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(6) 2035 LQ General Plan - Chapter VI - Glossary (11.19.13) GLOSSARY   VI-­‐1         VI.  GLOSSARY  OF  TERMS  AND  ACRONYMS       AB  California  Assembly  Bill   ADA  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act   ADT  Average  Daily  Traffic:  The  total  volume  of  traffic   on  a  given  road  averaged  over  a  24-­‐hour  period.   Air  Basin  A   large   region   that   shares   a   common   geographical   area   and   atmospheric   interaction.   The   boundaries   of   an   air   basin   are   generally   mountains,  hills,  or  bodies  of  water.   Air  Pollution   Emissions   Discharges   into   the   atmosphere,   usually   described  in  weight  per  unit  of  time  for  a  given   pollutant.   Alluvium  Soil,  sand,  gravel,  or  similar  material  deposited   by   running   water,   sometimes   miles   from   its   source.   Alquist-­‐Priolo   Special  Studies   Zone   Zones   established   under   the   California   Alquist-­‐ Priolo  Earthquake  Fault  Zones  Act,  1972.    Special   Studies  define  potentially  and/or  recently  active   earthquake  faults  which  could  be  hazardous  to   structures   in   the   event   of   surface   faulting   or   fault  creep.   ANSI  American  National  Standards  Institute   AQMP  Air  Quality  Management  Plan:  A  plan  to  achieve   and   maintain   ambient   air   quality   standards   in   jurisdictions  designated  by  the  state  legislature.   Aquifer  A  geologic  formation  which  stores,  transmits  and   yields  significant  quantities  of  water  to  wells  and   springs.   ASTM  American  Society  for  Testing  and  Materials   AWWA  American  Water  Works  Association   Bikeway  Designated   facilities   classified,   and   specifically   designated,   constructed   and   intended   for   the   use  of  bicycle  travel.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐2 BLM  Bureau  of  Land  Management:  a  division  of  the   U.S.   Department   of   the   Interior   that   manages   261  million  surface  acres  and  700  million  acres  of   sub-­‐surface   real   estate   throughout   the   nation.     Its   main   mission   is   to   sustain   the   health   and   productivity  of  the  public  lands.   Blowsand  An  environmental  condition  in  which  quantities   of   sand   are   blown  in   the   wind.   This   condition   may  occur  in  areas  of  loose  sand  or  sandy  loam   soils  and  strong  prevailing  winds.   Buffers  Land   uses   which   protect   public   safety   and   provide  sufficient  distance  and  barriers  between   incompatible  land  uses  by  lessening  the  effects   of  noise,  dust,  vibration,  visual  blight,  or  other   impacts  caused  by  a  particular  land  use.   CAA  (federal)  Clean  Air  Act     CCAA    California  Clean  Air  Act   CDBG  Community   Development   Block   Grant:   Federal   allocation   of   funds   to   a   jurisdiction   for   discretionary  disbursement,  generally  utilized  for   local  community  development  projects.   CDWR  California  Department  of  Water  Resources     CEQA  California   Environmental   Quality   Act:   State   legislation   adopted   in   1970   which   ensures   the   protection   of   the   environment.   This   legislation   also   required   California   governmental   agencies   at  all  levels  to  develop  standards  and  procedures   necessary  to  protect  the  environmental  quality   of  their  jurisdiction.   cf/month  Cubic  feet  per  month.   cfs  Cubic  feet  per  second   CIWMB  California  Integrated  Waste  Management  Board   CMP  Congestion  Management  Plan.   CNEL  Community  Noise  Equivalent  Level:  The  average   equivalent   A-­‐weighted   sound   level   during   a   24   hour   period,   obtained   after   addition   of   five   decibels  to  sound  levels  in  the  evening  from  7   p.m.  to  10  p.m.,  and  after  addition  of  10  decibels   to  sound  levels  before  7  a.m.  and  after  10  p.m.   CNG  Compressed  natural  gas.   Cogeneration  The  process  of  generating  electricity  using  waste   heat   from   an   industrial,   commercial,   or   manufacturing  process.