Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions which follow govern the construction and meaning of the terms used in Sections 17-17-101 through 17-17-135:
"Bonds" shall include notes, bonds and other written obligations authorized to be issued under Sections 17-17-101 through 17-17-135.
"Governing board" shall mean the governing bodies of the several counties and incorporated municipalities of the state as now or hereafter constituted, acting jointly or severally, and in the event that a project is located in more than one (1) county, the term "governing board" shall also refer to the governing bodies of the several counties wherein such project is located.
"Municipality" shall mean one or more counties or incorporated municipalities of this state, or any combination thereof, acting jointly or severally.
"Project" shall mean any real, personal or mixed property of any and every kind that can be used or that will be useful in controlling, collecting, storing, removing, handling, reducing, disposing of, treating and otherwise concerning solid or hazardous waste, including without limitation, property that can be used or that will be useful in extracting and converting waste to energy, encompassing the acquisition, handling, storage, and utilization of coal, lignite or any other fuel or water that can be used or that will be useful in converting waste to energy, and distributing such energy to users thereof, or otherwise separating and preparing waste for reuse.
"Solid wastes" shall mean any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities, but does not include solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage, or solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows or industrial discharges which are point sources subject to permits under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (86 Stat. 880), or source, special nuclear or by-product material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
"Hazardous wastes" shall mean any waste or combination of waste of a solid, liquid, contained gaseous, or semisolid form which because of its quantity, concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may (i) cause, or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness; or (ii) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed which are listed by the environmental protection agency as hazardous wastes which exceed the threshold limits set forth in the environmental protection agency regulations for classifying hazardous waste. Such wastes include, but are not limited to, those wastes which are toxic, corrosive, flammable, irritants, strong sensitizers, or which generate pressure through decomposition, heat or other means. Such wastes do not include those radioactive materials regulated pursuant to the Mississippi Radiation Protection Law of 1976, appearing in Section 45-14-1 et seq.
"Industry" shall mean any person, firm or corporation operating any enterprise or facility for the collection, treatment, processing, reprocessing, generation, distributing, recycling, elimination or disposal of any type of waste product from which operation conditions result in or pose a substantial present, future or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported or disposed of or otherwise managed.
"Authority" shall mean the Mississippi Department of Natural Resources.
"Lease/sale" shall mean any agreement without limitation whereby a municipality may lease and/or convey title of a project to an industry, made by and between the governing board and such industry by which such industry agrees to pay to (and to secure if so required) the municipality, or to any assignee thereof, as the case may be, the sums required to meet the payment of the principal, interest and redemption premium, if any, on any bonds, and/or the expenses, if any, of operation by such municipality or county.
"Board" shall mean the Mississippi Board of Economic Development.