§ 251.51 - Definitions.

§ 251.51 Definitions.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 89 FR 72994, Sept. 9, 2024.

Applicant —any individual or entity that applies for a special use authorization.

Authorized officer —any employee of the Forest Service to whom has been delegated the authority to perform the duties described in this part.

Chief —the Chief of the Forest Service.

Commercial filming —use of motion picture, videotaping, sound recording, or any other moving image or audio recording equipment on National Forest System lands that involves the advertisement of a product or service, the creation of a product for sale, or the use of models, actors, sets, or props, but not including activities associated with broadcasting breaking news, as defined in FSH 2709.11, chapter 40.

Commercial use or activity —any use or activity on National Forest System lands

(a) where an entry or participation fee is charged, or

(b) where the primary purpose is the sale of a good or service, and in either case, regardless of whether the use or activity is intended to produce a profit.

Easement— a type of special use authorization (usually granted for linear rights-of-way) that is utilized in those situations where a conveyance of a limited and transferable interest in National Forest System land is necessary or desirable to serve or facilitate authorized long-term uses, and that may be compensable according to its terms.

Forest road or trail. A road or trail wholly or partly within or adjacent to and serving the National Forest System that the Forest Service determines is necessary for the protection, administration, and utilization of the National Forest System and the use and development of its resources.

Group use —an activity conducted on National Forest System lands that involves a group of 75 or more people, either as participants or spectators.

Guiding —providing services or assistance (such as supervision, protection, education, training, packing, touring, subsistence, transporting people, or interpretation) for monetary or other gain to individuals or groups on National Forest System lands.

Hazard tree —for purposes of vegetation management for a powerline facility, any tree, brush, shrub, other plant, or part thereof, hereinafter “vegetation” (whether located on NFS lands inside or outside the linear right-of-way for the powerline facility), that has been designated, prior to failure, by a certified or licensed arborist, qualified vegetation management specialist, or forester under the supervision of the owner or operator to be:

(1) Dead; likely to die or fail before the next routine vegetation management cycle; or in a position that, under geographical or atmospheric conditions, could cause the vegetation to fall, sway, or grow into the powerline facility before the next routine vegetation management cycle; and

(2) Likely to cause substantial damage to the powerline facility; disrupt powerline facility service; come within 10 feet of the powerline facility; or come within the minimum vegetation clearance distance as determined in accordance with applicable reliability and safety standards and as identified in the special use authorization for the powerline facility and the associated approved operating plan or agreement.

Holder —an individual or entity that holds a valid special use authorization.

Lease— a type of special use authorization (usually granted for uses other than linear rights-of-way) that is used when substantial capital investment is required and when conveyance of a conditional and transferable interest in National Forest System lands is necessary or desirable to serve or facilitate authorized long-term uses, and that may be revocable and compensable according to its terms.

Linear right-of-way —an authorized right-of-way for a linear facility, such as a road, trail, pipeline, powerline facility, fence, water transmission facility, or fiber optic cable, whose linear boundary is delineated by its legal description.

Maintenance.

(1) Emergency maintenance —immediate repair or replacement of any component of a powerline facility that is necessary to prevent imminent loss, or to redress the loss, of electric service due to equipment failure in accordance with applicable reliability and safety standards and as identified in an approved operating plan or agreement.

(2) Non-routine maintenance —realigning, upgrading, rebuilding, or replacing an entire powerline facility or any segment thereof, including reconductoring, as identified in an approved operating plan or agreement.

(3) Routine maintenance —repair or replacement of any component of a powerline facility due to ordinary wear and tear, such as repair of broken strands of conductors and overhead ground wire; replacement of hardware (e.g., insulator assembly) and accessories; maintenance of counterpoise, vibration dampers, and grading rings; scheduled replacement of decayed and deteriorated wood poles; and aerial or ground patrols to perform observations, conduct inspections, correct problems, and document conditions to provide for operation in accordance with applicable reliability and safety standards and as identified in an approved operating plan or agreement.

Major category —A processing or monitoring category requiring more than 50 hours of agency time to process an application for a special use authorization (processing category 6 and, in certain situations, processing category 5) or more than 50 hours of agency time to monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of an authorization (monitoring category 6 and, in certain situations, monitoring category 5). Major categories usually require documentation of environmental and associated impacts in an environmental assessment and may require an environmental impact statement.