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐3 Conservation  The   management   of   natural   resources   to   prevent  waste,  destruction,  or  neglect.   Contiguous   Development   Development   which   is   adjacent   to   already   existing   development,   even   if   separated   by   roads,   streets,   utility   easements,   and   railroad   rights-­‐of-­‐way.   CPUC/PUC  California  Public  Utilities  Commission   CRS  Community  Rating  System   CVAG  Coachella  Valley  Association  of    Governments   CVWD  Coachella  Valley  Water  District   dBA  A-­‐weighted   Sound   Level.   The   sound   pressure   level  in  decibels  as  measured  on  a  sound  level   meter  using  the  A-­‐weighted  filter  network.  The   A-­‐weighted  filter  deemphasizes  the  very  low  and   very  high  frequency  components  of  the  sound  in   a  manner  similar  to  the  response  of  the  human   ear,  and  gives  good  correlation  with  subjective   reactions  to  noise.   Design  Standards  Specific  standards  and  regulations  which  guide   the  design  of  a  project.   Earthquake  A  shaking  or  trembling  of  the  earth's  crust  that  is   volcanic  or  tectonic  in  nature.     EIR  Environmental  Impact  Report:  An  informational   document   used   in   the   decision-­‐making   process   which  identifies  the  effects  of  a  proposed  project   or   activity   on   the   natural   and   man-­‐made   environments.  It  must  be  prepared  in  accordance   with   the   California   Environmental   Quality   Act,   and  must  address  nine  mandatory  issues:  project   description,   environmental   setting,   adverse   environmental  effects,  short  and  long  term  use,   irreversible   environmental   changes,   growth   inducement,   alternatives   to   the   project,   and   natural  and  human  environmental  resources.   Endangered   Species   A   species   or   subspecies   of   bird,   mammal,   fish,   amphibian,  reptile  or  invertebrate  for  which  the   prospects   of   survival   and   reproduction   are   in   immediate   jeopardy   from   one   or   more   causes,   including  loss  of  habitat,  change  in  habitat,  over-­‐ exploitation,  predation,  competition  or  disease.   Fault  A   fracture   in   the   earth's   crust   forming   a   boundary   between   rock   masses   that   have   shifted.   Fault  Hazard  Zone  A  designated  area  of  possible  fault  movement.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐4 FEMA  Federal  Emergency  Management  Agency   FHWA  Federal  Highway  Administration   Fire  Response   Time   The   amount   of   time   it   takes   for   the   fire   department  to  respond  to  a  first  alarm  fire.   FIRM  Flood  Insurance  Rate  Map   Floodplain  The  land  areas  that  are  subject  to  flooding  from   the   100   year  flood,   not   including   the   actual   floodway.   Floodway  The  channel  of  a  river  or  other  watercourse  and   adjacent   land   areas   necessary   to   discharge   the   waters  from  the  100  year  flood  without  increasing   the   water   surface   elevation   of   that   flood   more   than  one  foot  at  any  point.   Freeway  A   highway   upon   which   the   abutter's   right   of   access  is  controlled  and  which  provides  separated   grades  at  intersecting  streets.   General  Plan   Road   Any  road  indicated  in  the  Circulation  Element  of   the  General  Plan.   Geothermal   Resources   The   natural   heat   of   the   earth,   the   energy   in   whatever   form   below   the   surface   of   the   earth   present   in,   resulting   from,   created   by,   or   from   which   may   be   extracted   natural   heat,   and   all   minerals  in  solution  or  other  products  in  whatever   form  obtained  from  naturally  heated  fluids,  brines,   associated   gases   and   steam,   excluding   oil,   hydrocarbon   gas   or   other   hydrocarbon   substances.   Goal  An  expression  of  a  general,  ultimate  ideal  to  be   sought.   It   reflects   basic   community   values   and   establishes   the   emphasis   for   formulating   objectives,  policies  and  implementation  measures.   