Section 34-0103. Definitions

1.  "Activities  or development" shall mean any land use, construction
  or placement  by  any  person  of  a  structure,  or  any  action  which
  materially   alters   the  condition  of  land,  including  grading  and
  excavating or other disturbance of soil.  The  term  shall  include  the
  division of land into lots, parcels or sites.
    2.  "Coastal  erosion" or "erosion" shall mean loss or displacement of
  land along the coastline due to the action of  waves,  currents  running
  along  the  shore,  tides, wind-driven water or water-borne ice or other
  impacts of coastal storms. It shall also mean loss  or  displacement  of
  land  along  the  coastline due to the action of wind, runoff of surface
  waters, or groundwater seepage.
    3. "Coastal erosion hazard area" or "erosion hazard area"  shall  mean
  those areas of the coastline:
    (a)  Which  are determined as likely to be subject to erosion within a
  forty-year period. The inland boundary of such areas shall be determined
  on the basis of shoreline recession analysis and other pertinent studies
  and surveys by starting at the bluff edge  or  most  landward  point  of
  active erosion and measuring along a line which is normal to the line of
  mean  high  water  a distance which is forty times the long-term average
  annual rate of shoreline recession, where such average annual  recession
  rate is at least one foot; or
    (b)  Which  constitute  natural protective features, the alteration of
  which might reduce  or  destroy  the  protection  afforded  other  lands
  against  erosion,  or  lower  the  reserves  of  sand  or  other natural
  materials available to replenish storm losses through natural processes.
    The erosion hazard area is to be identified  as  provided  in  section
  34-0104  of  this  article  and  shall  be  the  area  within  which new
  activities or development shall be reviewed to effectuate  the  policies
  and  purposes  of  this  article to minimize damage caused by erosion to
  structures and to prevent damage to natural protective  features  caused
  by activities or development, as provided for in section 34-0108 of this
  article.
    4.  "Coastline"  shall  mean the lands adjacent to the state's coastal
  waters, including lakes Erie and Ontario, the St. Lawrence  and  Niagara
  rivers,  the  Hudson  river  south  of the federal dam at Troy, the East
  river, the Harlem river, the Kill van Kull and Arthur Kill, Long  Island
  sound  and  the  Atlantic  ocean,  their  connecting water bodies, bays,
  harbors, shallows and marshes.
    5. "Erosion protective structure" shall mean a structure  specifically
  designed  to  reduce  or  prevent  erosion including man made protection
  features created by landfill or deposition.
    6. "Land" shall mean the earth, on or below the surface of the ground,
  including water and air above.
    7. "Local government" shall mean a village, town (outside the area  of
  any incorporated village), city or county.
    8.  "Natural  protective  features"  shall  mean  without  limitation,
  beaches,  dunes,  shoals,  bars,  spits,  barrier  islands,  bluffs  and
  wetlands; associated natural vegetation shall also be considered as part
  of such natural protective features.
    9.  "Person" shall mean any individual, public or private corporation,
  political  subdivision,  government  agency,  partnership,  association,
  firm, trust, estate or any other legal entity whatsoever.
    10.  "State  agency"  shall  mean  any department, bureau, commission,
  board, public authority or other agency  of  the  state,  including  any
  public  benefit  corporation,  any  member  of which is appointed by the
  governor.

    11. "Structure" shall mean any object constructed, installed or placed
  on land or in water, including, but not limited to, buildings, permanent
  sheds, mobile homes, tanks, bulkheads, piers, docks, groins, jetties and
  any additions or alterations thereto.
    12.  "Significant fish and wildlife habitat" shall mean habitats which
  are essential to the survival of a large portion of a particular fish or
  wildlife population, support rare or endangered species, are found at  a
  very  low  frequency  within a geographic area, support fish or wildlife
  populations having significant commercial or recreational value or would
  be difficult or impossible to replace.