Threatened and endangered species refer to those species that are protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Critical habitat is designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as essential for the recovery of threatened and endangered species, and like those species, is protected under ESA.
Definition of Resource. For this analysis, socioeconomics includes investigations of farm and non-farm employment and income, farm production expenses and returns, and agricultural land use. The region of influence for analysis of impacts to socioeconomics are those parishes where lands eligible for enrollment in the proposed CREP are located, namely, Acadia, Xxxxx, Calcasieu, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, and St. Xxxxxx Parishes.
Definition of Resource. Cultural resources consist of prehistoric and historic sites, structures, districts, artifacts, or any other physical evidence of human activities considered important to a culture, subculture, or community for scientific, traditional, religious, or other reasons. Cultural resources can be divided into three major categories: archaeological resources (prehistoric and historic), architectural resources, and traditional cultural properties. Archaeological resources are locations and objects from past human activities. Architectural resources are those standing structures that are usually over 50 years of age and are of significant historic or aesthetic importance to be considered for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register). Traditional cultural resources hold importance or significance to Native Americans or other ethnic groups in the persistence of traditional culture. The significance of such resources relative to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Native America Xxxxxx Protection and Repatriation Act, EO 13007, and/or eligibility for inclusion in the National Register is considered a part of the EA process. The regulations and procedures in 36 CFR 800, which implements Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, requires Federal agencies to consider the effects on properties listed in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register. Prior to approval of the proposed action, Section 106 requires that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation be afforded the opportunity to comment.
Definition of Resource. The Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Water Quality Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) are the primary Federal laws that protect the nation’s waters including lakes, rivers, aquifers, and wetlands. For this analysis, water resources include surface water, groundwater and aquifers, wetlands, floodplains, and coastal zone management. Surface water includes streams and rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Impaired waters are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as those surface waters with levels of pollutants that exceed State water quality standards (EPA 2006b). Every two years, States must publish lists, called the 303(d) lists, of those rivers, streams, and lakes that do not meet their designated uses because of excess pollutants. Total maximum daily loads of pollutants must be established and approved by EPA for impaired streams (EPA 2006a). Groundwater refers to subsurface hydrologic resources that are used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. Groundwater is contained in natural geologic formations called aquifers. In areas with few or no alternative sources to the groundwater resource, an aquifer may be designated as a sole source aquifer by EPA, which requires EPA review of any proposed projects within the designated areas that are receiving Federal financial assistance (EPA 2005). Wetlands are defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as areas characterized by a prevalence of vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditions (USACE 1987). Wetlands can be associated with groundwater or surface water and are identified based on specific soil, hydrology, and vegetation criteria defined by USACE. Floodplains are defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as those low lying areas that are subject to inundation by a 100-year flood, a flood that has a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Federal agencies are required to avoid, to the extent possible, adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and to avoid direct and indirect support of floodplain development. The CZMA encourages States to preserve, protect, develop, and, where possible, restore or enhance valuable natural coastal resources such as wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and coral reefs, as well as the fish and wildlife supported by those habitats. The CZMA requires Federal activities that are reasonably likely to affect use...
Definition of Resource. The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). NAAQS, developed by the EPA to protect public health, establish limits for six criteria pollutants: ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead (Pb), and inhalable particulates (course particulate matter greater than 2.5 micrometers and less than 10 micrometers in diameter [PM10] and fine particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter [PM2.5]). The CAA requires states to achieve and maintain the NAAQS within their borders. Each state may adopt requirements stricter than those of the national standard. Each state is required by EPA to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that contains strategies to achieve and maintain the national standard of air quality within the state. Areas that violate air quality standards are designated as non-attainment areas for the relevant pollutants. Areas that comply with air quality standards are designated as attainment areas for relevant pollutants.
Definition of Resource. EO 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low- Income Populations, requires a Federal agency to “make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing as appropriate, disproportionately high human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low- income populations.” A minority population can be defined by race, by ethnicity, or by a combination of the two classifications. According to CEQ, a minority population can be described as being composed of the following groups: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, not of Hispanic origin, or Hispanic and exceeding 50 percent of the population in an area or the minority population percentage of the affected area is meaningfully greater than the minority population percentage in the general population (CEQ 1997). The USCB defines ethnicity as either being of Hispanic origin or not being of Hispanic origin. Hispanic origin is further defined as “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central America, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race” (USCB 2001). Each year the USCB defines the national poverty thresholds, which are measured in terms of household income and are dependent upon the number of persons within the household. Individuals falling below the poverty threshold are considered low-income individuals. USCB census tracts where at least 20 percent of the residents are considered poor are known as poverty areas (USCB 1995). When the percentage of residents considered poor is greater than 40 percent, the census tract is considered an extreme poverty area.
