August 28, 2008
Growing Green Glossary of Terms
The ever-expanding subjects of environment, energy, and sustainability require a brief glossary that defines some of the more important terms used in these web pages. As you explore this and other web pages that discuss environmental responsibility, you may note that these and many more terms will be used.
Learn Two Today and Come Back Tomorrow
Two new sustainable related words each day! Come back tomorrow to learn more.
| Physical and Chemical Treatment: Two processes used in large wastewater treatment facilities.. Also, treatment of toxic materials in surface waters and ground waters, oil spills, and some methods of dealing with hazardous materials on or in the ground. |
| Plastics : Durable and flexible synthetic-based products, some of which are difficult to recycle and pose problems with toxic properties, especially PVC plastic. |
A
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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 dissolved nutrients in the soil).
Absorption Factor: The fraction of a chemical making contact with an organism that is absorbed by the organism.
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): The largest amount of chemical to which a person can be exposed on a daily basis that should not result in adverse effects; usually expressed in mg/kg/day). Same as RfD.
Acclimation : Physiological and behavioral adjustments of any organism to changes in the environment.
Acid : A corrosive solution with a pH less than 7. An inorganic or organic compound that (1) reacts with metals to yield hydrogen; (2) reacts with a base to form a salt; (3) dissociates in water to yield hydrogen or hydronium ions; (4) has a pH of less than 7.0; and (5) neutralizes bases or alkaline. All acids contain hydrogen and turn litmus paper red. They are corrosive to human tissue.
Acid Rain: The precipitation of dilute solutions of strong mineral acids, formed of various industrial pollutants that mix in the earths atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with naturally occurring oxygen and water vapor.
Activated Sludge Process : A sewage treatment process by which bacteria that feed on organic wastes are circulated and put in contact with organic waste and oxygen to increase the rate of decomposition.
Active Ingredient : The component that kills, or otherwise controls, target pests. Pesticides are regulated primarily on the basis of active ingredients.
Acute Effect : An adverse effect on any living organism in which severe symptoms develop rapidly and often subside after the exposure stops.
Acute Toxicity : Adverse effects that result from a single dose or exposure to a chemical; any poisonous effect produced within a short time, usually less than 96 hours. This term normally is used to describe effects in experimental animals.
Adsorption : A process by which chemicals are on the surface of a mineral or soil particle (compare with Absorption).
Advanced Wastewater Treatment : Treatment of sewage that goes beyond the secondary or biological water treatment stage and includes the removal of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and a high percentage of suspended solids.
Aerobic Digestion (Sludge Processing): Biochemical decomposition of organic matter by organisms which results in the formation of mineral and organic compounds.
Aerosol : A suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas, the particles. Fog and smoke are common examples of natural aerosols; fine sprays (perfumes, insecticides, inhalants, antiperspirants, paints, etc.) are man-made aerosols. Various kinds may be formed by placing the components, together with a compressed gas, in a container (bomb). The pressure of the gas causes the mixture to be released as a fine spray (aerosol) or foam (aerogel) when a valve is opened.
Agricultural Waste: Poultry and livestock manure, and materials in liquid or solid form generated from the production and marketing of poultry, livestock and their products. Also includes grain, vegetable, and fruit harvest residue.
Air Pollutant: Any substance in air that could, in high enough concentration, harm man, other animals, vegetation, or material. Pollutants may include almost any natural or artificial composition. They may be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, gases, or in combination thereof. Generally, they fall into two main groups: (1) those emitted directly from sources and (2) those produced in the air by interaction between two or more primary pollutants, or by reaction with normal atmospheric constituents. Roughly 100 contaminants have been identified; some of the categories are: solids, sulfur compounds, volatile organic chemicals, particulate matter, nitrogen compounds, oxygen compounds, halogen compounds, radioactive compound, and odors.
Air Pollution: Toxic gases introduced into the atmosphere, usually as a result of human activity.
Air Quality Standards : The level of selected pollutants set by law that may not be exceeded. Used to determine the amount of pollutants that may be emitted by industry.
Algae : Rootless plants that grow in 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.
Alkali : Alkalis (or bases) are materials that have pH values from 8 to 14. Alkalis with pHs between 12 to 14 are corrosive and will cause severe damage to skin and eyes. Any compound having highly basic properties Alkalies are caustic and dissolve human tissue. Common commercial alkalis are sodium carbonate (soda ash), NaOH, lime, lye, potash, caustic soda, KOH, water glass, regular mortar, portland cement, and bicarbonate of soda (see Acid; pH).
Allergen: A substance that causes an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.
Alternative Energy: Environmentally sound energy that is not extensively used in the United States, such as solar or wind energy (as opposed to fossil fuels).
Alternative Fuels: Transportation fuels other than gasoline or diesel. Including natural gas, methanol, and electricity.
Alternative Technology: An approach that uses resources efficiently or substitutes resources in order to do minimum damage to the environment.
Ambient : Any portion of the atmosphere; open air; outside surrounding air.
Asbestos : A fiber that can pollute air or water and cause cancer or asbestosis when inhaled. The Environmental Protection Agency has banned or severely restricted the use of asbestos in manufacturing and construction.
Asphyxiation : A condition that causes asphyxia or suffocation. Asphyxiation is one of the potential hazardous of working in confined spaces.
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 wastewaters or toxic materials without adverse effects and without damage to aquatic life or humans who consume the water.
Atomic Energy: Energy released in nuclear reactions. Fission occurs when a neutron splits an atom's nucleus into smaller pieces. Fusion occurs when two nuclei are joined together under millions of degrees of heat.
