Key Terms

Major Purpose

Major purpose is related to the property’s primary function and how it is intended to be managed. In order to determine a piece of land's major purpose, a project sponsor will have to consult with the officials with jurisdiction and review its master plan (if available) to see if the purpose is explicitly stated and formally consult with the officials with jurisdiction over the likely impacts and avoidance, minimization or mitigation measures.

Minimization

Minimization involves measures developed during the planning and project development phase of a project to reduce proposed impacts to a resource. Minimization measures could include alignment shifts, a commitment to off-season construction, replacement of land or facilities, restoration or landscaping.

Minor Use

The Minor Involvement with Parks, Recreation Lands, and Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges Programmatic Evaluation can be used on projects that meet certain criteria, including a use threshold. For an acquisition to be considered a minor use under the Programmatic Evaluation, it must meet the following specifications:

With respect to the Minor Involvement with Historic Sites Programmatic Evaluation, an acquisition is considered to be a minor use when there is a Section 106 determination of "no adverse effect" (or "no effect").

Mitigation Activities

Mitigation activities include efforts to avoid, minimize, or compensate for impacts to resources caused by transportation projects.