They  are  general,  often  timeless,  and  do  not  lend   themselves  to  measurement.     Ground  Rupture  A  break  in  the  ground's  surface  resulting  from  the   movement  of  a  fault.   Groundshaking   Zone   A  designated   area   that   can   be   expected   to   experience   a   groundshaking   intensity   during   a   maximum  probable  "design"  earthquake.   Groundwater  Subsurface  or  underground  water  resource.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐5 Hazardous  Waste  A  waste  or  combination  of  wastes,  which  because   of  its  quantity,  concentration  or  physical,  chemical   or   infectious   characteristics   poses   a   substantial   present   or   potential   hazard   to   human   health   or   environment.   High  Fire  Hazard   Areas   An   area   where,   due   to   slope,   fuel,   weather   or   other  fire-­‐related  condition,  the  potential  loss  of   life  and  property  from  a  fire  necessitates  special   fire   protection   measures   and   planning   before   development  occurs.   Historic  Important,   significant,   famous   or   decisive   in   history.   kV  Kilovolt  =  1000  volts   kW/kWh  Kilowatt/Kilowatt  hour  =  1000  watts   Infill  The  building  out  or  completion  of  development  of   an  area  before  starting  development  of  adjacent   undeveloped  lands.   Infrastructure  The  physical  systems  and  services  which  support   development   and   people,   such   as   streets   and   highways,   transit   services,   airports,   water   and   sewer  systems,  etc.   LAFCO  Local   Agency   Formation   Commission:   A   County   agency   with   the   responsibility   and   authority   to   approve  or  deny  (with  or  without  modification)  all   proposals  for  the  establishment  (incorporation)  of   cities   and   special   districts,   reorganization   or   dislocation   of   them,   and/or   proposals   to   annex.   The   LAFCO   must   also   establish   a   Sphere   of   Influence  for  cities  and  special  districts.   Land  Use   Designation   The  classification  which  identifies  allowable  land   uses  for  a  project  site,  based  upon  the  availability   of  public  services  and  facilities,  the  adequacy  of   the   circulation   system   and   surrounding   area   development.   Landfill  A  system  of  trash  and  garbage  disposal  in  which   waste  is  buried  between  layers  of  earth  to  build   up  low-­‐lying  land.   Ldn  Day-­‐night  sound  level.   Leq  Equivalent  level,  pertaining  to  noise.   Leach  Field  That   portion   of   the   septic   tank   system   which   disperses   dissolved   waste   products   into   the   surrounding  soil.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐6 Liquefaction  A   temporary  fluid   condition   in   water-­‐saturated   loose   sandy   soil   caused   by   shock,   such   as   an   earthquake.  It  can  cause  serious  soil  settlement,   slumping,  or  failure  of  structure  foundations.   LOS  Level  of  Service.   MCE  Maximum  Credible  Earthquake.   mg/L  milligrams  per  liter     MMI  Modified  Mercalli  Intensity  Scale:  A  scale  of    I  to   XII  that  measures  an  earthquake’s  impact  from  I.   “Not   felt   at   all”   to   XII.   “Virtually   total   destruction”.   Mitigation  The  lessening  or  elimination  of  the  impacts  of  an   action  or  project  through  changes  in  the  proposed   action  or  project,  or  the  undertaking  of  additional   measures.   MWD  Metropolitan  Water  District   NEPA  National   Environmental   Policy   Act:   Federal   legislation   passed   in   1969   which   insures   that   federal   actions   are   not   going   to   lessen   environmental   quality.   This   legislation   also   required   public   agencies   to   consider   the   environmental  costs  of  their  actions  and  provide   full  disclosure  of  environmental  effects  for  public   review  and  comment.   NFIP  National  Flood  Insurance  Program   Noise  Contour  A  line  on  and  passing  through  points  exposed  to   the   same   sound   level.   Contours   form   bands   of   varying  widths  centering  around  a  noise  source.   