Autotrophic : An organism that produces food from inorganic substances.
Avoided Cost : The cost that the utility would have incurred for producing the same amount of power.
B
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Bacteria : Microscopic living organisms usually consisting of a single cell. Bacteria can aid in pollution control by consuming or breaking down organic matter in sewage. Some bacteria in soil, water or air may also cause human, animal and plant health problems.
Bio-Concentration: The build-up of a chemical in plants and animals to levels higher than found in the surroundings.
Biodegradable : Waste material composed primarily of naturally occurring elements that are able to be broken down and absorbed naturally into the ecosystem.
Biodiversity : The number and variety of different organisms in the ecological areas in which they naturally occur. Organisms are organized at many levels, ranging from complete ecosystems to the microscopic biochemical structures that are the molecular basis of heredity.
Biological Oxidation: The way that bacteria and microorganisms feed on and decompose complex organic materials. The process is used in self-purification of water and activated sludge wastewater treatment.
Biological Pesticides: Microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa that are effective in controlling target pests. These agents usually do not have toxic effects on animals and people and do not leave toxic or chemical residues in the environment.
Biological Treatment : A technology that uses bacteria to consume organic waste.
Biomass : At present, there is no single definition of this term that is federally recognized. Many states also lack a clear definition of the term. In general, the term is applied in two broad ways: (1) living matter in an area, including plants, large animals and insects which absorb sunlight and store it as chemical energy; (2) plant materials and animal waste used as fuel.
Bioremediation : Use of living organisms to clean oil spills or remove other pollutants from soil, water, or wastewater; use of organisms such as non-harmful insects to remove agricultural pests or counteract diseases of trees, plants, and garden soil.
Biosphere : The portion of Earth and its atmosphere that can support life
Biotechnology : Techniques that use living organisms or parts of organisms to produce products to improve plants or animals; or to develop microorganisms that remove toxics from bodies of water.
Bog : Type of wetland that accumulates peat deposits. Bogs depend primarily on rain for their water source, and are usually acidic and rich in plant residue with a visible mat of living green moss.
By-Product: Materials other than the intended product, generated as a result of an industrial process.
C
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Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A naturally occurring greenhouse gas in the earths atmosphere, concentrations of which have increased (from 280 parts per million in pre-industrial times to over 360 parts per million today) as a result of burning coal, oil, natural gas and organic matter.
Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion.
Carcinogens : Substances that cause cancer in humans.
Catalyst : Material that does not take a direct part in a chemical reaction but increases the rate of the reaction.
Chlorination : Added to water or wastewater, generally for disinfection, but frequently for other biological or chemical results. Chlorine also is used in manufacturing processes, particularly the plastics industry.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) : Stable, artificially created chemical compounds containing carbon chlorine, fluorine and sometimes hydrogen. Chlorofluorocarbons, used in refrigerators and air conditioners, damage the stratospheric ozone layer that protects the earth and its inhabitants from excessive ultraviolet radiation. CFCs are not destroyed in earths lower atmosphere; they drift into the upper atmosphere, where their chlorine components destroy the ozone layer.
Clean Fuel: Fuels that have lower emissions than conventional gasoline and diesel. The term can refer both to alternative fuels and reformulated gasoline and diesel.
Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) : A CREB is a special type of tax credit bond providing rural electric cooperatives, municipal electric utilities, and government entities (including tribal councils) the equivalent of an interest-free loan for financing qualified energy projects. CREBs were created in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and are largely modeled on the Qualified Zone Academy Bond program that provides tax credit bonds for school renovation and upgrades in certain qualified school districts. They deliver an incentive comparable to the production tax credit that is available to private renewable energy project developers and investor-owned utilities.
Cleanup : Actions taken to deal with a release of a hazardous substance that could affect humans and the environment. The term "cleanup" is sometimes used with the terms remedial action, removal action, response action, or corrective action.
Climate Change: A regional change in temperature and weather patterns. Recent scientific thought indicates a discernible link between 20th Century climate change and the burning of fossil fuels. It is also defined by the United Nations Convention on Climate Change as change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods
Closure : When a landfill reaches its legal capacity for solid waste, a cap is permanently placed on the site.
Combustion : Burning, or rapid oxidation, accompanied by release of energy in the form of heat and light. Also, refers to controlled burning of waste, in which heat chemically alters organic compounds, converting into stable inorganics such as carbon dioxide and water.
Commercial Scale Wind : Refers to wind energy projects greater than 100 kW where the electricity is sold rather than used on-site.
Commercial Waste Management Facility : Treatment, storage, disposal, or transfer facility which accepts waste from a variety of sources
Community : In ecology, a group of populations of different species within a specified location.
Community Relations : The EPA effort to establish communication with the public to create understanding of EPA programs and related actions, to ensure public input into decision making processes, 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 Wind : Locally owned, commercial-scale wind projects. Locally owned means that one or more members of the local community has a significant direct financial stake in the project other than through land lease payments, tax revenue, or other payments in lieu of taxes. The term community wind refers to method and intention of development rather than the size of the project. A 1,000 kW, commercial-scale wind turbine might cost $1-2 million.
Compliance Cycle : The 9-year cycle, beginning January 1, 1993 during which public water systems must be monitored. Each cycle consists of three 3-year compliance periods.
Compliance Monitoring : Collection and evaluation of data to show whether pollutant concentrations and loads contained in permitted discharges are in compliance with the limits and conditions specified in the permit.
Compliance Schedule : A negotiated agreement between a pollution site and a government agency that specifies dates and procedures by which the site owners will reduce emissions and thereby comply with a regulation.
