------- ------- A—Scale Sound Level: A measurement of sound approximating the sensitivity of the human ear, used to note the intensity or annoyance level of sounds. Abandoned Well: A well whose use has been permanently discontinued or which is in a state of such disrepair that it cannot be used for its intended purpose. Abatement: Reducing the degree or intensity of, or eliminating, pollution. Absorbed Dose: The amount of a chemical that enters the body of an exposed organism. Absorption: The uptake of water or dissolved chemicals by a cell or an organism (as tree roots absorb dis- solved nutrients in soil.) Accident Site: The location of an unex- pected occurrence, failure or loss, ei- ther at a plant or along a transporta- tion route, resulting in a release of hazardous materials. Acclimatization: The physiological and behavioral adjustments of an organism to changes in its environment. Acid Deposition: A complex chemical and atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds and other sub- stances are transformed by chemical processes in the atmosphere, often far from the original sources, and then de- posited on earth in either wet or dry form. The wet forms, popularly called "acid rain," can fall as rain, snow, or fog. The .dry forms are acidic gases or p articulates. Acid Mine Drainage: Drainage of water from areas that have been mined for coal or other mineral ores. The water has a low pH because of its contact with sulfur-bearing material and is harmful to aquatic organisms. Acid Neutralizing Capacity: Measure of ability of water or soil to resist chang- es in pH. Acid Rain: (See: acid deposition) Acidic: The condition of water or soil that contains a sufficient amount of acid substances to lower the pH below 7.0. Action Levels: 1. Regulatory levels recommended by EPA for enforcement by FDA and USDA when pesticide residues occur in food or feed commodi- ties for reasons other than the direct application of the pesticide. As opposed to "tolerances" which are established for residues occurring as a direct re suit of proper usage, action levels are set for inadvertent residues resulting from previous legal use or accidental contamination. 2. In the Superfund program, the existence of a contami- nant concentration in the environment high enough to warrant action or trig- ger a response under SARA and the National Oil and Hazardous Substanc- es Contingency Plan. The term is also used in other regulatory programs. (See: tolerances.) Activated Carbon: A highly adsorbent form of carbon used to remove odors and toxic substances from liquid or gaseous emissions. In waste treatment it is used to remove dissolved organic matter from waste water. It is also used in motor vehicle evaporative con- trol systems. Activated Sludge: Product that results 'when primary effluent is mixed with bacteria-laden sludge and then agi- tated and aerated to promote biological treatment, speeding the breakdown of organic matter in raw sewage undergo- ing secondary waste treatment. Activator A chemical added to a pes- ticide to increase its activity. Active Ingredient: In any pesticide product, the component that kills, or otherwise controls, target pests. Pes- ticides are regulated primarily on the basis of active ingredients. Activity Plans: Written procedures in a school's asbestos-management plan that detail the steps a Local Education Agency (LEA) will follow in performing the initial and additional cleaning, operation and maintenance-program tasks; periodic surveillance; and rein- spections required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Acute Exposure: A single exposure to a toxic substance which results in severe biological harm or death. Acute expo- sures are usually characterized as last- ing no longer than a day, as compared to longer, continuing exposure over a period of time. Acute Tarititv: The ability of a sub- stance to cause poisonous effects re- sulting in severe biological harm or death soon after a single exposure or dose. Also, any severe poisonous effect resulting from a single short-term exposure to a toxic substance. (See: chronic toxicity, toxitity.) Adaptation: Changes in an organism's structure or habits that help it adjust to its surroundings. Add-on Control Device: An air pollu- tion control device such as carbon absorber or incinerator that reduces the pollution in an exhaust gas. The control device usually does not affect the process being controlled and thus is "add-on" technology, as opposed to a scheme to control pollution through altering the basic process itself. Adequately Wet: Asbestos-containing material that is sufficiently mixed or penetrated with liquid to prevent the release of particulates. Administrative Order On Consent: A legal agreement signed by EPA and an individual, business, or other entity through which the violator agrees to pay for correction of violations, take the required corrective or cleanup actions, or refrain from, an activity. It describes the actions to be taken, may be subject to a comment period, applies to civil actions, and can be enforced in court. Administrative Order A legal docu- ment signed by EPA directing an indi- vidual, business, or other entity to take corrective action or refrain from an activity'. It describes the violations and actions to be taken, and can be en- forced in court. Such orders may be issued, for example, 'as a result of an administrative complaint whereby the respondent is ordered to pay a penalty for violations of a statute. Administrative Procedures Act: A law that spells out procedures and requir' ements related to the promulgation of regulations. Administrative Record: All documents which EPA considered or relied on in selecting the response action at a Superfund site, culminating in the record of decision for remedial action; an action memorandum for removal actions. Adsorption: An advanced method of treating waste in which activated car- bon removes organic matter from wastewater. Adulterants: Chemical impurities or substances that by law do not belong in a food, or pesticide. Adulterated: 1. Any pesticide whose strength or purity falls below the qual- ity stated on its label. 2. A food.feed, or product that contains illegal pesticide residues. ------- Advanced Treatment: A level of waste- water treatment more stringent than secondary treatment; requires an 85- percent reduction in conventional pol- lutant concentration or a significant reduction in nonconventipnal pollut- ants. Advanced Wastewater Treatment: Any treatment of sewage that goes beyond the secondary or biological water treat- ment stage and includes the removal of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and a high percentage of sus- pended solids. (See: primary, secondary treatment.) Advisory. A non-regulatory document that communicates risk information to those who may have to make risk man- agement decisions. Aerated Lagoon: A holding and/or treatment pond that speeds up the natural process of biological decomposi- tion of organic waste by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria that degrade organic waste. Aeration: A process which promotes biological degradation of organic mat- ter in water. The process may be pas- sive (as when waste is exposed to air), or active (as when a mixing or bub- bling device introduces the air). Aeration Tank: A chamber used to in- ject air into water. Aerobic Treatment: Process by which microbes decompose complex organic compounds in the presence of oxygen and use the liberated energy for re- production and growth. (Such process- es include extended aeration, trickling filtration, and rotating biological contactors.) Aerobic: Life or processes that require, or are not destroyed by, the presence of oxygen. (See: anaerobic.) Aerosol: A suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas. Affected Public The people who live and/or work near a hazardous waste site or other source of pollutant emis- sions. Afterburner: In incinerator technology, a burner located so that the combus- tion gases are made to pass through its flame in order to remove smoke and. odors. It may be attached to or be separated from the incinerator proper. Age Tank: A tank used to store a chemical solution of known concentra- tion for feed .to a chemical feeder. Also called a day tank. Agent Orange: A toxic herbicide and defoliant used in the Vietnam conflict, containing 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) and 2-4 dichlorophenoxy- acetic acid (2,4-D) with trace amounts of dioxin. Agricultural Pollution: Farming wastes, including runoff and leaching of pesticides and fertilizers; erosion and dust from plowing; improper dis- posal of animal manure and carcasses; crop residues, and debris. Agro-ecosystem: Land used for crops, pasture, and livestock; the adjacent uncultivated land that supports other vegetation and wildlife; and the associ- ated atmosphere, the underlying soils, groundwater, and drainage networks. AHERA Designated Person (ADP): A person designated by a Local Educa- tion Agency to ensure that the AHERA requirements for asbestos management and abatement are properly imple- mented. Air Binding: Situation where air enters the filter media and harms both the filtration and backwash processes. Air Changes Per Hour (ACH> The movement of a volume of air in a given period of time; if a house has one air change per hour, it means that all of the air in the house will be replaced in a one-hour period. Air Contaminant: Any particulate mat- ter, gas, or combination thereof, other than water vapor. (See: air pollutant.) Air Curtain: A method of containing oil spills. Air bubbling through a perfo- rated pipe causes an upward water flow that slows the spread of oil. It «•*" also be used to stop fish from en- tering polluted water. Air Gap: Open vertical gap or empty space that separates drinking water supply to be protected from another water system in a treatment plant or other location. The open gap protects the drinking water from contamination by backflow or backsiphonage. Air Mass: A large volume of air with certain meteorological or polluted char- acteristics, e,g, a heat inversion or smogginess, while in one location. The characteristics cfi" change as the air mass moves away. Air Monitoring: (See: monitoring) Air Padding: Pumping dry air into a container to assist with the withdrawal of liquid or to force a liquified gas such as chlorine out of the container. Air Plenum: Any space used to convey air in a building, furnace, or structure. The space above a suspended ceiling is often used as an air plenum. Air Pollutant: Any substance in air that could, in high enough concentra- tion, harm man, other animals, vegeta- tion, or material. Pollutants may in- clude almost any natural or artificial composition of airborne matter capable of being airborne. They may be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, gases, or in combination thereof. Gen- erally, they fall into two main groups: (1) those emitted directly from identi- fiable sources and (2) those produced in the air by interaction between two or more primary pollutants, or by reac- tion with normal atmospheric constitu- ents, with or without photoactivation. Exclusive of pollen, fog, and dust, which are of natural origin, about 100 contaminants have been identified and fall into the following categories: sol- ids, sulfur compounds, volatile organic chemicals, nitrogen compounds, oxygen compounds, halogen compounds, radio- active compounds, and odors. Air Pollution Episode: A period of ab- normally high concentration of air pollutants, often due to low winds and temperature inversion, that can cause illness and death. (See: episode, pollu- tion.)' Air Pollution Control Device: Mecha- nism or equipment that cleans emis- sions generated by an incinerator by removing pollutants that would other- wise be released to the atmosphere. Air Pollution: The presence of contami- nant or pollutant substances in the air that do not disperse properly and in- terfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmen- tal effects. Air Quality Control Region: Federally designated area that is required to meet and maintain federal ambient air quality standards. May include nearby locations in the same state or nearby states that share common air pollution problems- Air Quality Criteria: The levels of pollution and lengths of exposure above which adverse health and wel- fare effects may occur. Air Quality Standards: The level of pollutants prescribed by regulations that may not be exceeded during a given time in a defined area. Air Stripping: A treatment system that removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated ground ------- water or surface water by forcing an airstream through the water and cau- sing the compounds to evaporate. Air Tories: Any air pollutant for which a national ambient air quality stan- dard (NAAQS) does not exist (i.e., ex- cluding ozone, carbon monoxide, PM- 10, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide) that may reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer, developmental effects, repro- ductive dysfunctions, neurological dis- orders, heritable gene mutations, or other serious or irreversible chronic or acute health effects in humans. Airborne Particulates: Total suspended particulate matter found in the atmo- sphere as solid particles or liquid drop- lets. Chemical composition of particulates varies widely, depending on location and time of year. Airborne particulates include: windblown dust,' emissions from industrial processes, smoke from the burning of wood and coal, and motor vehicle or non-road engine exhausts, exhaust of motor vehicles. Airborne Release: Release of any chem- ical into the air. Alachlor A herbicide, marketed under the trade name Lasso, used mainly to control weeds in corn and soybean fields. Alar Trade name for daminozide, a pesticide that makes apples redder, firmer, and less likely to drop off trees before growers are ready to pick them. It is also used to a lesser extent on peanuts, tart cherries, concord grapes, and other fruits. Aldicarb: An insecticide sold under the trade name Temik. It ia made from ethyl isocyanate. Algae: Simple rootless plants that grow in sunlit waters in proportion to the amount of available nutrients. They can affect water quality adversely by lowering the dissolved oxygen in the water. They are food for fish and small aquatic animals. Algal Blooms: Sudden spurts of algal growth, which can affect water quality adversely and indicate potentially hazardous changes in local water chemistry. Algicide: Substance or chemical used to specifically to kill or control algae. Alkaline: The condition of water or soil which contains a suffice nt amount of alkali substance to raise the pH above 7.0. Alkalinity: The capacity of water to neutralize acids. Alluvial: Relating to and/or sand de- posited by flowing water. Alternate Method: Any method of sam- pling and analyzing for an air pollut- ant that is not a reference or equiva- lent method but that has been demon- strated in specific cases-to EPA's satis- faction-to produce results adequate for compliance monitoring. Alternative Fuels: Substitutes for tra- ditional liquid, oil-derived motor vehi- cle fuels like gasoline and diesel. In- cludes methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas, and others. Alternative Remedial Contract Strate- gy Contractors: Government contrac- tors who provide project management and technical services to support reme- dial response activities at National Priorities List sites. Ambient Air Any unconfined portion of the atmosphere: open air, surround- ing air. Ambient Air Quality Standards: (See: Criteria Pollutants and National Ambi- ent Air Quality Standards.) Ambient Temperature: Temperature of . the surrounding air or other medium. Amprometric Titration: A way of mea- suring concentrations of certain sub- stances in water using an electric cur- rent that flows during a chemical reac- tion. Anaerobic A life or process that occurs in, or is not destroyed by, the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic Decomposition: Reduction of the net energy level and change in chemical composition of organic matter caused by microorganisms in an oxy- gen-free environment. Animal Studies: Investigations using animals as surrogates for humans with the expectation that the results are pertinent to humans. Antagonism: Interference or inhibition of the effect of one chemical by the action of another. Antarctic "Ozone Hole": Refers to the seasonal depletion of ozone in a large area over Antarctica. Anti-Degradation Clause: Part of fed- eral air quality and water quality requirements prohibiting deterioration, where pollution levels are above the legal limit. Applicable or Appropriate Require- ments (ARARs): Any state or federal statute that pertains to protection of human life and the environment in addressing specific conditions or use of a particular cleanup technology at a Super-fund site, Aqueous: Something made up of, simi- lar to, or containing water. Aquifer An underground geological formation, or group of formations, con- taining usable amounts of ground water that can supply wells and springs. Architectural Coatings: Coverings such as paint and roof tar that are used on enteriors of buildings. Area of Review: In the UIC program, the area surrounding an injection well that is reviewed during the permitting process to determine if flow between aquifers will be induced by the injec- tion operation. Area Source: Any small source of non- natural air pollution that is released over a relatively small area but which cannot be classified as a point source. Such sources may include vehicles and other small engines, small businesses and household activities. Aromatic: A type of hydrocarbon, such as benzene or toluene, added to gaso- line hi order to increase octane. Some aromatics are toxic. Arsenicals: Pesticides containing ar- senic. Artesian (Aquifer or Well): Water held under pressure hi porous rock or soil confined by impermeable geological formations. Asbestos: A mineral fiber that can pollute air or water and cause cancer or asbestosis when inhaled. EPA has banned or severely restricted its use in manufacturing and construction. Asbestos Abatement: Procedures to control fiber release from asbestos-con- taining materials in a building or to remove them entirely, including remov- al, encapsulation, repair, enclosure, encasement, and operations and main- tenance programs. Asbestos-Containing Waste Materials (ACWM): Mill tailings or any waste that contains commercial asbestos and is generated by a source covered by the Clean Air Act Asbestos NESHAPS. Asbestosis: A disease associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers. The dis- ease makes breathing progressively more difficult and can be fatal. ------- Asbestos Program Manager A building owner or designated representative who supervises all aspects of the facili- ty asbestos management and control program. Ash: The mineral content of a product remaining after complete combustion. Assay; A test for a specific chemical or effect. Assessment: In the asbestos-in-schools program, the evaluation of the physical condition and potential for damage of all friable asbestos containing materi- als and thermal insulation systems. Assimilation: The ability of a body of water to purify itself of pollutants. Assimilative Capacity: The capacity of a natural body of water to receive waste waters or toxic materials without deleterious effects and without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water. Association of Boards of Certification: An international organization repre- senting boards which certify the opera- tors of waterworks and wastewater facilities. Attainment Area: An area considered to have air quality as good as or better than the national ambient air quality standards as defined in the Clean Air Act. An area may be an attainment area for one pollutant and a non-at- tainment area for others. Attenuation: The process by which a compound is reduced in concentration over time, through absorption, adsorp- tion, degradation, dilution, and/or transformation. Attractant: A chemical or agent that lures insects or other pests by stimu- lating their sense of smell. Attrition: Wearing or grinding down of a substance by friction. Dust from such processes contributes to air pollu- tion. Availability Session: Informal meeting at a public location where interested citizens can talk-with EPA and state officials on a one-to-one basis. Available Chlorine: A measure of the amount of chlorine available in chlori- nated lime, hypochlorite compounds, and other materials used as a source of chlorine when compared with that of liquid or gaseous chlorines. B Back Pressure: A pressure that can cause water to backflow into the water supply when a user's waste water system is at a higher pressure than the public system. Backflow/Back Siphonage: A reverse flow condition created by a difference in water pressures that causes water to flow back into the distribution pipes of a drinking water supply from any source other than the intended one. Background Level: In air pollution con- trol, the concentration of air pollutants in' a definite area during a fixed period of time prior to the starting up or on the stoppage of a source of emission under control. In . toxic substances monitoring, the average presence in the environment, originally referring to naturally occurring phenomena. Backwashing: Reversing the flow of water back through the filter media to remove entrapped solids. BACT-Best Available Control Technol- ogy: An emission limitation based on the maximum degree of emission re- duction (considering energy, environ- mental, and economic impacts) achiev- able through application of production processes and available methods, sys- tems, and techniques. BACT does not permit emissions in excess of those allowed under any applicable Clean Air Act provisions. Use of the BACT concept is allowable on a case by case basis for major new or modified emis- sions .sources in attainment areas and applies to each regulated pollutant. Bacteria: (Singular bacterium) Micro- scopic living organisms that can aid in pollution control by metabolizing or- ganic matter in sewage, oil spills or other pollutants. However, bacteria in soil, water or air can also cause hu- man, animal and plant health prob- lems. Baffle: A flat board or plate, deflector, guide, or similar device constructed or placed in flowing water or slurry sys- tems to cause more uniform flow veloc- ities to absorb energy and to divert, guide, or agitate liquids. <; Raff|a Chamber In incinerator design, a chamber designed to promote the set- tling of fly ash and coarse particulate matter by Changing the direction and/or reducing the velocity of the gases produced by the combustion of the refuse or sludge. (greater than 20 microns in diameter) particles. This device operates like the bag of an electric vacuum cleaner, passing the air and smaller particles while entrapping the larger ones. Bailer A long pipe with a valve at the lower end, used to remove slurry from the bottom or side of a well as it is being drilled. Ruling- Compacting solid waste into blocks to reduce volume and simplify handling. Ballistic Separator A machine that sorts organic from inorganic matter for composting. Band Application: The spreading of chemicals over, or next to, each row of plants in a field. Banking: A system for recording quali- fied air emission reductions for later use in bubble, offset, or netting trans- actions. (See: emissions trading.) Bar Screen: In wastewater treatment, a device used to remove large solids. Barrier Coating(s): A layer of a materi- al that obstructs or prevents passage of something through a surface that is to be protected, e.g. grout, caulk, or various sealing compounds; sometimes used with polyurethane membranes to •prevent corrosion or oxidation of metal surfaces, chemical impacts on various materials, or, for example, to prevent radon infiltration through walls, cracks, or joints in a house. Basal Application: In pesticides, the application of a chemical on plant stems or tree trunks, just above the soil line. Bed Load: Sediment particles resting on or near the channel bottom that are pushed or rolled along by the flow of water. BEN: EPA's computer model for ana- lyzing a violator's economic gain from not complying with the law. Bench Filter: Large fabric bag, usually made of glass fibers, used to eliminate intermediate and large i Testa: Laboratory testing of potential cleanup technologies (See: treatability studies.) Beryllium: An airborne metal hazard- ous to human health when inhaled. It is discharged by machine shops, ce- ramic and propellant plants, and foundries. Best Available Control Measures (BACM): A term used to refer to the most effective measures (according to EPA guidance) for controlling small or dispersed participates from sources such as roadway dust, soot and ash ------- from woodstoves and open burning of rush, timber, grasslands, or trash. Beat Demonstrated Available Technolo- gy (BDAT): As identified by EPA, the most effective commercially available means of treating specific types of hazardous waste. The BDATs may change with advances in treatment technologies. Best Management Practice (BMP): Methods that have been determined to be the most effective, practical means of preventing or reducing pollution from non-point sources. Bimetal: Beverage containers with steel bodies and aluminum tops; han- dled differently from pure aluminum in recycling. Bioaccumulants: Substances that in- crease in concentration in living organ- isms as they take in contaminated air, water, or food because the substances are very slowly metabolized or ex- creted. (See: biological magnification.) Bioassay: Study of living organisms to measure the effect of a substance, fac- tor, or condition by comparing before- and-after exposure or other data. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): A measure of the amount of oxygen con- sumed in the biological processes that break down organic matter in water. The greater the BOD, the greater the degree of pollution. Bioconcentration: The accumulation of a chemical in tissues of a fish or other organism to levels greater than in the surrounding medium. Biodegradable: Capable of decomposing rapidly under natural conditions. Biodiversity: Refers to the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur. Diversity can be defined as the number of different items and their relative frequencies. For biological diversity, these items are organized at many levels, ranging from complete ecosystems to the biochemical struc- tures that are the molecular basis of heredity. Thus, the term encompasses different ecosystem, species, and genes. Biological Control: In pest control, the use of animals and organisms that eat or otherwise kill or put-compete pests. Biological Magnification: Refers to the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or humans. The substances become concentrated in .tissues or in- ternal organs as they move up the chain. (See: bioaccumulative.) Biological Oxidation: Decomposition of complex organic materials by microor- ganisms. Occurs in self-purification of water bodies and in activated sludge wastewater treatment. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): An indirect measure of the concentration of biologically degradable material present in organic wastes. It usually reflects the amount of oxygen con- sumed in five days by biological pro- cesses breaking down organic waste. Biological Treatment: A treatment technology that uses bacteria to con- sume organic waste. Biologicals: Vaccines, cultures and other preparations made from living organisms and their products, intended for use in diagnosing, immunizing, or treating humans or animals, or in related research. Biomass: All of the living material in a given area; often refers to vegetation. Biome: Entire community of living organisms in a single major ecological area. (See: biotic community.) BJomonitoring: 1. The use of living organisms to test the suitability of effluents for discharge into receiving waters and to test the quality of such waters downstream from the dis- charge. 2. Analysis of blood, urine, tissues, etc., to measure chemical expo- sure in humans. Bioremediation: Use of living organ- isms to clean up oil spills or remove other pollutants from soil, water, or wastewater; use of organisms such as non-harmful insects to remove agricul- tural pests or counteract diseases of trees, plants, and garden soil. Biosphere: The portion of Earth and its atmosphere that can support life. Biostabilizer: A machine that converts solid waste into compost by grinding and aeration. Biota: The animal and plant life of a given region. Biotechnology: Techniques that use living organisms or parts of organisms to produce a variety of products (from medicines to industrial enzymes) to improve plants or animals or to devel- op microorganisms to remove toxics from bodies of water, or act as pesti- cides. Biotic Community: A naturally occur- ring assemblage of plants and animals that live in the same environment and are mutually sustaining and interde- pendent.(See: biome.) Biotransformation: Conversion of a substance into other compounds by organisms; includes biodegredation. Blackwater. Water that contains ani- mal, human, or food waste. Blood Products: Any product derived from human blood, including but not limited to blood plasma, platelets, red or white corpuscles, and derived li- censed products such as interferon. Bloom: A proliferation of algae and/or higher aquatic plants in a body of water; often related to pollution, espe- cially when pollutants accelerate growth. BODS: The amount of dissolved oxygen consumed in five days by biological processes breaking down organic mat- ter. Bog: A type of wetland that accumu- lates appreciable peat deposits. Bogs depend primarily on precipitation for their water source, and are usually acidic and rich in plant residue with a conspicuous mat of living green moss. Boom: 1. A floating device used to contain oil on a body of water. 2. A piece of equipment used to apply pes- ticides from a tractor or truck. Botanical Pesticide: A pesticide whose active ingredient is a plant-produced chemical such as nicotine or strych- nine. Also called a plant-derived pesti- cide. Bottle Bill: Proposed or enacted leg- islation which requires a returnable deposit on beer or soda containers and provides for retail store or other re- demption. Such legislation is designed to discourage use of throwaway con- tainers. Bottom Ash: The non-airborne combus- tion residue from burning pulverized coal in a boiler; the material which falls to the bottom of the boiler and is removed mechanically; a concentration of the non-combustible materials, which may include toxics. Bottom Land Hardwoods: Forested freshwater wetlands adjacent to rivers in the southeastern United States, ------- 6 especially valuable for wildlife breed- ing, nesting and habitat. Brackish: Mixed fresh and salt water. Breakpoint Chlorination: Addition of chlorine to water until the chlorine demand has been satisfied. Breakthrough: A crack or break in a filter bed that allows the passage of floe or particulate matter through a filter; will cause an increase in filter effluent turbidity. Brine Mud: Waste material, often asso- ciated with well-drilling or mining, composed of mineral salts or other inorganic compounds. Broadcast Application: The spreading of pesticides over an entire area. Bubble: A system under which existing emissions sources can propose alter- nate means to comply with a set of emissions limitations; under the bubble concept, sources can control more than required at one emission point where control costs are relatively low in re- turn for a comparable relaxation of controls at a second emission point where costs are higher. Bubble Policy: (See: emissions trading.) Buffer A solutiuon or liquid whose chemical makeup neutralizes acids or bases without a great change in pH. Buffer Strips: Strips of grass or other erosion-resisting vegetation between or below cultivated strips or fields. Building Cooling Load: The hourly amount of heat that must be removed from a building to maintain indoor comfort (measured in British Thermal Units BTUs). Bulk Sample: A small portion (usually thumbnail size) of a suspect asbestos- containing building material collected by an asbestos inspector for laboratory analysis to determine asbestos content. Bulky Waste: Large items of waste materials, such as appliances, furni- ture, large auto parts, trees, stumps. Burial Ground (Graveyard): A disposal site for radioactive waste materials that uses earth or water as a shield. By-product: Material, other than the principal product, generated as a con- sequence of an industrial process. Cadmium (Cd> A heavy metal element that accumulates in the environment. Cancellation: Refers to Section 6 (b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) which autho- rizes cancellation of a pesticide regis- tration if unreasonable adverse effects to the environment and public health develop when a product is used accord- ing to widespread and commonly recog- nized practice, or if its labeling or other material required to be submit- ted does not comply with FIFRA provi- sions. Cap: A layer of clay, or other imperme- able material installed over the top of a closed landfill to prevent entry of rainwater and minimize leachate. Capacity Assurance Flan: A statewide plan which supports a state's ability to manage the hazardous waste generat- ed within its boundaries over a twenty year period. Capillary Action: Movement of water through very small spaces to to molec- ular forces called capillary forces. Capillary Fringe: The porous matrial just above the water table which may hold water by capillarity (a property of surface tension that draws water up- wards) in the smaller void spaces. Capture Efficiency: The fraction of organic vapors generated by a process that is directed to an abatement or re- covery device. Carbon Absorber An add-on control device that uses activated carbon to absorb volatile organic compounds from a gas stream. (The VOCs are later recovered from the carbon.) Carbon Adsorption: A treatment sys- tem that removes contaminants from ground water or surface water by forc- ing it through tanks containing acti- vated carbon treated to attract the con- taminants. Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion. Carboxyhemoglobin: Hemoglobin in which the iron is bound to carbon monoxide (CO) instead of oxygen. Carcinogen: Any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer. Carrier The inert liquid or solid mate- rial added to an active ingredient in a pesticide. Carrying Capacity: 1. In recreation management, the amount of use a recreation area can sustain without loss of quality. 2. In wildlife manage- ment, the Tnn-rimiiTn number of ani- mals an area can support during a given period. CAS Registration Number A number asigned by the Chemical Abstract Ser- vice to identify a chemical. Cask: A thick-walled container (usually lead) used to transport radioactive material. Also called a coffin. Catalyst: A substance that changes the speed or yield of a chemical reaction without being consumed or chemically changed by the chemical reaction. Catalytic Converter. An air pollution abatement device that removes pollut- ants from motor vehicle exhaust, either by oxidizing them into carbon dioxide and water or reducing them to nitro- gen and oxygen. Catalytic Incinerator A control device that oxidizes volatile organic com- pounds (VOCs) by using a catalyst to promote the combustion process. Cata- lytic incinerators require lower temper- atures than conventional thermal in- cinerators, thus saving fuel and other costs. Categorical Exclusion: A class of ac- tions which either individually or cu- mulatively would not have a signifi- cant effect on the human environment and therefore would not require prepa- ration of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Categorical Pretreatment Standard: A technology-based effluent limitation for an industrial facility discharging into a municipal sewer system. Analogous in stringency to Best Availability Tech- nology (BAT) for direct dischargers. Cathodic Protection: A technique to prevent corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electro- chemical cell. Cavitation: The formation and collapse of gas pockets or bubbles on the blade of an impeller or the gate of a' valve; collapse of these pockets or bubbles drives water with such force that it can cause pitting of the gate or valve surface. Cells: 1. In solid waste disposal, holes where waste is dumped, compacted, and covered with layers of dirt on a daily basis. 2. The smallest structural part of living matter capable of func- tioning as an independent unit. Cementitious: Densely packed and nonfibrous friable materials. ------- Central Collection Point: Location were a generator of regulated medical waste consolidates wastes originally generat- ed at various locations in his facility. The wastes are gathered together for treatment on-site or for transportation elsewhere for treatment and/or dispos- al. This term could also apply to com- munity hazardous waste collections, in- dustrial and other waste management systems. Centrifugal Collector A mechanical system using centrifugal force to re- move aerosols from a gas stream or to de-water sludge. Channelization: Straightening and deepening streams so water will move faster, a marsh-drainage tactic that can-interfere with waste assimilation capacity, disturb fish and wildlife habi- tats, and aggravate flooding. Characteristic: Any one of the four categories used in defining hazardous waste: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivi- ty, and toxicity. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): A measure of the oxygen required to oxidize all compounds, both organic and inorganic, in water. Chemical Treatment: Any one of a variety of technologies that use chemi- cals or a variety of chemical processes to treat waste. Chemnet: Mutual aid network of chem- ical shippers and contractors that as- signs a contracted emergency response company to provide technical support if a representative of the firm whose chemicals are involved in an incident is not readily available. Chemoeterilant: A chemical that con- trols pests by preventing reproduction. Chemtrec: The industry-sponsored Chemical Transportation Emergency Center; provides information and/or emergency assistance to emergency responders. Chilling Effect The lowering of the Earth's temperature because of in- creased particles in the air blocking the sun's rays. (See: greenhouse ef- fect.) Chisel Plowing: Preparing croplands by using a special implement that avoids complete inversion of .the soil as with conventional plowing. Chisel plowing can leave a protective cover or crops residues on the soil surface to help prevent erosion and improve filtration. