§ 143-212. Definitions.
§ 143‑212. Definitions.
Unless a different meaning is required by the context, the followingdefinitions apply to this Article and Articles 21A and 21B of this Chapter:
(1) "Area of the State" means a municipality, acounty, a portion of a county or a municipality, or other substantialgeographic area of the State designated by the Commission.
(2) "Commission" means the North CarolinaEnvironmental Management Commission.
(3) "Department" means the Department of Environmentand Natural Resources.
(4) "Person" includes individuals, firms,partnerships, associations, institutions, corporations, municipalities andother political subdivisions, and governmental agencies.
(5) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Environment andNatural Resources.
(6) "Waters" means any stream, river, brook, swamp,lake, sound, tidal estuary, bay, creek, reservoir, waterway, or other body oraccumulation of water, whether surface or underground, public or private, ornatural or artificial, that is contained in, flows through, or borders upon anyportion of this State, including any portion of the Atlantic Ocean over whichthe State has jurisdiction. (1987, c. 827, s.152A; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(103); 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1004, s. 19(b);1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1028, s. 1; 1997‑443, s. 11A.119(a).)