Compost : Solid waste management technique that uses natural methods to convert organic matter to humus. This conversion is achieved through the use of microorganisms. Compost is a mixture of decayed organic matter used for fertilizing and conditioning land.
Compost : Decomposed organic material produced when bacteria in soil break down garbage and biodegradable trash, making organic fertilizer. Gardeners and farmers use compost for soil enrichment.
Conservation : Preserving and renewing natural resources to assure their highest economic or social benefit over the longest period of time.
Contamination : Intrusion of undesirable elements. The addition of foreign matter to a substance that reduces the value of the substance, or interferes with its intended use.
Contingency Plan : A document detailing an organized, planned, and coordinated course of action to be followed in case of a fire, explosion, or other accident that releases toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, or radioactive materials that threaten human health or the environment.
Conventional Pollutant : Pollutants understood well by scientists. These may be in the form of organic waste, sediment, acid, bacteria, viruses, nutrients, oil and grease, or heat.
Corrective Action : EPA required treatment, storage and disposal (TSDF) facilities handling hazardous waste to clean up spills resulting from failure to follow hazardous waste management procedures. The process includes cleanup procedures designed to guide TSDFs toward in spills.
Corrosion : Dissolution and wearing away of metal caused by a chemical reaction such as between water and the pipes or chemicals touching a metal surface.
Cost Sharing : A program through which society 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 .
Cost-Effective Alternative: An alternative control considered the best available in terms of reliability, performance, and cost. Although costs are one important consideration, regulatory and compliance analysis does not require EPA to choose the least expensive alternative.
Cost-of-Service Ratemaking : A system for establishing prices in which a utility is reimbursed for the legitimate costs it encounters in serving customers plus a specific percentage for profit.
Coverage Ratio : A type of accounting ratio that measures a company's ability to meet its obligations. A coverage ratio encompasses many different types of financial ratios. Typically, these kinds of ratios involve a comparison of assets and liabilities. The better the assets "cover" the liabilities, the better off the company is.
Criteria Pollutants: The 1970 amendments to the Clean Air Act required EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality 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, carbon monoxide, total suspended particulates, sulfur dioxide, lead, and nitrogen oxide.
D
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Debt vs. Equity : An amount of money borrowed and owed by one party to another is considered debt, for example: bonds, loans and commercial paper. Equity is a term whose meaning depends very much on the context, but in general, you can think of equity as ownership in any asset after all debts associated with that asset are paid off.
Debt-to-Capital Ratio : A measurement of a company's financial leverage, calculated as long-term debt divided by long-term capital. Total debt includes all short-term and long-term obligations. Total capital includes all common stock, preferred stock and long-term debt. This capital structure ratio can provide a more accurate view of a company's long-term leverage and risk, since it considers long-term debt and capital only. By excluding short-term financing in its calculation, the ratio provides an investor with a more accurate look into the capital structure a company will have if they were to own the stock over a long period of time.
Decomposition : The breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi that changes the chemical makeup and physical appearance of materials.
Decontamination : Removal of harmful substances such as noxious chemicals, harmful bacteria or other organisms, from rooms and furnishings in buildings, or the exterior environment.
Demand : The amount of electricity drawn from an electric system at a given time, measured in kilowatts.
Demand-Side Management (DSM) : The process of managing the consumption of energy. DSM programs include, for instance, offering discounts on new, high-efficiency appliances so that consumers get rid of their older, less efficient models.
Deregulation : The process of removing restrictive regulations on previously regulated companies.
Detergent : A synthetic agent that removes dirt and oil. Some contain compounds that kill useful bacteria and encourage algae growth when they are in wastewater that reaches receiving waters.
Diesel Engine: An internal combustion engine wherein fuel is ignited by compression rather than spark that uses diesel as fuel.
Diesel Fuel: A petroleum-based fuel that is burned in engines ignited by compression rather than spark; commonly used for heavy-duty engines including buses and trucks. Boiling point and specific gravity are higher for diesel fuel than for gasoline.
Discharge : The release of any waste into the environment. Also, the release of a liquid waste into a body of water through an outlet such as a pipe, but also refers to air emissions.
Disinfectant : A chemical or physical process that kills pathogenic organisms in water, air, or on surfaces. Chlorine is often used to disinfect sewage treatment, water supplies, wells, and swimming pools.
Disposables : Consumer products and packaging used once or a few times and discarded.
Disposal : Final placement or destruction of toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted soils; and hazardous material drums. Disposal may use approved landfills, land farming, ocean dumping, or incineration.
Disposal Facilities : Repositories for solid waste, including landfills and combustors intended for permanent containment or destruction of waste materials.
Distributed Generation : A small-scale power generation technology that provides electric power at a site closer. The term is commonly used to indicate non-utility sources of electricity, including facilities for self-generation.
Distribution Cooperative : An electric cooperative that purchases wholesale power and delivers it to consumer members.
Distribution System : The poles, wire and transformers used to deliver electric energy from a bulk power supplier to the consumer.
Dredging : Removal of mud from the bottom of water bodies. This can disturb the ecosystem and cause silting that kills aquatic life. Dredging of contaminated mud can expose biota to heavy metals and other toxics. Dredging activities may be subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
E
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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.
F
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Farm Bill, Energy Title, Section 9006 : In a first for U.S. agriculture policy, the 2002 Farm Bill included an energy title that established a variety of programs to support farm-based renewable energy. Most notable for wind energy is the renewable energy grant and loan guarantee program administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) : An independent regulatory agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that has jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales, wholesale electricity rates, natural gas and oil pipeline rates, and gas pipeline certification. It also licenses and inspects private, municipal, and state hydroelectric projects and oversees related environmental matters.