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons: These in- clude a class of persistent, broad-spec- trum insecticides that linger in the environment and accumulate in the food chain. Among them are DDT, al- drin, dieldrin, heptachlor, chlordane, lindane, endrin, mi rex, hexachloride, and toxaphene. Other examples in- clude TCE, used as an industrial sol- vent. Chlorinated Solvent: An organic sol- vent containing chlorine atoms, e.g., methylene chloride and 1,1,1-trichlo- romethane, used in aerosol spray con- tainers and in highway paint. Chlorination: The application of chlo- rine to drinking water, sewage, or industrial waste to disinfect or to oxi- dize undesirable compounds. Chlorinator A device that 'adds chlo- rine, in gas or liquid form, to water or sewage to kill infectious bacteria. Chlorine-Contact Chamber That part of a water treatment plant where efflu- ent is disinfected by chlorine. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): A family of inert, nontoxic, and easily liquified chemicals used in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, insulation, or as solvents and aerosol propellants. Because. CFCs are not destroyed in the lower atmosphere they drift into the upper atmosphere where their chlorine components destroy ozone. Chlorophenoxy: A class of herbicides that may be found in domestic water supplies and cause adverse health effects. Chkntu: Discoloration of normally green plant parts caused by disease, lack of nutrients, or various air pollut- ants. Cholineflterase: An enzyme found in animala that regulates nerve impulses. Cholineaterase inhibition is associated with a variety of acute symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, stomach cramps, and rapid heart rate. Chromium: (See: heavy metals.) Chronic Effect: An adverse effect on a human or animal in which symptoms recur frequently or develop slowly over a long period of time. Chrome Toxicity: The capacity of a substance to cause long-term poisonous human health effects. (See: acute toxic- ity.) Circle of Tnfln«m«a- The circular outer edge of a deppression produced in the water table by the pumping of water from a well. (See: cone of depression.) Cistern: Small tank or storage facility used to store water for a home or farm; often used to store rain water. Clarification: Clearing action that occurs during wastewater treatment when solids settle out. This is often aided by centrifugal action and chemi- cally induced coagulation in wastewat- er. Clarifier A tank in which solids settle to the bottom and are subsequently re- moved as sludge. Class I Area: Under the Clean Air Act. a Class I area is one in which visibility is protected more stringently than under the national ambient air quality standards; includes national parks, wilderness areas, monuments, and other areas of special national and cul- tural significance. Clay Soil: Soil material containing more than 40 percent clay, less than 45 percent sand, and less than 40 percent silt. Clean Coal Technology: Any technology not in widespread use prior to the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990. This Act will achieve significant reduc- tions in pollutants associated with the burning of coal. Clean Fuels: Blends or substitutes for gasoline fuels, including compressed natural gas, methanol, ethanol, liqui- fied petroleum gas, and others. Cleanup: Actions taken to deal with a release or threat of release of a haz- ardous substance that could affect humans and/or the environment. The term "cleanup" is sometimes used in- terchangeably with the terms remedial action, removal action, response action, or corrective action. Clear Cut: Harvesting all the trees in one area at one time, a practice that can encourage fast rainfall or snowmelt runoff, erosion, sedimenta- tion of streams and lakes, flooding, and destroys vital habitat. Clear Well: A reservoir for storing filtered water of sufficient quantity to prevent the need to vary the filtration rate with varatioins in demand. Also used to provide chlorine contact time for disinfection. Cloning: In biotechnology, obtaining a group of genetically identical cells from a single cell; making identical copies of a gene. ------- 8 Closed-Loop Recycling: Reclaiming or reusing wastewater for non-potable purposes in an enclosed process. Closure: The procedure a landfill oper- ator must follow when a landfill reach- es its legal capacity for solid waste: ceasing acceptance of solid waste and placing a cap on the landfill site. Coagulation: Clumping of particles in wastewater to settle out impurities, often induced by chemicals such as lime, alum, and iron salts. Coal Cleaning Technology: Precombus- tion process by which coal is physically or chemically treated to remove some of its sulfur so as to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. . Coal Gasification; Conversion of coal to a gaseous product by one of several available technologies. Coastal Zone: Lands and waters adja- cent to the coast that exert an influ- ence on the uses of the sea and its ecology, or whose uses and ecology are affected by the sea. Coefficient of Haze (COH): A measure- ment of visibility interference in the atmosphere. Co-fire: Burning of two fuels in the same combustion unit, e.g., coal and natural gas, or oil and coal. Coke Oven: An industrial process which converts coal into coke, one of the basic materials used in blast fur- naces for the conversion of iron ore into iron. Gold Temperature CO: A standard for automobile carbon monoxide (CO) emissions to be met at a low tempera- ture (i.e. 20 degrees Fahrenheit). Con- ventional automobile catalytic conver- ters are less efficient upon start-up at low temperatures. Colifonn Index: A rating of the purity of water based on a count of fecal bac- teria. Colifonn Organism: Microorganism found in the intestinal tract of humans • and animals. Their presence in water indicates fecal pollution and potentially adverse contamination by pathogens. Collector Sewers: Pipes used to collect and carry wastewater from individual sources to an interceptor sewer that will carry it to a treatment facility. Colloids: Very small, finely divided solids (that do not dissolve) that re- main dispersed in a liquid for a long time due to their small size and electri- cal charge. Combined Sewer Overflow: Discharge of a mixture of storm water and do- mestic waste when the flow capacity of a sewer system is exceeded during rainstorms. Combined Sewers: A sewer system that carries both sewage and storm-water runoff. Normally, its entire flow goes to a waste treatment plant, but during a heavy storm, the volume of water may be so great as to cause overflows of untreated mixtures of storm water and sewage into receiving waters. Storm- water runoff may also carry toxic chemicals from industrial areas or streets into the sewer system. Combustion: 1. Burning, or rapid oxi- dation, accompanied by release of ener- gy in the form of heat and light. A basic cause of air pollution. 2. Refers to controlled burning of waste, in which heat chemically alters organic com- pounds, converting them into stable inorganics such as carbon dioxide and water. Combustion Chamber The actual com- partment where waste is burned in an incinerator. Combustion Product: Substance pro- duced during the burning or oxidation of a material. Command Poet: Facility located at a safe distance upwind from an accident site, where the on-scene coordinator, responders, and technical representa- tives make response decisions, deploy manpower and equipment, maintain liaison with news media, and handle communications. Comment Period: Time provided for the public to review and comment on a proposed EPA action or rulemaking after publication in the Federal Regis-. ter. Commercial Waste Management Facil- ity: A treatment, storage, disposal, or transfer facility which accepts waste from a variety of sources, as compared to a private facility which normally manages a limited waste stream gener- ated by its own operations. Commercial Waste: All solid waste emanating from business establish- ments such as stores, markets, office buildings, restaurants, shopping cen- ters, and theaters. Commingled Recyclables: Mixed recyc- lables that are collected together. Comminuter: A machine that shreds or pulverizes solids to make waste treat- ment easier. Comminution: Mechanical shredding or pulverizing of waste. Used in both solid waste management and wastewater treatment. Community: In ecology, a group of interacting populations in time and space. Sometimes, a particular sub- grouping may be specified, such as the fish community in a lake or the soil arthropod community in a forest. Community Relations: The EPA effort to establish tworway communication with the public to create under- standing of EPA programs and related actions, to assure public input into decision-making processes related to affected communities, and to make certain that the Agency is aware of and responsive to public concerns. Specific community relations activities are required in relation to Superfund remedial actions. Community Water System: A public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Compaction: Reduction of the bulk of solid waste by rolling and tamping. Complete Treatment: A method of treating water that consists of the addition of coagulant chemicals, flash mixing, coagulation-flocculation, sedi- mentation, and filtration. Also called conventional filtration. Compliance Coal Any coal tht emits less than 1.2 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu when burned. Also known as low sulfur coal. Compliance Coating: A coating whose volatile organic compound content does not exceed that allowed by regulation. Compliance Cycle: The 9-year calendar year cycle, beginning January 1,1993, during which public water systems must monitor. Each cycle consists of three 3-year compliance periods. Compliance Monitoring: Collection and evaluation of data, including self-moni- toring reports, and verification to show whether pollutant concentrations and loads contained in permitted discharg- es are in compliance with the limits and conditions specified in the permit. Compliance Schedule: A negotiated agreement between a pollution source and a government agency that specifies dates and procedures by which a source will reduce emissions and, thereby, comply with a regulation. ------- 9 Composite Sample: A series of water samples taken over a given period of time and weighted by flow rate. Comport: The relatively stable humus material that is produced from a comp- osting process in which bacteria in soil mixed with garbage and degradable trash break down the mixture into or- ganic fertilizer. Composting: The controlled biological decomposition of organic material in the presence of air to form a humus- like material. Controlled methods of composting include mechanical mixing and aerating, ventilating the materials by dropping them through a vertical series of aerated chambers, or placing the compost in piles out in the open air and mixing it or turning it periodically. Compressed Natural Gaa (CNG): An alternative fuel for motor vehicles; considered one of the cleanest because of low hydrocarbon emissions and its vapors are relatively non-ozone produc- ing. It does, however, emit a signifi- cant quantity of nitrogen oxides. Conditional Registration: Under special circumstances, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) permits registration of pesti- cide products that is "conditional" upon the submission of additional data. These special circumstances include-a . finding by the EPA Administrator that a new product or use of an existing pesticide will not significantly increase the risk of unreasonable adverse ef- fects. A product-containing a new (pre- viously unregistered) active ingredient may be conditionally registered only if the Administrator finds that such conditional registration is in the public interest, that a reasonable time for conducting the additional studies has not elapsed, and the use of the pesti- cide for the period of conditional regis- tration will not present an unreason- able risk. Conditionally Exempt Generators (CE): Persons or enterprises which produce less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month. Exempt from most regulation, they are required merely to determine whether their waste is haz- ardous, notify appropriate state or local agencies, and ship it by permitted facility for proper disposal. (See: small quantity generator.) Conductance: A rapid method of esti- mating the dissolved solids content of water supply by determining the ca- pacity of a water sample to carry an electrical current. Conductivity: A measure of the ability of a solution to carry and electrical curerent. Cone of Depression: A depression in the water table that develops around a pumped well. Cone of The depression,. . roughly conical in shape, produced in a water table by the pumping of a well. Confined Aquifer An aquifer in which ground water is confined under pres- sure which is significantly greater than atmospheric pressure. Confluent Growth: A continuous bacte- rial growth covering all or part of the filtration area of a membrane filter in which the bacteria colonies are not discrete. Consent Decree: A legal document, ap- proved by a judge, that formalizes an agreement reached between EPA and potentially responsible parties (PRPs) through which PRPs will conduct all or part of a cleanup action at a Superfund site; cease or correct actions or pro- cesses that are polluting the environ- ment; or otherwise comply with EPA initiated regulatory enforcement ac- tions to resolve the contamination at the Superfund site involved. The con- sent decree describes the actions PRPs will take and may be subject to a pub- lic comment period. Conservation: Preserving and renew- ing, when possible, human and natural resources. The use, protection, and improvement of natural resources ac- cording to principles that will assure their highest economic or social bene- fits. Construction and Demolition Waste: Waste building materials, dredging materials, tree stumps, and rubble resulting from construction, remodel- ing, repair, and demolition of homes, commercial buildings and other struc- tures and pavements. May contain lead, asbestos, or other hazardous sub- stances. Construction Ban: If, under the Clean Air Act, EPA disapproves an area's planning requirements for correcting nonattainment, EPA can ban the con- struction or modification of any major stationery source of the pollutant for which the area is in nonattainment. Consumptive Water Use: Water re- moved from available supplies without return to a water resources system, e.g., water used in manufacturing, agriculture, and food preparation. Contact Pesticide: A chemical that kills pests when it touches them, instead of by ingestion. Also, soil that contains the minute skeletons of certain algae that scratch and dehydrate waxy coat- ed insects. Contaminant: Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse affect on air, water, or soil. Contamination: Introduction into wa- ter, air, and soil of microorganisms, chemicals, toxic substances, wastes, or waste water in a concentration that makes the medium unfit for its next intended use. Also applies to surfaces of objects, buildings, and various household and agricultural use prod- ucts. Contingency Plan: A document setting out an organized, planned, and coordi- nated course of action to be followed in case of a fire, explosion, or other acci- dent that releases toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, or radioactive mate- rials that threaten human health or the environment. (See: National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingen- cy Plan.) Continuous Discharge: A routine re- lease to the environment that occurs without interruption, except for infre- quent shutdowns for maintenance, process changes, etc. Continuous Sample: A flow of water from a particular place in a plant to the location where samples are col- lected for testing. May be used to ob- tain grab or composite samples. Contour Plowing: Soil tilling method that follows the shape of the land to discourage erosion. Contour Strip Farming: A kind of con- tour farming in which row crops are planted in strips, between alternating stripls of close-growing, erosion-resis- tant forage crops. Contract Labs: Laboratories under contract to EPA, which analyze sam- ples taken from waste, soil, air, and water or carry out research projects. Control Technique Guidelines (CTG): A series of EPA documents designed to assist states in defining reasonable available control technology (RACT) for major sources of volatile organic com- pounds (VOC). Controlled Reaction: A chemical reac- tion under temperature and pressure conditions maintained within safe ------- 10 limits to produce a desired product or process. Conventional Filtration: (See: complete treatment.) Conventional Pollutants: Statutorily listed pollutants understood well by scientists. These may be in the form of organic waste, sediment, acid, bacteria, viruses, nutrients, oil and grease, or heat. Conventional Systems: Systems that have been traditionally used to collect municipal wastewater in gravity sew- ers and convey it to a central primary or secondary treatment plant prior to discharge to surface waters. Conventional Tilling: Tillage opera- tions considered standard for a specific location and crop and that tend to bury the crop residues; usually considered as a base for determining the cost effectiveness of control practices. Conveyance Loss: Water loss in pipes, channels, conduits, ditches by leakage or evaporation. Cooling Electricity Use: Amount of electricity used to meet the building cooling load. (See: building cooling load.) Cooling Tower A structure that helps remove heat from water used as a cool- ant; e.g., in electric power generating plants. Cooperative Agreement: An assistance agreement whereby EPA transfers money, property, services or anything of value to a state for the accomplish- ment of CERCLA-authorized activities or tasks. Core: The uranium-containing heart of a nuclear reactor, where energy is re- leased. ; Core Program Cooperative Agreement: An assistance agreement whereby EPA supports states or tribal governments with funds to help defray the cost of non-item-specific administrative and training activities. Corrosion: The dissolution and wearing away of metal caused by a rhamirjl reaction such as between water and the pipes, chemicals touching a metal surface, or contact between two metals. Corrosive: A chemical agent that reacts with the surface of a material causing it to deteriorate or wear away. CoaVBenefit Analysis: A quantitative evaluation of the costs which would be incurred by implementing an environ- mental regulation versus the overall benefits to society of the proposed action. Cost-Effective Alternative: An alterna- tive control or corrective method iden- tified after analysis as being the best available in terms of reliability, perfor- mance, and cost. Although costs are one important consideration, regulat- ory and compliance analysis does not require EPA to choose the least expen- sive alternative. For example, when selecting or approving a method for cleaning up a Superfund site the Agen- cy balances costs with the long-term effectiveness of the methods proposed and the potenetial danger posed by the site. Cost Recovery: A legal process by which potentially responsible parties who contributed to contamination at a Superfund site can be required to re- imburse the Trust Fund for money spent during any cleanup actions by the federal government. Cost Sharing: A publicly financed pro- gram through which society, as a bene- ficiary of environmental protection, shares part of the cost of pollution control with those who must actually install the controls. In Superfund, for example, the government may pay part of the cost.of a cleanup action with those responsible for the pollution paying the major share. Cover Crop: A crop that provides tem- porary protection for delicate seedlings and/or provides a cover canopy for seasonal soil protection and improve- ment between normal crop production periods. Cover Material: Soil used to cover com- pacted solid waste in a sanitary land- fill. . Cradle-to-Grave or Manifest System: A procedure in which hazardous materi- als are identified and followed as they are produced, treated, transported, and disposed of by a series of permanent, linkable, descriptive documents (e.g., manifests). Commonly referred to as the cradle-to-grave system. Criteria Pollutants: The 1970 amend- ments to the Clean Air Act required EPA to set National Ambient Air Qual- ity Standards for certain pollutants known to be hazardous to human health. EPA has identified and set standards to protect human health and welfare for six pollutants: ozone, car- bon monoxide, total suspended particu- lates, sulfur dioxide, lead, and nitrogen oxide. The term, "criteria pollutants" derives from the requirement that EPA must describe the characteristics and potential health and welfare effects of these pollutants. It is on the basis of these criteria that standards are set or revised. Criteria: Descriptive factors taken into account by EPA in setting standards for various pollutants. These factors are used to determine limits on allow- able concentration levels, and to limit the number of violations per year. When issued by EPA, the criteria pro- vide guidance to the states on how to establish their standards. Crop Consumptive Use: The amount of water transpired during plant growth plus what evaporated from the soil surface and foliage in the crop area. Crop Rotation: Planting a succession of different crops on the same land rea as opposed to planting the same crop time after time. Cross-Connection: Any actual or poten- tial connection between a drinking water systemm and an unapproved water supply or other source of con-' tamination. Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM): A mea- sure of the volume of a substance flow- ing through air within a fixed period of time. With regard to indoor air, refers to the amount of air, in cubic feet, that is exchanged with indoor air in a minute's time, i.e., the air exchange rate. Also applies to liquid flows. Gullet: Crushed glass. Cultural Eutropbication: Increasing rate at which water bodies "die" by pol- lution from human activities. Cultures and Stocks: Infectious agents and associated biologicals including: cultures from medical and pathological laboratories; cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories; waste from the production of biologicals; discarded live and attenuated vaccines; and culture dishes and devices used to transfer, in- 'oculate, and mix cultures. (See: regu- lated medical waste.) Cumulative Exposure: The sum of exposures of an organism to a pollut- ant over a period of time. Cumulative Working Level Months (CWLM): The sum of lifetime exposure to radon working levels expressed in total working level months. Curb Stop: A water service shutoff valve located in a water service pipe near the curb and between the water main and the building. ------- 11 Curbside Collection: Method of collect- ing recyclable materials at homes, community districts or businesses. Cutie-Pie: An instrument used to mea- sure radiation levels. Cyclone Collector. A device that uses centrifugal force to pull large particles from polluted air. Data Call-In; A part of the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) process of developing key required test data, especially on the long-term, chronic effects of ««riiiting pesticides, in ad- vance of scheduled Registration Stan- dard reviews. Data Call-In from man- ufacturers is an adjunct of the Regis- tration Standards program intended to expedite re-registration. Day Tank: (See: age tank) DDT: The first chlorinated hydrocarboninsecticide r^Amiral name: Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane). It has a half-life of 15 years and can col- lect in fatty tissues of certain animals. EPA banned registration and inter- state sale of DDT for virtually, all but emergency uses in the United States in 1972 because of its persistence in the environment and accumulation in the food chain. Dead End: The end of a water main which is not connected to other parts of the distribution system. Decant: To draw off the upper layer of liquid after the heaviet material (a solid or another liquid) has settled. Decay Products: Degraded radioactive materials, often referred to as "daugh- ters" or "progeny"; radon decay prod- ucts of most concern from a public health standpoint are polonium-214 and polonium-218. Dechlorination: Removal of chlorine from a substance by chemically replac- ing it with hydrogen or hydroxide ions in order to detoxify a substances. Decomposition: The breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi, changing the chemical makeup and physical ap- pearance of materials. Decontamination: Removal of harmful substances such as noxious I'hftTnirala, .harmful bacteria or other organisms, or radioactive material from exposed individuals, rooms and furnishings in buildings, or the exterior environment. Deep-Well Injection: Deposition of raw or treated, filtered hazardous waste by pumping it into deep wells, where it is contained in the pores of permeable subsurface rock. Deflocculating Agent A material added to a suspension to prevent settling. Defhioridation: The removal of excess Qouride in drinking water to prevent the staining of teeth. Defoliant: An herbicide that removes leaves from trees and growing- plants. Degaaification: A water treatment that removes dissolved gases from the water. Delegated State: A state (or other governmental entity such as a tribal government) that has received authori- ty to administer an environmental regulatory program in lieu of a federal counterpart As used in connection with NPDES, UIC, and PWS pro- grams, the term does not connote any transfer of federal authority to a state. Delist Use of the petition process to have a facility's toxic designation re- scinded. Demand-aide Waste Management: Prices whereby consumers use pur- chasing decisions to communicate to product manufacturers that they prefer environmentally sound products pack- aged with the least amount of waste, made from recycled or recyclable mate- rials, »T»ti containing no hazardous substances. rwrmfn«»r«ii«ntinTv A treatment process that removes dissolved minerals from water. Denitrification: The anaerobic biolog- ical reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas. Density: A measure of how heavy a solid, liquid, or gas is for its size. Depletion Curve: In hydraulics, a graphical representation of water de- pletion from storage-stream channels, surface soil, and groundwater. A deple- tion curve can be drawn for base flow, direct runoff, or total flow. Depressurization: A condition that occurs when the air pressure inside a structure is lower that the air pressure outside. Depressurization can occur when household appliances such as fireplaces or furnaces, that consume or exhaust house air, are not supplied with enough makeup air. Radon may be drawn into a house more rapidly under depressurized conditions. Dermal Exposure: Contact between a chemical and the akin. Dermal Toxicity: The ability of a pesti- cide or toxic chemical to poison people or animals by contact with the skin. (See: contact pesticide.) DBS: A synthetic estrogen, diethylstil- bestrol is used as a growth stimulant in food animals. Residues in meat are thought to be carcinogenic. Desalination: [Desalinization] (1) Re- moving salts from ocean or brackish water by using various technologies. (2) Removal of salts from soil by artifi- cial means, usually leaching. Deaiccant A chemical agent that ab- sorbs moisture; some desiccants are capable of drying out plants or insects, causing death. Design Capacity: The average daily flow that a treatment plant or other facility is designed to accommodate. Design Value: The monitored reading used by EPA to determine an area's air quality status, e.g., for ozone, the fourth highest reading measured over the most recent three years is the design value. Designated Pollutant An air pollutant which is neither a criteria nor hazard- ous pollutant, as described in the Clean Air Act, but for which new source performance standards exist. The Clean Air Act does require states to control these pollutants, which in- clude acid mist, total reduced sulfur (TRS), and fluorides. Designated Uses: Those water uses identified in state water quality stan- dards that must be achieved and main- tained as required under the Clean Water Act Uses can include cold water fisheries, public water supply, irriga- tion, etc. Designer Bugs: Popular term for mi- crobes developed through biotechnology that can degrade specific toxic chemi- cals at their source in toxic waste dumps or in ground water. Destination Facility: The facility to which regulated medical waste is shipped for treatment and destruction, incineration, and/or disposal. WaiLi iitjr^^jnm- Vertical mnring within a lake or reservoir to totally or partial- ly eliminate separate layers of temper- ature, plant, or animal life. Destroyed Medical Waste: Regulated medical waste that has been ruined, torn apart, or mutilated through ther- ------- 12 mal treatment, melting, shredding, grinding, tearing, or breaking, so that it is no longer generally recognized as medical waste, but has not yet been treated (excludes compacted regulated medical waste.) Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE): A percentage that represents the number of molecules of a com- pound removed or destroyed in an incinerator relative to the number of molecules that entered the • system (e.g., a DRE of 99.99 percent means that 9,999 molecules are destroyed for every 10,000 that enter; 99.99 percent is known as "four nines." For some pollutants, the RCRA removal require- ment may be a stringent as "six nines.") Destruction Facility: A facility that de- stroys regulated medical waste by mashing or mutilating it. Detention Time: 1. The theoretical cal- culated time required for a small amount of water to pass through a tank at a given rate of flow. 2. The actual time that a small amount of water is in a settling basin, flocculat- ing basin, or rapid-mix chamber. 3. In storage reservoirs, the length of time water will be held before being used. Desulfurization: Removal of sulfur from fossil fuels to reduce pollution. Detectable Leak Rate: The smallest leak (from a storage tank), expressed in terms of gallons-or liters-per-hour, that a test can reliably discern with a certain probability of detection or false alarm. Detection Criterion: A predetermined rule to ascertain whether a tank ia leaking or not. Most volumetric testa use a threshold value as the detection criterion. (See: volumetric tank testa.) Detergent: Synthetic washing agent that helps to remove dirt and oil. Some contain compounds which kill useful bacteria and encourage algae growth when they are in wastewater that reaches receiving waters. Development Efifecta: Adverse effects such as altered growth, structural abnormality, functional deficiency, or death observed in a developing organ- ism. Dewater 1. Remove or separate a portion of the water in a sludge or slurry to dry the sludge so it «•-«" be handled and disposed. 2. Remove or drain the water from a tank or trench. Diatomaceoua Earth (Diatomite): A chalk-like material (fossilized diatoms) used to filter out -solid waste in wastewater treatment plants; also used as an active ingredient in some pow- dered pesticides. Diazinon: An insecticide. In 1986, EPA banned its use on open areas such as sod farms and golf courses because it posed a danger to migratory birds. The ban did not apply to agricultural, home lawn, or commercial establish- ment uses. \ Dibenzofurans: A group of highly toxic organic compounds. Dicofol: A pesticide used on citrus fruits. Diffused Air A type of aeration that forces oxygen into sewage by pumping air through perforated pipes inside a holding tank. Diffusion: The movement of suspended or dissolved particles from a more con- centrated to a less concentrated area. The process tends to distribute the particles more uniformly. Digester In wastewater treatment, a closed tank; in solid-waste conversion, a unit in which bacterial action is in- duced and accelerated in order to break down organic matter and estab- lish the proper carbon to nitrogen ratio. Digestion: The biochemical decomposi- tion of organic matter, resulting in partial gasification, liquefaction, and mineralization of pollutants. Dike: A low wall that can act as a barrier to prevent a spill from spread- ing. Diluent: Any liquid or solid material used to dilute or carry an active ingre- dient Dilution Ratio: The relationship be- tween the volume of water in a stream and the volume of incoming water. It affects the ability of the stream to assimilate waste. Dimitie Lakes and reservoirs that freeze over and normally go through two stratifications and two mixing cycles a year. Dinocap: A fungicide used primarily by apple growers to control summer dis- eases. EPA proposed restrictions on its use in 1986 when laboratory tests found it caused birth defects in rabbits. Dinoeeb: A herbicide that is also used as a fungicide and insecticide. It was banned by EPA in 1986 because it posed the risk of birth defects and sterility. Dioxin: Any of a family of compounds known chemically as dibenzo-p-dioxins. Concern about them arises from their potential toxicity and contaminants in commercial products. Tests on labora- tory animals indicate that it is one of the more toxic man-made compounds. Direct Discharger A municipal or industrial facility which introduces pollution through a defined conveyance or system such as outlet pipes; a point source. Direct Filtration: A method of treating water which consists of the addition of coagulent chemicals, flash mixing, coagulation, minimal flocculation, and filtration. Sedimentation is not used! Direct Runoff: Water that flows over the ground surface or through the ground directly into streams, rivers, and lakes. Discharge: Flow of surface water-in a stream or canal or the outflow of ground water from a flowing artisian well, ditch, or spring. Can also apply to discharge of liquid effluent from a facility or to chemical emissions into the air through designated venting mechanisms. Din mfc A chemical or physical process that kills pathogenic organisms in water. Chlorine is often used to disinfect sewage treatment effluent, water supplies, wells, and swimming pools. Disinfectant By-Producfc A compound formed by the reaction of a disinfenctant such as chlorine with or- ganic material in the water supply. Disinfectant Time: The time it takes water to move from the point of disin- fectant application (or the previous point of residual disinfectant measure- ment) to a point before or at the point where the residual disinfectant is mea- sured. Dispersant: A chemical agent used to break up concentrations of organic material such as spilled oil. Disposables: Consumer products, other items, and packaging used once or a few times and discarded. Disposal: Final placement or destruc- tion of toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted soils; and drums containing hazardous materials from removal actions or accidental releases. Disposal may be accom- plished through use of approved secure ------- 13 landfills, surface impoundments, land farming, deep-well injection, ocean du- mping, or incineration. Dissolved Oxygen (DO): The oxygen freely available in water, vital to fish and other aquatic life and for the pre- vention of odors. DO levels are consid- ered a most important indicator of a water body's ability to support desir- able aquatic life. Secondary and ad- vanced waste treatment are generally designed to ensure adequate DO in waste-receiving waters. Dissolved Solids: Disintegrated organic and inorganic material in water. Ex- cessive amounts make water unfit to drink or use in industrial processes. Distillation: The act of purifying li- quids through boiling, so that the steam condenses to a pure liquid and the pollutants remain in a concentrat- ed residue. Diversion: 1. Use of part of a stream flow as water supply. 2. A channel with a supporting ridge on the lower side constructed across a slope to di- vert waster at a non-erosive velocity to sites where ait can be used, and dis- posed of. Diversion Rate: The percentage of waste materials diverted from tradi- tional disposal such as landfilling or incineration to be recycled, composted, or re-used. DNA Hybridization: Use of a segment of DNA, called a DNA probe, to identi- fy its complementary DNA; used to detect specific genes. Dosage/Dose: The actual quantity of a chemical administered to an organism or to which it is exposed. Doee Equivalent: The product of the absorbed dose from ionizing radiation and such factors as account for biologi- cal differences due to the type of radia- tion and its distribution in the body as specified by the International Commis- sion on Radiological Units and Mea- surements. Dose Response: How a biological orga- nism's response to a toxic substance quantitatively shifts as its overall exposure to the substance: changes (e.g., a small dose of carbon monoxide may cause drowsiness; a large dose can be fatal.) Dose-Response Assessment Estimating the potency of a chemical. Dose-Response Relationship: The quan- titative relationship between the amount of exposure to a substance and the extent of toxic injury or disease produced. DOT Reportable Quantity: The quanti- ty of a substance specified in U.S. De- partment of Transportation regulation that triggers labelling, packaging and other requirements related to shipping such substances. Downgradient The diretion that groundwater flows; similar to "down- stream" for surface water. Draft 1. The act of drawing or remov- ing water from a tank or reservoir. 2. The water which is drawn or removed. Draft Permit: A preliminary permit drafted and published by EPA; subject to public review and comment before final action on the application. Drainage: Improving the productivity of agricultural land by removing excess water from the soil by such means as ditches or subsurface drainage tiles. Drainage Basin: The area of land that drains water, sediment, and dissolved materials to a common outlet at some point along a stream channel. Drainage Well: A well drilled to carry excess water off agricultural fieleds. Because they act as a funnel from the surface to the groundwater below, drainage wells can contribute to groundwater pollution. Drawdown: 1. The drop in the water table or level of water in the ground when water is being pumped from a well. 2. The amount of water used from a tank or reservoir. 