(a) Area means the commission's jurisdictional service area consisting of the Towns of Massena, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Oswegatchie, Morristown and Hammond, the villages therein and the City of Ogdensburg in St. Lawrence County, the Towns of Alexandria, Orleans, Clayton, Cape Vincent, Lyme, Brownville, Hounsfield, Henderson and Ellisburg and the villages therein in Jefferson County, the Towns of Sandy Creek, Richland, Mexico, New Haven, Scriba and Oswego, the villages therein and the City of Oswego in Oswego County, and the Town of Sterling and village therein in Cayuga County.

(b) Commission means the St. Lawrence - Eastern Ontario Commission.

(c) Development means any activity which materially affects the existing condition, use or appearance of any land, structure or improvement, including the division of any land into parcels, or units, but shall not include the division of any land resulting from devise, inheritance, gift or operation of law.

(d) Land means the earth, on or below the surface of the ground, including water and air above and the flora and fauna.

(e) Land use means any existing activity or activities associated with land, including structures and improvements to structures.

(f) Local government means a government of a county, city, town or village located within the jurisdictional area of the commission.

(g) Person means public or private corporation, company, association, society, firm, partnership, joint stock company, individual, the United States and the State of New York and any of its political subdivisions or agents.

(h) Project means any actual or proposed construction, land development, demolition, excavation or other similar action which may significantly alter or change the appearance or use of the land or water or any structures thereon.

(i) Project sponsor means person undertaking any project in the jurisdictional area of the commission.

(j) Rules and regulations means the existing definitions, standards and procedures established for the review of projects.

(k) Structure means any object constructed, installed or placed on land or in the water to facilitate land use, including but not limited to buildings, sheds, mobile homes, signs, tanks, shore protection and recreation devices, commercial and residential facilities and any fixtures, additions and alterations to any of the above.