Maximum operating sag —The theoretical position of a powerline facility conductor (wire) when operating at 100 degrees Celsius, which must be accounted for when determining minimum vegetation clearance distance.

Minimum vegetation clearance distance —the calculated distance (stated in feet or meters) that is used to prevent flashover between conductors and vegetation for various altitudes and operating voltages. The MVCD is measured from a conductor's maximum operating sag to vegetation on NFS lands within the linear right-of-way for a powerline facility and on NFS lands adjacent to either side of the linear right-of-way for a powerline facility for purposes of felling or pruning hazard trees, which the owner or operator uses to determine whether vegetation poses a system reliability hazard to the powerline facility.

Minor category —A processing or monitoring category requiring 50 hours or less of agency time to process an application for a special use authorization (processing categories 1 through 4 and, in certain situations, processing category 5) or 50 hours or less of agency time to monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of an authorization (monitoring categories 1 through 4 and, in certain situations, monitoring category 5). Minor categories may require documentation of environmental and associated impacts in an environmental assessment.

Monitoring —Actions needed to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions in a special use authorization.

National Forest System land —all lands, waters, or interests therein administered by the Forest Service.

National Forest System road. A forest road other than a road which has been authorized by a legally documented right-of-way held by a State, county, or other local public road authority.

NEPA procedures— the rules, policies, and procedures governing agency compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act set forth in 50 CFR parts 1500-1508, 7 CFR part 1b, Forest Service Manual Chapter 1950, and Forest Service Handbook 1909.15.

Noncommercial use or activity —any use or activity that does not involve a commercial use or activity as defined in this section.

Operating plan or agreement for a powerline facility (hereinafter “operating plan or agreement”) —a plan or agreement prepared by the owner or operator of a powerline facility, approved by the authorized officer, and incorporated by reference into the corresponding special use authorization that provides for long-term, cost-effective, efficient, and timely inspection, operation, maintenance, and vegetation management of the powerline facility on NFS lands within the linear right-of-way for the powerline facility and on NFS lands adjacent to either side of the linear right-of-way to fell or prune hazard trees and to construct, reconstruct, and maintain access roads and trails, to enhance electric reliability, promote public safety, and avoid fire hazards.

Outfitting —renting on or delivering to National Forest System lands for monetary or other gain any saddle or pack animal, vehicle, boat, camping gear, or similar supplies or equipment.

Owner or operator —for purposes of a powerline facility, the owner or operator of the powerline facility or a contractor or other agent engaged by the owner or operator of the powerline facility.

Permit —a special use authorization which provides permission, without conveying an interest in land, to occupy and use National Forest System land or facilities for specified purposes, and which is both revocable and terminable.

Powerline facility. One or more electric distribution or transmission lines authorized by a special use authorization, and all appurtenances to those lines supporting conductors of one or more electric circuits of any voltage for the transmission of electric energy, overhead ground wires, and communications equipment that is owned by the owner or operator; that solely supports operation and maintenance of the electric distribution or transmission lines; and that is not leased to other parties for communications uses that serve other purposes.

Recreation event —a recreational activity conducted on National Forest System lands for which an entry or participation fee is charged, such as animal, vehicle, or boat races; dog trials; fishing contests; rodeos; adventure games; and fairs.

Recreation Residence Lot —a parcel of National Forest System land on which a holder is authorized to build, use, occupy, and maintain a recreation residence and related improvements. A recreation residence lot is considered to be in its natural, native state at the time when the Forest Service first permitted its use for a recreation residence. A recreation residence lot is not necessarily confined to the platted boundaries shown on a tract map or permit area map. A recreation residence lot includes the physical area of all National Forest System land being used or occupied by a recreation residence permit holder, including, but not limited to, land being occupied by ancillary facilities and uses owned, operated, or maintained by the holder, such as septic systems, water systems, boat houses and docks, major vegetative modifications, and so forth.