3. The drop in the water level of a tank or reservoir. Dredging: Removal of mud from the bottom of water bodies. This can dis- turb the ecosystem and cause silting that kills aquatic life. Dredging of contaminated muds can expose biota to heavy metals and other toxics. Dredg- ing activities may be subject to regula- tion under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act Drinking Water Equivalent Level: Protective level of exposure related to potentially non-carcinogenc effects of chemicals that are also known to cause cancer. Drop-off: Recyclable materials collec- tion method in which individuals bring them to a designated collection site. Dump: A site used to dispose of solid waste without environmental controls. Dustfall Jar: An open container used to collect large particles from the air for measurement and analysis. Dystrophic Lakes: Acidic, shallow bod- ies of water that contain much humus and/or other organic matter; contain many plants but few fish. Ecological Impact The effect that a man-made or natural activity has on living organisms and their non-living (abiotic) environment. Ecology: The relationship of living things to one another and their envi- ronment, or the study of such relation- ships. Ecological Indicator A characteristic of the environment that, when mea- sured, quantifies magnitude of stress, habitat characteristics, degree of expo- sure to a stressor, or ecological re- sponse to exposure. The term is a collective term for response, exposure, habitat, and stressor indicators. Ecological Risk Assessment The ap- plication of a formal framework, ana- lytical process, or model to estimate the effects of human actions(s) on a natural resource and to interpret the significance of those effects in light of the uncertainties identified in each component of the assessment process. Such analysis includes initial hazard identification, exposure and dose-re- sponse assessments, and risk char- acterization. Rfmnnmic Poisons: Chemicals used to control pests and to defoliate cash crops such as cotton. Ecosphere: The "bio-bubble" that con- tains life on earth, in surface waters, and in the air. (See: biosphere.) Ecosystem: The interacting system of a biological community and its non-living environmental surroundings. Ecosystem Structure: Attributes relat- ed to instantaneous physical state of an ecosystem; examples include species population density, species richness or evenness, and standing crop biomass. \ Ecotone: A habitat created by the jux- taposition of distinctly different habi- tats; an edge habitat; or an ecological zone or boundary where two or more ecosystems meet. Effluent Wastewater, treated or untreated that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall. ------- 14 Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters. Effluent Guidelines: Technical EPA documents which set effluent limita- tions for given industries and pollut- ants. Effluent Limitation: Restrictions estab- lished by a state or EPA on quantities, rates, and concentrations- in wastewater discharges. Effluent Standard: (See: effluent limi- tation.) Ejector A device used to disperse a chemical solution into water being treated. • Electrodialyais: A process that uses electrical current applied to permeable membranes to remove minerals from water. Often used to desalinate salty or brackish water. Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP): A device that removes particles from a gas stream (smoke) after combustion occurs. The ESP imparts an electrical charge to the particles, causing them to adhere to metal plates inside the precipitator. Rapping on the plates causes the particles to fall into a hop- per for disposal. Eligible Costa: The construction costs ' for waste-water treatment works upon which EPA grants are based. EMAP Data: 'Environmental monitor- ing data collected under the auspices of the Environmental Monitoring, and Assessment Program. All EMAP data share the common attribute of being of known quality, having been collected in the context of explicit data quality objectives (DQOs) and a consistent quality assurance program. Emergency (Chemical): A situation created by an accidental release or spill of hazardous chemicals that poses a threat to the safety of workers, resi- dents, the environment, or property. Emergency Episode: (See: air pollution episode.) Emergency Response Values: Concen- trations of chemicals, published, by various groups, defining acceptable levels for short-term exposures in emergencies. Emission: Pollution discharged into the atmosphere from smokestacks, other vents, and surface areas of commercial or industrial facilities; from residential chimneys; and from motor vehicle, loco- motive, or aircraft exhausts. Emission Cap: A limit designed to prevent projected growth in emissions from existing and future stationary sources from eroding any mandated re- ductions. Generally, such provisions require any emission growth from facilities under the restrictions be offset by equivalent reductions at other facilities under the saine cap. (See: emissions trading) Emission Factor The relationship between the amount of pollution pro- duced and the amount of raw material processed. For example, an emission factor for a blast furnace making iron would be the number of pounds of particulates per ton of raw materials. Emission Inventory: A listing, by source, of the amount of air pollutants discharged into the atmosphere of a community; used to establish emission standards. Emission Standard: The maximum amount of air polluting discharge le- gally allowed from a single source, mobile or stationary. Emissions Trading: The creation of surplus emission reductions at certain stacks, vents or similar emissions sources and the use of this surplus to meet or redefine pollution require- ments applicable to other emissions sources. This allows one source to increase emissions when another source reduces them, maintaining an overall constant emission level. Facili- ties that reduce emissions substantial- ly may "bank" their "credits" or sell them to other facilities or industries. Encapsulation: The treatment of asbes- tos-containing material with a liquid that covers the surface with a protec- tive coating or embeds fibers in an adhesive matrix to prevent their re- lease into the air. Enclosure: Putting an airtight, imper- meable, permanent barrier around as- bestos-containing materials to prevent the release of asbestos fibers into the air. Endangered Species: Animals, birds, fish, plants, or other living organisms threatened with extinction by man- made or natural changes in their envi- ronment. Requirements for declaring a species endangered are contained in the Endangered Species Act. Endangerment Assessment: A study to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a site on the National Priorities Last and the risks posed to public health or the environment. EPA or the state conduct the study when a legal action is to be taken to direct potentially responsible parties to clean up a site or pay for it. An endanger- ment assessment supplements a reme- dial investigation. Endrin: A pesticide toxic to freshwater and marine aquatic life that produces adverse health effects in domestic water supplies.. Energy Recovery: Obtaining energy from waste through a variety of pro- cesses (e.g., combustion.) Enforceable Requirements: Conditions or limitations in permits issued under the Clean Water Act .Section 402 or 404 that, if violated, could result in the issuance of a compliance order or initiation of a civil or criminal action under federal or applicable state laws. If a permit has not been issued, the term includes any requirement which, in the Regional Administrator's judg- ement, would be included in the permit when issued. Where no permit applies, the term includes any requirement which the RA determines is necessary for the best practical waste treatment technology to meet applicable criteria. Enforcement: EPA, state, or local legal actions to obtain compliance with envi- ronmental laws, rules, regulations, or agreements and/or obtain penalties or criminal sanctions for violations. En- forcement procedures may vary, de- pending on the requirements of differ- ent environmental laws and related implementing regulations. Under CERCLA, for example, EPA will seek to require potentially responsible par- ties to clean up a Superfund site, or pay for the cleanup, whereas under the Clean Air Act the agency may invoke sanctions against cities failing to meet ambient air quality standards that could prevent certain types of construc- tion or federal funding. In other situa- tions, if investigations by EPA and state agencies uncover willful viola- tions, criminal trials and penalties are sought. Enforcement Decision Document (EDD): A document that provides an explanation to the public of EPA's se- lection of the cleanup alternative at enforcement sites on the National Priorities List. Similar to a Record of Decision. Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance (I&M): An improved automobile inspec- tion and maintenance program—aimed at reducing automobile emissions—that contains, at a minimum, more vehicle types and model years, tighter inspec- tion, and better management practices. It may also include annual computer- ized or centralized inspections, under- ------- 15 the-hood inspection- for signs of tam- pering with pollution control equip- ment, and increased repair waiver cost. Enrichment: The addition of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon compounds) from sewage effluent or agricultural runoff to surface water; greatly increases the growth potential for algae and other aquatic plants. Entrain: To trap bubbles in water either mechanically through turbu- lence or chemically through a reaction. Environment: The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, develop- ment and survival of an organism. Environmental Assessment: An envi- ronmental analysis prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to determine whether a federal action would significantly affect the environment and thus require a more detailed environmental impact state- ment. Environmental Audit: An independent assessment of the current status of a party's compliance with applicable environmental requirements or of a party's environmental compliance poli- cies, practices, and controls. Environmental Equity/Justice: Equal protection from environmental hazards for individuals, groups, or communities regardless of race, ethnicity, or eco- nomic status. This applies to the de- velopment, implementation, and en- forcement of environmental laws, regu- lations, and policies, and implies that no population of "people should be forced to shoulder a disproportionate share of negative environmental im- pacts. Environmental Exposure: Human exposure to pollutants originating from facility emissions. Threshold levels are not necessarily surpassed, but low- level chronic pollutant exposure is one of the most common forma of environ- mental exposure (See: threshold level). Environmental Impact Statement: A document required of federal agencies by the National Environmental Policy Act for major projects or legislative proposals significantly affecting the en- vironment. A tool for decision making, it describes the positive and negative effects of the undertaking and cites alternative actions. Environmental Indicator: A measure- ment, statistic or value that provides a proximate gauge or evidence of the effects of environmental management programs or of the state or condition of the environment. Environmental Response Team: EPA experts located in Edison, NJ, and Cincinnati, OH, who can provide around-the-clock technical assistance to EPA regional offices and states during all types of hazardous waste site emergencies and spills of hazard- ous substances. Epidemiology: Study of the distribution of disease, or other health-related states and events in human popula- tions, as related to age, sex, occupa- tion, ethnic, and economic status in order to identify and alleviate health problems and promote better health. Epilimnion: Upper waters of a therm- ally stratified lake subject to wind action. Episode (Pollution): An air pollution incident in a given area caused by a concentration of atmospheric pollut- ants under meteorological conditions that may result in a significant in- crease in illnesses or deaths. May also describe water pollution events or hazardous material spills. Equilibrium: In relation to radiation, the state at which the radioactivity of consecutive elements within a radioac- tive series is neither increasing nor decreasing. Equivalent Method: Any method of sampling and analyzing for air pollu- tion which has been demonstrated to the EPA Administrator's satisfaction to be, under specific conditions, an ac- ceptable alternative to normally used reference methods. Erosion: The wearing away of land surface by wind or water, intensified by land-clearing practices related to farming, residential, or industrial de- velopment, road building, or logging. Estuary: Regions of interaction be- tween rivers and near-shore ocean wa- ters, where tidal action and river flow mi-r fresh and salt water. Such areas include bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, and lagoons. These brackish water ecosystems shelter and feed ma- rine life, birds, and wildlife. (See: wetlands.) Ethanol: An altemativce automotive fuel derived from grain and corn; usu- ally blended with gasoline to form gasohol. Ethylene Dibromide (EDB): A chemical used as an agricultural fumigant and in certain industrial processes. Ex- tremely toxic and found to be a car- cinogen in laboratory animals, EDB has been banned for most agricultural uses in the United States. Eutrophic Lakes: Shallow, murky bod- ies of water with concentrations of plant nutrients causing excessive pro- duction of algae. (See: dystrophic lakes.) Eutrophication: The slow aging process during which a lake, estuary, or bay evolves into a bog or marsh and even- tually disappears. During the later stages of eutrophication the water body is choked by abundant plant life due to higher levels of nutritive compounds such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Human activities can accelerate the process. Evaporation Ponds: Areas where sew- age sludge is dumped and dried. Evapotranapiration: The loss of water from the soil both by evaporation and by transpiration from the plants grow- ing in the soil. Exceedance: Violation of the pollutant levels permitted by environmental pro- tection standards. Exclusion: In the asbestos program, one of several situations that permit a Local Education Agency (LEA) to de- lete one or more of the items required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), e.g., records of previous asbestos sample collection and analysis may be used by the ac- credited inspector in lieu of AHERA bulk sampling. Exclusionary Ordinance: Zoning that excludes classes of persons or busi- nesses from a particular neighborhood or area. Exempt Solvent: Specific organic com- pounds not subject to requirements of regulation because they are deemed by EPA to be of negligible photochemical reactivity. Exempted Aquifer: Underground bod- ies of water defined in the Under- ground Injection Control program as aquifers that are potential sources of drinking water though not being used as such, and thus exempted from regu- lations barring underground injection activities. Exemption: A state (with primacy) may exempt a public water system from-a requirement involving an MCL, treat- ment technique; or both, if the. system cannot comply due to compelling eco- nomic or other factors, or because the ------- 16 system was in operation before the requirement or MCL was instituted, and the exemption will not create a public health risk. Exotic Species: A species that is not indigenous to a region. Experimental Use Permit: Obtained by manufacturers for testing new pesti- cides or uses of thereof whenever they conduct experimental field studies to support registration on 10 acres or more on land or one acre or more of water. Explosive Limits: The amounts of va- por in the air that form explosive mix- tures; limits are expressed as lower and upper limits and give the range of vapor concentrations in air that \vill explode if an ignition source is present. Exposure: The amount of radiation or pollutant present in a given environ- ment that represents a potential health threat to living organisms. Exposure Assessment: Identifying the pathways by which toxicants may reach individuals, estimating how much of a chemical an individual is likely to be exposed to, and estimating the number likely to be exposed. Exposure Indicator A characteristic of the environment measured to provide evidence of the occurrence or magni- tude of a response indicator's exposure to a chemical or biological stress. Exposure Level: The amount (concen- tration) of a chemical at the absorptive surfaces of an organism. Extraction Procedure (E P Toxic): De- termining toxicity by a procedure which simulates leaching; if a certain concentration of a toxic substance can be leached from a waste, that waste is considered hazardous, i.e., "E P Toxic." Extremely Hazardous Substances: Any of 406 chemicals identified by EPA as toxic, and listed under SARA Title III. The list is subject to periodic revi- sion. Fabric Filter: A cloth device that catch- es dust particles from industrial emis- sions. Facilities Plans: Plans and studies related to the construction of treat- ment works necessary to comply with the Clean Water Act or RCRA. A facili- ties plan investigates needs and pro- vides information on the cost effective- ness of alternatives, a recommended plan, an environmental assessment of the recommendations, and descriptions of the treatment works, costs, and a completion schedule. Facility Emergency Coordinator Rep- resentative of a facility covered by environmental law (e.g, a chemical plant) who participates in the emer- gency reporting process with the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Facultative Bacteria: Bacteria that can live under aerobic or anaerobic condit- ions. Feasibility Study: 1. Analysis of the practicability of a proposal; e.g., a de- scription and analysis of potential cleanup alternatives for a site such as one on the National Priorities List. The feasibility study usually recommends selection of a cost-effective alternative. It usually starts as soon as the remedi- al investigation is underway; together, they are commonly referred to as the "RVFS". 2. A small-scale investigation of a problem to ascertain whether a proposed research approach is likely to provide useful data. Fecal Coliform Bacteria: Bacteria found in the intestinal tracts of mam- mals. Their presence in water or sludge is an indicator of pollution and possible contamination by pathogens. Federal Implementation Plan: Under current law, a federally implemented plan to achieve attainment of air quali- ty standards, used when a state is unable to develop an adequate plan. Federal Motor Vehicle Control Pro- gram; All federal actions aimed at controlling pollution from motor vehi- cles by such efforts as establishing and enforcing tailpipe and evaporative emission standards for new vehicles, testing methods development, and guidance to states operating inspection and maintenance programs. Feedlot A confined area for the con- trolled feeding of animals. Tends to concentrate large amounts of animal waste that cannot be absorbed by the soil and, hence, may be carried to nearby streams or lakes by rainfall runoff. Fen: A type of wetland that accumu- lates peat deposits. Fens are less acidic than bogs, deriving most of their water from groundwater rich in calcium and magnesium. (See: wetlands.) FIFRA Pesticide Ingredient: An ingre- dient of a pesticide that must be regis- tered with EPA under the Federal Insecticide, fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Products making pesticide claims must register under FIFRA and may be subject to labeling and use require- ments. Filling: Depositing dirt, mud or other materials into aquatic areas to create more dry land, usually for agricultural or commercial development purposes, often with ruinous ecological conse- quences. Filter Strip: Strip or area of vegetation used for removing sediment, organic matter, and other pollutants from runoff and waste water. Filtration: A'treatment process, under the control of qualified operators, for removing solid (particulate) matter from water by means of porous media such as sand or a man-made filter; often used to remove particles that containing pathogens. Financial Assurance for Closure: Docu- mentation or proof that an owner or operator of a facility such as a landfill or other waste repository is capable of paying the projected costs of closing the facility and monitoring it after- wards as provided in RCRA regula- tions. Finding of No Significant Impact- A document prepared by a federal agency showing why a proposed action would not have a significant impact on the environment and thus would not re- quire preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. An FNSI is based on the results of an environmental assessment. Finished Water Water that has passed through all the processes in a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers. First Draw: The water that comes out when a tap is first opened, likely to have the highest level of lead contam- ination from plumbing materials. Fix a Sample: A sample is "fixed" in the field by adding chemicals that prevent water quality indicators of interest in the sample from changing before laboratory measurements are made. Flare: A control device that burns hazardous materials to prevent their release into the environment; may operate continuously or intermittently, usually on top a stack. Floe A clump of solids formed in sew- age by biological or chemical action. Flocculation: Process by which clumps of solids in water or sewage aggregate through biological or chemical action so ------- 17 they can be separated from water or sewage. Floodplain: The flat or nearly flat land along a river or stream or in a tidal arra that is covered by water during a flood. Floor Sweep: Capture of heavier-than- air gases that collect at floor level. Flow Rate: The rate, expressed in gallons-or liters-per-hour, at which a fluid escapes from a hole or fissure in a tank. Such measurements are also made of liquid waste, effluent, and surface water movement. Flowmeter: A gauge indicating the velocity of wastewater moving through a treatment plant or of any liquid moving through various industrial processes. Flue Gas Desulfurization: A technology that employs a sorbent, usually lime or limestone, to remove sulfur dioxide from the gases produced by burning fossil fuels. Flue gas desulfurization is current state-.of-the art technology for major SO2 emitters, like power plants. Flue Gas: The air coming out of a chimney after combustion in the burn- er it is venting. It can include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxides, particles and many chemical pollutants. Fluidized: A mass of solid particles that is made to flow like a liquid by injection of water or gas is said to have been fluidized. In water treatment, a bed of filter media is fluidized by backwashing water through the filter. Fluidized Bed Incinerator An inciner- ator that uses a bed of hot sand or other granular material to transfer heat directly to waste. Used mainly for destroying municipal sludge. Fluoridation: The addition of n chemi- cal to increase the concentration of fluoride ions in drinking water to re- duce the incidence of tooth decay in children. Flume: A natural or man-made chan- nel that diverts water. Fluorides: Gaseous, solid, or dissolved compounds containing fluorine that re- sult from industrial processes. Exces- sive amounts in food can lead to fluoro- sis. Fluorocarbons (PCs): Any of a number of organic compounds analogous to hydrocarbons in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluo- rine. Once used in the United States as a propellant for domestic aerosols, they are now found mainly in coolants and some industrial processes. PCs containing chlorine are called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They are believed to be modifying the ozone layer in the stratosphere, thereby allowing more harmful solar radiation to reach the Earth's surface. Flush: 1. To open a cold-water tap to clear out all the water which may have been sitting for a long time in the pipes. In new homes, to flush a system means to send large volumes of water gushing through the unused pipes to remove loose particles of solder and flux. 2. To force large amounts of water through liquid to clean out piping or tubing, storage or process tanks. Flux: A flowing or flow. Fly Ash: Non-combustible residual particles expelled by flue gas. Fogging: Applying a pesticide by rap- idly heating the liquid chemical so that it forms very fine droplets that resem- ble smoke or fog. Used to destroy mos- quitoes, black flies, and similar pests. Food Chain: A sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source. Formaldehyde: A colorless, pungent, and irritating gas, CH20, used chiefly as a disinfectant and preservative and in synthesizing other compounds Like resins. Formulation: The substances compris- ing all active and inert ingredients in a pesticide. Fonil Fuel: Fuel driyed from ancient organic remains, e.g., peat, coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Freeboard: 1. Vertical distance from the normal water surface to the top of a confining wall. 2. Vertical distance from the sand surface to the underside of a trough in a sand filter. Fresh Water Water that generally contains less than 1,000 milligrams- per-liter of dissolved solids, Friable Asbestos: Any material con- taining more than one percent asbes- tos, and that can be crumbled or re- duced to powder by hand pressure. (May include previously non-friable material which becomes broken or damaged by mechanical force.) Friable: Capable of being crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Fuel Economy Standard: The Corpo- rate Average Fuel Economy Standard (CAFE) effective since 1978. It en- hanced the national fuel conservation effort imposing a miles-per-gallon floor for motor vehicles. Fuel Efficiency: The proportion of ener- gy released by fuel combustionton that is converted into useful energy. Fuel Switching: 1. A precombustion process whereby a low-sulfur coal is used in place of a higher sulfur coal in a power plant to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. 2. Illegally using leaded gasoline in a motor vehicle designed to use only unleaded. Fugitive Emissions: Emissions not caught by a capture system. Fume: Tiny particles trapped in vapor in a gas stream. Fumigant: A pesticide vaporized to kill pests. Used in buildings and green- houses. - Functional Equivalent: Term used to describe EPA's decision-making process and its relationship to the environmen- • tal review conducted under the Nation- al Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A review is considered functionally equiv- alent when it addresses the substan- tive components of a NEPA review. Fungi: (Singular: Fungus) Molds, mil- dews, yeasts, mushrooms, and puff- balls, a group of organisms lacking in chlorophyll (i.e., are not photosynthet- ic) and which 'are usually non-mobile, filamentous, and multicellular. Some grow in soil, others attach themselves to decaying trees and other plants whence they obtain nutrients. Some are pathogens, others stabilize sewage and digest composted waste. Fungicide: Pesticides which are used to control, deter, or destroy fungi. Fungistafc A chemical that keeps fungi from growing. Furrow Irrigation: Irrigation method in which water travels through the field by means of small channels between each row or groups of rows. Future Liability: Refers to potentially responsible parties' obligations to pay for additional response activities be- yond those specified in the Record of Decision or Consent Decree. Game Fish: Species like trout, salmon, or bass, caught for sport. Many of ------- 18 them show more sensitivity to environ- mental change than "rough" fish. Garbage: Animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, storage, sale, preparation, cooking, and serving of foods. Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrome- ter Highly sophisticated instrument that identifies the molecular composi- - tion and. concentrations of various chemicals in water and soil samples. Gasahol: Mixture of gasoline and etha- nol derived from fermented agricultur- al products containing at least nine percent ethanol. Gasohol emissions contain less carbon monoxide than those from gasoline. Gasification: Conversion of solid mate- rial such as coal into a gas for use as a fuel. Gasoline Volatility: The property of gasoline whereby it evaporates into a vapor. Gasoline vapor is a volatile organic compound. General Permit: A permit applicable to a class or category of dischargers. General Reporting Facility: A facility having one or more hazardous chemi- cals above the 10,000 pound threshold for planning quantities. Such facilities must file MSDS and emergency inven- tory information with the SERC and LEPC and local fire departments. Generator 1. A facuity or mobile source that emits pollutants into the air or releases hazardous waste into water or soil. 2. Any person, by site, whose act or process produces regulat- ed medical waste or whose act first causes such waste to become subject to regulation. In a case where more than one person (e.g., doctors with separate medical practices) is located in the same building, each business entity is a separate generator. Genetic Engineering: A process of inserting new genetic information into existing cells in order to modify any organism for the purpose of changing one of its characteristics. Geographic Information System (618): A computer system designed for stor- ing, manipulating analysing, and displaying data in a geographic con- text Geological Log: A detailed description of all underground features (depth, thickness, type of formations) discov- ered during the drilling of a well. Geophysical Log: A record of the struc- ture and composition of the earth en- countered when drilling a well or simi- lar type of test hold or boring. Germicide: Any compound that kills disease-causing microorganisms. Giardia Lambiia: Protozoan in the feces of man and animals that can cause severe gastrointestinal ailments when it contaminates drinking water. Glovebag: A polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride bag-like enclosure affixed around an asbestos-containing source (most often thermal system insulation) permitting the material to be removed while minimizing release of airborne fibers in the surrounding atmosphere. Gooseneck: A portion of a water service connection between the distribution system water main and a meter. Some- times called a pigtail. Grab Sample: A single sample collected at a particular time and place that rep- resents the composition of the water only at that time and place. Grain Loading: The rate at which particles are emitted from a pollution source. Measurement is made by the number of grains per cubic foot of gas emitted. Granular Activated Carbon. Treatment: A filtering system often used in small water systems and individual homes to remove organics. GAG can be highly ef- fective in removing elevated levels of radon from water. Grassed Waterway: Natural or con- structed watercourse or outlet that is shaped or.graded and established in suitable vegetation for the disposal of runoff water without erosion. Gray Water: Domestic wastewater composed of wash water from kitchen, bathroom, and laundry sinks, tubs, and washers. Greenhouse Effect: The wanning of the Earth's atmosphere attributed to a build-up of carbon dioxide or other gas- es; some scientists think that this build-up allows the sun's rays to heat the Earth, while infra-red radiation makes the atmosphere opaque to a counterbalancing loss of heat Grinder Pump: A mechanical device that shreds solids and raises sewage to a higher elevation through pressure sewers. Ground Coven Plants grown to keep soil from eroding. Ground Water: The supply of fresh water found beneath the Earth's sur- face, usually in aquifers, which supply wells and springs. Because ground water is a major source of drinking water, there is growing concern over contamination from leaching agricul- tural or industrial pollutants or leak- ing underground storage tanks. Ground-Water Discharge: Ground water entering near coastal waters which has been contaminated by land- fill leachate, deep well injection of hazardous wastes, septic tanks, etc. Ground Water Under the Direct In- fluence (UDI) of Surface Water Any water beneath the surface of the ground with: 1. significant occurence of insects or other microorganims, algae, or large-diameter pathogens; 2. signifi- cant and relatively rapid shifts in water characteristcs such as turbidity, temperature, conductivity, or pH which closely correlate to climatological or surface water conditions. Direct influ- ence is determined for individual sources in accordance with criteria established by the state. Gross Alpha/Beta Particle Activity: The total radioactivity due to alpha or beta particle emissions as inferred from measurements on a dry sample. Gully Erosion: Severe erosion in which trenches are cut to a depth greater than 30 centimeters (a foot). Generally, ditches deep enough to cross with farm equipment are considered gullies. H Habitat: The place where a population (e.g., human, animal, plant, microor- ganism) lives and its surroundings, both living and non-living. Habitat Indicator A physical attribute of the environment measured to char- acterize conditions necessary to sup- port an organism, population, or com- munity in the absence of pollutants, e.g., salinity of esturarine waters or substrate type in streams or lakes. Half-Life: 1. The time required for a pollutant to lose half its affect on the environment. For example, the bio- chemical half-life of DDT in the envi- ronment is 15 years, of Radium. 1,580 years. 2. The time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive element to undergo self-transmutation or decay. 3. The time required for the elimination of one half a total dose from the body. Halon: Bromine-containing compounds with long atmospheric lifetimes whose breakdown in the stratosphere causes depletion of ozone. Halons are used in fire-fighting. ------- 19 Hammennill: A high-speed machine that uses hammers and cutters to crush, grind, chip, or shred solid waste. Hard Water Alkaline water containing dissolved salts that interfere with some industrial processes and prevent soap from sudsing. Hauler Garbage collection company that offers complete refuse removal service; many also will also collect recyclables. Hazard Communication Standard: An OSHA regulation that requires chemi- cal manufacturers, suppliers, and im- porters to assess the hazards of the chemicals that they make, supply, or import, and to inform employers, cus- tomers, and workers of these hazards through MSDS sheets. Hazard Evaluation: A component of risk evaluation that involves gathering and evaluating data on the types of health injury or disease that may be produced by a chemical and on the con- ditions of exposure under which such health effects are produced. Hazard Identification: Determining if a chemical can cause adverse health effects in humans and what those affects might be. Hazardous Air Pollutants: Air pollut- ants which are not covered by ambient air quality standards but which, as defined in the Clean Air Act, may reasonably be expected to cause or contribute to irreversible illness or death. Such pollutants include asbes- tos, beryllium, mercury, benzene, coke oven emissions, radionuclides, and vinyl chloride. Hazardous Chemical: An EPA designa- tion for any hazardous material requir- ing an MSDS under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. Such sub- stances are capable of producing fires and explosions or .adverse health ef- fects like cancer and dermatitis. Haz- ardous chemicals are distinct from hazardous waste. (See: hazardous waste.) Hazardous Ranking System: The prin- ciple screening tool used by EPA to evaluate risks to public health and the environment associated 'frith aban- doned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The HRS calculates a score based on the potential of hazardous substances spreading from the site through the air, surface water, or ground water, and on other factors such as density and proximity of hu- man population. This score is the pri- mary factor in deciding if the site should be on the National Priorities List and, if so, what ranking it should have compared to other sites on the list. Hazardous Substance: 1. Any material that poses a threat to human health and/or the environment. Typical haz- ardous substances are toxic, corrosive, ignitable, explosive, or chemically re- active. 2. Any substance designated by EPA to be reported if a designated quantity of the substance is spilled in the waters of the United States or if otherwise released into the environ- ment. Hazardous Waste: By-products of soci- ety that can pose a substantial or po- tential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly man- aged. Possesses at least one of four characteristics (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity), or appears on special EPA lists. Hazardous Waste TjmHfill- An excavat- ed or engineered site where hazardous waste is deposited and covered. Hazards Analysis: Procedures used to (1) identify potential sources of release of hazardous materials from fixed facilities or transportation accidents; (2) determine the vulnerability of a geographical area to a release of haz- ardous materials; and (3) compare haz- ards to determine which present great- er or lesser risks to a community. Hazards Identification: Providing information on which facilities have extremely hazardous substances, what. those chemicals are, how much there is at each facility, how the chemicals are stored, and whether they are used at' high temperatures. Health Advisory Level: A non-regulato- ry health-based reference level of chemical traces (usually in ppm) in drinking water at which there are no adverse health risks when ingested over various periods of time. Such levels are established for one day, 10 days, long-term and life-time exposure periods. They contain a wide margin of safety. Health Ai at An evaluation of available data on existing or potential risks to human, health posed by a Superfund site. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATS- DR) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is required to perform such an assessment at every site on the National Priorities Last. Heat Island Effect: A "dome" of ele- vated temperatures over an urban area caused by structural and pavement heat fluxes, and pollutant emissions. Heavy Metals: Metallic elements with high atomic weights, e.g., mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and lead; can damage living things at low con- centrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain. Heptachlor An insecticide that .was banned on some food products in 1975 and all of them 1978. It was allowed for use in seed treatment until 1983. More recently it was found in milk and other dairy products in Arkansas and Missouri where dairy cattle were ille- gally fed treated seed. Herbicide: A chemical pesticide de- signed to control or destroy plants, weeds, or grasses. Herbivore: An animal that feeds on plants. Heterotrophic Organisms: Species that are dependent on organic matter for food. High-Density Polyethylene: A material used to make plastic bottles and other products that produces toxic fumes when burned. High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW): Waste generated in core fuel of a nu- clear reactor or by nuclear fuel repro- cessing; is a serious threat to anyone who comes near the waste without shi- elding. (See: low-level radioactive waste.) High-Level Nuclear Waste Facility: Plant designed to handle disposal of used nuclear fuel, high-level radioac- tive waste, and plutonium waste. High-Line Jumpers: Pipes or hoses connected to fire hydrants and laid on top of the ground to provide emergency water service for an isolated portion of a distribution system. High-Risk Community: A community located within the vicinity of numerous sites of facilities or other potential sources of environrnmental expo- sure/health hazards which may result in high levels of exposure to contami- nants or pollutants. Holding Pond: A pond or reservoir, usually made of earth, built to store polluted runoff. Homeowner Water System: Any water system which supplies piped water to a single residence. ------- 20 Homogeneous Area: In accordance with Asbestos Hazard and Emergency Re- sponse Act (AHERA) definitions, an area of surfacing materials, thermal surface insulation, or miscellaneous material that is uniform in color and texture. Hood Capture Efficiency: Ratio of the emissions captured by a hood and dire- cted into a control or disposal device; expressed as a percent of all emissions. Host: 1. In genetics, the organism, typically a bacterium, into which a gene from another organism is trans- planted. 2. In medicine, an animal infected or parasitized by another organism. Household Waste (Domestic Waste): Solid waste, composed of garbage and rubbish, which normally originated in a private home or apartment house. Domestic waste may contain a signifi- cant amount of toxic or hazardous waste. Human Equivalent Dose: A dose which, when administered to humans, produces an effect equal to that pro- duced by a dose in animals. Human Exposure Evaluation: Describ- ing the nature and size of the popula- tion exposed to a substance and the magnitude and duration of their expo- sure. Human Health Risk: The likelihood that a given exposure or series of expo- sures may have or will damage the health of individuals. Hydraulic Gradient: In general, the direction of groundwater flow due to changes in the depth of the water table. Hydrocarbons (HO Chemical com- pounds that consist entirely of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrogen Sulfide (HS> Gas emitted during organic decomposition. Also a by-product of oil refining and burning. Smells like rotten eggs and, in heavy concentration, can kill or cause illness. Hydrogeological Cycle: The natural process recycling water from the atmo- sphere down to (and through) the earth and back to the atmosphere again. Hydrogeology: The geology of ground water, with particular emphasis on the chemistry and movement of water. Hydrologic Cycle: Movement or ex- change of water between the atmo- sphere and earth. Hydrology: The science dealing with the properties, distribution, and cir- culation of water. Hydrophilic: Having a strong affinity for water. Hydrophobic: Having a strong aversion for water. Hydropneumatic: A water system, usually small, in which a water pump is automatically controlled by the pres- sure in a compressed air tank. Hypolimnion: Bottom waters of a ther- mally stratified lake., The hypolimnion of a eutrophic lake is usually low or lacking in oxygen. I Identification Code or EPA I.D. Num- ber The unique code assigned to each generator, transporter, and treatment, storage, or disposal facility by regu- lating agencies to facilitate identifica- tion and tracking of chemicals or haz- ardous waste. Ignitable: Capable of burning or caus- ing a fire. Imhoff Cone: A clear, cone-shaped con- tainer used to measure the volume of settleable solids in a specific volume of water. Immediately Dangerous to Life Health CEDLH): The' maximum level to which a healthy individual can be exposed to a chemical for 30 minutes and escape without suffering irrevers- ible health effects or impairing symp- toms. Used as a "level of concern." (See: level of concern.) Impermeable: Not easily penetrat- ed. The property of a material or soil that does not allow, or allows only with great difficulty, the movement or pas- sage of water. Impoundment: A body of water or sludge confined by a dam, dike, flood- gate, or other barrier. Command Post: A facility located at a safe distance from an emergency site, where the incident commander, key staff, and technical representatives can make decisions and deploy emergency manpower and equipment. Command System (ICS): The organizational arrangement wherein one person, normally the Fire Chief of the impacted district, is in charge of an integrated, comprehensive emergency response organization and the emer- gency incident site, backed by an Emergency Operations Center staff with resources, information, and ad- vice. Incineration: A treatment technology involving destruction of waste by con- trolled burning at high temperatures, e.g., burning sludge to remove the water and reduce the remaining resi- dues to a safe, non-burnable ash that can be disposed of safely on land, in some waters, or in underground loca- tions. Incineration at Sea: Disposal of waste by burning at sea on specially-designed incinerator ships. Incinerator: A furnace for burning waste under controlled conditions. Incompatible Waste: A waste unsuit- able for mixing with another waste or material because it may react to form a hazard. Indicator: In biology, an organism, spe- cies, or community whose characteris- tics show the presence of specific envi- ronmental conditions. 2. In chemistry, a substance that shows a > visible change, usually of color, at a desired point in a chemical reaction. 3.A device that indicates the result of a measu- rement. Indirect Discharge: Introduction of pol- lutants from a non-domestic source into a publicly owned waste-treatment system. Indirect dischargers can be commercial or industrial facilities whose wastes enter local sewers. Indirect Source: Any facility or build- ing, property, road or parking area that attracts motor vehicle traffic and, indirectly, causes pollution. Indoor Air The breathing air inside a habitable structure or conveyance. Indoor Air Pollution: Chemical, physi- cal, or biological contaminants in in- door air. Indoor Climate: Temperature, humidi- ty, lighting, and noise levels in a habit- able structure or conveyance. Indoor climate can affect indoor air pollution. Industrial Pollution Prevention: Com- bination of industrial source reduction and toxic chemical use substitution Industrial Source Reduction: Practices that reduce the amount of any hazard- ous substance, pollutant, or contami- nant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environ- ment; also reduces the threat to public health and the environment associated with such releases. Term includes equipment or technology modifications, ------- 21 substitution of raw materials, and improvements in housekeeping, main- tenance, training or inventory control. Industrial Waste: Unwanted materials from an industrial operation; may be liquid, sludge, solid, or hazardous waste. Inert Ingredient: Pesticide components such as solvents, carriers, dispers- ants.and surfactants that are not ac- tive against target pests. Not all inert ingredients are, innocuous. Inertia! Separator: A device that uses centrifugal force to separate waste particles. Infectious Agent Any organism, such as a virus or bacterium, that is path- ogenic and capable of being communi- cated by invasion and multiplication in body tissues. Infectious Waste: Hazardous waste with infectious characteristics, includ- ing: contaminated animal waste; hu- man blood and blood products; isola- tion waste, pathological waste; and discarded sharps (needles, scalpels or broken medical instruments.) Infiltration: 1. The penetration of wa- ter through the ground surface into sub-surf ace soil or the penetration of water from the soil into sewer or other pipes through defective joints, connec- tions, or manhole walls. 2. The tech- nique of applying large volumes of waste water to land to penetrate the surface and percolate through the . underlying soil. (See: percolation.) Infiltration Gallery: A sub-surface groundwater collection system, typical- ly shallow in depth, constructed with open-jointed or perforated pipes that discharge collected water into a water- tight chamber from which the water is pumped to treatment facilities and into the distribution system. Usually locat- ed close to streams or ponds. Infiltration Rate: The quantity of water than can enter the soil in a specified time interval. Inflow: Entry of extraneous rain water into a sewer system from sources other than infiltration, such as basement drains, manholes, storm drains, and street washing. Influent: Water, wastewater, or other liquid flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment plant. Information File: In the Superfund program, a file that contains accurate, up-to-date documents on a Superfund site. The file is usually located in a public building (school, library, or city hall) convenient for local residents. Initial Compliance Period(water): The first full three-year compliance period which begins at least 18 months after promulgation. Injection Well: A well into which fluids are injected for purposes such as waste disposal, improving the recovery of crude oil, or solution mining. Injection Zone: A geological formation receiving fluids through a well. In-Ldne Filtration: Pre-treatment met- hod in which chemicals are mixed by the flowing water; commonly used in pressure filtration installations. Elimi- nates need for flocculation and sedi- mentation. Innovative Technologies: New or inven- tive methods to treat effectively haz- ardous waste and reduce risks to hu- man health and the environment. Inoculum: 1. Bacterium placed in com- post to start biological action. 2. A medium containing organisms that is introduced into cultures or living or- ganisms. Inorganic Chemicals: Chemical sub- stances of mineral origin, not of basi- cally carbon structure. Insecticide: A pesticide compound spe- cifically used to kill or prevent the growth of insects. Inspection and MaiTit«tianc« (J/M): 1. Activities to assure that vehicles' emis- sions-controls work properly. 2. Also applies to wastewater treatment plants and other anti-pollution facilities and processes. Instream Use: Water use taking place within a stream channel, e.g., hydro- electric power generation, navigation, water quality improvement, fish propa- gation, recreation. In-Situ Stripping: Treatment system that remove or "strips" volatile organic compounds from contaminated ground or surface water by forcing an air- stream through the water and causing the compounds to evaporate. Integrated Eipueure Assessment Cu- mulative summation (over time) of the magnitude of exposure to a toxic chem- ical in all media. Integrated Pest Management (TPM): A mixture of chemical and other, non-pe- sticide, methods to control pests. Integrated Waste Management Using a variety of practices to handle munici- pal solid waste; can include source reduction, recycling, incineration, and landfilling. Interceptor Sewers: Large sewer lines that, in a combined system, control the flow of sewage to the treatment plant. In a storm, they allow some of the sew- age to flow directly into a receiving stream, thus keeping it from overflow- ing onto the streets. Also used in sepa- rate systems to collect the flows from main and trunk sewers and carry them to treatment points. Interface: The common boundary be- tween two substances such as a water and a solid, water and a gas, or two liquids such as water and oil. Interim (Permit) Status: Period during which treatment, storage and disposal facilities coming under RCRA in 1980 are temporarily permitted to operate while awaiting a permanent permit. Permits issued under these circum- stances are usually called "Part A" or "Part B" permits. Interstate Carrier Water Supply: A source of water for drinking and sani- tary use on planes, buses, trains, and ships operating in more than one state. These sources are federally regulated. Interstate Commerce Clause: A clause of the U.S. Constitution which reserves to the federal government the right to regulate the conduct of business across state lines. Under this clause, for ex- ample, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states may not inequitably restrict the disposal out-of-state wastes in their jurisdictions. Interstate Waters: Waters that flow across or form part of state or inter- national boundaries, e.g., the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, or coastal waters. Interstitial Monitoring: The continuous surveillance of the space between the walls of an underground storage tank. Inventory (TSCA): Inventory of chemi- cals produced pursuant to Section 8 (b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Inversion: A layer of warm air prevent- ing the rise of cooling air and pollut- ants trapped beneath it. Can cause an air pollution episode. , Ion: An electrically charged atom that can be drawn from waste water during electrodialysis. J.S. ------- 22 Ion Exchange Treatment: A common water-softening method often found on a large scale at water purification plants that remove some organics and radium by adding calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide to increase the pH to a level where the metals will pre- cipitate out. lonization Chamber: A device that measures the intensity of ionizing radiation. ' . . Ionizing Radiation: Radiation that can strip electrons from atoms, .i.e., alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Irradiated Food: Food subject to brief radioactivity, usually gamma rays, to kill insects, bacteria, and mold, and to permit storage without refrigeration. Irradiation: Exposure to radiation of wavelengths shorter than those of visi-' ble light (gamma, x-ray, or ultraviolet), for medical purposes, to sterilize milk or other foodstuffs, or to induce poly- merization of monomers or vulcaniza- tion of rubber. Irreversible Effect; Effect characterized by the inability of the body to partially or fully repair injury caused by a toxic agent. Irrigation: Applying water or waste- water to land areas to supply the. wa- ter and nutrient needs of plants. Irrigation Efficiency: The amount of water stored in the crop root zone com- pared to the amount of irrigation water applied. Irrigation Return Flow: Surface and subsurface water which leaves the field following application of irrigation wa- ter. Irritant A substance that can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, or respira- tory system. Effects may be acute from a single high-level exposure, or chronic from repeated low-level exposures to such compounds as chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, and nitric acid. Isotope: A variation of an element that has the same atomic number of pro- tons but a different weight because of the number of neutrons. Various iso- topes of the same element may have different radioactive behaviors, some are highly unstable.. Jar Test: A laboratory procedure that simulates a water treatment plant's co- agulation/Qocculation units with dif- fering chemical doses, mix speeds, and settling times to estimate the mini- mum or ideal coagulant dose required to achieve certain water quality goals. Karat: A geologic formation of irregular limestone deposits with sinks, under- ground streams, and caverns. Kinetic Energy: Energy possessed by a moving body of water as a result of its motion. Kinetic Rate Coefficient: A number that describes the rate at which a water constituent such as a biochemi- cal oxygen demand or dissolved oxygen rises or falls. Lagoon: 1. A shallow pond where sun- light, bacterial action, and oxygen work to purify wastewater; also used for storage of wastewater or spent nuclear fuel rods. 2. Shallow body of water, often separated from the sea by coral reefs or sandbars. Land Application: Discharge of waste- water onto the ground for treatment or reuse. (See: irrigation.) Land Ban: Phasing out of land disposal of most untreated hazardous wastes, as mandated by the 1984 RCRA amendments. Land Fanning (of waste): A disposal process in which hazardous waste de- posited on or in the soil is degraded naturally by microbes. ? i. Sanitary landfills are dis- posal sites for non-hazardous solid wastes spread in layers, compacted to the smallest practical volume, and covered by material applied at the end of each operating day. 2. Secure chemi- cal landfills are disposal sites for haz- ardous waste, selected and designed to the chance of release of haz- ardous substances into the environ- ment. Landscape: The traits, patterns, and structure of a specific geographic area, including its biological composition, its physical environment, and its anthro- pogenic or social patterns. An area where interacting ecosystems are grouped and repeated in similar form. Landscape Characterization: Docu- mentation of the traits and patterns of the essential elements of the land- scape. Landscape Ecology: The study of the distribution patterns of communities and ecosystems, the ecological process- es that affect those patterns, and changes in pattern and process over time. Landscape Indicator A measurement of the landscape, calculated from mapped or remotely sensed data, used to describe spatial patterns of land use and land cover across a geographic area. Landscape indicators may be useful as measures of certain kinds of environmental degradation such as forest fragmentation. Langelier Index (LI): An index reflect- ing the equilibrium pH of a water with respect to calcium and alkalinity; used in stabilizing water to control both corrosion and scale deposition. Large Quantity Generator Person or facility generating more than 2200 pounds of hazardous waste per month. Such generators produce about 90 per- cent of the nation's hazardous waste, and are subject to all RCRA require- ments. Large Water System: A water system that services more than 50,000 custom- era. Latency: Time from the first exposure of a chemical until the appearance of a toxic effect. Lateral Sewers: Pipes that run under city streets and receive the sewage from homes and businesses, as opposed to domestic feeders and main trunk lines. Weir Sedunention basin overflow weir. LC50/Lethal c Concentration: Median level concentration, a standard mea- sure of toxitity. It tells how much of a substance is needed to kill half of a group of experimental organisms in a given time. (See: LD50.) Lt> 50/ Lethal Dose: The dose of a toxicant that will kill 50 percent of the test organisms within a designated period. The lower the LD 50, the more toxic the compound. Leachate: Water that collects contami- nants as it trickles through wastes, pesticides or fertilizers. Leaching may occur in farming areas, feedlots, and landfills, and may result in hazardous substances entering surface water, ground water, or soil. Leachate Collection System: A system that gathers leachate and pumps it to the surface for treatment. ------- 23 phing; The process by which soluble constituents are dissolved and filtered through the soil by a percolating fluid. (See: leachate.) Lead (Pb): A heavy metal that is haz- ardous to health if breathed or swal- lowed. Its use in gasoline, paints, and plumbing compounds has been sharply restricted or eliminated by federal laws and regulations. (See: heavy metals.) Lead Service Lin«v A service line made of lead which connects the water to the building inlet and any lead fitting con- nected to it. Legionella: A genus .of bacteria, some species of which have caused a type of pneumonia called Legionaires Disease. Level of Concern (LOG): The concen- tration in air of an extremely hazard- ous substance above which there may be serious immediate health effects to anyone exposed to it for short periods Lifetime Exposure: Total amount of exposure to a substance that a human would receive in a lifetime (usually assumed to be 70 years). Lift: In a sanitary landfill, a compacted layer of solid waste and the top layer of cover material. T.ifHng Station: (See: pumping station.) Limestone Scrubbing: Use of a lime- stone and water solution to remove gaseous stack-pipe sulfur before it reaches the atmosphere. Limited Degradation: An. environmen- tal policy permitting some degradation of natural systems but terminating at a level well beneath an established health standard. Limiting Factor A condition whose ab- sence or excessive concentration, is incompatible with the needs or toler- ance of a species or population and which may have a negative influence on their ability to thrive, survive. Limnology: The study of the physical, chemical, hydrological, and biological aspects of fresh water bodies. - A pesticide that causes ad- verse health effects in domestic water supplies and is toxic to freshwater fish and aquatic life. Linen LA relatively impermeable barrier designed to keep leachate in- side a landfill. Liner materials include plastic and dense clay. 2. An insert or sleeve for sewer pipes to prevent leak- age or infiltration. Lipid Solubility: The maximum concen- tration of a chemical that will dissolve in fatty substances. Lipid soluble sub- stances are insoluble in water. They will very selectively disperse through the environment via uptake in living tissue. Liquefaction: Changing a solid into a liquid. Liquid Injection Incinerator Common- ly used system that relies on .high pressure to prepare liquid wastes for incineration, breaking them up into tiny droplets to allow easier combus- tion. List Shorthand term for EPA list of violating facilities or firms debarred from obtaining government contracts because they violated certain sections of the Clean Air or Clean Water Acts. The list is maintained by The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Moni- toring. Listed Waste: Wastes listed as hazard- ous under RCRA but which have not been subjected to the Toxic Character- istics Listing Process because the dan- gers they present are considered self- •evident. Litter" The highly visible portion of solid waste carelessly discarded outside the regular garbage and trash collec- tion and disposal system. Littoral Zone: 1. That portion of a body of fresh water extending from the shoreline lakeward to the limit of occu- pancy of rooted plants. 2. A strip of land along the shoreline between the high and low water levels. Local Education Agency (LEA): In the asbestos program, an educational agency at the local level that exists primarily to operate schools or to con- tract for educational services, including primary and secondary public and private schools. A single, unaffiliated school can be considered an LEA for AHERA purposes. Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPO A committee appointed by the State Emergency Response Commis- sion, as required by SARA Title III, to formulate a comprehensive emergency plan for its jurisdiction. Low NO, Burners: One of several com- bustion technologies used to reduce emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NO1.) Loweat-Oberved-Adverse-Effect Level: The lowest dose in an experiment which produced an observable adverse effect Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW): Wastes less hazardous than most of those associated with nuclear reactor; generated by hospitals, research labo- ratories, and certain industries. The Department of Energy, Nuclear Regu- latory Commission, and EPA share responsibilities for managing them. (See: high-level radioactive wastes.) Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): The con- centration of a compound in air below which the mixture will not catch on fire. Lowest Achievable Emission Rate: Under the Clean Air Act, the rate of emissions that reflects (1) the most stringent emission limitation in the im- plementation plan of any state for such source unless the owner or operator demonstrates such limitations are not achievable; or (2) the most stringent emissions limitation achieved in prac- tice, whichever is more stringent. A proposed new or modified source may not emit pollutants in excess of exist- ing new source standards. M Magnetic Separation: Use of magnets to separate .ferrous materials from mixed municipal waste stream. Managerial Controls: Methods of nonpoint source pollution control based on decisions about managing agricul- tural wastes or application times or rates for agrochemicals. Mandatory Recycling: Programs which by law require consumers to separate trash so that some or all recyclable materials are recovered for recycling rather than going to landfills. Man-Made Beta Particle and Photon Emitters: All radionuclides emitting beta particles and/or photons listed in Maximum Permissible Body Burdens and Maximum Permissible Concentra- tions of Radionuclides in Air and Wa- ter for Occupational Exposure. Manual Separation: Hand sorting of reyclable or compostable materials in waste. Major Modification: This term is used to define modifications of major sta- tionary sources of emissions with re- spect to Prevention of Significant Dete- rioration and New Source Review un- der the Clean Air Act. Major Stationary Sources: Term used to determine the applicability of Pre- vention of Significant Deterioration ------- 24 and new source regulations. In a nonattainment area, any stationary pollutant source with potential to emit more than 100 tons per year is consid- ered a major stationary source. In PSD areas the cutoff level may be either 100 or 250 tons, depending upon the source. Majors: Larger publicly owned treat- ment works (POTWs) with flows equal to at least one million gallons per day (mgd) or servicing population equiva- lent to 10,000 persons; certain other POTWs having significant water quali- ty impacts. (See: minors.) Management Plan: Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), a document that each Local Education Agency is required to pre- pare, describing all activities planned and undertaken by a school to comply with AHERA regulations, including building inspections to identify asbes- tos-containing materials, response actions, and operations and mainte- nance programs to minimize the risk of exposure. Manifest System: Tracking of hazard- ous waste from "cradle to grave" (gen- eration through disposal) with accom- panying documents known as mani- fests. (See: cradle to grave.) Manual Separation: Hand separation of compostable or recyclable material from waste. Manufacturers Formulation: A list of substances or component parts as de- scribed by the maker of a coating, pesticide, or other product containing chemicals or other substances. Margin of Safety. Maximum amount of exposure producing no measurable effect in animals (or studied humans) divided by the actual amount of human exposure in a population. Marine Sanitation Device: Any equip- ment or process installed on board a vessel to receive, retain, treat, or dis- charge sewage. Marsh: A type of wetland that does not accumulate appreciable peat deposits and is dominated by herbaceous vege- tation. Marshes may be either fresh or saltwater, tidal or non-tidal. (See: wetlands.) Material Category: In the asbestos pro- gram, broad classification of materials into thermal surfacing insulation, sur- facing material, and miscellaneous material. Materials Recovery Facility: A facility that processes residentially collected mixed recyclables into new products available for market. Material Type: classification of sus- pect material by its specific use or application, e.g., pipe insulation, fire- proofing, and floor tile. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): A compilation of information required under the OSHA Communication Stan- dard on the identity of hazardous chemicals, health, and physical haz- ards, exposure limits, and precautions. Section 311 of SARA requires facilities to submit MSDSs under certain cir- cumstances: Materials Recovery Facility (MRF): Facility that processes residentially collected mixed recyclables into new products. Maximum Contaminant Level: The maximum permissible level of a con- taminant in water delivered to any user of a public system. MCLs are enforceable standards. Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, a non-enforceable, concen- tration of a drinking water contami- nant, set at the level at which no known or anticipated adverse effects on human health occur and which allows an adequate safety margin. The MCLG is usually the starting point for determining the regulated Maximum Contaminant Level. (See; Maximum Contaminant Level.) Maximum Tolerated Dose: The maxi- mum dose that an animal species ran tolerate for a major portion of its life- time without significant impairment or toxic effect other than carcinogenicity. M«M»imiiiMil Aeration: Use of mechani- cal energy to inject air into water to cause a waste stream to absorb oxy- gen. M«n4»«niMil Separation: Using mechan- ical mnana to separate waste into vari- ous components. MiM-haniral Turbulence: Random irreg- ularities of fluid motion in air caused by buildings or other non-thermal, processes. Madia: Specific environments-air, wa- ter, soil-which are the subject of regu- latory concern and activities. Medical Surveillance: A periodic com- prehensive review of a worker's health status; acceptable elements of such surveillance program are listed in the Occupational Safety and Health Ad- ministration standards for asbestos. Medical Waste: Any solid waste gener- ated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or ani- mals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the. production or testing of biologicals, .excluding hazardous waste identified or listed under 40 CFR Part 261 or any household waste as defined in 40 CFR Sub-section 261.4 (bXD). Medium-size Water System: A water system that serves 3,300 to 50,000 customers. Meniscus: The curved top of a column of liquid in a small tube. Mercury: A heavy metal that can accu- mulate in the environment and is high- ly toxic if breathed or swallowed. (See: heavy metals.) Mesotrophic Reservoirs and lakes which contain moderate quantities of nutrients and are moderately product- ive in terms of aquatic animal and plant life. Metabolites: Any substances produced by biological processes, such as those from pesticides. Metalimnion: The middle layer of a thermally stratified lake or reservoir. In this layer there is a rapid decrease in temperature with depth. Also called thermocline. Methane: A colorless, nonpoisonous, flammable gas created by anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds. Methanol: An alcohol that can be used as an alternative fuel or as a gasoline additive. It is less volatile than gaso- line; when blended with gasoline it lowers the carbon monoxide emissions but increases hydrocarbon emissions. Used as pure fuel, its emissions are less ozone-forming than those from gasoline. Method 18: An EPA test method which uses gas chromatographic techniques to measure the concentration of vola- tile organic compounds in a gas stream. Method 24: An EPA reference method to determine density, water content and total volatile content (water and VOC) of coatings. Method 25: An EPA reference method to determine the VOC concentration in a gas stream. Methoxychlor: Pesticide that causes adverse health effects in domestic water -supplies and is toxic to fresh- water and marine aquatic life. Methyl Orange Alkalinity: A measure of the total alkalinity in a water sam- ------- 25 pie in wich the color of methyl orange reflects the change in level. Microbial Growth: The activity and growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, diatoms, plankton, and fungi. Microclimate: The localized climate conditions within an urban area or neighborhood. Microbial Pesticide: A microorganism that is used to control a pest, but of minimum toxicity to man. Million-gallons Per Day (MOD): A measure of water flow. Minimization: A comprehensive pro- gram to minimize or eliminate wastes, usually applied to wastes at their point of origin. (See: waste minimization.) Mining of an Aquifer Withdrawal over a period of time of ground water that exceeds the rate of recharge of the aquifer. Minors: Publicly owned treatment works with flows less than 1 million gallons per day. (See: majors.) Miscellaneous ACM: Interior asbestos- containing building material or struc- tural components, members or fixtures, such as floor and ceiling tiles; does not include surfacing materials or thermal system insulation. Miscellaneous materials: Interior building materials on structural com- ponents, such as floor or ceiling tiles. Miscible Liquids: Two or more liquids that can be mixed and will remain mixed under normal conditions. Missed Detection: The situation that occurs when a test indicates that a tank is "tight" when in fact it is leak- ing. Mist: Liquid particles measuring 40 to 500 microns, formed by condensation of vapor. By comparison, fog particles are smaller than 40 microns. Mitigation: Measures taken to reduce adverse impacts on the environment. Mixed Funding: Settlements in which potentially responsible parties and EPA share the cost of a response ac- tion. Mixed Liquor: A mixture of activated sludge and water containing organic matter undergoing activated sludge treatment in an aeration tank. Mobile Incinerator Systems: Hazardous waste incinerators that can be trans- ported from one site to another. Mobile Source: Any non-stationary source of air pollution such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, airplanes, locomotives. Model Plant: A hypothetical plant design used for developing economic, environmental, and energy impact analyses as support for regulations or regulatory guidelines; first step in exploring the economic impact of a potential NSPS. Modified Source: The enlargement of a major stationery pollutant sources is often referred to as modification, im- plying that more emissions wil occur. Molecule: The smallest division of a compound that still retains or exhibits all the properties of the substance. Molten Salt Reactor A thermal treat- ment unit that rapidly heats waste in a heat-conducting fluid bath of car- bonate salt. Monitoring: Periodic or continuous sur- veillance or testing to determine the level of compliance with statutory re- quirements and/or pollutant levels in various media or in humans, plants, and animals. Monitoring Well: 1. A well used to obtain water quality samples or mea- sure groundwater levels. 2. Well drilled at a hazardous waste management facility or Superfund site to collect ground-water samples for the purpose of physical, chemical, or biological analysis to determine the amounts, types, and distribution of contaminants in the ground water beneath the site. Monoclonal Antibodies: (Also called MABs and MCAs) 1. Man-made clones of a molecule, produced in quantity for medical or research purposes. 2. Mole- cules of living organisms that selec- tively find and attach to other mole- cules to which their structure conforms exactly. This could also apply to equiv- alent activity by chemical molecules. Monomictic Lakes and reservoirs which are relatively deep, do not freeze over during winter, and undergo a single stratification and mixing cycle during the year (usually in the fall). Moratorium: During the negotiation process, a period of 60 to 90 days dur- ing which EPA and potentially respon- sible parties may reach settlement but no site response activities can be con- ducted. Morbidity: Rate of disease incidence. Most Probable Number The most probable number of colifonn-group organisms per unit of volume of a water sample Muck Soils: Earth made from decaying plant materials. Mudballs: Round material that forms in filters and gradually increases in size when not removed by backwash- ing. Mulch: A layer of material (wood chips, straw, leaves, etc.) placed around plants to hold moisture, prevent weed growth, and enrich or sterilize the soil. Multiple Use: Use of land for more than one purpose; i.e., grazing of live- stock, watershed and wildlife protec- tion, recreation, and timber produc- tion. Also applies to use of bodies of water for recreational purposes, fish- ing, and water supply. Multistage Remote Sensing: A strate- gy for landscape characterization that involves gathering and analyzing infor- mation at several geographic scales, ranging from generalized levels of detail at the national level through' high levels of detail at the local scale. Municipal Discharge: Discharge of effluent from waste water treatment plants which receive waste water from households, commercial establish-. ments, and industries. Combined sewer/separate storm overflows are in- cluded in this category. Municipal Sewage: Wastes (mostly liq- uid) orginating from a community; may be composed of domestic wastewaters and/or industrial discharges. Mutagen/Mutagenitity: An agent that causes a permanent genetic change in a cell other than that which occurs during normal growth. Mutagenicity is the capacity of a chemical or physical agent to cause such permanent chang- es. N National Ambient Air Quality Stan- dards (NAAQS): Standards established by EPA that apply for outside air throughout the country. (See: criteria pollutants, state implementation plans, emissions trading.) National Emissions Standards For Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS): Emissions standards set by EPA for an air pollutant not covered by NAAQS that may cause an increase in fatali- ties or in serious, irreversible, or inca- ------- 26 pacitating illness. Primary standards are designed to protect human health, secondary standards to protect public welfare (e.g., building facades, visi- bility, crops, and domestic animals). National Estuary Program: A program established under the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 to develop and implement conservation and manage- ment plans for protecting estuaries and restoring and maintaining their chemical, physical, and biological in- tegrity, as well as controlling point and nonpoint pollution sources. National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Commonly referred to as NIPDWRs. National Municipal Plan: A policy created in 1984 by EPA and the states to bring all publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) into compliance with Clean Water Act requirements. National Oil and Hazardous Substanc- es Contingency Plan (NOHSCP/NCP): The federal regulation that guides determination of the sites to be correct- ed under both the Superfund program and the program to prevent or control spills into surface waters or elsewhere. National Pollutant Discharge tion System (NFDES): A provision of the Clean Water Act which prohibits discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States unless a special permit is issued by EPA, a state, or, where delegated, a Native American tribal government. National Priorities List (NFL): EPA's list of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites iden- tified for possible long-term remedial action under Superfund. The list is based primarily on the score a site receives from the Hazard Ranking System. EPA is required to update the NFL at least once a year. A site must be on the NPL to receive money from the Trust Fund for remedial action. National Response Team (NRT): Rep- resentatives of 13 federal agencies that, as a team, coordinate federal responses to nationally significant incidents of pollution (an oil spill, a major chemical release, or a Superfund response action) and provide advice and technical assistance to the re- sponding agency(ies) before and during a response action. National Response Center: The federal operations center that receives notifica- tions of all releases of oil and hazard- ous substances into the environment; open 24 hours a day, is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, which evaluates all reports and notifies the appropriate agency. National Secondary Drinking Water Rregulations: Commonly referred to as NSDWRs. Navigable Waters: Traditionally, wa- ters sufficiently deep and wide for navigation by all, or specified vessels; such waters in the United States come under federal jurisdiction and are protected by certain provisions of the Clean Water Act. Necrosis: Death of plant or animal cells or tissues. In plants, necrosis can discolor stems or leaves or kill a plant entirely. Negotiations: (Under Superfund) After potentially responsible parties are identified for a site, EPA coordinates with them to reach a settlement that will result in the PRP paying for or conducting the cleanup under EPA su- pervision. If negotiations fail, EPA can order the PRP to conduct the cleanup or EPA can pay for the cleanup 'using Superfund monies and then sue to recover the costs. Nematocide: A chemical agent which is destructive to nematodes. Nephelometric Method of of measuring turbidity in a water sample by passing light through the sample and measur- ing the amount of the light that is de- flected. Netting: A concept in which all emis- sions sources in the same area that are owned or controlled by a single compa- ny are treated as one large source, thereby allowing flexibility in control- ling individual sources in order to meet a single emissions standard. (See: bub- ble) Neutralization: Decreasing the acidity or alkalinity of a substance by adding alkaline or acidic materials, respec- tively. New Source: Any stationary source built or modified after publication of final or proposed regulations that pre- scribe a given standard of perfor- mance. New Source Performance Standards (NSPS> Uniform national EPA air emission and water effluent standards which limit the amount of pollution allowed from new sources or from modified existing sources. New Source Review (NSR> Clean Air Act requirement that State Implemen- tation Plans must include a permit re- view that applies to the construction and operation of new and modified stationary sources in nonattainment areas to assure attainment of national ambient air quality standards. Nitrate: A compound containing nitro- gen that can exist in the atmosphere or as a dissolved gas in water and which can have harmful effects on humans and animals. Nitrates in wa- ter can cause severe illness in infants and domestic animals. A plant nutrient and inorganic fertilizer, nitrate is found in septic systems, animal feed lots, agricultural fertilizers, manure, industrial waste waters, sanitary land- fills, and garbage dumps. Nitric Oxide (NO): A gas formed by combustion under high temperature and high pressure in an internal com- bustion engine; changes into nitrogen dioxide in the ambient air and con- tributes to photochemical smog. Nitrification: The process whereby ammonia in wastewater is oxidized to nitrite and then to nitrate by bacterial or chemical reactions. Nitrilotriacetic Acid (NTA): A com- pound now replacing phosphates in detergents: Nitrite: 1. An intermediate in the pro- cess of nitrification. 