Sanitary Landfill : Protecting the environment when disposing of solid waste by spreading it in thin layers, compacting it by heavy machinery, and covering it daily with soil.
Sanitary Water : Water discharged from restrooms, showers, food preparation facilities, or other non-industrial operations; also known as "grey water."
Sediment : Topsoil, sand, and minerals washed from the land into water, usually after rain or snow melt. Sediments collecting in rivers, reservoirs, and harbors can destroy fish and wildlife habitat and cloud the water so that sunlight cannot reach aquatic plants.
Sick Building Syndrome : A building whose occupants experience detrimental health or comfort effects that can be linked to time spent in the building. Health complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may spread throughout the building.
SIP (State Implementation Plan) : Mandate for achieving health-based air quality standards.
Smog : A dense, discolored fog containing large quantities of soot, ash, and gaseous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, responsible for some human respiratory ailments. Most industrialized nations have implemented legislation to promote the use of smokeless fuel and reduce emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere.
Solar Energy: Energy derived from sunlight or radiation, which can be converted into different forms of energy.
Solid Waste: Any garbage, refuse or sludge from a waste treatment plant, or any discarded material, including solid, semi-solid, liquid or gaseous material produced by industrial, commercial or agricultural operations.
Solid Waste Management : Supervised handling of waste materials from their source through recovery processes to final disposal.
Soot : A fine, sticky powder, made up of mostly of carbon, formed by the burning of fossil fuels.
Stack Effect : Warm air rising, creating a positive pressure area at the top of a building and negative pressure area at the bottom. This effect can overpower the mechanical system and disrupt building ventilation and air circulation.
State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) : Commission appointed by each state governor according to the requirements of SARA Title III. The SERCs designate emergency planning districts, appoint local emergency planning committees, and supervise and coordinate their activities.
State Environmental Goals and Indication Project : Program to assist state environmental agencies in the development of environmental goals and indicators by providing technical and financial assistance.
State Implementation Plans (SIP) : EPA approved state plans for the establishment, regulation, and enforcement of air pollution standards.
State Management Plan : Under FIFRA, a state management plan required by EPA to allow states, tribes, and U.S. territories the flexibility to design and implement ways to protect ground water from pesticides.
Stratosphere : The upper portion of the world's atmosphere (approximately 11 to 31 miles above the surface of the earth). It is the location of the earth's ozone layer.
Strip Mining: Mining technique in which the land and vegetation covering the mineral being sought are stripped away by huge machines, usually damaging the land severely and limiting subsequent uses.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): A heavy, smelly gas which can be condensed into a clear liquid; used to make sulfuric acid, bleaching agents, preservatives and refrigerants; a major source of air pollution in industrial areas.
Superfund : Under the legislative authority of CERCLA and SARA, this program funds and implements EPA solid waste emergency and remedial activities. These activities include establishing the National Priorities List, investigating sites for inclusion on the list, determining their priority, and conducting and supervising cleanup.
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program : EPA program to promote development and use of innovative treatment and site characterization technologies in Superfund site cleanups.
Surface Water: Water located above ground and open to the earth's atmosphere(e.g., rivers, lakes).
Sustainable Communities: Communities capable of maintaining their present levels of growth without damaging effects.
Swamp : A wetland dominated by woody vegetation but without peat deposits. Swamps may be fresh or salt water and tidal or non-tidal.
System benefits charge (SBC) : A required fee (also known as a public benefits charge) from all electricity customers to fund programs aimed at the public good. These programs include energy conservation, support for renewable energy use, low-income assistance, and research and development.
Wilson Community College | P.O. Box 4305 • 902 Herring Avenue | Wilson, NC 27893 | Phone: (252) 291-1195 | Fax: (252) 243-7148