Revocation —the cessation, in whole or in part, of a special use authorization by action of an authorized officer before the end of the specified period of use or occupancy for reasons set forth in § 251.60(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i), (g), and (h) of this subpart.

Right-of-way —land authorized to be used or occupied for the construction, operation, maintenance and termination of a project or facility passing over, upon, under or through such land.

Secretary —the Secretary of Agriculture.

Significantly restricted access to or occupancy of a recreation residence —When access to or occupancy of a recreation residence is prohibited by law for a period of at least 30 consecutive calendar days:

(1) By an order issued under 36 CFR part 261, subpart B, closing an area including the National Forest System lands occupied by the recreation residence or closing a National Forest System road providing the sole access to the recreation residence to address public health or safety concerns, such as severe risk of fire or flooding, or

(2) By a State or county department of transportation imposing a round-the-clock closure of a State or county road providing the sole access to a recreation residence.

Ski area —a site and associated facilities that has been primarily developed for alpine or Nordic skiing and other snow sports, but may also include, in appropriate circumstances, facilities necessary for other seasonal or year-round natural resource-based recreation activities, provided that a preponderance of revenue generated by the ski area derives from the sale of alpine and Nordic ski area passes and lift tickets, revenue from alpine, Nordic, and other snow sport instruction, and gross revenue from ancillary facilities that support alpine or Nordic skiing and other snow sports.

Sound business management principles— a phrase that refers to accepted industry practices or methods of establishing fees and charges that are used or applied by the Forest Service to help establish the appropriate charge for a special use. Examples of such practices and methods include, but are not limited to, appraisals, fee schedules, competitive bidding, negotiation of fees, and application of other economic factors, such as cost efficiency, supply and demand, and administrative costs.

Special use authorization —a written permit, term permit, lease, or easement that authorizes use or occupancy of National Forest System lands and specifies the terms and conditions under which the use or occupancy may occur.

Still photography —use of still photographic equipment on National Forest System lands that takes place at a location where members of the public generally are not allowed or where additional administrative costs are likely, or uses models, sets, or props that are not a part of the site's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities.

Suspension— a temporary revocation of a special use authorization.

Termination —the cessation of a special use authorization by operation of law or by operation of a fixed or agreed-upon condition, event, or time as specified in the authorization, which does not require a decision by an authorized officer to take effect, such as expiration of the authorized term; change in ownership or control of the authorized improvements; or change in ownership or control of the holder of the authorization.

Term permit —a special use authorization to occupy and use National Forest System land, other than rights-of-way under § 251.53(l) of this part, for a specified period which is both revocable and compensable according to its terms.

Vegetation management.

(1) Emergency vegetation management —unplanned felling and pruning of vegetation on National Forest System lands within the linear right-of-way for a powerline facility and unplanned felling and pruning of hazard trees on abutting National Forest System lands that have contacted or present an imminent danger of contacting the powerline facility to avoid the disruption of electric service or to eliminate an immediate fire or safety hazard.

(2) Non-emergency (routine) vegetation management —planned actions as described in an operating plan or agreement periodically taken to fell or prune vegetation on National Forest System lands within the linear right-of-way for a powerline facility and on abutting National Forest System lands to fell or prune hazard trees to ensure normal powerline facility operations and to prevent wildfire in accordance with applicable reliability and safety standards and as identified in an approved operating plan or agreement.

[45 FR 38327, June 6, 1980, as amended at 49 FR 25449, June 21, 1984; 53 FR 16550, May 10, 1988; 54 FR 22593, May 25, 1989; 60 FR 45293, Aug. 30, 1995; 60 FR 54409, Oct. 23, 1995; 63 FR 65964, Nov. 30, 1998; 69 FR 41965, July 13, 2004; 70 FR 68290, Nov. 9, 2005; 71 FR 8913, Feb. 21, 2006; 71 FR 16621, Apr. 3, 2006; 74 FR 68381, Dec. 24, 2009; 78 FR 33725, June 5, 2013; 78 FR 38843, June 28, 2013; 85 FR 41392, July 10, 2020; 85 FR 48476, Aug. 11, 2020; 87 FR 7949, Feb. 11, 2022; 88 FR 84707, Dec. 6, 2023; 89 FR 72994, Sept. 9, 2024]