Fertilizer : Materials such as nitrogen and phosphorus that provide nutrients for plants. Commercially sold fertilizers may contain other chemicals or may be in the form of processed sewage sludge.
Finished Water : Water that has passed through all the processes in a water treatment plant and is ready to be delivered to consumers.
Fission : The process of splitting a heavy nucleus into roughly two nuclei of lighter elements, with the simultaneous release of substantial amounts of energy in the form of kinetic energy and in the form of emission of neutrons and gamma rays.
Flip Models/ Flip Dynamics : One example of a business model structure which brings in a tax-motivated equity partner to effectively own the project during the period when the PTC and accelerated depreciation are available (i.e., the first 10 years of the projects life).
Floodplain : Mostly level land along rivers and streams that may be submerged by floodwater. A 100-year floodplain is an area that can be flooded once in every 100 years.
Fluorocarbons : Organic compounds in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine. Once used in the United States as a propellant in aerosols, they are now primarily used in coolants and some industrial processes. FCs 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.
Food Chain : A sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source.
Forests : Lands on which trees are the principal plant life, usually conducive to wide biodiversity. Also, the legal classification of land use in a country. Three broad types of forests are tropical forests, temperate forests, and boreal forests.
Fossil Fuel: A fuel, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, produced by the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals; compare to alternative energy. Fossil fuels were formed deep under the earth millions of years ago from the decomposition of plant and animal matter.
Fresh Water : Water that generally contains less than 1,000 milligrams-per-liter of dissolved solids.
Fuel Economy Standard : The Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard (CAFE), effective in 1978, enhanced the national fuel conservation effort imposing a miles-per-gallon floor for motor vehicles.
Fuel Efficiency : The amount of energy released by fuel combustion that is converted into useful energy.
Fungi : Molds, mildews, yeasts, mushrooms, a group of organisms that lack chlorophyll (i.e., are not photosynthetic) and which are usually non-mobile and multicellular. Some grow in the ground, others attach themselves to decaying trees and other plants and get their nutrition from decomposing organic matter. Some cause disease, others break down solid wastes.
G
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Gas : A naturally occurring gas; a mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases found in porous geological formations found within the earth.
Gasohol : Mixture of gasoline and ethanol derived from fermented agricultural products containing at least nine percent ethanol. Gasohol emissions contain less carbon monoxide than those from gasoline do.
Gasoline : A highly volatile, flammable mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum.
Generation and Transmission Cooperative (G&T) : A power supply cooperative owned by a group of distribution cooperatives. G&Ts generate power or purchase it from public or investor-owned utilities, or from both.
Generator : A facility that emits pollutants into the air or releases hazardous waste into water or soil. Also, any person who produces regulated medical waste or whose act first causes such waste to become subject to regulation
Geothermal : Literally, heat from the earth; energy obtained from the hot areas under the surface of the earth. Examples are geysers, molten rocks and steam spouts.
Geothermal/Ground Source Heat Pump : A heat pump with underground coils to transfer heat from the ground to the inside of a building.
Global Warming: An increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface. This increase in temperature usually precedes an increase in greenhouse gases, sometimes called the greenhouse effect. These gases are released from burning gas, oil, coal, and wood.
Grassed Waterway : A natural or constructed watercourse that is shaped or graded in vegetation for the disposal of runoff water without erosion.
Grassroots : Used to describe local or person to person groups that develop usually outside of political organizations. A typical grassroots effort might include a door to door education and survey campaign.
Grazing : The use of grasses and other plants to feed wild or domestic herbivores such as deer, sheep and cows.
Green Building : A building using energy, water, materials and land in a much more efficient manner than are buildings which are built to code. Such environments are healthier for the people living and working in them. Such sustainable buildings are cost-effective, and actually require fewer dollars for operation and maintenance.
Green Design: A design, usually architectural, conforming to environmentally sound principles of building, material and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of solar panels, skylights, and recycled building materials.
Green Energy : A popular term for energy produced from renewable energy resources or, sometimes, from clean (low-emitting) energy sources.
Green Marketing : Selling green energy.
Greenhouse : A building made with translucent (light transparent, usually glass or fiberglass) walls conducive to plant growth.
Greenhouse Effect: The process that raises the temperature of air in the lower atmosphere due to heat trapped by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and ozone.
Greenhouse Gas: A gas involved in the greenhouse effect.
Greenway : Undeveloped land usually in cities, set aside or used for recreation or conservation. Also, a linear park
Grid : A network of power lines or pipelines used to move energy.
Ground Fish: Fish that constantly live on or near the sea floor. Ground fish are also called bottom fish or demersal fish.
Ground Water : Fresh water found beneath the Earth's surface, usually in aquifers, which supply wells and springs. Ground water is a major source of drinking water.
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Habitat : (1) the environment in which an organism or population lives and grows; also the specific characteristics (climate, food sources) that make that area suitable for the living populations.
Hazardous Chemical : An EPA term for any hazardous material requiring an MSDS under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. Such substances are capable of producing fires and explosions or adverse health effects like cancer and dermatitis. Hazardous chemicals are distinct from hazardous waste. (See: Hazardous Waste)
Hazardous Waste : Solid wastes that pose substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.
Hazardous Waste Landfill : A specially permitted, excavated or engineered area where hazardous waste is deposited and covered.
Haze : An atmospheric condition marked by a slight reduction in visibility, resulting from the formation of photochemical smog, radiation of heat from the ground surface on hot days, or the development of a thin mist.
