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12.0 Glossary

in CEQA, in the legislative history of the statute, or in federal court decisions which California
courts can be expected to follow. Public agencies are advised to follow this guidance in the
absence of compelling, countervailing considerations.

Significant Ecological Area: First identified in the County of Los Angeles General Plan of
1976, SEAs are areas that contain unique, dwindling, or other rare plant and animal
resources that need to be more specifically studied for the purpose of public education,
research, and other non-disruptive outdoor uses.

Significant Impact or Significant Effect on the Environment: As defined by the State
CEQA Guidelines, a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in any of the
physical conditions within the area affected by the project including land, air, water,
minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic or aesthetic significance. An
economic or social change by itself shall not be considered a significant effect on the
environment. A social or economic change related to a physical change may be considered in
determining whether the physical change is significant. The lead agency will determine
whether a project may have a significant effect on the environment based on substantial
evidence in light of the whole record (State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15382).

Siltation: The accumulating deposition of eroded material; the gradual filling in of streams
and other bodies of water with sand, silt, and clay.

Single Noise Event Level (SEL): The cumulative (not average) sound exposure during a
particular noise event, integrated into a one-second time frame.

Single-family Dwelling, Attached: A dwelling unit occupied or intended for occupancy by
only one household that is structurally connected with at least one other such dwelling unit.
Single-family attached units are typically defined by school districts as units that share a
common wall and are not for rental purposes.

Single-family Dwelling, Detached: A dwelling unit occupied or intended for occupancy by
only one household that is structurally independent from any other such dwelling unit or
structure intended for residential or other use.

Single-Family Housing: A conventionally built house consisting of a single dwelling unit
occupied by one household.

Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV): One person per vehicle.

Single Room Occupancy (SRO): A single room, typically with a sink and closet, but which
requires the occupant to share a communal bathroom, shower, and kitchen.

Site: A parcel of land used or intended for one use or a group of uses and having frontage on
a public or an approved private street. A lot.

Site Acceleration: Site acceleration during a seismic event is measured as a percent of
gravity, or g. For instance, 0.76g is 76 percent of the force of gravity.

R:\Projects\PAS\CEN\000306\Draft EIR\12.0_Glossary-051017.docx 12-72 Centennial Project
Draft EIR