Land Use and Environmental Committee
Glossary of Land Use and Environmental Terms
The leadership of C.A.R.'s Land Use and Environmental Committee offers this
glossary of terms to help familiarize the committee with some of the
acronyms it frequently uses. While this is not an exhaustive list, it
reflects most of the laws, agencies, general terms and interest groups with
which the committee deals.
Laws, Agencies and General Terms
ARB-Air Resources Board, also called CARB-California Air Resources Board-the state-level body that oversees air quality regulation.
AQMD-Air Quality Management District, the regional entities that regulate air quality.
BCDC-Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the regional entity that oversees all activity along the coastline of the San Francisco Bay--the only area of the coast where the CCC does not have jurisdiction.
BOF-Board of Forestry, the state-level body that regulates timber harvesting and oversees certain aspects of fire protection implemented by CDF.
CAA-Clean Air Act, exists at both the state and federal levels.
CALFED-The state/federal process established to find a long-term solution to the state's water supply problems and a "fix" for the San Joaquin/San Francisco Bay-Delta.
CCC-California Coastal Commission, the state-level body responsible for overseeing land use decisions in the 1100-mile Coastal Zone of California.
CDF-California Department of Forestry, formerly known as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, responsible for fire protection in the SRA.
CEQA-California Environmental Quality Act, the state's law providing for public notification and environmental review of projects.
CESA-California Endangered Species Act, the state's law providing for the protection of endangered, threatened and candidate species.
CIEDB-California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, the state level entity within the Trade and Commerce Agency, which provides low interest loans to local governments for infrastructure development.
COG-Council of Governments, the regional entities responsible for assigning housing numbers to jurisdictions based on information from the state Department of Finance. Many of them also serve as regional transportation authorities.
CWA-Clean Water Act, exists at both the state and federal levels.
DFG-Department of Fish and Game, the state-level department responsible for implementing CESA and regulating activities that have an impact on species. Overseen by the Fish and Game Commission.
DWR-Department of Water Resources, the state entity responsible for flood protection and water supply issues.
EIR-Environmental Impact Report, prepared under CEQA if the lead state or local agency determines a project will have a significant impact on the environment.
EIS-Environmental Impact Statement, prepared under NEPA if the lead federal agency determines a project will have a significant impact on the environment.
LAFCO-Local Agency Formation Commission, city-county regional entities throughout the state with jurisdiction over new city incorporations, annexations and detachments.
LCP-Local Coastal Plan, required of cities and counties in the Coastal Zone of California, and must be approved by the CCC.
NAHC-Native American Heritage Commission, the state-level body that identifies and catalogs places of special religious or social significance to Native Americans, which also may bring an action to prevent severe and irreparable damage to such Native American sites.
NEPA-National Environmental Policy Act, the federal law providing for public notification and environmental review of federally related projects.
PUC-Public Utilities Commission, also referred to as the CPUC-California Public Utilities Commission-the state body that oversees the rates and operations of private, investor-owned energy utilities.
RWQCB-Regional Water Quality Control Board-there are nine of these, which regulate water quality pursuant to direction from the SWRCB and state law.
SMA-Subdivision Map Act, the state law that governs small land divisions. Lot line adjustments, parcel mergers and certificates of compliance are often discussed in conjunction with the SMA.
SRA-State Responsibility Area--those areas of the state where the state-level CDF is responsible for fire protection, primarily in rural counties.
SWRCB-State Water Resources Control Board, the state-level entity that oversees the regulation of water quality, including sewer and septic systems.
UGB-Urban Growth Boundary, a growth control tool where a line is drawn on a map to constrict development, also called ULL-Urban Limit Line.
Interest Groups
AGC-Associated General Contractors, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, which represents the people and companies who build bridges, roads, and other infrastructure.
CBIA-California Building Industry Association, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, which represents primarily residential builders.
CBPA-California Business Properties Association, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, which represents primarily commercial and industrial builders and shopping center owners.
CCA-California Cattlemen's Association, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, which represents cattle ranchers throughout the state.
CCCS-Coalition for the Conservation of Coho and Steelhead, a coalition of state-level groups that was formed in 1997 to deal with the proliferation of salmon and steelhead endangered species listings in Northern and Central California. C.A.R. joined the coalition in 1998.
CCDEH – California Counsel of Environmental Health Directors, the author of the alternate set of Onsite Wastewater Treatment System regulations that will be considered by the State Water Board and an ally of C.A.R. on most septic issues.
CELSOC-Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, which represents the people and companies who provide land use consultations and design infrastructure projects.
CFA-California Forestry Association, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, which represents timber companies throughout the state.
CFBF-California Farm Bureau Federation, an ally of C.A.R.'s on most environmental issues, but not always on land use issues, representing agricultural interests throughout the state.
Chamber-California Chamber of Commerce, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, which represents large and small businesses of all types throughout the state.
CNRG-California Natural Resources Group, a coalition of state-level groups that was formed in late-2000 to deal with the proliferation of critical habitat designations proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFS). C.A.R. joined the coalition in December 2000.
COF-California Oak Foundation, an oak tree preservation group.
CSAC-California State Association of Counties, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use-related local control issues, made up of county supervisors and county staff.
FSC-The State Fire Safe Council, a public-private partnership of groups dedicated to mobilizing all Californians to make their homes and neighborhoods fire safe, and serving as a model for local fire safe councils. C.A.R. has been a member since its inception in 1993.
League-League of California Cities, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use-related local control issues, made up of city councils, mayors and city staff.
NRDC-Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group.
PCL-Planning and Conservation League, an environmental group.
PLF-Pacific Legal Foundation, the national legal group that fights for property rights in the courts.
RCRC-Regional Council of Rural Counties, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use-related local control issues, made up of rural county supervisors and staff.
RLC-Resource Landowners Coalition, a normal ally of C.A.R.'s on land use and environmental issues, made up of large landowners throughout the state.
The Club-The Sierra Club, an environmental group.
TNC-The Nature Conservancy, a land preservation/environmental group.
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