Health Hazard: The term includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
Herbicide : A pesticide that controls or kills plants, weeds, or grasses. Almost 70% of all pesticide used by farmers and ranchers are herbicides.
Home and Farm Wind : Wind energy systems that are generally under 100kW and produce power for on-site use. Differing from commercial, or large scale wind, home and farm wind can be considered for residential, small business, or farm applications. Wind turbines under 100 kilowatts cost roughly $3,000 to $5,000 per kilowatt of capacity. That means a 10 kilowatt machine (the size needed to power an average home) might cost $35,000-$40,000.
Household Hazardous Waste : Hazardous products used and disposed of by residential consumers. Includes paints, stains, varnishes, solvents, pesticides, or products containing volatile chemicals that can catch fire, react or explode, or that are corrosive or toxic.
Hydroelectric : Electric energy produced by the force of moving water.
Hydrofluorocarbons : Used as solvents and cleaners in the semiconductor industry; experts say that they possess global warming potentials that are thousands of times greater than CO2.
Hydropower : Energy or power produced by conversion the power of moving water into energy.
Hypoxia : The depletion of dissolved oxygen in water, resulting from an overabundance of nutrients of human or natural origin that stimulates the growth of algae, which in turn die and require large amounts of oxygen as the algae decompose. It was the most frequently cited direct cause of fish kills in the U.S. from 1980 to 1989.
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Incident Command System (ICS) : The organization wherein one person, normally the Fire Chief, is in charge of both an integrated, comprehensive emergency response team and the emergency incident site.
Incinerators : Controlled disposal systems that burn solid waste or other materials and reduce volume of waste. Air pollution and toxic ash are problems associated with incineration.
Independent Power Producer (IPP) : An electricity generator that sells power to others but is not owned by a utility.
Independent System Operator (ISO) : An impartial, independent third party responsible for maintaining secure and economic operation of an open access transmission system on a regional basis.
Industrial Waste : Materials produced in or eliminated from an industrial operation, such as liquid wastes, sludge, solid wastes, and hazardous wastes.
Industrialized Countries: Nations whose economies are based on industrial production and the conversion of raw materials into products and services, with the use of machinery and artificial energy fossil fuels and nuclear fission (i.e., U.S., Japan, the countries of Europe).
Inert Ingredients: Substances that are not active, such as water, petroleum distillates, or soaps. Inert ingredients do not attack a particular pest, but some are chemically or biologically active and can cause health and environmental problems.
Insecticides : Substances used to kill insects and prevent infestation.
Inversion : An atmospheric condition caused by increasing temperature with elevation, resulting in a layer of warm air preventing the rise of cooler air trapped beneath. This condition prevents the rise of pollutants that might otherwise be dispersed. Trapped pollutants near the ground increase ozone to harmful levels.
Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) : A utility with stock-based ownership.
Irritant : A substance that can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, or respiratory system. An irritant can cause an acute effect from a single high-level exposure, or chronic effects from repeated, low-level exposures. Some examples of irritants are chlorine, nitric acid, and various pesticides.
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K
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Kilowatt (kW) : The basic unit of electric demand, equal to 1,000 watts; average household demand is 10 to 20 kilowatts.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh) : A unit of energy of work equal to 1,000 watt-hours. The basic measure of electric energy generation or use. A 100-watt light bulb burning for 10 hours uses one kilowatt-hour.
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Lagoon : A shallow, artificial treatment pond where sunlight, bacterial action, and oxygen work to purify wastewater. An aerated lagoon is a treatment pond that uses oxygen to speed up the natural process of biological decomposition of organic wastes. A lagoon is regulated as a point source under the Clean Water Act if there is a direct surface water discharge.
Lakes : Substantial inland bodies of standing water.
Landfill : A cavity in the ground where nonhazardous waste is piled up and eventually covered with dirt and topsoil. Todays landfills are deemed sanitary and require special technology to eliminate methane gas.
Landscape : The characteristics, patterns, and structure of a specific geographic area, including its biological composition, its physical environment, and its social patterns.
Life Cycle Assessment: Methodology developed to assess a product's full environmental costs, from raw material to final disposal; a process to evaluate the environmental results connected with a product, process or activity.
Light Pollution: Environmental pollution consisting of harmful or annoying light. For example, artificial light that eliminates starlight.
Litter : Waste material that is discarded on the ground or otherwise disposed of improperly. Also, the top layer of the forest floor, made up of dead sticks, leaves, and branches.
Load : The amount of electric power drawn at a specific time from an electric system, or the total power drawn from the system. Peak load is the amount of power drawn at the time of highest demand.
Logging : The cutting down of trees for commercial use.
Low-Emission Vehicles: Vehicles that emit less pollution when compared to internal combustion engines.
Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) : Less hazardous waste generated by hospitals, research laboratories, and certain industries. The Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and EPA share responsibilities for managing them.
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Maintenance Reserve Account : The reserve account of cash balances set aside to over a project's maintenance and repair expenses.
Managed growth : Growth or expansion that is controlled so as not to be harmful.
Management Plan : Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), a document that each Local Education Agency is required to prepare. It describes all activities planned and done by a school to comply with AHERA regulations, including building inspections to identify asbestos-containing materials, response actions, and operations and maintenance programs to minimize the risk of exposure.
Medical Waste : Wastes from hospitals, clinics, or other health care facilities that contain or have come into contact with diseased tissues or infectious microorganisms. Also referred to as infectious waste that is hazardous waste with infectious characteristics, including: contaminated animal waste, human blood and blood products, pathological waste, and discarded sharps (needles, scalpels, or broken medical instruments).
