EA for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants on the Tonto National Forest 1

Appendix B: Definition of Acronyms and Terms 

Used in This Environmental Assessment

ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The Arizona Department of 

Environmental Quality's mission is to protect and enhance public health and the 

environment in Arizona. It was established by the Arizona Legislature in 1986 in 

response to growing concerns about groundwater quality. Currently it contains four 

programmatic divisions - Air Quality, Water Quality, Tank Programs, and Waste 

Programs.

ADI Acceptable Daily Intake. Same as Reference Dose (RfD). The daily exposure over a 

human lifetime (assumed to be 70 years) at which there is a reasonable certainty of no 

harm. ADIs (or RfDs) cited in this document are chronic RfDs that have been derived by 

the Office of Pesticide Programs of the U.S. EPA. For instance, for clopyralid, the acute 

RfD is based on a short-term NOAEL (see definition) of 75 mg/kg/day and an uncertainty 

factor of 100. For the same herbicide, the chronic RfD is based on a two-year dietary 

NOAEL in rats of 15 mg/kg/day and an uncertainty factor of 100. Acute RfDs are onetime exposures that cause adverse effects, and are typically much larger amounts than 

chronic RfDs. Uncertainty factors are required by EPA to account for some amount of 

uncertainty when extrapolating from animal studies to humans, and also for certain 

individual humans, who are more sensitive to the herbicide. Thus, given a “No 

Observable Adverse Effect Level” of 15 mg/kg/day in rats, dividing by the uncertainty 

factor of 100 gives an Acceptable Daily Intake or Reference Dose for humans of 0.15 

mg/kg/day.

ADOT Arizona Department of Transportation. The state agency that constructs and maintains 

highways. This agency is a key partner in invasive plant management, since most 

invasive plant infestations begin along roadways.

APHIS Agricultural Plant Health Inspection Service. A USDA agency that safeguards the 

country’s resources from exotic invasive pests and diseases.

ATV All terrain vehicle. A small, open motor vehicle having one seat and three or more 

wheels fitted with large tires. It is designed chiefly for recreational use over roadless, 

rugged terrain.

CCC Civilian Conservation Corps. A government program enacted under Franklin D. 

Roosevelt in 1933 that put 500,000 young men to work in the U.S. doing natural resource 

conservation and infrastructure work. The CCC lasted until the U.S. entered into World 

War II.

CEQ Council on Environmental Quality. The Council on Environmental Quality coordinates 

federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House 

offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives. The Chair of CEQ is 

appointed by the President. Congress established CEQ within the Executive Office of the 

President as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). In enacting 

NEPA, Congress recognized that nearly all federal activities affect the environment in 

some way and mandated that before federal agencies make decisions, they must consider 

the effects of their actions on the quality of the human environment. NEPA assigns CEQ 

the task of ensuring that federal agencies meet their obligations under the Act.
Appendix B: Acronyms and Terms

2 EA for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants on the Tonto National Forest

CFR Code of Federal Regulations. The codification of the general and permanent rules 

published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the 

Federal Government.

CFS Cubic feet per second. An expression of how fast a river is flowing and also the quantity 

of water in the stream channel.

Class I River As defined by the International Scale of River Difficulty: Easy. Fast moving 

water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with 

little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.

Class II River As defined by the International Scale of River Difficulty: Novice.

Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. 

Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily 

missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while 

helpful, is seldom needed.

CRISIS - California Regional Invasive Species Information System. An interactive weed 

mapping and data access system online: http://cain.nbii.gov/crisis/

EA Environmental Assessment. Documentation of the environmental analysis conducted 

for a federal project.

EPA Environmental Protection Agency. The mission of the Environmental Protection 

Agency is to protect human health and the environment.

FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The EPA regulates pesticides under 

authority of this Act. FIFRA was amended in 1972, with significant changes in how 

pesticides were to be regulated in the U.S. The 1972 amendment called for registration of 

all pesticide products used in the U.S., regular inspections of manufacturing 

establishments, the ability of the EPA to stop sales of hazardous pesticides, to conduct 

research on pesticides and monitor pesticide use and presence in the environment, and 

provided for certification of applicators and cooperative enforcement with the states.

FSH Forest Service Handbook. Forest Service Handbooks are the principal source of 

specialized guidance and instruction for carrying out the direction issued in the Forest 

Service Manual. Specialists and technicians are the primary audience of Handbook 

direction. Handbooks may also incorporate external directives with related USDA and 

Forest Service directive supplements.

FSM Forest Service Manual. The Forest Service Manual contains legal authorities, 

objectives, policies, responsibilities, instructions, and guidance needed on a continuing 

basis by Forest Service line officers and primary staff to plan and execute assigned 

programs and activities.

GIS Geographical Information System. A computer program for capturing, storing, 

checking, integrating, analyzing and displaying data about the earth that is spatially 

referenced. National Forests and many land management agencies maintain computer 

records of data “layers” for various resources, such as noxious weeds, vegetation types 

and conditions, streams and their attributes, roads, etc.
Appendix B: Acronyms and Terms

EA for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants on the Tonto National Forest 3

HDMS Heritage Data Management System. Data on federally and state-listed plant and animal 

species, managed by Arizona State Game & Fish Department.

ID Interdisciplinary. The practice of using an interdisciplinary team (IDT) to analyze projects 

ensures a more critical review of all aspects of the project. Disciplines usually include 

soils, water quality, heritage (cultural resources), range, wildlife, fire management, and 

social interests.

Invasive species. A species that is 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration 

and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or 

harm to human health (Executive Order 13112, Fed. Register, 1999).

