Ecologist : A scientist concerned with the interrelationship of organisms both alive and dead and their environment.
Ecology : A branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment.
Ecosystem : A dynamic and interconnected community of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms, both alive and dead, who benefit from each others symbiotic relationship.
Electric Cooperative : A form of utility in which all users own shares. Electric cooperatives are common in rural areas that are expensive to serve because of the long distances between users.
Element : A substance which cannot be separated into parts and still retain its chemical identity. For example, sodium (Na) is an element.
Emission : The release or discharge of a substance into the environment. Generally refers to the release of gases or particulates into the air.
Emission Standards : Government standards that establish limits on discharges of pollutants into the environment .
Endangered Species : Animals, or other living organisms threatened with extinction by man-made or natural changes in the environment.
Energy Conservation: Thoughtful and frugal management of energy. The result of such deliberate and planned conservation results in saving energy for future use.
Energy Efficiency: Reducing the amount of electricity and/or fuel to do the same work, typically without changing the quality of the services provided. Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing high-efficiency appliances, better insulation, better building design, and mechanical improvements.
Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) : A federal statute that, among other things, established additional forms of non-utility generators. It also permitted non-generator-owning municipalities to purchase wholesale electricity, thus opening the door to municipalization.
Energy Policy Act of 2005 : This was the first time since 1992 that the federal government revisited national energy policy. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 included an extension of the PTC through the end of 2007 and CREBs among many other provisions.
Environment : An organism's surroundings.
Environmental Equity/Justice : Equal protection from environmental hazards for individuals, groups, or communities regardless of race, ethnicity, or economic status. This applies to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Environmental Impact Statement : A document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for major projects or legislative proposals affecting the environment. A tool for decision making, it describes the positive and negative effects of the undertaking and cites alternative actions.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) : A thorough study of each proposed electric utility project with potential for significant environmental impacts, including evaluation of alternatives and mitigation.
Environmental Indicator : A measurement, statistic or value that provides a gauge of the effects of environmental management programs or of the state of the environment.
Environmental Quality Board : State agency that adopts environmental rules, monitors their effectiveness, and revises as appropriate; provides technical assistance to interpret and apply rules. (this is expendable, it varies from state to state)
Environmental Sustainability : Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations.
Environmental/Ecological Risk : The potential for adverse effects on living organisms associated with pollution of the environment.
Erosion : The wearing away of soil by wind or water, intensified by land-clearing practices related to farming, residential or industrial development..
Estuary : A complex ecosystem between a river and near-shore ocean waters where fresh and salt water mix. These include bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, wetlands, and lagoons and are influenced by tides and currents. Estuaries provide valuable habitat for marine animals, birds, and other wildlife.
Ethanol : An alternative automotive fuel derived from grain and corn; usually blended with gasoline to form gasohol.
Exposure Concentration : The concentration of a chemical or other pollutant representing a health threat in a given environment.
Exposure Indicator : A characteristic of the environment measured to provide evidence of the occurrence of a response indicator's exposure to a chemical or biological stress.
Exposure Level : The amount of a chemical on the surfaces of an organism.
Exposure Pathway : The path from sources of pollutants via, soil, water, or food to man and other species or settings.
Exposure Response Relationship: The relationship between exposure level and the incidence of adverse effects.
Exposure Route : The way a chemical or pollutant enters an organism after contact; i.e. by ingestion, inhalation, or dermal absorption.
Extremely Hazardous Substances : Any of 406 chemicals identified by EPA as toxic, and listed under SARA Title III. The list is subject to periodic revision.
Wilson Community College | P.O. Box 4305 • 902 Herring Avenue | Wilson, NC 27893 | Phone: (252) 291-1195 | Fax: (252) 243-7148