2. Nitrous oxide salts used in food preservation Nitrogen Dioxide (NOj): The result of nitric oxide combining with oxygen in the atmosphere; major component of photochemical smog. Nitrogen Oxide (NO,): Product of com- bustion from transportation and sta- tionary sources and a major contribu- tor to the formation of ozone in the troposphere and to acid deposition. Nitrogenous Wastes: Animal or vege- table residues that contain significant amounts of nitrogen. Nitrophenola: Synthetic organopestic- ides containing carbon, hydrogen, ni- trogen, and oxygen. Noble Metal Chemically inactive metal such as gold; does not corrode easily. No Further Remedial Action Planned: Determination made by EPA following a preliminary assessment that a site does not pose a significant risk and so requires no further activity under CERCLA. Noise: Product-level or product-volume changes occurring during a test that are not related to a leak but may be mistaken for one. Non-Attainment Area: Area that does not meet one or more of the National ------- 27 Ambient Air Quality Standards for the criteria pollutants designated in the Clean Air Act. Non-Binding Allocations of Responsi- bility (NEAR): Process for EPA to pro- pose a way for potentially responsible parties to allocate costs among them- selves. Non-Community Water System: A pub- lic water system that is not a commu- nity water system, e.g., the water sup- ply at a camp site or national park. .Non-Compliance Coal: Any coal that emits greqter than 3.0 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million BTU when burned. Also known as high-sulfur coal. Non-Contact Cooling Water Water used for cooling which does not come into direct contact with any raw mate- rial, product, byproduct, or waste. Non-Conventional Pollutant: Any pol- lutant not statutorily listed or which is poorly understood by the scientific community. Non-degradation: An environmental policy which disallows any lowering of naturally occurring quality regardless of preestablished health standards. Nondischarging Treatment Plant: A treatment plant that does not dis- charge treated wastewater into any stream or river. Most are pond systems that dispose of the total flow they re- ceive by means of evaporation or perco- lation to groundwater, or facilities-that dispose of their effluent by recycling or reuse (e.g., spray irrigation or ground- water discharge). Nonfriable Asbestos-containing Materi- als: Any material containing more than one percent asbestos (as determined by Polarized Light Microscopy) that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Radia- tion: 1. Radiation that does not change the structure of atoms but does, heat tissue and may cause harmful biologi- cal effects. 2. Microwaves, radio waves, and low-frequency electromagnetic fields from high-voltage transmission lines. Non-Point Source: Diffuse pollution sources (i.e., without a single point of origin or not introduced into a receiv- ing stream from a specific outlet). The pollutants are generally carried off the land by storm water. Common non- point sources are agriculture, forestry, urban, mining, construction, dams, channels, land disposal, , saltwater intrusion, and city streets. Non-potable: Water that is unsafe or unpalatable to drink because it con- tains . pollutants, contaminants, min- erals, or infective agents. Non-Road Emissions: Pollutants emit- ted by combustion engines on farm and construction equipment, gasoline-pow- ered lawn and garden equipment, and power boats and outboard motors. Non-Transient Non-Community Water System: A public water system that regularly serves at least 25 of the same non-resident persons per day for more than six months per year. No Observable Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL): From long-term toxicologi- cal studies of agricultural chemical active ingredients, levels which indi- cate a safe, lifetime exposure level for a given chemical. Notice of Deficiency: An EPA request to a facility owner or operator request- ing additional information before a preliminary decision on a permit appli- cation can be made. Notice of Intent to Deny: Notification by EPA of its preliminary intent to deny a permit application. No Till: Planting crops without prior seedbed preparation, into an existing cover crop, sod, or crop residues, and eliminating subsequent tillage opera- tions. Nuclear Reactors and Support Facili- ties: Uranium mills, commercial power reactors, fuel reprocessing plants, and uranium enrichment facilities. Nuclear Winter Prediction by some scientists that smoke and debris rising from massive fires of a nuclear war could block sunlight for weeks or months, cooling the earth's surface and producing climate changes that could, for example, negatively effect world ag- ricultural and weather patterns. Nuclide: An atom characterized by the number of .protons, neturons, and ener- gy in the nucleus. Nutrient: Any substance assimilated by living things that promotes growth. The term is generally applied to ni- trogen and phosphorus in wastewater, but is also applied to other essential and trace elements. Nutrient Pollution: Contamination of water resources by excessive inputs of nutrients. In surface waters, excess algal production is a major concern. Ocean Discharge Waiver A variance from Clean Water Act requirements for discharges into marine waters'. Odor Threshold: The minimum odor of a water sample that can just be detect- ed after successive dilutions with odor- less water. Also called threshold odor. Offsets: A concept whereby emissions from proposed new or modified station- ary sources are balanced by reductions from existing sources to stabilize total emissions. (See: bubble, emissions trading, netting.) Off-Site Facility: A hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal area that is located away from the generat- ing site. Offstream Use: Water withdrawn from surface or groundwater sources for use at another place. Oil Desulfurization: Widely used precombustion method for reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from oil-burn- ing power plants. The oil is treated with hydrogen, which removes some of the sulfur by forming hydrogen sulfide gas. Oil Fingerprinting: A method that identifies sources of oil and allows spills to be traced to their source. Oil Spill: An accidental or intentional discharge of oil which reaches bodies of water. Can be controlled by chemical dispersion, combustion, mechanical containment, and/or adsorption. Spills from tanks and pipelines can also occur away from water bodies, contam- inating the soil, getting into sewer systems and threatening underground water sources. Oligotrophic Lakes: Deep clear lakes with few nutrients, little organic mat- ter and a high dissolved-oxygen level. One-hit Model: A mathematical model based on the biological theory that a single "hit" of some minimum critical amount of a carcinogen at a cellular target such as DNA can start an irre- versible series events leading to a tumor. On-Scene Coordinator (OSO The pre- designated EPA, Coast Guard, or De- partment of Defense official who coor- dinates and directs Superfund removal actions or Clean Water Act oil-or haz- ardous-spill response actions. On-Site Facility: A hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal area that is located on the generating site. ------- 28 Onboard Controls: Devices placed on vehicles to capture gasoline vapor dur- ing refueling and route it to the en- gines when the vehicle is starting so that it can be efficiently burned. Opacity: The amount of light obscured by particulate pollution in the air; clear window glass has zero opacity, a brick wall is 100 percent opaque. Opac- ity is an indicator of changes in perfor- mance of particulate control systems. Open Burning: Uncontrolled fire's in an open dump. Open Dump: An uncovered site used for disposal of waste without environ- mental controls. (See: dump.) Operable Unit: Term for each of a number of separate activities under- taken as part of a Superfund site cleanup. A typical operable unit would be removal of drums and tanks from the surface of a site. , Operating Conditions: Conditions spec- ified in a RCRA permit that dictate how an incinerator must operate as it burns different waste types. A trial burn is used to identify operating con- ditions needed to meet specified per- formance standards. Operation And Maintenance: 1. Activi- ties conducted after a Superfund site action is completed to ensure that the action is effective. 2. Actions taken after construction to assure that facili- ties constructed to treat waste water will be properly operated and main- tained to achieve normative efficiency levels and prescribed effluent limita- tions in an optimum manner. 3. On- going asbestos management plan in a school or other public building, includ- ing regular inspections, various meth- ods of maintaining asbestos in place, and removal when necessary. Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment An erosion control treatment that minimizes the lead and copper concen- trations at users' taps while also insur- ing that the treatment does not cause the water system to violate any nation- al primary drinking water regulations. Oral Tenacity: Ability of a pesticide to cause injury when ingested. Organic 1. Referring to or derived from living organisms. 2. In chemistry, any compound containing carbon. Organic Ani- mal or plant-produced substances containing mainly carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Organic Matter: Carbonaceous waste contained in plant or animal matter and originating from domestic or in- dustrial sources. Organism: Any form of animal or plant life. Organophosphates: Pesticides that con- tain phosphorus; short-lived, but some can be toxic when first applied. Organotins: Chemical compounds used in anti-foulant paints to protect the hulls of boats and ships, buoys, and pilings from marine organisms such as barnacles. Original AHERA Inspection/Original Inspection/Inspection: Examination of school buildings arranged by Local Education Agencies to identify asbesto- s-containing-materials, evaluate their condition, take samples of materials suspected to contain asbestos; per- formed by EPA-accredited inspectors Original Generation Point Where regulated medical or other material first becomes waste. Osmosis: The passage of a liquid from a weak solution to a more concentrated solution across a semipermeable mem- brane that allows passage of the sol- vent (water) but not the dissolved solids. Outfall: The place where effluent is discharged into receiving waters. Overburden: Rock and soil cleared away before mining. Overdraft: The pumping of water from a groundwater basin or aquifer in excess of the supply flowing into the basin; results in a depletion or "min- ing" of the groundwater in the basin. (See: groundwater mining) Overfire Air: Air forced into the top of an incinerator or boiler to fan the flames. Overflow Rate: One of the guidelines for design of the settling tanks and clarifers in a treatment plant; used by plant operators to determine if tanks and clarifiers are over-or under-used. Overland Flow: A land application technique that cleanses waste water by allowing it to flow over a sloped sur- face. As the water flows over the sur- face, contaminants are absorbed and the water is collected at the bottom of the slope for reuse. Oversized Regulated Medical Waste: Medical waste that is too large for plastic bags or standard containers. Overturn: One complete cycle of top to bottom mixing of previously stratified water masses. This phenomenon may occur in spring or fall, or after storms, and results in uniformity of chemical and physical properties of water at all depths. Oxidant A substance containing oxy- gen that reacts chemically in air to produce a new substance; the primary ingredient of photochemical smog. Oxidation: The addition of oxygen that breaks down organic waste or chemi- cals such as cyanides, phenols, and organic sulfur compounds in sewage by bacterial and chemical means. Oxidation Pond: A man-made body of water in which waste is consumed by bacteria, used most frequently with other waste-treatment processes; a sewage lagoon. Oxidation-Reduction Potential: The electric potential required to transfer electrons from one compound or ele- ment (the oxidant) to another com- pound,(the reductant); used as a quali- tative measure of the state of oxidation in water treatment systems. Oxygenated Fuels: Gasoline which has been blended with alcohols or ethers that contain oxygen in order to reduce carbon monoxide and other emissions. Oxygenated Solvent An organic sol- vent containing oxygen as part of the molecular structure. Alcohols and keto- nes are oxygenated compounds often used as paint solvents. Ozone (Oj): Found in two layers of the atmosphere, the stratosphere and the troposphere. In the stratosphere (the atmospheric layer 7 to 10 miles or more above the earth's surface) ozone is a natural form of oxygen that pro- vides a protective layer shielding the earth from ultraviolet radiation. In the troposphere (the layer extending up 7 to 10 miles from the earth's surface), ozone is a chemical oxidant and major component of photochemical smog. It can seriously impair the respiratory system and is one of the most wide- spread of all the criteria pollutants for which the Clean Air Act required EPA to set standards. Ozone in the tropo- sphere is produced through complex chemical reactions of nitrogen oxides, which are among the primary pollut- ants emitted by combustion sources; hydrocarbons, released into the atmo- sphere through the combustion, han- dling and processing of petroleum products; and sunlight. Ozonation/Ozonator: Application of ozone to water for disinfection or for taste and odor control. The ozonator is the device that does this. ------- 29 Ozone Depletion: Destruction of the st- ratospheric ozone layer which shields the' earth from ultraviolet radiation harmful to life. This destruction of ozone is caused by the breakdown of certain chlorine and/or-bromJae con- taining compounds (chlorofluoro- carbons or halons), which break down when they reach the stratosphere and then catalytically destroy ozone mole- cules. Ozone Hole:Thinning break in the stra- tospheric ozone layer. Designation of amount of such depletion as an "ozone hole" is made when detected amount of depletion exceeds fifty percent. Sea- sonal ozone holes have been observed over both the Antarctic region and the Arctic region and part of Canada and the extreme northeastern United States. . Ozone Layer The protective layer in the atmosphere, about 15 miles above the ground, that absorbs some of the sun's ultraviolet rays, thereby reducing the amount of potentially harmful radiation that reaches the earth's sur- face. Packaging: The assembly of one or more containers and any other compo- nents necessary to assure TniniTmiiti compliance with a program's storage and shipment packaging requirements. Also, the containers, etc., involved. Packed Bed Scrubber An air pollution control device in which emissions pass through alkaline water to neutralize hydrogen chloride gas. Packed Tower A pollution control device that forces dirty air through a tower packed with crushed rock or wood chips while liquid is sprayed over the packing material. The pollutants in the air stream either dissolve or chemi- cally react with the liquid. Palatable Water Water, at a desirable temperature, that is free from objec- tionable tastes, odors, colors, and tur- bidity. Pandemic: Widespread throughout an area, nation or the world. Parameter A variable, measurable property whose value is a determinant of die characteristics of a system; e.g., temperature, pressure, and density are parameters of the atmosphere. Paraquat: A standard herbicide used to kill various types of crops, including marijuana. Part A Permit, Part B Permit: (See: In- terim Permit Status.) Parahall Flume: Device used to mea- sure the flow of water in an open chan- nel. Particle Count Results of a microscop- ic examination of treated water with a special "particle counter" that classifies suspended particles by number and size. Particulate Loading: The mass of part- iculates per unit volume of air or wa- ter. Participation Rate: Portion of popula- tion participating in a recycling pro- grani. Particulates: 1. Fine liquid or solid particles such as dust, smoke, mist, fumes, or smog, found in air or emis- sions. 2. Very small solids suspended in water,; they can vary in size, shape, density and electrical charge and can be gathered together by coagulation and fiocculation. Partition Coefficient: Measure of the sorption phenomenon, whereby a pesti- cide is divided between the soil and water phase; also referred to as ad- sorption partition coefficient. Parts Per Billion (ppbyParts Per Mil- lion (ppm): Units commonly used to express contamination ratios, as in establishing the maximum permissible amount, of a contaminant in water, .land, or air. Pathogen*: Microorganisms that can cause disease in other organisms or in humans, animals and plants (e.g., bacteria, viruses, or parasites) found in sewage, in runoff from farms or rural areas populated with domestic and wild animals, and in water used for swimming. Fish and shellfish contami- nated by pathogens, or the contam- inated water itself, can cause serious illness. Peak Electricity Demand: The maxi- mum electricity used to meet the cool- ing load of a building or buildings in a given area. Peak Levels: Levels of airborne pol- lutant contaminants much higher than average or occurring for short periods of time in response to sudden releases. Percent Saturatiuon: The amount of a substance that is dissolved in a solu- tion compared to the amount that could be dissolved in it. Perched Water Zone of unpressurized water held above the water table by impermeable rock or sediment. Percolating Water Water that passes through rocks or soil under the force of gravity. Percolation: 1. The movement of water downward and radially through subur- face soil layers, usually continuing downward to ground water. Can also involve upward movement of water. 2. Slow seepage of water through a filter. Performance Data (for incinerators): Information collected, during a trial burn, on concentrations of designated organic compounds and pollutants found in incinerator emissions. Data analysis must show that the incinera- tor meets performance standards un- der operating conditions specified in the RCRA permit. (See: trial burn; per- formance standards.) Performance Standards: 1. Regulatory requirements limiting the concentra- tions of designated organic compounds, particulate matter, and hydrogen chlo- ride in emissions from incinerators. 2. Operating standards established by EPA for various permitted pollution control systems, asbestos inspections, and various program operations and maintenance requirements. Periphyton; Microscopic underwater plants and animals that are firmly at- tached solid surfaces such as rocks,. logs, pilings, and other structures. Permeability: The rate at which liquids pass through soil or other materials in a specified direction. Permissible Dose: The dose of a chemi- cal that may be received by an individ- ual without the expectation of a sinificantly harmful result. Permit: An authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by EPA or an approved state agency to implement the requirements of an environmental regulation; e.g., a per- mit to operate a wastewater treatment plant or to operate a facility that may generate harmful emissions. Persistence: Refers to the length of time a compound stays in the environ- ment, once introduced. A compound may persist for less than a second or indefinitely. Persistent Pesticides: Pesticides that do not break down chemically or ------- 30 break down very slowly and remain in the environment after a growing sea- son. Personal Air Samples: Air samples taken with a pump directly attached to the worker with the collecting filter and cassette placed in the worker's breathing zone (required under OSHA asbestos standards and EPA worker protection rule). Pest: An insect, rodent, nematode, fun- gus, weed or other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life that is injurious to health or the environment. Pesticide: Substances or mixture there- of intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. Also, any substance or mixture intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant. Pesticide Tolerance: The amount of pesticide residue allowed by law to remain in or on a harvested crop. EPA sets these levels well below the point where the compounds might be harm- ful to consumers. Petroleum Derivatives: Chemicals formed when gasoline breaks down in contact with ground water. pH; An expression of the intensity of the basic or acid condition of a, liquid; may range from 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acid and 7 is neutral. Natural waters usually have a pH between 6.5 and 8.5. Pharmakinetica: The dynamic behavior of chemicals inside biological systems, including uptake, distribution, metab- olism, and excretion. Phenolphthalein Alkalinity The alka- linity in a water sample measured by the amount of standard acid needed to lower thge pH to a level of 8.3 as indi- cated by the change of color of the phenolphthalein from pink to clear. Phenols: Organic compounds that are byproducts of petroleum refining, tan- ning, and textile, dye, and resin manu- facturing. Low concentrations cause taste and odor problems in water; higher concentrations can kill aquatic life and humans. Phosphates: Certain chemical com- pounds containing phosphorus. Phosphogypsum Piles (stacks): Princi- pal byproduct generated in production of phosphoric acid from phosphate rock. These piles may generate radio- active radon gas. Phosphorous Plantar Facilities using electric furnaces to produce elemental phosphorous for commercial use, such as high grade phosphoric acid, phos- phate-based detergent, and organic chemicals use. . Phosphorus: An essential chemical food element that can contribute to the eutrophication of lakes and other wa- ter bodies. Increased phosphorus levels result from discharge of phosp- horus-containing materials into surface waters. Photochemical Oxidants: Air pollutants formed by the action of sunlight on ox- ides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons. Photochemical Smog: Air pollution caused by chemical reactions of various pollutants emitted from different sources. Photosynthesis: The manufacture by plants of carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide mediated by chlo- rophyll in the presence if sunlight. Physical and Chemical Treatment: Pro- cesses generally used in large-scale wastewater treatment facilities. Physi- cal processes may include air-stripping or filtration. Chemical treatment in- cludes coagulation, chlorination, or ozonation. The term can also refer to treatment of toxic materials in surface and ground waters, oil spills, and some methods of dealing with hazardous materials on or in the ground. Phytoplankton: That portion of the plankton community comprised of tiny plants, e.g., algae, diatoms. Phytotozie Harmful to plants. Picocuries Per Liter pCVL>. A unit of measure for levels of radon gas. Pilot Tests: Testing a cleanup tech- nology under actual site conditions to identify potential problems prior to full-scale implementation. Plankton: Tiny plants and animals that live in water. Plasma-arc Reactor. An incinerator that operates at extremely high tem- peratures; treats highly toxic wastes that do not burn easily. Plasmid: A circular piece of DNA that exists apart from the chromosome and replicates independently of it. Bacterial plasmids carry information that ren- ders the bacteria resistant to antibi- otics. Plasmids are'often used in genet- ic engineering to carry desired genes into organisms. Plastics: Non-metallic chemoreactive compounds molded into rigid or pliable construction materials, fabrics, etc. Plate Tower Scrubber An air pollution control device that neutralizes hydro- gen chloride gas by bubbling alkaline water through holes in a series of metal plates. Plug Flow: Type of flow that occurs in tanks, basins, or reactors when a slug of water moves through without ever dispersing or mixing with the rest of the water flowing through. Plugging: Act or process of stopping the flow of water, oil, or gas into or out of a formation through a borehole or well penetrating that formation. Plume: 1. A visible or measurable dis- charge of a contaminant from a given point of origin. Can be visible or ther- mal in water, or visible in the air as, for example, a plume of smoke. 2 The area of radiation leaking from a dam- aged reactor. 3. Area downwind within which a release could be dangerous for those exposed to leaking fumes. Plutonium: A radioactive metallic ele- ment chemically similar to uranium. PM-10: A standard for measuring the amount of solid or liquid matter sus- pended in the atmosphere, i.e. the 'amount of particulate matter over 10 micrometers in diameter; smaller PM- 10 particles penetrate to the deeper portions of the lung, affecting sensitive population groups such as children and individuals with respiratory ailments. Point of Disinfectant Application: The point where disinfectant is applied and water downstream of that point is not subject to recontamination by surface water runoff. Point-of-Entry Treatment Device: A treatment device 'applied to the drink- ing water entering a house or building to reduce the contaminants in the water distributed throughout the house or building. Point-of Use Treatment Device: Treat- ment device applied to a single tap to reduce contaminants in the drinking water at the one faucet Point Source: A stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged; any single identifiable source of pollution, e.g., a pipe, ditch, ship, ore pit, factory smokestack. Pollen: The fertilizing element of flow- ering plants; background air pollutant. Pollutant: Generally, any substance in- troduced into the environment that ad- versely affects the usefulness of a re- source. ------- 31 Pollution Prevention; The active pro- cess of identifying areas, processes, and activities which create excessive waste byproducts or pollutants for the purpose of substitution, alteration, or elimination of the process to prevent waste and pollutant generation. Pollutant Standard Index (PSD: Mea- sure of adverse health effects of air pollution levels in major cities. Pollution: Generally, the presence of matter or energy whose nature, loca- tion, or quantity produces undesired environmental effects. Under the Clean Water Act, for example, the term is defined as the manmade or man-in- duced alteration of the physical, biolog- ical, chemical, and radiological integ- rity of water. , Polonium: A radioactive element that occurs in pitchblende and other urani- um-containing ores. Polyelectrolytea: Synthetic chemicals that help solids to clump during sew- age treatment. Polymer: Basic molecular ingredients in plastic. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A tough, environmentally indestructible plastic that releases hydrochloric acid when burned. Population: A group of interbreeding organisms occupying a particular space; the number of humans or other living creatures in a designated area. Population at Riak: A population sub- group that is more likely to be exposed to a pollutant, or is more sensitive to the pollutant, than is the general popu- lation. Porosity. Degree to which noil, gravel, sediment, or rock is permeated with pores or cavities through which water or air «•*" move. Poetchlorination: Addition of chlorine to plant effluent for disinfectant pur- poses after the effluent has been treat- ed. Poet-Closure: Time period following the shutdown of a waste management or manufacturing facility; for monitoring purposes, often considered to, be 30 years. Post-Consumer Recycling: Reuse of materials generated from residential and consumer waste, e.g.. converting wastepaper from offices into corrugat- ed boxes or newsprint. Potable Water Water that is safe for drinking and cooking. Potentially Responsible Party (PRP>. Any individual or company-including owners, operators, transporters or generators-potentially responsible for, or contributing to a spill or other con- tamination at a Superfund site. When- ever possible, through administrative and legal actions, GPA requires PRPs to clean up hazardous sites they have contaminated. Potentiation: The ability of one chemi- cal to increase the effect of another chemical. Prechlorination: The addition of chlo- rine at the headworks of a treatment plant prior to other treatment process- es. Done mainly for disinfection and control of tastes, odors, and aquatic growths, and to aid in coagulation and settling, Precipitate: A solid that separates from a solution. Precipitation: Removal of hazardous solids from liquid waste to permit safe disposal; removal of particles from airborne emissions. Precipitator. Pollution control device that collects particles from an air stream. Precursor: In photochemistry, a com- pound antecedent to a volatile organic compound (VOC). Precursors react in sunlight to form ozone or other photo- chemical oxidants. Preliminary Assessment: The process of collecting and reviewing available information about a known or suspect- ed waste site or release. Prescriptive: Water rights which are acquired by diverting water and put- ting it to use in accordance with speci- fied procedures, e.g., filing a request with a state agency to use unused water in a stream, river, or lake.. Pressure Sewers: A system of pipes in which water, wastewater, or other liquid is pumped to a higher elevation. Pretreatinent: Processes used to re- duce, eliminate, or alter the nature of wastewater pollutants from non-dom- estic sources before they are dis- charged into publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Prevalent Level Samples: Air samples taken under normal conditions (also known as ambient background sam- ples). Prevalent Levels: Levels of airborne contaminant occurring under normal conditions. Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD): EPA program in which state and/or federal permits are required in order to restrict emissions from new or modified sources in places where air quality already meets or exceeds pri- mary and secondary ambient air quali- ty standards. Primacy: Having the primary responsi- bility for administering and enforcing regulations. Primary Drinking Water Regulation: Applies, to public water systems and specifies a contaminant level, which, in the judgment of the EPA Administra- tor, will not adversely affect human health. Primary Standards: National ambient air quality standards designed to pro- . tect human health with an adequate margin for safety. (See National Ambi- ent Air Quality Standards, secondary standards) Primary Waste Treatment: First steps in wastewater treatment; screens and sedimentation tanks are used to re- move most materials that float or will settle. Primary treatment removes about 30 percent of carbonaceous bio- chemical oxygen demand from domes- tic sewage. Principal Organic Hazardous Constitu- ents (POHCa): Hazardous compounds monitored during an incinerator's trial burn, selected for high concentration in the waste feed and difficulty of com- bustion. Prior Appropriation: A doctrine of water law that allocates the rights to use water on a first-come, first-served basis. Probability of Detection: The likeli- hood, expressed as a percentage, that a test method will correctly identify a leaking tank. Process Variable: A physical or chemi- cal quantity which is usually measured and controlled in the operation of a water treatment plant or industrial plant. Process Verification: Verifying that process raw materials, water usage, waste treatment processes, production rate and other facts relative to quanti- ty and quality of pollutants contained in. discharges are substantially de- scribed in the permit application and the issued permit. ------- 32 Process Waste-water Any water that comes into contact with any raw mate- rial, product, byproduct, or waste. Process Weight: Total weight of all materials, including fuel, used in a ma- nufacturing process; used to calculate the allowable particulate emission rate. Product Level: The level of a product in a storage tank. , Product Water Water that has passed through a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers. Products of Incomplete Combustion (PICs): Organic compounds formed by combustion. Usually generated in small amounts and sometimes toxic, PICs are heat-altered versions of the original material fed into the incin- erator (e.g., charcoal is a P.C. from burning wood). Propellent: Liquid in a self-pressurized pesticide product that expels the active ingredient from its container. Proposed Plan: A plan for a site clean- up that is available to the public for comment. Proteins: Complex nitrogenous organic compounds of high molecular weight made of amino acids; essential for growth and repair of animal tissue. Many, but not all, proteins are en- zymes. Protocol: A series of formal steps for conducting a test. Protoplast: A membrane-bound cell from which the outer wall has been partially or completely removed. The term often is applied to plant cells. Protozoa: One-celled animala that are larger and more complex than bacteria. May cause disease. Public Comment Period: The time al- lowed for the public to express its views and concerns regarding an ac- tion by EPA (e.g., a Federal Register Notice of proposed rule-making, a public notice of a draft permit, or a No- tice of Intent to Deny). Public Hearing: A formal meeting at which EPA officials hear the public's views and concerns about an EPA action or proposal. EPA is required to consider such comments when evalu- ating its actions. Public hearings must be held upon request during the public comment period. Public Notice: 1. Notification by EPA informing the public of Agency actions such as the issuance of a draft permit or scheduling of a hearing. EPA is required to ensure proper public notice, including publication in newspapers and broadcast media.