Megawatt (MW) : Equal to 1,000 kilowatts or 1 million watts.
Megawatt-hour (MWH) : Equal to 1,000 kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours.
Merchant : Refers to projects where the private contractor builds a new facility without the government providing any revenue guarantee. In other words, the private contractor takes on the construction, operation, and market risk of the project.
Methane: A colorless, nonpoisonous, flammable gas created by anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds. It is a major component of natural gas used in the home.
Monitoring : Periodic or continuous sampling to determine pollution or radioactivity.
Municipal Solid Waste : Refuse that is created by households, commercial businesses, and industrial offices. The refuse is not categorized as hazardous material. This category does not include source-separated recyclables.
Municipal Utility or Muni : A utility owned by a city. Generally, surpluses in revenues over expenditures are contributed to the city budget.
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National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) : National standards established by EPA that apply for outdoor air.
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) : EPA emissions standards for an air pollutant not covered by NAAQS that may cause an increase in fatalities or in serious illness. Standards are designed to protect human health; secondary standards protect public welfare (e.g. building facades, visibility, crops, and domestic animals).
National Environmental Performance Partnership Agreements : A system that allows states to assume greater responsibility for environmental programs based on their relative ability.
National Estuary Program : A program established under the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 to develop conservation and management plans for protecting estuaries and restoring and maintaining their chemical and physical integrity.
National Municipal Plan : A policy created in 1984 by EPA and the states in 1984 to bring all publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) into compliance with Clean Water Act requirements.
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan (NOHSCP/NCP) : The federal regulation that determines which sites will be corrected under both the Superfund program and the program to prevent or control spills into surface waters.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) : 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 a tribal government on an Indian reservation.
National Priorities List (NPL) : EPA's list of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites identified 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 NPL at least once a year. A site must be on the NPL to receive money from the Trust Fund for remedial action.
National Response Center : The federal operations center that receives notifications of all releases of oil and hazardous substances into the environment; open 24 hours a day, it is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Response Team (NRT) : Representatives 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 before and during a response action.
Net Metering and Net Billing : Allows utility customers to generate their own electricity from renewable resources, such as small wind turbines and rooftop solar systems. The customers send excess electricity back to the utility when their wind system, for example, produces more power than needed. Customers can then get power from the utility when their wind system doesnt produce enough power. In effect net metering allows the interconnected customer to use the electrical grid as a storage battery. This helps customers get higher (retail) value for more of their self-generated electricity.
Nitrogen oxides : Harmful gases emitted as a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion.
Noise Pollution: Environmental pollution made up of harmful or annoying noise. The degree of pollution is usually measured as level of intensity, duration and frequency. Examples include cars, airplanes, construction equipment, and traffic noise.
Non-Renewable Resource : A resource incapable of being naturally restored or replenished. It is a resource whose supply is exhausted because it has not been replaced or because it is used faster than it can be replaced.
Nuclear Energy: Energy or power produced by nuclear reactions (fusion or fission).
Nuclear Reactor: An apparatus in which nuclear fission may be initiated, maintained, and controlled to produce energy, conduct research, or produce fissile material for nuclear explosives.
Nuclear Tests: Government tests carried out to supply information required for the design and improvement of nuclear weapons, and to study the phenomena and effects associated with nuclear explosions.
Nuclear Winter : Prediction that smoke and debris 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 negatively affect world agricultural and weather patterns.
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Off-peak Power : Electricity supplied during periods of low system demand.
Off-Taker: The recipient of the end-product of a project, for example: a utility company.
Oil : A naturally produced black, sticky substance used to produce fuel (petroleum) and materials (plastics).
Oil Spills: The harmful release of oil, usually by accident, into the environment, sometimes killing area flora and fauna. Oil spills can be very difficult to clean up.
Organic : The term refers to molecules made up of tow or more atoms.
Organism : Any living being on earth, whether plant, mammal, bird, insect, reptile, fish, crustacean, aquatic or estuarine animal, or bacterium.
Ozone : A naturally occurring, highly reactive gas containing triatomic oxygen formed by combination with oxygen in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. This naturally occurring gas builds up in the lower atmosphere as smog pollution, while in the upper atmosphere it forms a protective layer that shields the earth from excessive exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation.
Ozone Depletion: The reduction of the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere by chemical pollution.
Ozone Hole: A hole or gap in the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.
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Packaging : The wrapping material around a product that protects and identifies the product.
Paper : The thin material made from the pulp of wood, rags or other fibrous material.
Particulate : Small pieces of an airborne material. Dusts, fumes, smokes, mists, and fogs are examples. Generally defined as anything that is not a fiber and has an aspect ratio of 3 to 1.
Particulate Pollution: Pollution made up of small liquid or solid particles suspended in the atmosphere or water supply.
Passive Solar: Using or capturing solar energy (usually to heat water) without any external power. Also, using the site and design of the structure of a building to maximize the effects of natural processes.
Pathogen : Microorganisms typically found in the intestinal tracts of mammals that can cause disease in other organisms or in humans, animals and plants. They may be bacteria, viruses, or parasites and are found in sewage, in runoff from animal farms or rural areas, and in water used for swimming. Fish and shellfish contaminated by pathogens, or the contaminated water itself, can cause serious illnesses.
Peak Demand : The greatest demand placed on an electric system; measured in kilowatts or megawatts; also, the time of day or season of the year when that demand occurs.
Peak Load : The amount of electric power required by a consumer or a system during peak demand; measured in kilowatts or megawatts.
Pesticides : Chemical agents used to destroy pests and reduce their impact on agriculture and health.