Noise  Impacted   Area   The  noise  impact  area,  in  square  statute  miles,  is   the   total   land   area   within   the   noise  impact   boundary  less  area  deemed  to  have  a  compatible   land  use.   NPDES  National  Pollutant  Discharge  Elimination  System   NPIAS  National  Plan  of  Integrated  Airport  Systems   One  Hundred   Year  Floodplain   The  land  areas    that    are  subject  to  flooding  from  a   flood   caused   by   a   storm   with   the   statistical   likelihood   of   occurring   once   in   a   hundred   year   time  span.   Open  Space  Land  or  water  which  is  essentially  unimproved.   Overdraft  The  condition  of  a  groundwater  basin  where  the   amount  of  water  withdrawn  by  pumping  exceeds   the  amount  of  water  replenishing  the  basin.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐7 Paleontology  A  science  that  deals  with  the  life  of  past  geologic   periods  and  is  based  on  the  study  of  fossil  remains   of  plants  or  animals.   Percolation  Test  Test   of   a   soil's   ability   to   absorb   and   permit   seepage  of  sewage  effluent.   Physical   Constraint   A  physical  feature  or  characteristic  of  land  which   prevents  or  limits  the  development  of  that  land.   Policy  A  statement  which  sets  forth  guidelines  for  future   action.   Prehistoric  Relating  to  times  predating  written  history.   Program  Series  of  tasks  designed  to  implement  policies  set   forth  in  the  General  Plan.   Rare  Species  A   species   or   subspecies   of   bird,   mammal,   fish,   amphibian,  reptile  or  invertebrate  that,  although   not   presently   threatened   with  extinction,   is   in   such  small  numbers  throughout  its  range  that  it   may  be  endangered  if  its  environment  worsens.     Reclamation  The   combined   process   of   land   treatment   that   minimizes   water   degradation,   air   pollution,   damage   to   aquatic   or   wildlife   habitat,   flooding,   erosion,   and   other   adverse   effects   from   surface   mining   operations   including   adverse   surface   effects  incidental  to  underground  mines,  so  that   mined  lands  are  reclaimed  to  a  usable  condition   which  is  readily  adaptable  for  alternate  land  uses   and  creates  no  danger  to  public  health  and  safety.   Retrofitting  Supplying  an  existing  building  or  facility  with  new   equipment,  parts,  or  features,  usually  in  an  effort   to  improve  the  efficiency  of  energy  use.   Right-­‐of-­‐way   (R/W)   The   entire   width   of   property   for   the   use   of   highways,   flood   and   drainage   works,   overhead   and   underground   utilities,   or   any   related   improvements.   Road  Alignment  The  location  of  a  road  in  relation  to  other  roads   such   that   they   form   a   connected   circulation   system.   RSA  Regional  Statistical  Area:  A  group  of  census  tracts   or  districts  used  for  economic  analysis.   SB  California  Senate  Bill   SCAG  The   Southern   California   Association   of   Governments:   An   association   of   cities   providing   regional  demographic  and  legislative  information   for  the  Southern  California  area.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐8 SWP  State  Water  Project   SCAQMD  South  Coast  Air  Quality  Management  District:  the   air  pollution  control  agency  for  all  portions  of  Los   Angeles,   Orange,   Riverside   and   San   Bernardino   Counties.   Scenic  Corridor  The  land  area  outside  of  the  highway  right-­‐of-­‐way   within  the  line  of  sight  which  can  be  realistically   subjected  to  protective  land  use  controls.   Seiche  An  earthquake-­‐induced  wave  in  a  lake,  reservoir  or   harbor.   Seismicity  The   quality   or   state   of   being   of,   subject   to,   or   caused  by,  an  earthquake.   Septic  Tank  A  tank  in  which  the  solid  matter  of  continuously   flowing  sewage  is  disintegrated  by  bacteria.   Shall  Indicates  an  unequivocal  directive.   