- 2. In the safe drinking water program, water suppli- ers are required to publish and broad- cast notices when pollution problems are discovered. Public Water System: A system that provides piped water for human con- sumption to at least 15 service con- nections or regularly serves 25 indi- viduals. Publicly Owned Treatment Works: A waste-treatment works owned by a state, unit of local government, or Indian tribe, usually designed to treat domestic waste waters. . Pumping Station: Mechanical devices installed in sewer or. water systems or other liquid-carrying pipelines to move the liquids to a higher level. Putrefaction: Biological decomposition of organic matter; associated with anaerobic conditions. Putreacible: Able to rot quickly enough to cause odors and attract flies. Pyrolyms: Decomposition of a chemical by extreme heat. Quality Assurance/Quality Control: A system of procedures, checks, audits, and corrective actions to ensure that all EPA research design and perfor- mance, environmental monitoring and sampling, and other technical and reporting activities are of the highest achievable quality. Quench Tank A water-filled tank used to cool incinerator residues or hot materials during industrial processes. Radiation: Transmission of energy though space or any medium. Also known as radiant energy. Radiation Standards: Regulations that set maximum exposure limits for pro- tection of the public from radioactive materials. Radio Frequency Radiation: (See Non- ionizing Radiation.) Radioactive Decay: Spontaneous change in an atom by emission of charged particles and/or gamma rays; also known as radioactive disintegra- tion and radioactivity. Radioactive Substances: Substances that emit ionizing radiation. Radioisotopes: Chemical variants of an element with potentially oncogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects on the human body. Radionuclide: Radioactive particle, man-made or natural, with a. distinct atomic weight number. Can have a long life as soil or water pollutants. Radius of Vulnerability Zone: The maximum distance from the point of release of a hazardous substance in which the airborne concentration could reach the level of concern under spec- ified weather conditions. Radon: A colorless naturally occur- ring, radioactive, inert gas formed by radioactive decay of radium atoms in soil or rocks, Radon Daughters/Radon Progeny: Short-lived radioactive decay products of radon that decay into longer-lived lead isotopes that can attach them- selves to airborne dust and other parti- cles and, if inhaled, damage the linings of the lungs. Radon Decay Products: A term used to refer collectively to the immediate products of the radon decay chain. These include Po-218, Pb-214, Bi-214, and Po-214, which have an average combined half-life of about 30 minutes. Rasp: A machine that grinds waste into a manageable material and helps prevent odor. Raw Sewage: Untreated wastewater and its contents. Raw Water Intake water prior to any treatment or use. Reaeration: Introduction of air into the lower layers of a reservoir. As the air bubbles form and rise through the wa- ter, the oxygen dissolves into the water and replenishes the dissolved oxygen. The rising bubbles also cause the lower waters to rise to the surface where they take on oxygen from the atmosph- ere. Reasonable Further Progress: Annual incremental reductions in air pollutant emissions as reflected in a State Imple- mentation Plan that EPA deems suffi- cient to provide for the attainment of the applicable national ambient air quality standards by the statutory dea- dline. Reasonable Maximum Exposure: The maTJTrmm exposure reasonably expect- ed to occur in a population. ------- 33 Reasonably Available Control Mea- sures (RACM): A broadly defined term referring to technological and other measures for pollution control. Reasonably Available Control Technol- ogy (RACT): Control technology that is reasonably available and both techno- logically and economically feasible. Usually applied to existing sources in nonattainment areas; in most cases is less stringent than new source perfor- mance standards. Recarbonization: Process in which carbon dioxide is bubbled into water being treated to lower the pH. Receiving Waters: A river, lake, ocean, stream, or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged. Recharge: The process by which water is added to a zone of saturation, usual- ly by percolation from the soil surface, e.g., the recharge of an aquifer. Recharge Area: A land area in which water reaches the zone of saturation from surface infiltration, e.g., where rainwater soaks through the earth to reach an aquifer. Recharge Rate: The quantity of water per unit of time that replenishes or refills an aquifer. Reclamation: (In recycling) Restoration of materials found in the waste stream to a beneficial use which may be for purposes other than the original use. Recombinant Bacteria: A microorgan- ism whose genetic makeup has been altered by deliberate introduction of new genetic elements. The offspring of these altered bacteria also contain these new genetic elements:, i.e. they "breed true." Recombinant DNA: The new DNA that is formed by combining pieces of DNA from different organisms or cells. Level (RMCL): The maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated adverse affect on human health would occur, and that includes an adequate margin of safety. Recommended levels are nonenforceable health goals. (See: maximum contaminant level.) Reconstructed Source: Facility in which components are replaced to such an extent that the fixed capital cost of the new components exceed 50 percent of the capital cost of constructing a comparable brand-new facility. New- source performance standards may be applied to sources reconstructed after the proposal of the standard if it is technologically and economically feasi- ble to meet the standard. Record of Decision (ROD): A public document that explains which cleanup alternative(s) will be used at National Priorities List sites where, under CERCLA, Trust Funds pay for the cleanup. Recovery Rate: Percentage of usable recycled materials that have been re- moved from the total amount of mu- nicipal solid waste generated in a spe- cific area or by a specific business. Recycle/Reuse: Minimizing waste gen- eration by recovering and reprocessing usable products that might otherwise become waste (.i.e. recycling of alu- minum cans, paper, and bottles, etc.). Red Bag Waste: (See: infectious waste.) Red Border: An EPA document under- going review before being submitted for final management decision-making. "Red Tide: A proliferation of a marine plankton toxic often fatal to fish, per- haps stimulated by the addition of nutrients. A tide can be red, green, or brown, depending on the coloration of the plankton. Reduction: The addition of hydrogen, removal of oxygen, or addition of elect- rons to an element or compound. Reentry Interval: The period of time immediately following the application of a pesticide during which unprotected workers should not enter a field. Reference Dose (RfD): The concentra- tion of a chemical known to cause health problems; also referred to as the ADI, or acceptable daily intake. Reformulated Gasoline: Gasoline with a different composition from conven- tional gasoline (e.g., lower aromatics content) that cuts air pollutants. Roftioling Emissions: Emissions re- leased during vehicle refueling. Refuse Reclamation: Conversion of solid waste into useful products, e.g., composting organic wastes to make soil conditioners or separating aluminum and other metals for recycling. Refuse: (See: solid waste.) . Regeneration: Manipulation of cells to cause them to develop into whole plants. Regional Response Team (RRT): Repre- sentatives of federal, local, and state agencies who may assist in coordina- tion of activities at the request of the On-Scene Coordinator before and dur- ing a- significant pollution incident such as an oil spill, major chemical release, or a Superfund response. Registrant: Any manufacturer or for- mula tor who obtains registration for a pesticide active ingredient or product. Registration: Formal listing with EPA of a new pesticide before it can be sold or distributed. Under the Federal In- secticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. EPA is responsible for registration (pre-market licensing) of pesticides on the basis of data demonstrating no un- reasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment when ap- plied according to approved label direc- tions. Registration Standards: Published documents which include summary re- views of the data available on a pest- icide's active ingredient, data gaps, and the -Agency's existing regulatory posi- tion on the pesticide. Regulated Asbestos-Containing Materi- al (RACM>. Friable asbestos material or nonfriable ACM that will be or has been subjected to sanding, grinding, cutting, or abrading or has crumbled, or been pulverized or reduced to pow- der in the course of demolition or ren- ovation operations. Regulated Medical Waste: Under the Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988, any solid waste generated in the diag- nosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals. Included are cultures and stocks of infectious agents; human blood and blood prod- ucts; human pathological body wastes from surgery and autopsy; contaminat- ed animal carcasses from medical re- search; waste from patients with com- municable diseases; and all used sharp implements, such as needles and scal- pels, etc., and certain unused sharps. (See; treated medical waste; untreated medical waste; destroyed medical waste.) Release: Any spilling, leaking, pump- ing, pouring, emitting, emptying, dis- charging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environ- ment of a hazardous or toxic chemical or extremely hazardous substance. ------- 34 Remedial Action (RA): The actual cons- truction or implementation phase of a Super-fund site cleanup that follows remedial design. Remedial Design: A phase of remedial action that follows the remedial inves- tigation/feasibility study and includes development of engineering drawings and specifications for a site cleanup. Remedial Investigation: An in-depth study designed to gather data needed to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a Superfund site, establish site cleanup criteria, identify preliminary alternatives for remedial action, and support technical and cost analyses of alternatives. The remedial investigation is usually done with the feasibility study. Together they are usually referred to as the "RI/FS". Remedial Project Manager (RPM): The EPA or state official responsible for overseeing on-site remedial action. Remedial Response: Long-term action that stops or substantially reduces a release or threat of a release of hazard- ous substances that is serious but not an immediate threat to public health. Remediation: 1. Cleanup or other methods used to remove or contain a toxic spill or hazardous materials from a Superfund site; 2. for the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response program, abatement methods including evalu- ation, repair, enclosure, encapsulation, or removal of greater than 3 linear feet or square feet of asbestos-containing materials from a building. Remote Sensing: The collection and interpretation of information about an object without physical contact with the object; e.g., satellite imaging and aerial photograph. Removal Action: Short-term immediate actions taken to address releases of hazardous substances that require expedited response. (See: cleanup.) Repeat Compliance Period: Any subse- quent compliance period after the initial one. Reportable Quantity (RQ): Quantity of a hazardous substance that triggers re- ports under CERCLA. If a substance exceeds its RQ, the release must be reported to the National Response Center, the SERC, and ^immunity emergency coordinators for areas likely to be affected. Repowering: Rebuilding and replacing major components of a power plant instead of building a new one. Representative Sample: A portion of material or water that is as nearly identifies! in content and consistency as possible to that in'the larger body of material or water being sampled. Reregistration: The reevaluation and relicensing of existing pesticides origi- nally registered prior to current scien- tific and regulatory standards. EPA reregisters pesticides through its Reg- istration Standards Program. . Reserve Capacity: Extra treatment capacity built into solid waste and wastewater treatment plants and in- terceptor sewers to accommodate flow increases due to future population growth. Reservoir: Any natural or artificial holding area used to store, regulate, or control water. Residual: Amount of a pollutant re- maining in the environment after a natural or technological process has taken place, e.g., the sludge remaining after initial wastewater treatment, or particulates remaining in air after it passes through a scrubbing or other process. Residual Risk: The extent of health risk from air pollutants remaining after application of the Maximum A- chievable Control Technology (MACT). Residue: The dry solids remaining after the evaporation of a sample of water or sludge. Resistance: For plants and animals, the ability to withstand poor environ- mental conditions or attacks by chemi- cals or disease. May be inborn or ac- quired. Reaource Recovery: The process of obtaining matter or energy from mate- rials formerly discarded. Response Action: 1. Generic term for actions taken in response to actual or potential health-threatening environ- mental events such as spills, sudden releases, and asbestos abate- menl/manageinent problems; 2. A CERCLA-authorized action involving either a short-term removal action or a long-term removal response. This may include but is not limited to: removing hazardous materials from a site to an EPA-approved hazardous waste facility for treatment, containment or treating the waste on-site, identifying and re- moving the sources of ground-water contamination and halting further migration of contaminants; 3. Any of the following actions taken in school buildings in response to AHERA to reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos: removal, encapsulation, enclosure, repair, and operations and ' mainte- nance. (See: cleanup) Responsiveness Summary: A summary of oral and/or written public comments received by EPA during a comment period on key EPA documents, and EPA's response to those comments. Restoration: Measures taken to return a site to pre-violation conditions. Restricted Use: A pesticide may be classified (under FIFRA regulations) for restricted use if the it requires special handling because of its toxicity, and, if so, it may be applied only by trained, certified applicators or those under their direct supervision. Restriction Enzymes: Enzymes that recognize specific regions of a long DNA molecule and cut it at those points. Retrofit: Addition of a pollution control device on an existing facility without making major changes to the generat- ing plant. Reuse: Using a product or component of municipal solid waste in its original form more than once, e.g., refilling a glass bottle that has been returned or using a coffee can to hold nuts and bolts. Reverse Osmosis: A treatment process used in water systems by adding pres- sure to force water through a semi- permeable membrane. Reverse osmosis removes most drinking water contami- nants. Also used in wastewater treat- ment. Large-scale reverse osmosis plants are being developed. Reversible Effect: An effect which is not permanent; especially adverse effects which diminish when exposure to a toxic chemical stops. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA): A molecule that carries the genetic message from DNA to a cellular protein-producing mechanisms. Rill: A small channel eroded into the soil by surface runoff; can be easily smoothed out or oblitrated by normal tillage. Ringlemann Chart: A series of shaded illustrations used to measure the opac- ity of air pollution emissions, ranging from light grey through black; used to set and enforce emissions standards. Riparian Habitat: Areas adjacent to rivers and streams with a high densi- ty, diversity, and productivity of plant and animal species relative to nearby uplands. ------- 35 Riparian Rights: Entitlement of a land owner to certain uses of water on or bordering his property, including the right to prevent diversion or misuse of upstream waters. Generally a matter of state law. Risk: A measure of the probability that damage to life, health, property, and/or the environment will occur as a result of a given hazard. Risk Assessment; Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human health and/or the environment by the actual or potential presence and/or use of specific pollut- ants. Risk-baaed Targeting: The direction of resources to those areas that have been identified as having the highest potential or actual adverse effect on human health and/or the environment. Risk Characterization: The last step in the risk assessment process; charac- terizes the potenetial for adverse health effects and evaluates the degree of uncertainty involved. Risk Communication: The exchange of information about health or environ- mental risks among risk assessors and managers, the general public, news media, interest groups, etc. Risk Estimate: A description of the probability that organisms exposed to a specific dose of a chemical or other pollutant will develop an adverse re- sponse, e.g., cancer. Risk Factor Characteristics (e.g., race, sex, age, obesity) or variables (e.g., smoking, occupational exposure level) associated with increased probability of a toxic effect. Risk Management: The process of evaluating and selecting alternative regulatory and non-regulatory respons- es to risk. The selection process neces- sarily requires the consideration of legal, economic, and behavioral factors. Risk-Specific DOM: The dose associated with a specified risk level. River Basin: The land area drained by a river and its tributaries. Rodenticide; A chemical or agent used to destroy rats or other rodent peats, or to prevent them from damaging food, crops, etc. Rotary Kiln Incinerator. An incinerator with a rotating combustion chamber that keeps waste moving, thereby allowing it to vaporize for easier burn- ing. Rough Fish: Fish not prized for eating, such as gar and • suckers. Most are more tolerant of changing environmen- tal conditions than game species. Route of Exposure: The avenue by which a chemical comes into contact with an organism, e.g., inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact, injection. Rubbish: Solid waste, excluding food waste and ashes, from homes, institu- tions, and work-places. Run-Off. That part of precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water that runs off the land into streams or other surface-water. It can carry pollutants from the air and land into receiving waters. Running Losses: Evaporation of motor vehicle fuels from the fuel tank while the vehicle is in use. Sacrifical Anode: An easily corroded material deliberately installed in a pipe or intake to give it up to corrosion while the rest of the water supply facility remains relatively corrosion- free. Safe: Condition of exposure under which there is a practical certrainty that no harm will result to exposed indiviuals. Safener A chemical added to a pesti- cide to keep it from injuring plants. Safe Water Water that does not con- tain harmful bacteria, toxic materials, or chemicals, and is considered safe for .drinking even if it may have taste, odor, color, and certain mineral prob- lems. Safe Yield: The annual amount of water that can be taken from a source or supply over a period of years with- out depleting that source beyond its ability to be replenished naturally in "wet years." Salinity: The percentage of salt in water. Salt Water Intrusion: The invasion of fresh surface or ground water by salt water. If it comes from the ocean it may be called sea water intrusion. Salts: Minerals that water picks up as it passes through the air, over and under the ground, or from households and industry. Salvage: The utilization of waste mate- rials. Sanctions: Actions taken by the federal government for failure to plan or im- plement a State Improvement Plan (SIP). Such action may be include withholding of highway funds and a ban on construction of new sources of potential pollution. Sand Filters: Devices that remove some suspended solids from sewage. Air and bacteria decompose additional wastes filtering through the sand so that cleaner water drains from the bed. Sanitary Landfill: (See: landfills.) Sanitary Sewers: Underground pipes that carry off only domestic or indus- trial waste, not storm water. Sanitary Survey: An on-site review of the water sources, facilities, equip- ment, operation and maintenance of a public water system to evaluate the adequacy of those elements for produc- ing and distributing safe drinking water. Sanitary Water (Also known as gray water): Water discharged from sinks, showers, kitchens, or other nonindus- trial operations, but not from com- modes. Sanitation: Control of physical factors in the human environment that could harm development, health, or survival. Saprophytes: Organisms living on dead or decaying organic matter that help natural decomposition of organic mat- ter in water. Saturated Zone: The area below the water table where all open spaces are filled with water under pressure equal to or greater than that of the atmo- sphere. Saturation: The condition of a liquid when it has taken into solution the maximum possible quantity of a given substance at a given temperature and pressure. Scrap: Materials discarded from manu- facturing operations that may be suit- able for reprocessing. Screening: Use of screens to remove coarse floating and suspended solids from sewage. Science Advisory Board (SAB): A group of external scientists who advise EPA on science and policy. • Scrubber An air pollution device that uses a spray of water or reactant or a dry process to trap pollutants in emis- sions. ------- 36 Secondary Drinking Water Regula- tions: Non-enforceable regulations applying to public water systems and specifying the maximum contamina- tion levels that, in the judgment of EPA, are required to protect the public welfare. These regulations apply to any contaminants that may adversely af- fect the odor or appearance of such water and consequently may cause people served by the system to discon- tinue its use. Secondary Materials: Materials that have been manufactured and used at least once and are to be used again. Secondary Standards: National am- bient air quality standards designed to protect welfare, including effects on soils, water, crops, vegetation, man- made materials, animals, wildlife, weather, visibility, and climate; dam- age to property; transportation haz- ards; effects on economic values, and on personal comfort and well-being. Secondary Treatment: The second step in most publicly owned waste treat- ment systems in which bacteria con- sume the organic parts of the waste. It is accomplished by bringing together waste, bacteria, and oxygen in trick- ling, filters or in the activated sludge process. This treatment removes float- ing and settleable solids and about 90 percent of the oxygen-demanding sub- stances and suspended solids. Disinfec- tion is the final stage of secondary treatment. (See: primary, tertiary treatment.) Secure Chemical landfill: (See: land- fills.) Secure Maximum Contaminant Level: Maximum permissible level of a con- taminant in water delivered to the free flowing outlet of the ultimate user, or of contamination resulting from corro- sion of piping and plumbing caused by water quality. Sediment Yield The quantity of sedi- ment arriving at a specific location. Sedimentation Tanks: Wastewater tanks in which floating wastes are skimmed off and settled solids are re- moved for disposal. Sedimentation: Letting solids settle out of wastewater by gravity during treat- ment. . Sediments: Soil, sand, and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish and wildlife habitat, and clouding the wa- ter so that sunlight cannot reach aquatic plants. Careless farming, min- ing, and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to wash off the land after rainfall. Seed Protectant: A chemical applied before planting to protect seeds and seedlings from disease or insects. Seepage: Percolation of water through the soil from unlined canals, ditches, laterals, watercourses, or water stor- age facilities. Selective Pesticide: A chemical de- signed to affect only certain types of pests, leaving other plants and animals unharmed. Semi-Confined Aquifer An aquifer par- tially, confined by soil layers of low permeability through which recharge and discharge can still occur. Senescence: The aging process. Some- times used to describe lakes or other bodies of water in advanced stages of eutrophication. Septic System: An on-site system de- signed to treat and dispose of domestic sewage. A typical septic system con- sists of a tank that receives waste from a residence or business amd a system of tile lines or a pit for disposal of the liquid effluent (sludge) that remains after decomposition of the solidis by bacteria in the tank; must be pumped out periodically. Septic Tank: An underground storage tank for wastes from homes not con- nected to a sewer line. Waste goes di- rectly from the home to the tank. (See: septic system.) Service Connector The pipe that car- ries tap water from a public water main to a, building. Service Line Sample: A one-liter sam- ple of water collected according to federal regulations that has been standing for at least 6 hours in a ser- vice pipeline. Service Pipe: The pipeline extending from the water main to the building served or to the consumer's system. Settleable Solids: Material heavy enough to sink to the bottom of a wastewater treatment tank. Settling Chamber A series of screens placed in the way of flue gases to slow the stream of air, thus helping gravity to pull particles into a collection de- vice. Settling Tank: A holding area for wastewater, where heavier particles sink to the bottom for removal and disposal. 7Q10: Seven-day, consecutive low flow with a ten year return frequency; the lowest stream flow for seven consecu- tive days that would be expected to occur once in ten years. Sewage: The waste and wastewater produced by residential and commer- cial sources and discharged into sew- ers. Sewage Lagoon: (See: lagoon.) Sewage Sludge: Sludge produced at a Publicly Owned Treatment Works, the disposal of which is regulated under the Clean Water Act. Sewer A channel or conduit that car- ries wastewater and storm-water run- off from the source to a treatment plant or receiving stream. "Sanitary" sewers carry household, industrial, and commercial waste. "Storm" sewers carry runoff from rain or snow. "Com- bined" sewers handle both. Sewerage: The entire system of sewage collection, treatment, and disposal. Sharps: Hypodermic needles, syringes (with or without the attached needle) pasteur pipettes, scalpel blades, blood vials, needles with attached tubing, and culture dishes used in animal or human patient care or treatment, or in medical, research or industrial labo- ratories. Also included are other types of broken or unbroken glassware that were in contact with infectious agents, such as used slides and cover slips, and unused hypodermic and suture needles, syringes, and scalpel blades. Shock Load: The arrival at a water treatment plant of raw water contain- ing unusual amounts of algae, colloidal matter, color, suspended solids, tur- bidity, or other pollutants. Short-Circuiting: When some of the water in tanks or basins flows faster than the rest; may result in shorter contact, reaction, or settling times than calculated or presumed. Signal: The volume or product-level change produced by a leak in a tank. Signal Words: The words used on a pesticide label—Danger, Warning, Cau- tion—to indicate level of toxicity. Significant Deterioration: Pollution re- sulting from a new source in previous- ly "clean" areas. (See: prevention of significant deterioration.) Significant Municipal Facilities: Those publicly owned sewage treatment plants that discharge a million gallons per day or more and are therefore considered by states to have the poten- ------- 37 tial to substantially effect the quality of receiving waters. Significant Non-Compliance: (See: sig- nificant violations.) Significant Violations: Violations by point source dischargers of sufficient magnitude or duration to be a regula- tory priority. Silt: Sedimentary materials composed of fine or intermediate-sized mineral particles. Silviculture: Management of forest land for timber. Sink: Place in the environment where a compound or material collects. Sinking: Controlling oil spills by using an agent to trap the oil and sink it to the bottom of the body of water where the agent and the oil are biodegraded. Site: An area or place within the juris- diction of the EPA and/or a state. Site Assessment Program: A means of evaluating hazardous waste sites through preliminary assessments and site inspections to develop a Hazard Ranking System score. Site Inspection: The collection of infor- mation from a Superfund site to deter- mine the extent and severity of haz- ards posed by the site. It follows and is more 'extensive than a preliminary assessment. The purpose is to gather information necessary to score the site, using the Hazard Ranking System, and to determine if it presents an immedi- ate threat requiring prompt removal. Site Safety Flan: A cruciaL element in all removal actions, it includes infor- mation on equipment being used, pre- cautions to be taken, and steps to take in the event of an on-site emergency. Siting: The process of choosing a loca- tion for a facility. Skimming: Using a machine to remove oil or scum from the surface of the water. Slow Sand Filtration: Passage of raw water through a bed of sand at low velocity, resulting in substantial re- moval of chemical and biological con- taminants. Sludge: A semi-solid residue from any of a number of air or water treatment processes; can be a hazardous waste. Sludge Digester. Tank in which com- plex organic substances like sewage sludges are biologically dredged. Dur- ing these reactions, energy is released and much of the sewage is converted to methane, carbon dioxide, and water. Slurry: A watery mixture of insoluble matter resulting from some pollution control techniques. Small Quantity Generator (SQG-some- times referred to as "Squeegee"): Per- sons or enterprises that produce 220- 2200 pounds per month of hazardous waste; are required to keep more re- cords than conditionally exempt gener- ators. The largest category of hazard- ous waste generators, SQGs include automotive shops, dry cleaners, photo- graphic developers, and a host of other small businesses. (See: conditionally exempt generators). Smelter. A facility that melts or fuses ore, often with an accompanying chem- ical change, to separate its metal con- tent. Emissions cause pollution. "Smelting" is the process involved. ' Smog: Air pollution associated with oxidants. (See: photochemical smog.) Smoke: Particles suspended in air after incomplete combustion. Soft Detergents: Cleaning agents that break down in nature. Soft Water: Any water that does not contain a significant amount of dis- solved minerals such as salts of calci- um or magnesium. Soil Adsorption Field: A sub-surface area containing a trench or bed with clean stones and a system of piping through which treated sewage may seep into the surrounding soil for fur- ther treatment and disposal. Soil and Water Conservation Practices: Control measures consisting of mana- gerial, vegetative, and structural prac- tices to reduce the loss of soil and water. Soil Conditioner: An organic material like humus or compost that helps soil absorb water, build a bacterial commu- nity, and take up mineral nutrients. Soil Erodibility: An indicator of a soil's susceptibility to raindrop impact, run- off, and other erosive processes. Soil Gas: Gaseous elements and com- pounds in the small spaces between particles of the earth and soil. Such gases can be moved or driven out un- der pressure. Soil Sterilante A chemical that tempo- rarily or permanently prevents the growth of all plants and animals. Solder Metallic compound used to seal joints between pipes. Until recently, most solder contained 50 percent lead. Use of lead solder containing more than 0.2 percent lead in pipes carrying drinking water is now prohibited. Sole-Source Aquifer An aquifer that supplies 50-percent or more pf the drinking water of an area. Solid Waste: Non-liquid, non-soluble materials ranging from municipal garbage to industrial wastes that con- tain complex and sometimes hazardous substances. Solid wastes also include sewage sludge, agricultural refuse, demolition wastes, and mining resi- dues. Technically, solid waste also refers to liquids and gases in contain- ers. Solid Waste Disposal: The final place- ment of refuse that is not salvaged or recycled. Solid Waste Management: Supervised handling of waste materials from their source through recovery processes to disposal. Solidification and Stabilization: Remov- al of wastewater from a waste or changing it chemically to make it less permeable and susceptible to transport by water. Soot: Carbon dust formed by incom- plete combustion. Sorption: The action of soaking up or attracting substances; process used in many pollution control systems. Source Reduction: Reducing the amount of materials entering the waste stream by redesigning products or patterns of production or consump- tion (e.g., using returnable beverage containers). Synonymous with waste reduction. Source Separation: Segregating various wastes at the point of generation (e.g., separation of paper, metal and glass from other wastes to make recycling simpler and more efficient.) Special Review: Formerly known as Rebuttable Presumption Against Regis- tration (RPAR), this is the regulatory process through which existing pesti- cides suspected of posing unreasonable risks to human health, non-target organisms, or the environment are referred for review by EPA. Such re- view requires an intensive risk/benefit analysis with opportunity for public comment. If risk is found to outweigh social and economic benefits, regula- tory actions ranging from label revi- ------- 38 . sions and use-restriction to cancella- tion or suspended registration can be initiated. Special Waste: Items such as house- hold hazardous waste, bulky wastes (refrigerators, pieces of furniture, etc.) tires, and used oil. Species: A reproductively isolated ag- gregate of interbreeding organisms. Specific Conductance: Rapid method of estimating the dissolved solid content of a water supply by testing its capaci- ty to carry an electrical current. Specific Yield The amount of water a unit volume of saturated permeable rock will yield when drained by gravi- ty. Spill Prevention Control and Counter- measures Plan (SPCP): Plan covering the release of hazardous substances as defined in the Clean Water Act. Spoil: Dirt or rock removed from its original location—destroying the compo- sition of the soil in the process—as in strip-mining, dredging, or construction. Sprawl: Unplanned development of open land. Spray Tower Scrubber A device that sprays alkaline water into a chamber where acid gases are present to aid in the neutralizing of the gas. Spring: Ground water seeping out of the earth where the water table inter- sects the ground surface. Spring Mell/Thaw: The process where- by warm temperatures melt winter snow and ice. Because various forms of acid deposition may have been stored in the frozen water, the melt can result in abnormally large amounts of acidity entering streams and rivers, some- times causing fish kills. Stable Air. A motionless mass of air that holds instead of dispersing pollut- ants. Stabilization: Conversion of the active organic matter in sludge into inert, harmless material. Stabilization Ponds: (See: lagoon.) Stack: A chimney, smokestack, or ver- tical pipe that discharges used air. Stack Effect: Air, as in a chimney, that moves upward because it is warmer than the ambient atmosphere. Stack Gas: (See: flue gas.) Stage II Controls: Systems placed on service station gasoline pumps to con- trol and capture gasoline vapors dur- ing refuelling. Stagnation: Lack of motion in a mass of air or water that holds pollutants in place. Standard Sample: The part of finished drinking water that is examined for the presence of coliform bacteria. Standards: Norms that impose limits on the amount of pollutants or emis- sions produced. EPA establishes mini- mum standards, but states are allowed to be stricter. Start of a Response Action: The point in time when there is a guarantee or set-aside of funding either by EPA, other federal agencies, states or Princi- pal Responsible Parties in order to begin response actions at a Superfund site. State Emergency Response Commis- sion (SERC): Commission appointed by each state governor according to the requirements of SARA Title III. The SERCs designate emergency planning districts, appoint local emergency plan- ning committees, and supervise and coordinate their activities. State Implementation Flans (SIP): EPA-approved state plans for the es- tablishment, regulation, and enforce- ment of air pollution standards. Static Water Depth: The vertical dis- tance from the center-line .of the pump discharge down to the surface level of the free pool while no water is being drawn from the pool or water table. Static Water Level: 1. Elevation or level of the water table in a well when the pump is not operating. 2. The level or elevation to which water would rise in a tube connected to an artesian aquifer or basin in a conduit under pressure. Stationary Source: A fixed-site produc- er of pollution, mainly power plants and other facilities using industrial combustion processes. Sterilization: The removal or destruc- tion of all microorganisms, including pathogenic and other bacteria, vegeta- tive forms, and spores. Storage: Temporary holding of waste pending treatment or disposal, as in containers, tanks, waste piles, and surface impoundments. Storm Sewer A system of pipes (sepa- rate from sanitary sewers) that carries only water runoff from buildings and land surfaces. Stratification: Separating into layers. Stratosphere: The portion of the atmo- sphere 10-to-25 miles above the earth's surface. • Strip-Cropping: Growing crops in a systematic arrangement of strips or bands that serve as barriers to wind and water erosion. Strip-Mining: A process that uses ma- chines to scrape soil or rock away from mineral deposits just under the earth's surface. Structural Deformation: Distortion in walls of a tank after liquid has been added or removed. Subchronic: Of intermediate duration, usually used to describe studies or periods of exposure lasting between 5 and 90 days Submerged Aquatic Vegetation: Vege- tation such as sea grasses that cannot withstand excessive drying and there- fore live with their leaves at or below the water surface; an important habi- tat for young fish and other aquatic organisms. Sulfur Dioxide (SOJ: A pungent, color- less, gaseous pollutant formed primari- ly by the combustion of fossil fuels. Sump: A pit or tank that catches liquid runoff for drainage or disposal. Superchlorination: Chlorination with doses that are deliberately selected to produce water free of combined residu- als so large as to require dechlorina- tion. Supercritical Water A type of thermal treatment using moderate tempera- tures and high pressures to enhance the ability of water to break down large organic molecules into smaller, less toxic ones. Oxygen injected during this process combines with simple organic compounds to form carbon di- oxide and water. Superfund: The program operated under the legislative authority of CERCLA and SARA that funds and carries out EPA solid waste emergency and long-term removal and remedial activities. These activities include establishing the National Priorities Last, investigating sites for inclusion on the list, determining their priority, and conducting and/or supervising the cleanup and other remedial actions. Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation: EPA program to promote development and use of innovative treatment technologies in Superfund site cleanups. ------- 39 Supplier of Water Any person who owns or operates a public water sup- ply. Surface Impoundment: Treatment, storage, or disposal of liquid hazardous wastes in ponds. Surface Runoff: Precipitation, snow- melt, or irrigation water in excess of what can infiltrate the soil surface and be stored in small surface depressions; a major transporter of non-point source pollutants. Surface Uranium Mines: Strip mining operations for removal of uranium- bearing ore. Surface Water All water naturally open to the atmosphere (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, impound- ments, seas, estuaries, etc.) and all springs, wells, or other collectors di- rectly influenced by surface water. Surfacing ACM: Asbestos-containing material that is sprayed or troweled on or otherwise applied to surfaces, such as acoustical plaster on ceilings and fireproofing materials on structural members. Surfacing Material: Material sprayed or troweled onto structural members (beams, columns, or decking) for fire protection; or on ceilings or walls for fireproofing, acoustical or decorative purposes. Includes textured plaster, and other textured wall and ceiling surfaces. Surfactant: A detergent compound that promotes lathering. Surveillance System: A series of moni- toring devices designed to check on environmental conditiona. Suspect Material: Building material suspected of containing asbestos, e.g., surfacing material, floor tile, ceiling tile, thermal system insulation, and miscellaneous other materials. Suspended Loads: Sediment particles maintained in the water column by turbulence and carried with the flow of water. Suspended Solids: Small particles of solid pollutants that float on the sur- face of, or are suspended in) sewage or other liquids. They resist removal by conventional means. Suspension: Suspending the use of a pesticide when EPA deems it necessary to prevent an imminent hazard result- ing from its continued use. An emer- gency suspension takes effect imme- diately; under an ordinary suspension a registrant can request a hearing before the suspension goes into effect. Such a hearing process might take six months. Suspension Culture: Cells growing in a liquid nutrient medium. Swamp: A type of wetland dominated by woody vegetation but without ap- preciable peat deposits. Swamps may be fresh or salt water and tidal- or non-tidal. (See: wetlands.) Synergism: An interaction of two or more chemicals that results in an ef- fect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs): Man-made organic chemicals. Some SOCs are volatile, others tend to stay dissolved in water instead of evaporat- ing. System With a Single Service Connec- tion: A system that supplies drinking water to consumers via a single service line. Systemic Pesticide: A chemical ab- sorbed by an organism that makes the organism toxic to pests. Tailings: Residue of raw material or waste separated out during the pro- cessing of crops or mineral ores. Tailpipe Standards: Emissions limita- tions applicable to mobile source en- gine exhausts. Tail Water. The runoff of irrigation water from the lower end of an irrigat- ed field. Tampering: Adjusting, negating, or removing pollution control equipment on a motor vehicle. Technical Assistance Grant (TAG): As part of the Superfund program, Tech- nical Assistance Grants of up to $60,000 are provided to citizens' groups to obtain assistance in inter- preting information related to cleanups at Superfund sites or those proposed for the National Priorities Last. Grants are used by such groups to hire techni- cal advisors to help them understand the site-related technical information for the duration of response activities. Technology-Based Limitations: Indus- try-specific effluent limitations applied to a discharge when it will not cause a violation of water quality standards at low stream flows. Usually applied to discharges into large rivers. Technology-Based Standards: Effluent limitations applicable to direct and indirect sources which are 'developed on a category-by-category basis using statutory factors, not including water- quality effects. Teratogenesis: The introduction of non- hereditary birth defects in a developing fetus by exogenous factors such as physical or chemical agents acting in the womb to interfere with normal embryonic development. Terracing: Dikes built along the con- tour of sloping farm land that hold runoff and sediment to reduce erosion. Tertiary Treatment: Advanced cleaning of wastewater that goes beyond the secondary or biological stage, removing nutrients such as phosphorus, nitro- gen, and most BOD and suspended solids. Therapeutic Index: The ratio of the dose required to produce toxic or lethal effects to dose required to produce nonadverse or therapeutic response. Thermal Pollution: Discharge of heated water from industrial processes; can kill or injure aquatic organisms. Thermal Stratification: The formation of layers of different temperatures in a lake or reservoir. Thermal System Insulation (TSI> Asbestos-containing material applied to pipes, fittings, boilers, breeching, tanks, ducts, or other interior struc- tural components to prevent heat loss or gain or water condensation. Thermal Treatment: Use of elevated temperatures to treat hazardous wastes. (See: incineration; pyrolysis.) Thermodine: The middle layer of a thermally stratified lake or reservoir. In this layer there is a rapid decrease in temperatures in a lake or reservoir. Threshold: The lowest dose of a chemi- cal at which a specified measurable effect is observed and below which it is not observed. Threshold Level: Time-weighted aver- age pollutant concentration values, exposure beyond which is likely to adversely affect human health. (See: environmental exposure) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): The concentration of an airborne substance that an average person can be repeat- edly exposed to without adverse effects. ------- 40 TLVs may be expressed in three ways: TLV-TWA-Time weighted average, based on an allowable exposure aver- aged over a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour workweek; TLV-STEL-Short- term exposure limit or maximum con- centration for a brief specified period of time, depending on a specific chemical (TWA must still be met); and TLV-C- Ceiling Exposure Limit or maximum exposure concentration not to be ex- ceeded under any circumstances. (TWA must still be met.) Threshold Odor (See: Odor threshold) Threshold Planning Quantity: A quan- tity designated for each chemical on the list of extremely hazardous sub- stances that triggers notification by facilities to the State Emergency Re- sponse Commission that such facilities are subject to emergency planning re- quirements under SARA Title III. Tidal Marsh: Low, flat marshlands tra- versed by channels and tidal hollows, subject to tidal inundation; normally, the only vegetation present is salt- tolerant bushes and grasses. (See: wetlands.) Tillage: Plowing, seedbed preparation, and cultivation practices. Total Suspended Particles: A method of monitoring particulate matter by total weight. Time-weighted Average (TWA): In air sampling, the average air concentra- tion of contaminants during a given period. Tolerances: Permissible residue levels 'for pesticides in raw agricultural pro- duce and processed foods. Whenever a pesticide is registered for use on a food or a feed crop, a tolerance (or exemp- tion from the tolerance requirement) must be established. EPA establishes the tolerance levels, which are enforced by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture. Tonnage: The amount of waste that a landfill accepts, usually expressed in tons per month. The rate at which a landfill accepts waste is limited by the landfill's permit. Topography: The physical features of a surface area including relative eleva- tions and the position of natural and man-made features. Total Dissolved Phosphorous: The total phosphorous content o. all material that will pass through a filter, which is determined as orthophosphate without prior digestion or hydrolysis. Also called soluble P. or ortho P. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): All mate- rial that passes the standard glass river filter; now called total filterable residue. Term is used to reflect salini- ty. Total Suspended Solids (TSS): A mea- sure of the suspended solids in wastewater, effluent, or water bodies, determined by tests for "total suspend- ed non-filterable solids." (See: suspend- ed solids.) Toxaphene: Chemical that causes ad- verse health effects in domesic water supplies and is toxic to fresh water and marine aquatic life. Toxic Chemical Release Form: Infor- mation form required of facilities that manufacture, process, or use (in quan- tities above a specific amount) chemi- cals listed under SARA Title III. Toxic Chemical: Any chemical listed in EPA rules as "Toxic Chemicals Subject to Section 313 of the Emergency Plan- ning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986." Toxic Chemical Use Substitution: Re- placing toxic chemicals with less harm- ful chemicals in industrial processes. Toxic Cloud: Airborne plume of gases, vapors, fumes, or aerosols containing toxic materials. Toxic Pollutants: Materials that cause death, disease, or birth defects in or- ganisms that ingest or absorb them. The quantities and exposures neces- sary to cause these effects can vary widely. Toxic Release Inventory: Database of toxic releases in the United States compiled from SARA Title III section 313 reports. Toxic Substance: A chemical or mix- ture that may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environ- ment. Toxic Waste: A waste that can produce injury if inhaled, swallowed, or ab- sorbed through the skin. Toxicant: A harmful substance or agent that may injure an exposed organism. Toxitity Assessment: Characterization of the toxicological properties and ef- fects of a chemical, with special em- phasis on establishment of dose-re- sponse characteristics. Tooricity Testing: Biological testing (usually with an invertebrate, fish, or small mammal) to determine the ad- verse effects of a compound or efflu- ent. Toxicological Profile: An examination, summary, and interpretation of a haz- ardous substance to determine levels of exposure and associated health effects. Transboundary Pollutants: Air pollu- tion that travels from one jurisdiction to another, often crossing state or international boundaries. Also applies to water pollution. Transient Water System: A non-com- munity water system that does not serve 25 of the same nonresidents per day for more than six months per year. Transmission Lines: Pipelines that transport raw water from its source to a water treatment plant, then to the distribution grid system. Transmissivity: The ability of an aqui- fer to transmit water, Transpiration: The process by which water vapor is lost to the atmosphere from living plants. The term can also be applied to the quantity of "water thus dissipated. Transportation Control Measures (TCMs): Steps taken by a locality to adjust traffic patterns (e.g., bus lanes, turnout, right turn on red) or reduce vehicle use (ride sharing, high-occu- pancy vehicle lanes) to cut vehicular emissions. Trash: Material considered worthless or offensive that is thrown away. Gen- erally defined as dry waste material, but in common usage it is a synonym for garbage, rubbish, or refuse. Trash-to-Energy Han: Burning trash to produce energy. Treatability Studies: Tests of potential cleanup technologies conducted in a laboratory (See: bench-scale tests.) Treated Regulated Medical Waste: Medical waste treated to substantially reduce or eliminate its pathogenicity, but that has not yet been destroyed. Treated Wastewater: Waste-water that has been subjected to one or more physical, chemical, and biological pro- cesses to reduce its pollution or health hazards. Treatment: (1) Any method, technique, or process designed to remove solids and/or pollutants from solid waste, wastestreams, effluents, and air emis- sions. (2) methods used to change the biological character or composition of any regulated medical waste so as to substantially reduce or eliminate its potential for causing disease. ------- 41 Treatment Plant: A structure built to treat wastewater before discharging it into the environment Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility: Site where a hazardous sub- stance is treated, stored, or disposed of. TSD facilities are regulated by EPA and states under RCRA. Tremie: Device used to place concrete or grout under water. Trial Burn: An incinerator test in which emissions are monitored for the presence of specific organic compounds, particulates, and hydrogen chloride. Trichloroethyiene (TCE): A stable, low boiling-point colorless liquid, toxic if in- haled. Used as a solvent or metal de- greasing agent, and in other industrial applications. Trickling Filter A coarse treatment system in which wastewater is trickled over a bed of stones or other material covered with bacteria that break down the organic waste and produce clean water. Trickle Irrigation: Method in which water drips to the soil from perforated tubes or emitters. TVihiil««M«»t>nin«» ^TOM): One of a fami- ly of organic compounds named as derivative of methane. THMs are gen- erally by-products of chlorination of drinking water that contains organic material. Troposhpere: The layer of the atmo- sphere closest to the earth's surface. Trust Fond (CERCLA): A fund set up iinA»r the Comprehensive Environmen- tal Response, Compensation and Lia- bility Act (CERCLA) to help pay for cleanup of hazardous waste sites and for legal action to force those responsi- ble for the sites to clean them up. Tube Settler Device using bundles of tubes to let solids in water settle to the bottom for removal by conventional sludge collection means; sometimes used in sedimentation basing and clari- fiers to improve particle removal. Tuberculation: Development or forma- tion of small mounds of corrosion pro- ducts on the inside of iron pipe. These tubercules roughen the imiide of the pipe, increasing its resistance to water flow. Tundra: A type of ecosystem dominat- ed by lichens, mosses, grasses, and woody plants. Tundra is found at high latitudes (arctic tundra) and high alti- tudes (alpine tundra). Arctic tundra is underlain by permafrost and is usually saturated. (See: wetlands.) Turbidimeter A device that measures the density of suspended solids in a liquid. Turbidity: 1. Haziness in air caused by the presence of particles and pollut- ants. 2. A cloudy condition in water due to suspended silt or organic mat- ter. u Ultra Clean Coal (UCC): Coal that is washed, ground into fine particles, then chemically treated to remove sulfur, ash, silicone, and other sub- stances; usually briquetted and coated with a sealant made from coal. Ultraviolet Rays: Radiation from the sun that can be useful or potentially harmful. UV rays from one part of the spectrum (UV-A) enhance plant life and are useful in some medical and dental procedures; UV rays from other parts of the spectrum (UV-B) can cause skin cancer or other tissue dam- age. The ozone layer in the atmosphere partly shields us from ultraviolet rays reaching the earth's surface. Unconfined Aquifer An aquifer con- taining water that is not under pres- sure; the water level in a well is the same as the water table outside the well. Underground Injection Control (UIC> The program under the Safe Drinking Water Act that regulates the use of wells to pump fluids into the ground. Underground Sources of Drinking Water Aquifers currently being used as a source of drinking water or those capable of supplying a public water system. They have a total dissolved solids content of 10,000 milligrams per liter or less, and are not "exempted aquifers." (See: exempted aquifer.) Underground Storage Tank: A tank located at least partially underground and designed to hold gasoline or other petroleum products or chemicals. Unreasonable Risk: Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), "unreasonable adverse ef- fects" means any unreasonable risk to man or the environment, taking into account the medical, economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of any pesticide. Unsaturatod Zone: The area above the water table where soil pores are not fully saturated, although some water may be present Uranium Mill Tailing! Piles: Former uranium ore processing sites that con- tain leftover radioactive materials (wastes), including radium and unre- coverad uranium. Uranium Mill-Tailings Waste Piles: Li- censed active mills with tailings piles and evaporation ponds created by acid or alkaline leaching processes. Urban Runoff: Storm water from city streets and adjacent domestic or com- mercial properties that carries pollut- ants of various kinds into the sewer systems and receiving waters. Urea-Formaldehyde Foam Insulation: A material once used to conserve ener- gy by sealing crawl spaces, attics, etc.; no longer used because emissions were found to be a health hazard. User Fee: Fee collected from only those persons who use a particular service, as compared to one collected from the public in general. Utility Load: The total electricity de- mand for a utility district Vapor Capture System: Any combina- tion of hoods and ventilation system that, captures or contains organic va- pors so they may be directed to an abatement or recovery device. Vapor Dispersion: The movement of vapor clouds in air due to wind, ther- mal action, gravity spreading, and mi-ring Vapor Plumes: Flue gases visible be- cause they contain water droplets. Variance: Government permission for a delay or exception in the application of a given law, ordinance, or regula- tion. Vector 1. An organism, often an insect or rodent, that carries disease. 2. Pla- amids, viruses, or bacteria used to transport genes into a host cell. A gene is placed in the vector; the vector then "infects" the bacterium. Vegetative Controls: Non-point source pollution control practices that involve vegetative cover to reduce erosion and minimi™ loss of pollutants. Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT> A mea- sure of the extent of motor vehicle operation; the total number of vehicle miles travelled within a specific geo- ------- 42 graphic area over a given period of time. Ventilation/Suction: The act of admit- ting fresh air into a space in order to replace stale or contaminated air; achieved by blowing air into the space. Similarly, suction represents the ad- mission of fresh air into an interior space by lowering the pressure outside of the space, thereby drawing the con- taminated air outward. Venturi Scrubbers: Air pollution con- trol devices that use water to remove particulate matter from emissions. Vinyl Chloride: A chemical compound, used in producing some plastics, that is believed to be oncogenic. Virgin Materials: Resources extracted from nature in their raw form, such as timber or metal ore. Volatile: Any substance that evapo- rates readily. Volatile Liquids: Liquids which easily vaporize or evaporate at room tempera- ture. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC>. Any organic compound that partici- pates in atmospheric photochemical reactions except those designated by EPA as having negligible photochemi- cal reactivity. Volatile Solids Those solids in water or othr liquids that are lost on ignition of the dry solids at 550* Centigrade. Volatile Synthetic Organic Chemicals: Chemicals that tend to volatilize or evaporate. Volume Reduction: Processing waste materials to decrease the amount of space they occupy, usually by compact- ing or shredding, incineration, or composting. Volumetric Tank Test: One of several tests to determine the physical integri- ty of a storage tank; the volume of fluid in the tank is measured directly or calculated from product-level chang- es. A marked drop in volume indicates a leak. Vulnerable Zone: An area over which the airborne concentration of a chemi- cal accidentally released could reach the level of concern. Vulnerability Analysis: Assessment of elements in the community that are susceptible to damage should a release of hazardous materials occur. w Waste: 1. Unwanted materials left over from a manufacturing process. 2. Re- fuse from places of human or animal habitation. Waste Characterization: Identification of chemical and microbiological constit- uents of a waste material. Waste Exchange: Arrangement' in which companies exchange their wastes for the benefit of both parties. Waste Feed: The continuous or inter- mittent flow of wastes into an incin- erator. Waste Load Allocation: 1. The maxi- mum load of pollutants each discharg- er of waste is allowed to release into a particular waterway. Discharge limits are usually required for each specific water quality criterion being, or ex- pected to be, violated. 2. The portion of a stream's total assimilative capacity assigned to an individual discharge. Waste Minimization: Measures or tech- niques that reduce the amount of wastes generated during industrial production processes; term is also ap- plied to recycling and other efforts to reduce the amount of waste going into the waste, stream. Waste Reduction: Using source reduc- tion, recycling, or composting to pre- vent or reduce waste generation. Waste Stream: The total flow of solid waste from homes, businesses, institu- tions, and manufacturing plants that are. recycled, burned, or disposed of in landfills, or segments thereof such as the "residential waste stream" or the "recyclable waste stream." Waste Treatment Lagoon: Impound- ment made by excavation or earth fill for biological treatment of wastewater. Waste Treatment Plant* A facility con- taining a series of tanks, screens, fil- ters and other processes by which pollutants are removed from water. "Waste Treatment Stream: The continu- ous movement of waste from generator to treater and disposer. Wastewater The spent or used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter. Wastewater Infrastructure: The plan or network for the collection, treat- ment, and disposal of sewage in a community. The level of treatment will depend on the size of the commu- nity, the type of discharge, and/or the designated use of the receiving water. Wastewater Operations and Mainte- nance: Actions taken after construction to assure that facilities constructed to treat wastewater will be operated, maintained, and managed to reach pre- scribed effluent levels in an optimum manner. Water Pollution: The presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage the water's quality. Water Purveyor A public utility, mu- tual water company, county water district, or municipality that delivers drinking water to customers. Water Quality Criteria: Levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable for its designated use. Criteria are. based on specific levels of pollutants that would make the water harmful if used for drinking, swim- ming, farming, fish production, or industrial processes. Water Quality Standards: State-adopt- ed and EPA-approved ambient stan- dards for water bodies. The standards prescribe the use of the water body and establish the water quality criteria that must be met to protect designated uses. Water Quality-Based Limitations: Effluent limitations applied to dis- chargers when mere technology-based limitations would cause violations of water quality standards. Usually ap- plied to discharges into small streams. Water Quality-Baaed Permit A permit with an effluent limit more stringent than one based on technology perfor- mance. Such limits may be necessary to protect the designated use of receiv- ing waters (i.e., recreation, irrigation, industry or water supply). Water Solubility: The mummim possi- ble concentration of a chemical com- pound dissolved in water. If a sub- stance is water soluble it can very readily disperse through the environ- ment Water Storage Pond: An impound for liquid wastes designed to accomplish some degree of biochemical treatment Water Supplier: One who owns or operates a public water system. Water Supply System: The collection, treatment, storage, and distribution of potable water from source to consumer. Water Table: The level of grbundwater. Water Treatment Lagoon: An impound for liquid wastes designed to accom- ------- 43 pilch some degree of biochemical treat- ment. Water Well: An excavation where the intended use is for location, acquisi- tion, development, or artificial. re- charge of ground water. Watorbome Disease Outbreak; The significant occurence of acute infection illness associated with drinking water from a public water system that is deficient in treatment, as determined by appropriate local or state agencies, or from untreated water sources. Watershed: The land area that drains into a stream; the watershed for a major river may encompass a number of smaller watersheds that ultimately combine at a common point Weir 1. A wall or plate placed in an open channel to measure the flow ofwater. 2. A wall or obstruction used to control flow from settling tanks and clarifiers to assure a uniform flow rate and avoid short-circuiting. (See: short- circuiting.) Well: A bored, drilled, or driven shaft, or a dug hole whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension and whose purpose is to reach underground water supplies or oil, or to store or bury fluids below ground. Well Field Area containing one or more wells that produce usable amounts of water or oil. Well Injection: The subsurface em- placement of fluids into a well. Well Monitoring: Measurement by on- sito instruments or laboratory methods of well water quality. Well Hug: A watertight, gantight seal installed in a bore hole or well to pre- vent movement of fluids. Wellhead Protection Area: A protected surface and subsurface sane surround- ing a well or wellfield supplying a public water system to keep contami- nants from reaching the well water. Wetlands: An area that is saturated by surface or ground water with vegeta- tion adapted for life under those soil conditions, as in swamps, bogs, fens, marshes, and estuaries. Wildlife Refuge: An area designated for the protection of wild animala, within which hunting and fiohing are either prohibited or strictly controlled. Wire-to-Wire Efficiency: The efficiency of a pump and motor together. Wood-Burning-Stove Pollution: Air pollution caused by emissions of partic- ulate matter, carbon monoxide, total suspended particulates, and polycyclic organic matter from wood-burning stoves. Wood Treatment Facility: An industri- al facility that treats lumber and other wood products for outdoor use. The process employs chromated copper arsenate, which is regulated as a haz- ardous material. Working Level Month (WLM): A unit of measure used to determine cumula- tive exposure to radon. Working Level (WL): A unit of measure for documenting exposure to radon decay products, the so-called "daugh- ters". One working level is equal to approximately 200 picocuries per liter. XYZ Xanobioto: Any biotum displaced from its normal habitat; a chemical foreign to a biological system. Yard Waste: The part of solid waste composed of grass clippings, leaves, twigs, branches, and garden refuse. Yellow-Boy: Iron oxide flocculent (clumps of solids in waste or water); usually observed as orange-yellow deposits in surface streams with excess iron content. (See: floe, flocculation.) Yield: The quantity ofwater (expressed as a rate of flow or total quantity per year) that can be collected for a given use from surface or groundwater sourc- es. Z-lisfc OSHA's tables of toxic and haz- ardous air contaminants. Zone of Aeration: The comparatively dry soil or rock located between the ground surface and the top of the wa- ter table. Zone of Saturation: (See: saturated zone.) Zooplankton: Tiny aquatic eaten by fish. ------- Abbreviations And Acronyms ------- 43 A&I: Alternative and Innovative (Wastewater Treatment System) AA: Accountable Area; Adverse Action; Advices of Allowance Assistant Administrator; As- sociate Administrator; Atomic Absorption AAEE: American Academy of Environmental Engineers AANWR Alaskan Arctic Na- tional Wildlife Refuge AAP: Asbestos Action Program AAPCO: American Association of Pesticide Control Officials AARC: Alliance for Acid Rain Control ABEL: EPA's computer model for analyzing a violator's abil- ity to pay a civil penalty. ABES: Alliance for Balanced Environmental Solutions AC: Actual Commitment. Advi- sory Circular A&C: Abatement and Control ACA: American Conservation Association ACBM: Asbestos-Containing Building Material ACE: Alliance for Clean Energy ACEEE: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy ACFM: Actual Cubic Feet Per Minute ACL: Alternate Concentration Limit. Analytical Chemistry Laboratory ACM: Asbestos-Containing Ma- terial ACP: Agriculture Control Pro- gram (Water Quality Manage- ment) ACP: Air Carcinogen Policy ACQUIRE: Aquatic Information Retrieval ACQR Air Quality Control Re- gion ACS: American Chemical Soci- ety ACT: Action ACTS: Asbestos Contractor Tracking System ACWA: American Clean Water Association ACWM: Asbestos-Containing Waste Material ADABA: Acceptable Data Base ADB: Applications Data BaM ADI: Acceptable Daily Intake ADP: Automated Data Process- ing ADP: AHERA Designated Per- son ADQ: Audits of Data Quality ADR: Alternate Dispute Resolu- tion ADSS: Air Data Screening Sys- tem ADT: Average Daily Traffic AEA: Atomic Energy Act AEC: Associate Enforcement Counsels ABE: Alliance for Environmen- tal Education. AEERL: Air and Energy Engi- neering Research Laboratory AEM: Acoustic Emission Moni- toring AERE: Association of Environ- mental and Resource Econo- mists AES: Auger Electron Spectrome- try AFA: American Forestry Associ- ation AFCA: Area Fuel Consumption Allocation AFCEE: Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence AFS: AIRS Facility Subsystem AFUG: AIRS Facility Users Group AH: Allowance Holders AHERA: Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act AIC: Active to Inert Conversion AICUZ: Air Installation Com- patible Use Zones AID: Agency for International Development AJHC: American Industrial Health Council AIR Auto Ignition Point AIRS: Aerometric Information Retrieval System AL: Acceptable Level ALA: Delta- Aminolevulinic Acid ALA-O: Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydrates ALAPO: Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officers ALARA: As Low As Reasonably Achievable ALC: Application Limiting Con- stituent ALJ: Administrative Law Judge ALMS: Atomic Line Molecular Spectroscopy ALR Action Leakage Rate AMBIENS: Atmospheric Mass Balance of Industrially Emit- ted and Natural Sulfur AMOS: Air Management Over- sight System AMPS: Automatic Mapping and Planning System AMSA: Association of Metropoli- tan Sewer Agencies ANC: Acid Neutralizing Capaci- ty ANPR: Advance Notice of Pro- posed Rulemaking ANRHRD: Air, Noise. & Radia- tion Health Research Divi- sion/ORD ANSS: American Nature Study Society AOC: Abnormal Operating Con- ditions AOD: Argon-Oxygen Decarbon- ization AOML: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laborato- ry AP: Accounting Point APA: Administrative Procedures Act APCA: Air Pollution Control Association APCD: Air Pollution Control District APDS: Automated Procurement Documentation System APHA: American Public Health Association APRAC: Urban Diffusion Model for Carbon Monoxide from Motor Vehicle Traffic APTI: Air Pollution Training Institute APWA: American Public Works Association AQ-7: Non-reactive Pollutant Modelling AQCCT: Air-Quality Criteria and Control Techniques AQCP: Air Quality Control Pro- gram AQCR Air-Quality Control Re- gion AQD: Air-Quality Digest AQDHS: Air-Quality Date Han- dling System AQDM: Air-Quality Display Model AQMA: Air-Quality Mainte- nance Area AQMP: Air-Quality Mainte- nance Plan AQMP: Air-Quality Manage- ment Plan AQSM: Air-Quality Simulation Model AQTAD: Air-Quality Technical Assistance Demonstration Aft Administrative Record • A&R: Air and Radiation ARA: Assistant Regional Ad- ministrator ARA: Associate Regional Admin- istrator ARAR Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Standards, Limitations, Criteria, and Requirements •• ARB: Air Resources Board ARC: Agency Ranking Commit- tee ARCC: American Rivers Conser- vation Council ARCS: Alternative Remedial Contract Strategy ARG: American Resources Group ARIP: Accidental Release Infor- mation Program ARL: Air Resources Laboratory ARM: Air Resources Manage- ment ARC: Alternate Regulatory Op- tion ARRP: Acid Rain Research Pro- gram ARRPA: Air Resources Regional Pollution Assessment Model ARS: Agricultural Research Service ARZ: Auto Restricted Zone AS: Area Source ASC: Area Source Category ASDWA: Association of State Drinking Water Administra- tors ASHAA: Asbestos in Schools Hazard Abatement Act ASIWCPA: Association of State and Interstate Water Pollu- tion Control Administrators ASMDHS: Airshed Model Date Handling System ASRL: Atmospheric Sciences Research Laboratory AST: Advanced Secondary (Wastewater) Treatment ASTHO: Association of State and Territorial Health Offi- cers ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials ASTSWMO: Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials AT: Advanced Treatment. Alpha Track Detection ATERIS: Air Toxics Exposure and Risk Information System ATS: Action Tracking System ATSDR: Agency for Toxic Sub- stances and Disease Registry ATTF: Air Toxics Task Force AUSM: Advanced Utility Simu- lation Model A/WPR Au/Water Pollution Re- port AWRA: American Water Re- sources Association AWT: Advanced Wastewater Treatment AWWA: American Water Works Association AWWARF: American Water Works Association Research Foundation. B BAA: Board of Assistance Appeals BAC: Biotechnology Advisory Committee BACM: Best Available Control Measures BACT: Best Available Control Technology BADT: Best Available Demon- strated Technology BaP: Benzo(a)Pyrene BAP: Benefits Analysis Program BART: Best Available Retrofit Technology BASIS: Battelle's Automated Search Information System BAT: Best Available Technology BATEA: Best Available Treat- ment Economically Achiev- able BCT: Best Control Technology BCPCT: Best Conventional Pol- lutant Control Technology BDAT: Best Demonstrated Achievable Technology BDCT: Best Demonstrated Con- trol Technology BDT: Best Demonstrated Tech- nology BEJ: Best Engineering Judge- ment. Best Expert Judgment BF: Bonafide Notice of Intent to Manufacture or Import (IMD/OTS) BID: Background Information Document. Buoyancy Induced Dispersion ------- 44 BIOPLUME: Model to Predict the Maximum Extent of Ex- isting Humes BMP: Best Management Prac- tice^) BMR: Baseline Monitoring Re- port BO: Budget Obligations BOA: Basic Ordering Agreement (Contracts) BOD: Biochemical Oxygen De- mand. Biological Oxygen De- mand BOF: Basic Oxygen Furnace BOP: Basic Oxygen Process BOPF: Basic Oxygen Process Furnace BOYSNC: Running of Year Significant Non-Compliers BP: Boiling Point BPJ: Best Professional Judg- ment BPT: Best Practicable Technol- ogy. Pest Practicable Treat- ment BPWTT: Best Practical Waste- water Treatment Technology BRS: Bibliographic Retrieval Service BSI: British Standards Institute BSO: Benzene Soluble Organics BTZ: Below the Treatment Zone BUN: Blood Urea Nitrogen CA: Citizen Act. Competition Advocate. Cooperative Agree- ments. Corrective Action CAA: Clean Air Act CAA: Compliance Assurance Agreement CAAA: Clean Mr Act Amend- ments CAER: Community Awareness and Emergency Response CAFE: Corporate Average Fuel Economy CAFO: Consent Agree- 1 menl/Final Order CAG: Carcinogenic Assessment Group CAIR Comprehensive Assess- ment of Information Rule CALJNE: California Line Source Model CAMP: Continuous Air Monitor- ing Program CAN: Common Account Number CAO: Corrective Action Order CAP: Corrective Action Plan. Cost Allocation Procedure. Criteria Air Pollutant CAR Corrective Action Report CAS: Center .for Automotive Safety CAS: Chemical Abstract Service CASAC: Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee CASLP: Conference on Alter- native State and Local Prac- tices CATS: Corrective Action Tracking System CAU: Carbon Adsorption Unit CAU: Command Arithmetic Unit CB: Continuous Bubbler CBA: Chesapeake Bay . Agree- ment. Cost Benefit Analysis CBD: Central Business District CBI: Compliance Biomonitoring Inspection CBI: Confidential Business In- formation CBOD: Carbonaceous Bio- chemical Oxygen Demand CBP: Chesapeake Bay Program CBP: County Business Patterns CCA: Competition in Contract- ing Act CCAA: Canadian Clean Air Act CCAP: Center for Clean Air Policy CCEA: Conventional Combus- tion Environmental Assess- ment CCHW: Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes CCID: Confidential Chemicals Identification System CCMS/NATO: Committee on Challenges of a Modern Soci- ety/North Atlantic Treaty Organization CCP: Composite Correction Plan CC/RTS:Chemical Collection/ Request Tracking System CCTP: Clean Coal Technology Program CD: Climatological Data CDB: Consolidated Data Base CDBA: Central Data Base Ad- ministrator CDBG: Community Develop- ment Block Grant CDD: Chlorinated dibenzo-p-dicorin CDF: Chlorinated dibenzofuran CDHS: Comprehensive Data Handling System GDI: Case Development Inspec- tion CDM: Climatological Dispersion Model CDM: Comprehensive Data Management CDMQC: Climatological Disper- sion Model with Calibration and Source Contribution CDNS: Climatological Data National Summary CDP: Census Designated Places CDS: Compliance Data System CE: Categorical Exclusion. Con- ditionally Exempt Generator CEA: Cooperative Enforcement Agreement CEA: Cost and Economic As- sessment CEAT: Contractor Evidence Audit Team CEARC: Canadian Environmen- tal Assessment Research Council CEB: Chemical Element Bal- ance CECATS: CSB Existing Chemi- cals Assessment Tracking System CEE: Center for Environmental Education CEEM: Center for Energy and Environmental Management CEI: Compliance Evaluation Inspection CELRF: Canadian Environmen- tal Law Research Foundation CEM: Continuous Emission Monitoring CEMS: Continuous Emission Monitoring System CEPP: Chemical Emergency Preparedness Plan CEQ: Council on Environmental Quality CERCLA: Comprehensive Envi- ronmental Response, Com- pensation, and Liability Act (1980) CERCLIS: Comprehensive Envi- ronmental Response, Com- pensation, and Liability Infor- mation System CERT: Certificate of Eligibility CF: Conservation Foundation CFC: Chlorofluorocarbons CFM: Chlorofluoromethanes CFR Code of Federal Regula- tions CHABA: Committee on Hearing and Bio-Acoustics CHAMP: Community Health Air Monitoring Program CHEMNET: Chemical Industry Emergency Mutual Aid Net- work CHESS: Community Health and Environmental Surveillance System CHIP: Chemical Hazard Infor- mation Profiles CI: Compression Ignition. Confi- dence Interval CIAQ: Council on Indoor Air Quality . CIBL: Convective Internal Boundary Layer CICA: Competition in Contract- ing Act CICIS: Chemicals in Commerce Information System CIDRS: Cascade Impactor Data Reduction System CEMI: Committee on Integrity and Management Improve- ment CIS: Chemical Information Sys- tem. Contracts Information System CLC: Capacity Limiting Constit- uents CLEANS: Clinical Laboratory for Evaluation and Assess- ment of Toxic