IVM Integrated Vegetation Management. An interdisciplinary pest management approach 

for selecting methods for preventing, containing, and controlling noxious weeds in 

coordination with other resource management activities to achieve optimum management 

goals and objectives. Methods include: education, preventive measures, herbicide, 

cultural, physical or mechanical methods, biological control agents, and general land 

management practices, such as manipulation of livestock or wildlife grazing strategies, 

which accomplish vegetation management objectives.

LD50 Lethal dose 50. LD50 is the dose of a chemical which kills 50 percent of a sample 

population.

MCS Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. An adverse physical reaction to low levels of many 

common chemicals. The most severe cases, often called either Environmental Illness or 

20th Century Disease, sometimes result in individuals isolating themselves from society, 

synthetic products, and any type of chemical product.

MIS Management Indicator Species. Species selected for monitoring during Forest Plan 

implementation because their population changes are believed to indicate the effects of 

management activities on populations of other species with similar habitat needs that they 

may represent.

MSO Mexican Spotted Owl

Native species. With respect to a particular ecosystem, a species that, other than as a result of an 

introduction, historically occurred or currently occurs in that ecosystem (Executive Order 

13112, Fed. Register, 1999). 

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act. Enacted in 1969, this Act requires that an 

interdisciplinary approach is used for planning, environmental values be considered in 

decision making, a range of alternative actions will be developed and studied for any 

proposed action, and full public disclosure of environmental or human impacts caused by 

a federal action.

NF National Forest

NHPA National Historic Preservation Act. A law enacted in 1966. This law defines the policy 

of the Federal Government with regard to cultural resources. It states that the federal 

government, in cooperation with other nations and in partnership with the States, local 

governments, Indian tribes, and private organizations and individuals to administer 
Appendix B: Acronyms and Terms

4 EA for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants on the Tonto National Forest

federally owned, administered, or controlled prehistoric and historic resources in a spirit 

of stewardship for the inspiration and benefit of present and future generations;

NOAEL - No Observable Adverse Effect Level. This is the highest level at which a chemical 

can be administered to an organism without any adverse effect being observed. The 

difference between the NOAEL and the NOEL is that the NOAEL is based upon an 

experimental design looking for a specific adverse effect. The NOEL is an expression of 

any observable effect.

NOEL - No Observable Effect Level. This is the highest level at which a chemical can be 

administered to an organism without any effect (for example upon health, growth, 

development, reproductive capacity or lifetime) being observed.

Non-native plant. A plant species that did not historically occur in a given ecosystem. Not all 

non-native plants are invasive or noxious. In fact, most probably are not.

Noxious weed. A plant species that has been designated by state or national agricultural 

authorities as a plant that is injurious to agricultural and/or horticultural crops and/or 

humans and livestock. Most have been introduced into a foreign ecosystem either by 

accident or mismanagement, but some are also native species.

NRCD Natural Resource Conservation District. An NRCD is a nonprofit organization 

provided for by state law, and formed by vote of the people living within its bounds. The 

NRCD is governed by a Board of Supervisors and consists of ranger district cooperators.

NRIS Natural Resource Information System. A database used by the Forest Service to track 

natural resource data.

NTMB Neotropical Migratory Birds. A neotropical migratory bird is a bird that breeds in 

Canada and the United States during our summer and spends our winter in Mexico, 

Central America, South America, or the Caribbean islands. There are about 200 species 

of neotropical migratory birds. The majority are songbirds (such as warblers, thrushes, 

tanagers, and vireos), but there are also many shorebirds (such as sandpipers, plovers, and 

terns), some raptors (such as hawks, kites, and vultures), and a few types of waterfowl 

(such as teal).

PAC Protected Activity Center. A term used to describe Mexican Spotted Owl nesting areas.

PACs are nest or roost sites and include a 600-acre area around the sites.

pH A measure on a scale from 0 to 14 of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, where 7 is 

neutral, greater than 7 is more basic and less than 7 is more acidic.

Ppm Parts per million.

RAP River Access Points. Locations where motorized vehicles are able to access a river.

RfD Reference dose. Also known as the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). The daily exposure 

over a human lifetime (assumed to be 70 years) at which there is a reasonable certainty of 

no harm.
Appendix B: Acronyms and Terms

EA for Integrated Treatment of Exotic Invasive Plants on the Tonto National Forest 5

RMFRES - Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. The research branch of 

the Forest Service for the Southwest Region.

RNA Research Natural Area. An area set aside on National Forest lands that illustrates or 

typifies for research or educational purposes the important forest and range types in each 

forest region.

Spp. Species (more than one species)

SRP Salt River Project. A water and power utility company that serves the Phoenix 

metropolitan area.

Ssp. Subspecies. A finer division of species.

SWEMP - Southwest Exotic Mapping Program. A USGS Colorado Plateau Research Station 

program that coordinates the compilation of a regional database of non-native invasive 

plant distributions for the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent areas of 

adjoining states) and creates maps for those distributions. Available online at:

http://sbsc.wr.usgs.gov/research/projects/swepic/SWVMA/assessments.asp

TES Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey. Terrestrial ecosystem survey consists of the systematic 

analysis, classification and mapping of terrestrial ecosystems. This integrated survey is 

hierarchical with respect to classification levels and mapping intensities. A terrestrial 

ecosystem is an integrated representation of the ecological relationship between climate, 

soil and vegetation.

USC United States Code. The United States Code is the codification by subject matter of the 

general and permanent laws of the United States. Also called the Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR).

USDA United States Department of Agriculture. The federal department to which the Forest

Service belongs.

USDI United States Department of the Interior, The federal department to which Fish & 

Wildlife Service, Geological Survey, and the Bureau of Land Management belong. 

Vadose Zone. The zone between land surface and the water table within which the moisture 

content is less than saturation (except in the capillary fringe) and pressure is less than 

atmospheric. Soil pore space also typically contains air or other gases. The capillary 

fringe is included in the vadose zone.