38 CFR § 40.2 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t38/s40.2"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "38 CFR § 40.2 - Definitions."
title_number: 38
title_name: "Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief"
section_number: "40.2"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS"
part_number: "40"
part_name: "INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "E.O. 12372, July 14, 1982 (47 FR 30959), as amended April 8, 1983 (48 FR 15887): section 401 of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968, as amended (31 U.S.C. 6506); sec. 204 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3334)."
regulatory_source: "48 FR 29413, June 24, 1983; 48 FR 31854, July 12, 1983, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "40"
---


# 40.2 Definitions.

For the purposes of §§ 40.1 through 40.13, the following definitions apply:

(a) *VA* means the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(b) *Order* means Executive Order 12372, issued July 14, 1982, and amended April 8, 1983, and titled “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

(c) *Secretary* means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of the Department of Veterans Affairs or an official or employee of VA acting for the Secretary under delegation of authority.

(d) *State* means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

(e) *Emergency* means a sudden, urgent, unforeseen situation in which immediate action is needed to prevent or respond to significant harm to life or property. Harm to property would include damage to the environment.

(f) *Unusual circumstances* means the end of a fiscal year, a statutory deadline or any other circumstance making it impracticable for the agency to provide 60 days for comment.

(g) *Affected* means for purposes of interstate situations those States physically affected by the specific plans and projects.

(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4231(b))