Substances CLEVER Clinical Laboratory for Evaluation and Validation of Epidemiologic Research CLF: Conservation Law Foun- dation CLIPS: Chemical List Index and Processing System CLP: Contract Laboratory Pro- gram CM: Corrective Measure CMA: Chemical Manufacturers Association CMB: Chemical Mass Balance CME: Comprehensive Monitor- ing Evaluation CMEL: Comprehensive Moni- toring Evaluation Log CMEP: Critical Mass Energy Project CNG: Compresed Natural Gas COCO: Contractor-Owned/ Contractor-Operated COD: Chemical Oxygen De- mand COH: Coefficient Of Haze CPF: Carcinogenic Potency Fac- tor CPO: Certified Project Officer CQA: Construction Quality As- surance CR: Continuous Radon Monitor- ing CROP: Consolidated Rules of Practice CRP: Conservation Reserve Program CRR: Center for Renewable Re- sources CRSTER: Single Source Disper- sion Model CSI: Compliance Sampling In- spection CSIN: Chemical Substances Information Network CSO: Combined Sewer Overflow CSPA: Council of State Plan- ning Agencies CSRL: Center for the Study of Responsive Law CTARC: Chemical Testing and Assessment Research Com- mission CTG: Control Techniques Guidelines CV: Chemical Vocabulary CW: Continuous working-level monitoring CWA: Clean Water Act (aka FWPCA) CWAP: Clean Water Action Project CWTC: Chemical Waste Transportation Council CZMA: Coastal Zone Manage- ment Act CZARA: Coastal Zone Manage- ment Act ^authorization Amendments DAPSS: Document and Person- nel Security System (IMD) DCI: Data Call-in DCO: Delayed Compliance Or- der DCO: Document Control Officer DDT: DichloroDiphenyl- Trichloroethane DERs: Data Evaluation Records DES: Diethylstilbesterol DI: Diagnostic Inspection DMR Discharge Monitoring Report DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid DO: Dissolved Oxygen DOW: Defenders Of Wildlife DPA: Deepwater Ports Act DPD: Method of Measuring Chlorine Residual in Water DQO: Data Quality Objective DRE: Destruction and Removal Efficiency DRES: Dietary Risk Evaluation System DRMS: Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service ------- 45 DRR Data Review Record DS: Diiixotomous Sample* DSAR Data Self Auditing Pro- gram DSCF: Dry Standard Cubic Feet DSCM: Dry Standard Cubic Meter DSS: Decision Support System DSS: Domestic Sewage Study DT: Detention Time DT: Detectors (radon) damaged or lost DU: Decision Unit. Ducks Un- limited DUG: Decision Unit Coordinator DWEL: Drinking Water Equiva- lent Level DWS: Drinking Water Standard EA: Endangerment Assessment. Enforcement Agreement. Environmental Action. Envi- ronmental Assessment. Envi- ronmental Audit EAF: Electric Arc Furnaces BAG: Exposure Assessment Group BAP: Environmental Action Plan EAR: Environmental Auditing Roundtable EB: Emissions Balancing EC: EmulBifiable Concentrate EC: Environment Canada EC: Effective Concentration ECA: Economic Community for Africa ECAP: Employee Counselling and Assistance Program BCD: Electron Capture Detector ECHH: Electro-Catalytic Hyper- Heaters ECL: Environmental Chemical Laboratory ECR: Enforcement Case Review ECRA: Economic Cleanup Re- sponsibility Act ED: Effective Dose EDA: Emergency Declaration Area EDB: Ethylene Dibromide EDC: Ethylene Dichloride EDD: Enforcement Decision Document EDF: RiwiTmmMmt.nl DefOOM Fund Retrieval System EDS: Electronic Data System EDS: Energy Data System EDTA: Ethylene Diamine Triacetic Acid EDX: Electronic Data Exchange EDZ: Emission Density Zoning RRA; Energy and Environmen- tal Analysis EECs: Estimated Environmen- tal Concentrations EER Excess Emission Report EERL: Eastern Environmental Radiation Laboratory EERU: Environmental Emer- gency Response Unit EESI: Environment and Energy Study Institute EESL: Environmental Ecologi- cal and Support Laboratory EETFC: Environmental Effects, Transport, and Fate Commit- tee EF: Emission Factor EFO: Equivalent Field Office EFTC: European Fluorocarbon Technical Committee EGR Exhaust Gas Retircula- tion EH: Redox Potential EHC: Environmental Health Committee EHS: Extremely Hazardous Substance El: Emissions Inventory EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment. Economic Impact Assessment EIL: Environmental Impair- ment Liability EIRc Endangerment Information Report EIR: Environmental Impact Report EIS: Environmental Impact Statement EIS: Environmental Inventory System EIS/AS: Emissions Inventory System/Area Source EIS/PS: Emissions Inventory SystenVPoint Source EKMA: Empirical Kinetic Mod- eling Approach EL: Exposure Level RT-T- Environmental Law Insti- tute ELR: Environmental Law Re- porter EM: Electromagnetic Conduc- tivity EMAP: Environmental Mapping • and ABsessment Program EMAS: Enforcement Manage- ment and Accountability Sys- tem EMR: Environmental Manage- ment Report RMS- Enforcement Management System EMSL: Environmental Moni- toring Support Laboratory EMSL: Environmental Moni- toring Systems Laboratory EMTS: Environmental Moni- toring Testing Site EMTS: Exposure Monitoring Test Site EO: Ethylene Oxide EOC: Emergency Operating Center EOF: Emergency Operations Facility (RTP) EOF: End Of Pipe EOT: Emergency Operations Team EP: Earth Protectors EP: Environmental Profile. End- use Product. Experimental Product Extraction Procedure EPAA: Rnvinnrmnmtnl PrOgTBIQS Assistance Act EPAAR: EPA Acquisition Regu- lation! EPCRA: Emergency Prepared- ness and Community Right to Know Act EPACASR: EPA Chemical Ac- tivities Status Report EPCA: Energy Policy and Con- servation Act EPD: Emergency Planning Dis- trict EPI: Environmental Policy In- stitute EPIC: Environmental Photo- graphic Interpretation Center EPNL: Effective Perceived Noise Level * EPRI: Electric Power Research Institute EFTC: Extraction Procedure Toxicity Characteristic Eft Electrical Resistivity ERA: Economic Regulatory Agency ERAMS: Environmental Radi- ation Ambient Monitoring System ERC: Emergency Response Commission ERC: Emissions Reduction Credit ERC: Environmental Research Center ERCS: Emergency Response Cleanup Services ERDA: Energy Research and Development Administration ERD&DAA: Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration Authorization Act ERL: Environmental Research Laboratory ERNS: Emergency Response Notification System ERPi Enforcement Response Policy ERT: Emergency Response Team ERTAQ: ERT Air Quality Model ES: Enforcement Strategy. ESA: Endangered Species Act. Environmentally Sensitive Area ESC: Endangered Species Com- mittee ESCA: Electron Sp for Chemical Analysis ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESECA: Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act ESH: Environmental Safety and Health ESP: Electrostatic Precipitators ET: Emissions Trading ETP: Emissions Trading Policy ETS: Environmental Tobacco Smoke EUP: End-Use Product EUP: Experimental Use Permit EWCC: Environmental Work- force Coordinating Committee EXAMS: Exposure Analysis Modeling System FACA: Federal Advisory Committee Act FAN: Fixed Account Number FATES: FIFRA and TSCA En- forcement System FBC: Fluidized Bed Combustion . FCC: Fluid Catalytic Converter FCCU: Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit FCO: Federal Coordinating Officer (in disaster areas) FCO: Forms Control Officer FDF: Fundamentally Different Factors FDL: Final Determination Let- ter FDO: Fee Determination Offi- cial FE: Fugitive Emissions FEDS: Federal Energy Data System FEFx: Forced Expiratory Flow FEIS: Fugitive Emissions In- formation System FEL: Frank Effect Level FEPCA: Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act; enacted as amendments to FIFRA. FERC: Federal Energy Regula- tory Commission FES: Factor Evaluation System FEV: Forced Expiratory Volume FEV1: Forced Expiratory Vol- ume—one second FEV1: Front End Volatility In- dex FF: Federal Facilities FFAR: Fuel and Fuel Additive Registration FFDCA: Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act FFF: Firm Financial Facility FFFSG: Fossil-Fuel-Fired Steam Generator FFIS: Federal Facilities Infor- mation System FFP: Firm Fixed Price FGD: Flue-Gas Desulfurization FID: Flame lonization Detector FIFRA: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodentiride Act FIM: Friable Insulation Materi- al FINDS: Facility Index System FTP: Final Implementation Plan FTPS: Federal Information Pro- cedures System FIT. Field Investigation Team FLETC: Federal Law Enforce- ment Training Center FLM: Federal Land Manager FLP: Flash Point FLPMA: Federal Land Policy and Management Act FMAPl Financial Management Assistance Project F/M: Food to Microorganism Ratio FML: Flexible Membrane Liner FMP. Facility Management Plan FMP: Financial Management Plan ------- 46 FMS: Financial ' Management System FMVCP: Federal Motor Vehicle Control Program FOE: Friends Of the Earth FOIA: Freedom Of Information Act FOISD: Fiber Optic Isolated Spherical Dipole Antenna FONSI: Finding Of No Signifi- cant Impact FORAST: Forest Response to Anthropogenic Stress . FP: Fine Particulate FPA: Federal Pesticide Act FPAS: Foreign Purchase Ac- knowledgement Statements FPD: Flame Photometric Detec- tor FPEIS: Fine Particulate Emis- sions Information System FPM: Federal Personnel Manu- al FPPA: Federal Pollution Pre- vention Act FPR: Federal Procurement Reg- ulation FPRS: Federal Program Re- sources Statement FPRS: Formal Planning and Supporting System FR: Federal Register. Final Rulemaking FRA: Federal Register Act FREDS: Flexible Regional Emis- sions Data System FRES: Forest Range Environ- mental Study FRM: Federal Reference Meth- ods FRN: Federal Register Notice. Final Rulemaking Notice FRS: Formal Reporting System FS: Feasibility Study FSA: Food Security Act FSS: Facility Status Sheet FSS: Federal Supply Schedule FTP: Federal Test Procedure (for motor .vehicles) FTS: File Transfer Service FTTS: FIFRA/TSCA Tracking System FUA: Fuel Use Act FURS: Federal Underground Injection Control Reporting System FVMP: Federal Visibility Moni- toring Program FWCA: Fish and Wildlife Coor- dination Act FWPCA: Federal Water Pollu- tion and Control Act (aka CWA). Federal Water Pollu- tion and Control Administra- tion GAAP: Generally Accepted Ac- counting Principles GAC: Granular Activated Car- bon GACT: Granular Activated Car- bon Treatment GC/MS: Gas Chromatograph/ Mass Spectograph GCWR: Gross Combination Weight Rating GDE: Generic Data Exemption GEI: Geographic Enforcement Initiative GEMS: Global Environmental Monitoring System GEMS: Graphical Exposure Modeling System GEP: Good Engineering Practice GFF: Glass Fiber Filter GFO: Grant Funding Order GFP: Government-Furnished Property GIGS: Grant Information and Control System GIS: Geographic Information Systems GIS: Global Indexing System GLC: Gas Liquid Chromatogra- phy GLERL: Great Lakes Environ- mental Research Laboratory GLNPO: Great Lakes National Program Office GLP: Good Laboratory Practices GLWQA: Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement GMCC: Global Monitoring for Climatic Change G/MI: Grams per mile GOCO: Government-Owned/ Contractor-Operated GOGO: Government-Owned/ Government-Operated GOP: General Operating Proce- dures GOPO: Government-Owned/ Privately-Operated GPAD: Gaions-per-acre per-day GPG: Grams-per-Gallon GPR Ground-Penetrating Ra- dar GPS: Groundwater Protection Strategy Gft Grab Radon Sampling GRCDA: Government Refuse Collection and Disposal Asso- ciation GRGL: Groundwater Residue Guidance Level GTN: Global Trend Network GTR Government Transporta- tion Request GVP Gasoline Vapor Pressure GVW: Grow Vehicle Weight GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating GW: Grab Working-Level Sam- pling. Groundwater GWM: Groundwater Monitoring GWPS: Groundwater Protection Standard GWPS: Groundwater Protection Strategy H HA: Health Advisory HAD: Health Assessment Docu- ment HAP: Hazardous Air Pollutant HAPEMS: Hazardous Air Pol- lutant Enforcement Manage- ment System HAPPS: Hazardous Air Pollut- ant Prioritization System HATREMS: Hazardous and Trace Emissions System HAZMAT: Hazardous Materials HAZOP: Hazard and Operabili- ty Study HC: Hazardous Constituents HC: Hydrocarbon HCCPD: Hexachlorocyclo- pentadiene HCP: Hypothermal Coal Process HDD: Heavy-Duty Diesel' HDE: Heavy-Duty Engine HDG: Heavy-Duty Gasoline- Powered Vehicle HDPE: High Density Polyethyl- ene HOT: Highest Dose Tested in a study. Heavy-Duty Truck HDV: Heavy-Duty Vehicle HEAL: Human Exposure As- sessment Location HECC: House Energy and Com- merce Committee HEI: Health Effects Institute HEM: Human Exposure Model- ing HEPA: High-Efficiency Particu- late Air HERS: Hyperion Energy Re- covery System HHE; Human Health and the Environment HHV: Higher Heating Value HI: Hazard Index HI-VOL: High-Volume Sampler HIWAY: A Line Source Model for Gaseous Pollutants HLRW: High Level Radioactive Waste HMIS: Hazardous Materials Information System HMS: Highway Mobile Source HMTA: Hazardous Materials Transportation Act HMTft Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations HOC: Halogenated Organic Carbons HON: Hazardous Organic NESHAP HOV: High-Occupancy Vehicle HP: Horse Power HPLC: High-Performance Liq- uid Chromatography HPV: High Priority Violator HQCDO: Headquarters Case Development Officer HRS: Hazardous Ranking Sys- tem HRUP: High-Risk Urban Prob- lem HSDB: Hazardous Substance DataBase HSL: Hazardous Substance List HSWA: Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments HT: Hypothermally Treated HTP: High Temperature and Pressure HVIO: High Volume Industrial Organic* HW: Hazardous Waste HWDMS: Hazardous Waste Data Management System HWGTF: Hazardous Waste Groundwater Task Force HWGTF: Hazardous Waste Groundwater Test Facility HWLT: Hazardous Waste Land Treatment HWM: Hazardous Waste Man- agement HWRTF: Hazardous Waste Re- strictions Task Force HWTC: Hazardous Waste Treat- ment Council I I/A: Innovative/Alternative LA: Interagency Agreement IAAC: Interagency Assessment Advisory Committee LAG: Interagency Agreement IAP: Incentive Awards Program. Indoor Air Pollution IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer LATDB: Interim Air Toxics Data Base IBT: Industrial Biotest Labora- tory ICAIR: Interdisciplinary Plan- ning and Information Re- search ICAP: Inductively Coupled Ar- gon Plasma ICB: Information Collection Budget ICBN: International Commis- sion on the.Biological Effects of Noise ICE: Industrial Combustion Emissions Model. Internal Combustion Engine ICP: Inductively Coupled Plas- ma ICR Information Collection Re- quest ICRE: Ignitability, Corrosivity, Reactivity, Extraction ICRP: International Commis- sion on Radiological Protec- tion ICRU: International Commis sion of . Radiological Units and Measurements ICS: Incident Command Sys- tem. ICS: Institute for Chemical Studies. ICS: Intermittent Control Strat- egies. ICS; Intermittent Control Sys tern ICWM: Institute for Chemical Waste Management IDLH: Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health IEB: International Environment Bureau IEMP: Integrated Environmen- tal Management Project IBS: Institute for Environmen- tal Studies IFB: Invitation for Bid IFCAM: Industrial Fuel Choice Analysis Model IFIS: Industry File Information System IFPP. Industrial Fugitive Pro- cess Particulate IFMS: Integrated Financial Management System IGCC: Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle ------- 47 IGCI: Industrial Gas Cleaning Institute IIS: Inflationary Impact State- ment LJC: International Joint Com- mission (on Great Lakes) l/M: Inspection/Maintenance IMM: Intersection Midblock Model IMPACT: Integrated Model of Plumes and Atmosphere in Complex Terrain IMPROVE: Interagency Moni- toring of Protected Visual Environment INPUFF: Gaussian Puff Dis- persion Model INT: Intermittent IOB: Iron Ore Benefication IOU: Input/Output Unit IP: Inhalable Particles IPM: Inhalable Particulate Mat- ter. Integrated Pest Manage- ment IPP: Implementation Planning Program. Integrated Plotting Package. Inter-media Priority Pollutant (document) IPCS: International Program on Chemical Safety IPP: Independent Power Pro- ducer IRG: Interagency Review Group IRLG: Interagency Regulatory Liaison Group (Composed of EPA, CPSC, FDA, and OSHA) IRIS: Instructional Resources Information System. Integrat- ed Risk Information System IRM: Intermediate Remedial Measures IRMC: Inter-Regulatory Risk Management Council IRP: Installation Restoration Program IRPTC: International Register of Potentially Toxic Chem- icals IRR Institute of Resource Re- covery IRS: International Referral Sys- tems IS: Interim Status ISAM: Indexed Sequential File Access Method ISC: Industrial Source Complex ISCL: Interim Status Compli- ance Letter ISCLT: Industrial Source Com- plex Long Term Model ISCST: Industrial Source Com- plex Short Term Model ISD: Interim Status Document ISE: Ion-specific electrode ISMAP: Indirect Source Model for Air Pollution ISPF: (IBM) Interactive System Productivity Facility ISS: Interim Status Standards FTC: Interagency Testing Com- mittee IUR Inventory Update Rule IWC: In-Stream Waste Concen- tration IWS: Ionizing Wet Scrubber JAPCA: Journal of Air Pollution Control Association JCL: Job Control Language JEC: Joint Economic Committee JECFA: Joint Expert Committee of Food Additives JLC: Justification for Limited Competition JMPR: Joint Meeting on Pesti- cide Residues JNCP: Justification for Non- Competitive Procurement JOFOC: Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition JPA: Joint Permitting Agree- . ment JSD: Jackson Structured Design JSP: Jackson Structured Pro- gramming JTU: Jackson Turbidity Unit LAA: Lead Agency Attorney LADD: Lowest Acceptable Daily Dose LAER Lowest Achievable Emis- sion Rate LAI: Laboratory Audit Inspec- tion LAMP: Lake Acidification Miti- gation Project LC: Lethal Concentration. Liq- uid Chromatography LCD: Local Climatological Data LCL: Lower Control Limit LCM: Life Cycle Management LCRS: Leachate Collection and Removal System LD: Land Disposal. Light Duty LD LO: The lowest dosage of a toxic substance that kills test organisms. LDC: London Dumping Conven- tion LDCRS: Leachate Detection, Collection, and Removal Sys- tem LDD: Light-Duty Diesel LDIP: Laboratory Data Integri- ty Program LDft Land Disposal Restric- tions LDRTF: Land Disposal Restric- tions Task Force LDS: Leak Detection System LOT: Lowest Dose Tested. Light-Duty Truck LDV: Light-Duty Vehicle T.RTJ Lowest Effect Level. Low- er Explosive Limit LEP: Laboratory Evaluation- Program LEPC: Local Emergency Plan- ning Committee LERC: Local Emergency Re- sponse Committee LFL: Lower Flammability Limit LGR Local Governments Reim- bursement Program LI: Langelier Index LIDAft Light Detection and Ranging LIMB: Limestone-Injection Mul- ti-Stage Burner LLRW: Low Level Radioactive Waste LMFBR: Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor LOAEL: Lowest-Observed-Ad- verse-Effect-Level LUIS: Label Use Information System M MAPSIM: Mesoscale Air Pollu- tion Simulation Model MBAS: Methyiene-Blue-Active Substances MEP: Multiple Extraction Pro- cedure MOE: Margin Of Exposure MOS: Margin of Safety MP: Manufacturing-use Product MP: Melting Point MFN: Maximum Possible Num- ber MRF: Materials Recovery Facili- ty MRID: Master Record Identifi- cation number MRL: Maximum-Residue Limit (Pesticide Tolerance) MSW: Municipal Solid Waste MTD: Maximum Tolerated Dose MUP: Manufacturing-Use Prod- uct MUTA: Mutagenicity N NCWS: Non-Community Water System NETA: National Environmental Training Association NFRAP: No Further R«m«Hi«l Action Planned NICT: National Incident Coordi- nation Team NIOSH: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health NIPDWR National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regu- lations NISAC: National Industrial Security Advisory Committee NO A: Notice of Arrival NOAC: Nature of Action Code NOAEL: No Observable Adverse Effect Level NPHAR National Pesticide Hazard Assessment Program NSDWft National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations NSEC: National System for Emergency Coordination NSER National System for Emergency Preparedness NSR New Source Review NTP: National Toxicology Pro- gram NTNCWS: Non-Transient Non- Community Water System NTU: Nephlometric Turbidity Unit o OCD: Offshore and Coastal Dispersion OF: Optional Form OLTS: On Line Tracking Sys- tem O&M: Operations and Mainte- nance ORM: Other Regulated Material ORP: Oxidation-Reduction Po- tential PA1: Performance Audit Inspec- tion (CWA) PAI: Pure Active' Ingredient compound PAM: Pesticide Analytical Man- ual PAT: Permit Assistance Team (RCRA) PATS: Pesticide Action Tracking System PATS: Pesticides Analytical Transport Solution PBA: Preliminary Benefit Anal- ysis (BEAD) PCA: Principle Component Analysis PCM: Phase Contrast Micros- copy PCN: Policy Criteria Notice PCO: Pest Control Operator PDCI: Product Data Call-In PFCRA: Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act PHC: Principal Hazardous Con- stituent PHSA: Public Health Service Act PI: Preliminary Injunction. Pro- gram Information PIC: Products of Incomplete Combustion PIGS: Pesticides in Groundwa- ter Strategy PIMS: Pesticide Incident Moni- toring System PIN: Pesticide Information Net- work PIN: Procurement Information Notice PIP: Public Involvement Pro- gram PIPQUIC: Program Integration Project Queries Used in Inter- active Command PIRG: Public Interest Research Group PIRT: Pretreatinent Implemen- tation Review Task Force PITS: Project Information Tracking System PLJRRA: Pollution Liability Insurance and Risk Retention Act PLM: Polarized Light Micros- copy PLUVUE: Plume Visibility Mod- el PM: Particulate Matter PM10: Particulate Matter (nominally 10m and less) PM15: Particulate Matter (nominally 16m and leas) PMEL: Pacific Marine Environ- mental Laboratory FMN: Premanufacture Notifi- cation PMNP: Premanufacture Noti- fication Form ------- 48 PMR- Pollutant Mass Rate PMRS: Performance Manage- ment and Recognition System PMS: Program Management System PNA: Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons PO: Project Officer POC: Point Of Compliance POE: Point Of Exposure POGO: Privately-Owned/ Gov- ernment-Operated POHC: Principal Organic Haz- ardous Constituent POI: Point Of Interception POLREP:Pollution Report POM: Particulate Organic Mat ter. Polycyclic Organic Matter • FOR: Program of Requirements POTW: Publicly Owned Treat- ment Works POV: Privately Owned Vehicle PP: Program Planning PPA: Planned Program Accom- plishment PPB: Parts Per Billion PPIC: Pesticide Programs Infor- mation Center PPIS: Pesticide Product Infor- mation System PPM/PPB: Parts per million/ parts per billion PPMAP: Power Planning Model- ing Application Procedure PPSP: Power Plant Siting Pro- gram PPT: Parts Per Trillion PPTH: Parts Per Thousand PQUA: Preliminary Quantita- tive Usage Analysis PR- Preliminary Review PRAj Paperwork Reduction Act PRA: Planned Regulatory Ac' tion PRATS: Pesticides Regulatory Action Tracking System PRC: Planning Research Cor- poration PRI: Periodic Reinvestigation PRM: Prevention Reference Manuals PRN: Pesticide Registration Notice PRP: Potentially Responsible Party PRZM: Pesticide Root Zone Model PS: Point Source PSAM: Point Source Ambient Monitoring PSC: Program Site Coordinator PSD: Prevention of Significant Deterioration PSES: Pretreatment Standards for ESri«*ir»g Sources PSI: Pollutant Standards Index PSI: Pounds Per Square Inch PSI: Pressure Per Square Inch PSIG: Pressure Per Square Inch Gauge PSM: Point Source Monitoring PSNS: Pretreatment Standard* for New Sources PSU: Primary Sampling Unit PTDIS: Single Stack Meteoro- logical NIodel in EPA UNAMAP Series PTE: Potential to Emit PTFE: Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) PTMAX: Single Stack Meteoro- logical Model in EPA UNAMAP series PTPLU: Point Source Gaussian Diffusion Model PUC: Public Utility Commission PV: Project Verification PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride PWS: Public Water Supply/ System PWSS: Public Water Supply System QAC: Quality Assurance Coordi- nator. QA/QC: Quality Assistance/ Quality Control QAMIS: Quality Assurance Management and Information System QAO: Quality Assurance Officer QAPP: Quality Assurance Pro- gram (or Project) Plan QAT: Quality Action Team QBTU: Quadrillion British Thermal Units QC: Quality Control QCA: Quiet Communities Act QCI: Quality Control Index QCP: Quiet Community Pro- gram QNCR Quarterly Noncompli- ance Report QUA: Qualitative Use Assess- ment QUIPE: Quarterly Update for Inspector in Pesticide En- forcement RA: Reasonable Alternative. Regulatory Alternatives. Regulatory Analysis. Remedi al Action. Resource Alloca tion. Risk Analysis. Risk Assessment RAATS: RCRA Administrate Action Tracking System RAG: Radiation Advisory Com- mittee RAC: Regional Asbestos Coor- dinator RAC: Response Action Coordi- nator RACM: Reasonably Available Control Measures RACT: Reasonably Available Control Technology RAD: Radiation Adsorbed Dose (unit of measurement of radi- ation absorbed by humans) RADM: Random Walk Advec- tion and Dispersion Model RADM: Regional Acid Deposi- tion Model RAM: Urban Air Quality Model for Point and Area Source in EPA UNAMAP Series RAMP: Rural Abandoned Mine Program RAMS: Regional Air Monitoring System RAP: Radon Action Program RAP: Reregistration Assessment Panel RAP: Remedial Accomplishment Plan RAP: Response Action Plan RAPS: Regional Air Pollution Study RARG: Regulatory Analysis Review Group RAS: Routine Analytical Service RAT: Relative Accuracy Test RB: Request for Bid RC: Responsibility Center RCC: Radiation Coordinating Council RCDO: Regional Case Develop- ment Officer RCO: Regional Compliance Offi- cer RCP: Research Centers Program RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RCRIS: Resource Conservation and Recovery Information System RD/RA: Remedial Design/ Re- medial Action R&D: Research and Develop- ment ' RD&D: Research, Development and Demonstration RDF: Refuse-Derived Fuel rDNA: Recombinant DNA RDU: Regional Decision Units RDV: Reference Dose Values RE: Reasonable Efforts RE: Reportable Event REAP: Regional Enforcement Activities Plan REE: Rare Earth Elements REEP: Review of Environmen- tal Effects of Pollutants REM (Roentgen Equivalent Man) REM/FIT: Remedial/Field Inves- tigation Team REMS: RCRA Enforcement Management System REP: Reasonable Efforts Pro- gram REPS: Regional Emissions Pro- jection System RESOLVE: Center for Environ- mental Conflict Resolution RF: Response Factor RFA: Regulatory Flexibility Act RFB: Request for Bid RFD: Reference Dose Values RFI: Remedial Field Investiga- tion RFP: Reasonable Further Pro- grams. Request for Proposal RHRS: Revised Hazard Ranking System RI: Reconnaissance Inspection RI: Remedial Investigation RIA: Regulatory Impact Anal- ysis RIA: Regulatory Impact Assess- ment RIC: Radon Information Center RICC: Retirement Information and Counseling Center RICO: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act RI/FS: Remedial Information/ Feasibility Study RIM: Regulatory Interpretation Memorandum RIN: Regulatory Identifier Number RIP: RCRA Implementation Plan RISC: Regulatory Information Service Center RJE: Remote Job Entry RLL: Rapid and Large Leakage (Rate) RMCL: Recommended Maxi- mum Contaminant Level (this phrase being discontin- ued in favor of MCLG) RMDHS: Regional Model Data Handling System RMIS: Resources Management Information System RNA: Ribonucleic Acid ROADCHEM: Roadway Version that Includes Chemical Reac- tions of BI,NO2, andO3 ROADWAY: A Model to Predict Pollutant Concentrations Near a Roadway ROC: Record Of Communication RODS: Records Of Decision System ROG: Reactive Organic Gases ROLLBACK: A Proportional Reduction Model ROM: Regional Oxidant Model ROMCOE: Rocky Mountain Center on Environment ROP: Regional Oversight Policy ROPA: Record Of Procurement Action RP: Radon Progeny Integrated Sampling. Respirable Participates. Responsible Party RPAR Rebuttable Presumption Against Registration RPM: Reactive Plume Model. Remedial Project Manager RQ: Reportable Quantities RRC: Regional Response Center RRT: Regional Response Team RRT: Requisite Remedial Technology RS: Registration Standard RSCC: Regional Sample Control Center RSD: Risk-Specific Dose RSE: Removal Site Evaluation RTCM: Reasonable Transpor- tation Control Measure RTDM: Rough Terrain Diffusion Model RTECS: Registry of Toxic Ef- fects of Chemical Substances RTM: Regional Transport Model RUP: Restricted Use Pesticide RVP: Reid Vapor Pressure RWC: Residential Wood Com- bustion S&A: Sampling and Analysis. Surveillance and Analysis SAB: Science Advisory Board SAC: Suspended and Cancelled Pesticides ------- 49 SAEWG: Standing Air Emis- sions Work Group SAIC: Spetial-Agenta-In-Charge SAIP: Systems Acquisition and Implementation Program SAMWG: Standing Air Moni- toring Work Group SANE: Sulfur and Nitrogen Emissions SANSS: Structure and Nomen- clature Search System SAP. Scientific Advisory Panel SAR Start Action Request. Structural Activity Relation- ship (of a qualitative assess- ment) . SARA: Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act- of, 1986 SAROAD: Storage and Retrieval Of Aerometric Data SAS: Special Analytical Service. Statistical Analysis System SASS: Source Assessment Sam- pling System SAV: Submerged Aquatic Vege tation SC: Sierra Club SOAP: Superfund Consolidated Accomplishments Plan SCBA: Self-Contained Breath- ing Apparatus SCC: Source Classification Code SCD/SWDC: Soil or Soil and Water Conservation District SCFM: Standard Cubic Feet Per Minute SCLDF: Sierra Club Legal De- fense Fund SCR: Selective Catalytic Reduc- tion SCRAM: State Consolidated RCRA Authorization Manual SCRC: Superfund Community Relations Coordinator SCS: Supplementary Control Strategy/System SCSA: Soil Conservation Society of America SCSP: Storm and Combined Sewer Program SCW: Supercritical Water Oxi- dation SDC: Systems Decision Plan SDWA: Safe Drinking Water Act SEA: State Enforcement Agreement SEA; State/EPA Agreement SEAM: Surface, Environment, and Mining SEAS: Strategic Environmental Assessment System SEIA: Socioeconomic Impact Analysis SEM: Standard Error of the Means SEP: Standard Evaluation Pro- cedures SEPWC: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee SERC: State Emergency Plan- ning Commission SES: Secondary Emissions Standard SETS: Site Enforcement Track- ing System SF: Standard Form. Superfund SFA: Spectral Flame Analyzers SFDS: Sanitary Facility Data System SFFAS: Superfund Financial Assessment System SFIREG: State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group SFS: State Funding Study SHORTZ: Short Term Terrain Model SHWL: Seasonal High Water Level SI: International System of Units. Site Inspection. Sur- veillance Index. Spark Igni- tion SIC: Standard Industrial Classi- fication SICEA: Steel Industry Compli- ance Extension Act SIMS: Secondary Ion-Mass Spectrometry SIP: State Implementation Plan SITE: Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation SLAMS: State/Local Air Moni- toring Station SLSM: Simple Line Source Mod- el SMART: Simple Maintenance of ARTS SMCL: Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level SMCRA: Surface Mining Con- trol and Reclamation Act SME: Subject Matter Expert SMO: Sample Management Office SMOA: Superfund Memoran- dum of Agreement SMSA: Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area SNA: System Network Architec- ture SNAAQS: Secondary National Ambient Air Quality Stan- dards SNAP: Significant Noncompli- ance Action Program SNARL: Suggested No Advene Response Level SNC: Significant Noncomplien SNUR Significant New Use Rule SOC: Synthetic Organic Chem- icals SOCMI: Synthetic Organic Chemicals Manufacturing Industry SOTDAT: Source Test Data SOW: Scope Of Work SPAR: Status of Permit Applica- tion Report SPCC: Spill Prevention, Con- tainment, and Countermea- sure SPE: Secondary Particulate Emissions SPF: Structured Programming Facility SPI: Strategic Planning Initia- tive SPLMD: Soil-pore Liquid Moni- toring Device SPMS: Special Purpose Moni- toring Stations SPMS: Strategic Planning and Management System SPOC: Single Point Of Contact SPS: State Permit System SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPUR Software Package for Unique Reports SQBE: Small Quantity Burner Exemption SQG: Small Quantity Generator SRAP: Superfund Remedial Accomplishment Plan SRC: Solvent-Refined Coal SRM: Standard Reference Meth- od SRP: Special Review Procedure SRR Second Round Review. Submission Review Record SRTS: Service Request Tracking System SS: Settleable Solids. Superfund Surcharge. Suspended Solids SSA: Sole Source Aquifer SSAC: Soil Site Assimilated Capacity SSC: State Superfund Contracts SSD: Standards Support Docu- ment SSEIS: Standard Support and Environmental Impact Statement. Stationary Source Emissions and Inventory System SSI: Size Selective Inlet SSMS: Spark Source Mass Spec- trometry SSO: Source Selection Official SSTS: Section Seven Tracking System SSURO: Stop Sale, Use and Removal Order STAPPA: State and Territorial Air Pollution STALAPCO: State and Local Air- Pollution Control Offi- cials STAR: Stability Wind Rose. State Acid Rain Projects STEL: Short Term Exposure Limit STEM: Scanning Transmission- Electron Microscope STN: Scientific and Technical Information Network STORET: Storage and Retrieval of Water-Related Data STP: Sewage Treatment Plant. Standard Temperature and Pressure SUP: Standard Unit of Process- ing SURE: Sulfate Regional Experi- ment Program SV: Sampling Visit SW: Slow Wave SWC: Settlement With Condi- tions SWDA: Solid Waste Disposal Act SWIE: Southern Waste Infor- mation Exchange SWMU: Solid Waste Manage- ment Unit SWTR Surface Water Treat- ment Rule. SYSOP: Systems Operator TAG: Technical Assistance Grant TALMS: Tunable Atomic Line Molecular Spectroscopy TAMS: Toxic Air Monitoring System TAMTAC: Toxic Air Monitoring System Advisory Committee TAP: Technical Assistance Pro- gram TAPDS: Toxic Air Pollutant Data System TAS: Tolerance Assessment System TBT: Tributyltin TC: Target Concentration. Tech- nical Center. Toxicity Charac- teristics. Toxic Concentration: TCDD: Dioxin (Tetrachlorodi- benzo-p-dioxin) TCDF: Tetrachlorodi-benzo- furans TCE: Trichloroethylene TCLP: Total Concentrate Leachate Procedure. Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Pro- cedure TCM: Transportation Control Measure TCP: Transportation Control Plan. Trichloroethylene. Trichloropropane TCRI: Toxic Chemical Release Inventory TD: Toxic Dose TDS: Total Dissolved Solids TEAM: Total Exposure Assess- ment Model TEC: Technical Evaluation Committee TEG: Tetraethylerie Glycol TEGD: Technical Enforcement Guidance Document TEM: Texas Episodic Model TEP: Typical End-use Product. Technical Evaluation Panel TERA: TSCA Environmental Release Application TES: Technical Enforcement Support TEXIN: Texas Intersection Air Quality Model TOO: Total Gross Output TGAI: Technical Grade of the Active Ingredient TCP: Technical Grade Product THC: Total Hydrocarbons THM: Trihalomethane TI: Temporary Intermittent TI: Therapeutic Index TIBL: Thermal Internal Boundary Layer TIC: Technical Information Coordinator. Tentatively Identified Compounds TIM: Technical Information Manager TIP: Transportation Improve- ment Program TIS: Tolerance Index System TISE: Take It Somewhere Else TTTC: Toxic Substance Control Act Interagency Testing Com- mittee TLV: Threshold Limit Value TLV-C: TLV-Ceiling ------- 50 TLV-STEL: TLV-Short Term Exposure Limit TLV-TWA: TLV-Time Weighted Average TMRC: Theoretical Maximum Residue Contribution TNCWS: Transient Non-Com- munity Water System TNT: Trinitrotoluene TO: Task Order TOA: Trace Organic Analysis TOG: Total Organic Carbon/ Compound TOX: Tetradichloroxylene TP: Technical Product TPC: Testing Priorities Com- mittee TPI: Technical Proposal Instruc- tions TPQ: Threshold Planning Quan- tity TPSIS:Transportation Planning Support Information System TFTH: Triphenyltinhydroxide TPY: Tons Per Year TQM: Total Quality Manage- ment T-R: Transformer-Rectifier TRC: Technical Review Com- mittee TRD; Technical Review Docu- ment TRI: Toxic Release Inventory TRIP. Toxic Release Inventory Program TRIS: Toxic Chemical Release Inventory System TRLN: Triangle Research Li- brary Network TRO: Temporary Restraining Order TSA: Technical Systems Audit TSCA: Toxic Substances Control Act ' TSCATS: TSCA Test Submis- sions Database' TSCC: Toxic Substances Coordi- nating Committee TSD: Technical Support Docu- ment TSDF: Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility TSDG: Toxic Substances Dia- logue Group TSI: Thermal System Insulation TSM: Transportation System Management TSO: Time Sharing Option TSP Total Suspended Particu- lates TSS: Total Suspended (non-fil- terable) Solids TTFA: Target Transformation Factor Analysis TTHM: Total Trihalomethane TTO: Total Toxic Organics TTY: Teletypewriter TVA: Tennessee Valley Authori- ty TWA: Time Weighted Average TWS: Transient Water System , TZ: Treatment Zone u UAC: User Advisory Committee UAM: Urban Airshed Model UAO: Unilateral Administrative Order UAPSP Utility Acid Precipita- tion Study Program UAQI: Uniform Air Quality Index UARG: Utility Air Regulatory Group UCC: Ultra Clean Coal UCCI: Urea-Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UCL: Upper Control Limit UDMH: Unsymmetrical Di- methyl Hydrazine UEL: Upper Explosive Limit UFL: Upper Flammability Limit UIC: Underground Injection Control UMTRCA: Uranium Mill Tail- ings Radiation Control Act UNAMAP. Users' Network for Applied Modeling of Air Pol- lution UNEP United Nations Environ- ment Program USC: Unified Soil Classification USDW: Underground Sources of Drinking Water USFS: United States Forest Service USP U.S. Pharmacopeia UST: Underground Storage Tank UTM: Universal Transverse Mercator UTP Urban Transportation Planning UV: Ultraviolet UZM: Unaaturated Zone Moni- toring VALLEY: Meteorological Model to Calculate Concentrations on Elevated Terrain VCM: Vinyl Chloride Monomer VE: Visual Emissions VEO: Visible Emission Observa- tion : VHS: Vertical and Horizontal Spread Model VHT: Vehicle-Hours of Travel VISTTA: Visibility WmiTnumt from Sulfur Transformation and Transport in the Atmo- sphere VKT: Vehicle Kilometers Trav- eled VMT: Vehicle Miles Traveled VOC: Volatile Organic Com- pounds VOS: Vehicle Operating Survey VOST: Volatile Organic Sam- pling Train VP. Vapor Pressure VSD: Virtually Safe Dose VSI: Visual Site Inspection VSS: Volatile Suspended Solids w WA: Work Assignment WADTF: Western Atmospheric Deposition Task Force WAP: Waste Analysis Plan WB: Wet Bulb WCED: World Commission on Environment and Develop- ment WDROP: Distribution Register of Organic Pollutants in Wa- ter WENDB: Water Enforcement National Data Base WERL: Water Engineering Re- search Laboratory WHO: World Health Organi- zation WHWT: Water and Hazardous Waste Team WICEM: World Industry Con- ference on Environmental Management WL: Warning Letter WL: Working Level (radon mea- surement) WLA/TMDL: Wasteload Alloca- tion/Total Maximum Daily Load WLM: Working Level Months WMO: World Meteorological Organization WPCF: Water Pollution Control Federation WQS: Water Quality Standard WRC: Water Resources Council WRDA: Water Resources Devel- opment Act WRI: World Resources Institute WS: Work Status WSF: Water Soluble Fraction WSRA: Wild and Scenic Rivers Act WSTB: Water Sciences and Technology Board WSTP Wastewater Sewage Treatment Plant WWEMA: Waste and Waste- water Equipment Manufac- turers Association WWF: World Wildlife Fund WWTPi Wastewater Treatment Plant WWTU: Wastewater Treatment Unit ZHE: Zero Headspace Extractor ZOI: Zone Of Incorporation ZRL: Zero Risk Level ------- |