PET : Ployethylene terepthalate. A plastic used to make soft drink bottles and other kinds of food containers.
Photochemical Oxidants : Air pollutants formed by sunlight on oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons.
Photochemical Smog : Air pollution caused by not one pollutant but by chemical reactions of various pollutants emitted from different sources.
Photosynthesis : The process by which plants, using sunlight as energy, make carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll.
Physical and Chemical Treatment: Two processes used in large wastewater treatment facilities.. Also, treatment of toxic materials in surface waters and ground waters, oil spills, and some methods of dealing with hazardous materials on or in the ground.
Plastics : Durable and flexible synthetic-based products, some of which are difficult to recycle and pose problems with toxic properties, especially PVC plastic.
Polluted Runoff: Precipitation that captures pollution from agricultural lands, urban streets, parking lots and suburban lawns, and transports it to rivers, lakes, or oceans.
Pollution : Any substances in water, soil, or air that degrade the natural quality of the environment, offend sight, taste, or smell, or cause a health hazard.
Pollution Prevention: Techniques that eliminate waste prior to treatment, such as by changing ingredients in a chemical reaction.
Population : The whole number of inhabitants in a country, region or area; also, a set of individuals having a quality or characteristic in common.
Post Consumer Waste: Waste collected after the consumer has used and disposed of it (e.g., a candy wrapper).
Power Plants: Facilities (plants) that produce energy.
Pre-Consumer : This term describes material that is being reused/recycled before it is on the market; also, waste material generated during the manufacturing process.
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) : EPA program in which state and/or federal permits are required to restrict emissions from new or modified sources in places where air quality already meets or exceeds primary and secondary ambient air quality standards.
Primary Drinking Water Regulation : Rules that apply to public water systems that state a contaminant level, which, in the judgment of the EPA, will not adversely affect human health.
Primary Effect : An effect where the stressor acts directly on the ecological component of interest, not on other parts of the ecosystem.
Primary Standards : National ambient air quality standards designed to protect human health with an adequate margin for safety
Primary Waste Treatment : First steps in wastewater treatment; screens and sedimentation tanks are used to remove most materials.
Production Tax Credit (PTC) : Provides the owner of a qualifying facility with an annual tax credit based on the amount of electricity that is generated. By focusing on the energy produced instead of capital invested, this type of tax incentive encourages projects that perform adequately.
Public Ttransportation: Various forms of shared-ride services, including buses, vans, trolleys, and subways, which convey the public.
Public Utility Commission (PUC) or Public Services Commission (PSC) : A state government agency responsible for the regulation of public utilities within a state or region. A state legislature oversees the PUC. The PUC focuses on adequate, safe, universal utility service at reasonable rates while also trying to balance the interests of consumers, environmentalists, utilities, and stockholders.
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) : A 1978 federal law that requires electric utilities to purchase electricity produced from certain efficient power producers (frequently using renewable energy or natural gas). Utilities purchase power at a rate equal to the costs they avoid by not generating the power themselves. State regulatory agencies establish the rate based on local conditions.
Pulp : Raw material made from trees used in producing paper products.
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Qualitative Use Assessment : Report summarizing the major uses of a pesticide including percentage of crop treated, and amounts of pesticide used on a site.
Quality Assurance/ Quality Control : A system of procedures, checks, audits, and corrective actions to ensure that all technical, operational, and reporting activities are of the highest quality, as well as to ensure EPA research design and performance, environmental monitoring and sampling are of the highest quality.
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Radioactive : Of or characterized by radioactivity.
Radioactive Waste: The byproduct of nuclear reactions that gives off (usually harmful) radiation.
Radioactivity : The spontaneous emission of matter or energy from the nucleus of an unstable atom (the emitted matter or energy is usually in the form of alpha or beta particles, gamma rays, or neutrons).
Radon : A cancer-causing radioactive gas found in many communities' ground water.
Rainforest : A large, dense forest in a hot, humid region (tropical or subtropical). Rainforests have an abundance of diverse plant and animal life, much of which is still not catalogued by the scientific community.
Recyclable : The term used to describe a product or package that can be recycled.
Recycle Symbol : The chasing arrow symbol used on products or packaging that may be recycled. On plastics, it is used in conjunction with a numbering system (1-7) to designate plastic resins used in the products. The three arrows represent different parts of the recycling process. The top arrow represents the collection of recyclables. The second arrow (bottom right side) represents recyclables being recycled into recycled products (i.e., a new aluminum can from an old one). The third arrow (bottom left) represents a customer purchases a product with recycled material. This is the most important step since it closes the recycling loop.
Recycled Content : The amount of pre and post consumer recovered material; usually expressed as a percentage.
Recycling : System of collecting, sorting, and reprocessing old material into usable raw materials.
Recycling Center : A place where all recyclables are collected, separated, and processed in preparation for remarketing.
Reduce : The act of purchasing or consuming less initially, so as not to reuse or recycle later.
Refrigerants : Cooling substances, many of which contain CFCs and are harmful to the earth's ozone layer.
Regulated Medical Waste : Defined by the Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988, any solid waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining to, or in the production or testing. Included are cultures and stocks of infectious agents; human blood and blood products; human pathological body wastes from surgery and autopsy; contaminated animal carcasses from medical research; waste from patients with communicable diseases; and all used sharp implements, such as needles and scalpels.
Release : Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, dumping, or disposing into the environment of a hazardous or toxic chemical.
Renewable Energy: Energy resources such as wind power or solar energy that are considered inexhaustible or are regenerative, unlike fossil fuels.
Renewable Resource : A resource that is capable of being restored or replenished (i.e. trees).