Should  Signifies  a  slightly  less  rigid  directive  than  "shall"   to   be   honored   in   the   absence  of   compelling   considerations.     Slump  Soil   failure   resulting   from   a   slope,   which   is   too   steep   for   the   soil's   resistance   capacity,   being   barren  and  exposed  to  water.   SOI  Sphere   of   Influence.     The   probable   ultimate   physical   boundaries   and   service   area   of   a  local   governmental  agency.   Solid  Waste  All   solid,   semisolid,   and   liquid   wastes,   including   garbage,   trash,   refuse,   paper,   rubbish,   ashes,   industrial   wastes,   demolition   and   construction   wastes,   abandoned   vehicles   and   parts   thereof,   discarded   home   and   industrial   appliances,   manure,  vegetable  or  animal  solid  and  semisolid   wastes,   and   other   discarded   solid   and   semisolid   wastes.   Specific   Plan/Master  Plan   A   tool   to   implement   the   General   Plan   which   details  land  use  and  circulation  plans  for  a  specific   site  or  area.     Sphere  of   Influence   The   probable   ultimate   physical   boundaries   and   service  area  of  a  local  governmental  agency.   Subsidence  The  gradual,  local  settling  or  sinking  of  the  earth's   surface   with   little   or   no   horizontal   motion.   Subsidence   is   usually  the   result   of   gas,   oil,   or   water   extraction,   hydrocompaction,   or   peat   oxidation,   and   not   the   result   of   a   landslide   or   slope  failure.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐9 Surface  Mining  All,   or   any   part   of,   the   process   involved   in   the   mining   of   minerals   on   mined   lands   by   removing   overburden  and  mining  directly  from  the  mineral   deposits,   open-­‐pit   mining   of   minerals   naturally   exposed,  mining  by  the  auger  method,  dredging   and   quarrying,   or   surface   work   incidental   to   an   underground  mine.     SWP  State  Water  Project   TAC  Toxic  Air  Contaminants   TAZ  Traffic  Analysis  Zones   Tectonics  Of  or  pertaining  to  the  forces  involved  in,  or  the   resulting  structures  or  features  of  the  upper  part   of  the  earth's  crust.   TDM  Transportation  Demand  Management   TDS  Total  dissolved  solids.   Threatened   Species   Any   species  which   is   likely   to   become   an   endangered  species  within  the  foreseeable  future   throughout  all  or  a  significant  portion  of  its  range.   TOT  Transient   Occupancy   Taxes:   a   tax   levied   for   the   privilege  of  occupying  a  room  in  a  hotel,  motel,   inn,   resort   or   other   tourist   facility,   usually   for   a   period  not  to  exceed  30  days.    Depending  on  the   City,  TOTs  may  also  be  levied  on  camp  sites  and  RV   spaces.   Transportation   Corridor   The  area  adjacent  to  major  transportation  routes.   Trip  Generators  Person   and   vehicular   travel   generated   in   accordance   with   the   type   and   intensity   of   land   use.   TUMF  Transportation   Uniform   Mitigation   Fee:   a   multi-­‐ jurisdictional   development   impact   fee   based   on   burdens  to  the  area’s  transportation  system  from   growth  and  new  development.   ULI  Urban  Land  Institute:  a  non-­‐profit  education  and   research   institute   which   focuses   on   the   use   of   land  in  order  to  enhance  the  total  environment.   UPRR  Union  Pacific  Railroad   Water  Basin  The   drainage   or   catchment   area   of   a   stream   or   lake.   Watercourse  A   permanent  stream;   intermittent   stream;   river,   brook,  creek,  channel  or  ditch  for  water,  whether   natural  or  manmade.   GLOSSARY   VI-­‐10 Watershed  The   total   area   above   a   given   point   on   a   watercourse   that   contributes   water  to   its   flow;   the  entire  region  drained  by  a  waterway  or  which   drains  into  a  lake  or  reservoir.   WGCEP  Working   Group   on   California   Earthquake   Probabilities   Zoning  A  legal  device  used  by  local  jurisdictions  to  control   development  density  and  insure  that  land  uses  are   properly  situated  in  relation  to  one  another.