(a) “Natural resources” include forest lands, range lands, waters and watersheds, biodiversity resources (fish, wildlife, and flora) and their prime habitats, coastal lands and waters, minerals, and prime agricultural lands.

(b) “Environmental performance” denotes the relative environmental efficiency and levels of environmental impacts from industrial facilities, agricultural operations or natural resource extraction activities. Facilities with high levels of environmental performance use fewer natural resource and energy inputs per unit of fuel output, and have lower environmental impacts, than low environmentally performing facilities.

(c) “Carrying capacity” is the ability of an air basin, watershed, ecosystem, or landscape area to withstand resource extraction or absorb pollution loading until its basic functions are impaired.