Reservoir : An artificial lake created and used for the storage of water
Restructuring : The process of changing the structure of the electric power industry from one of guaranteed monopoly over service territories to one of open competition.
Risk Assessment : A process to determine the risk from exposure to environmental pollutants, together with an estimate of the severity of impact.
Risk Factor : A characteristic (e.g., race, sex, age, and obesity) or variable (e.g., smoking, and exposure) associated with increased chance of toxic effects. Some standard risk factors include average breathing rates, average weight, and average human life span.
Rural Electrification Administration (REA) : An agency of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture that makes loans to states and territories in the U.S. for providing electricity to persons in rural areas who do not receive central station service. It also furnishes and improves electric and telephone service in rural areas, fosters energy conservation, and studies the condition and progress of rural electrification.
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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 worlds atmosphere (approximately 11 to 31 miles above the surface of the earth). It is the location of the earths 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 earths 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.
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Tariff : Rates paid for electricity per kilowatt-hour consumed, or in this case, generated.
Toxic : harmful or poisonous.
Toxic Emissions: harmful or poisonous.
Toxic Sites: Land contaminated with toxic pollution, usually unsuitable for human habitation.
Toxic Waste: Garbage or waste that can injure, poison, or harm living things, and is sometimes life threatening.
Toxification : Poisoning.
Traffic Calming: Designing streets to reduce automobile speed and to enhance walking and bicycling. Also, the use of street design (i.e., speed bumps, traffic circles) to control the speed and flow of automobile traffic.
Transmission : The transfer of electric current from a power plant to a destination that could be hundreds of miles away.
Transportation : Any means of conveying goods and people.
Transportation Planning: Systems to improve the efficiency of the transportation system in order to enhance human access to goods and services. Also, the process by which new transportation facilities are designed, tested, and programmed.
Trash : Waste material that cannot be recycled and reused (i.e.garbage).
Turbine : A device for converting the flow of a fluid (air, steam, water, or hot gases) into mechanical motion that in turn produces electricity.
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Ultraviolet Rays : Radiation from the sun invisible o the human eye. Some UV rays (UV A) enhance plant life and are useful in certain medical and dental procedures. Other UV rays (UV B) can cause skin cancer or other tissue damage. The ozone layer in the atmosphere partly shields us from ultraviolet rays reaching the earth's surface.
Unbundling : The process of separating a service into component parts and permitting customers to buy each separately. Utility unbundling generally requires utilities to ensure that the price of each service reflects the cost of that service (plus a margin for profit).
Unreasonable Risk : Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the term describes any unreasonable risk to man or the environment, taking into account the medical, economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of any pesticide.
Uranium : A heavy radioactive metal (atomic number 92) used in the explosion of nuclear weapons (especially one isotope, U 235).
Urban Parks: Parks in cities and areas of high population concentration.
Urban Planning: The science of managing and directing city growth. The design and organization of urban space and activities.
Urban Runoff : Storm water from city streets and domestic or commercial properties that carries pollutants into the sewer systems and receiving waters.
Utilities : Services or companies (usually power distributors) permitted by a government agency to provide important public services (such as energy or water.
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Vapor : The gas given off by substances that are solids or liquids at ordinary atmospheric pressure and temperatures.
Ventilation Rate: The rate at which indoor air enters and leaves a building. Expressed as the number of changes of outdoor air per unit of time (air changes per hour (ACH), or the rate at which a volume of outdoor air enters in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
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Waste : Garbage, trash
Waste Site: Dumping ground.
Waste Wtream: Overall waste disposal cycle for a given population.
Water Filters: Substances (such as charcoal) or fine membrane structures used to remove impurities from water.
Water Pollution : Industrial wastes, and other harmful material in quantitis to result in a measurable degradation of the water quality.
Water Quality: The level of purity of water; the safety or purity of drinking water.
Water Quality Testing: Monitoring water for various contaminants to make sure it is safe for fish protection, drinking, and swimming.
Water Supply : Any quantity of available water.
Water Supply System : The system for the collection, storage, treatment and distribution of water from the source to the consumer.
Water Table : The level to which water will rise in a well (except artesian wells).
Waterborne Contaminants: Unhealthy chemicals, microorganisms (like bacteria) or radiation, found in tap water.
Watershed : A region or area over which water flows into a particular lake, reservoir, stream, or river.
Well : A dug or drilled hole used to get water from the earth.
Wetland : Land (marshes or swamps) saturated with water constantly or recurrently; conducive to wide biodiversity.
Wheeling : Transmitting bulk electricity from a generating plant to a distribution system across a third system's lines. The transmission of electricity owned by one entity through the facilities owned by another (usually a utility).
Wilderness : Land remaining in basically wild (i.e., undisturbed) condition, with few if any traces of human activities.
Wilderness Area: A wild area that Congress has preserved by including it in the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Wildlife : Animals living in the wilderness without human intervention.
Wildlife Refuges: Land set aside to protect certain species of fish or wildlife (administered at the federal level in the U.S. by the Fish and Wildlife Service).
Windpower : Power or energy derived from the wind (via windmills, sails, etc.).
Wise Use Movement: A loosely affiliated network of people and organizations throughout the U.S. in favor of widespread privatization and opposed to environmental regulation, often funded by corporate dollars.
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Xenobiotic : A term for non natural or man-made substances found in the environment (i.e., synthetics, plastics).
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Zero Emission Vehicles: Vehicles (usually powered by electricity) with no direct emissions from tailpipes or fuel evaporation.
Zoning : The arrangement or partitioning of land areas for various types of usage in cities, boroughs or townships
