Acronyms Flashcards
ALJ
Administrative Law Judge.
Person presiding over most adjudicatory hearings
required under the APA
APA
Administrative Procedure Act.
Establishes administrative procedures for
federal agency rulemaking and adjudication 5
U S.C. Chapter §§ 551-559 Also contains
provisions dealing vvith judicial review of
agency actions 5 USC §§ 701-706
AQCR
Air Quality Control Region.
Areas designated under section 107 of the CAA as
either attainment, non-attainment or
unclassifiable with respect to NAAQS
ARAR
Applicable Relevant and Appropriate Requirements. Requirements for the level of cleanup at CERCLA sites that are derived from other statutes. The requirement to meet ARARs is contained in section 121(d) of CERCLA
ATSDR
Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry.
Federal agency responsible,
among other things, for undertaking health
assessments at Superfund sites under section
104 of CERCLA
BAT or BACT
Best Available Technology or
Best Available Control Technology.
Technology based
efiluent limitations applicable to toxic
and non-toxic/non-conventional pollutants
under the CWA, BAT limits were to be met by
1989 under section 301(b)(2)(C), (D) and(F)
Factors used in establishing BAT are specified
in section 304(b )(2)
BADT
Best Available Demonstrated Technology. Technology-based levels applicable to new sources under section 111 of the CAA and section 306 of the CWA Also known as NSPS or New Source Performance Standard
BCT or BACT
Best Conventional Technology or Best Available Conventional Technology.
Technology-based effluent limitations applicable to conventional pollutants under the CWA and which are to be met by 1989 under section 301(b)(2)(E). Factors used in establishing BAT are specified in section 304(b)(4)
BDAT
Best Demonstrated Available Technology.
Technology-based pretreatment limits for hazardous wastes under section 3004(m) of RCRA. Hazardous wastes meeting BDAT may be land disposed without violating the RCRA land ban prohibition.
BMP
Best Management Practice.
Methods for controlling non-point sources of pollution under the CWA that are contained in an area-wide management plan.
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand.
A method for specifying the amount of organic material in wastewater by measuring the amount of oxygen that will be removed from water as microorganisms consume the organic material BOD is a conventional pollutant under CWA
BPJ
Best Professional Judgment.
A case-by-case determination of a facility’s effluent limitations under the CWA that is typically performed when national effluent limitations guidelines have not yet been promulgated
BPT or BPCT
Best Practicable Technology or Best Practicable Control Technology.
Technology-based effluent limitations applicable to all types of pollutants under the CWA and which are to be met by 1977 under section 301(b)(1)(A). Factors used in establishing BAT are specified in section 304(b)(1)
CAA
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 to
7671q. The primary federal statute dealing
with the control of air pollution
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42
USC. §§ 9601 to 9675 [Also known as
Super fund]. The primary federal statute
dealing with the cleanup of sites contaminated
with hazardous substances
CEQ
Council on Environmental Quality.
Office with primary responsibility for establishing policies for implementation of NEPA, including promulgation of general NEPA regulations. Established under section 202 of NEPA
CFC
Chlorofluorocarbon. Class of chemicals that cause depletion of stratospheric ozone. Regulated under Title VI of the CAA and the international agreement known as the Montreal Protocol
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations. Annual compilation of federal regulations
CO
Carbon Monoxide. A odorless and poisonous gas. Carbon monoxide has been designated a criteria pollutant under section 108 of the CAA and has an NAAQS under section 109 of the CAA
CTG
Control Technology Guidance documents issued by EPA that are used to establish RACT requirements under the CAA
CWA
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 to 1387 [Also known as the FWPCA or Federal Water Pollution Control Act] The primary federal statute dealing with the control of water pollution.
CZMA
Coastal Zone Management Act, 16
USC §§ 1451 to 1464 Federal statute which,
among other things, requires planning for
activities that affect coastal areas
DMR
Discharge Monitoring Report. Facility’s report on the amount of pollutants that are discharged, They are used to evaluate compliance with NPDES permit requirements
DO
Dissolved Oxygen. The amount of oxygen found in water. Greater levels of dissolved oxygen are beneficial for many types of aquatic life
DOE
Department of Energy
DOI
Department of the Interior
EA
Environmental Assessment. Document prepared under NEPA to determine whether an EIS must be prepared.
EDF
Environmental Defense Fund. A private, public interest environmental organization
EIS
Environmental Impact Statement. Document required under section 102(2)(C) of NEPA for “major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.”
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency. Federal agency with primary responsibility for implementation of the major federal pollution control statutes.
EPCRA or EPCRTKA
Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act, 42 USC.
§§ 11001 to 11050 Portion of CERCLA
adopted in 1986 that requires, among other
things, reporting of the presence of certain
hazardous substances to local planning officials
and annual reporting of the amount of
hazardous substances that have been released
ESA
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S C
§§ 1531 to 1544. Primary federal statute
dealing with actions that affect endangered or
threatened species·
FDF
Fundamentally Different Factors variance. A variance from effluent limitations guidelines (other than NSPS) established under the CWA. FDF variances are authorized under section 301(n) of the CWA
FIFRA
Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act, 7 US C §§ 136 to 136y
Federal statute regulating the sale, labeling
and use of pesticides
FIP
Federal Implementation Plan. Federal plan promulgated by EPA under the CAA when a State fails to prepare an adequate SIP.
FOIA
Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S C
§ 552 Federal statute requiring release of
most types of documents in the possession of
the federal government.
FONSI
Finding of no Significant Impact. A determination under NEPA that an EIS does not need to be prepared.
FWPCA
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U 8 C, §§ 1251 to 1387 [Also known as the
CWA or Clean Water Act] The primary federal
statute dealing with the control of water
pollution
GATT
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. An international agreement addressing the free trade in goods that was originally adopted in 1948. GATT was incorporated into the international agreement that established the World Trade Organization in 1995.
HAP
Hazardous Air Pollutant. Hazardous air pollutants designated under section 112 of the CAA.
HC
Hydrocarbons. A class of chemicals that are involved in creation of ground level ozone and formation of smog.
HCP
Habitat Conservation Plan. THe plan to minimize and mitigate impacts on endangered species that is required under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act in order to obtain authorization for the incidental take of endangered species
HRS
Hazard Ranking System. Procedures used in identifying sites for inclusion in the NPL under CERCLA.
HSWA
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Major amendments to RCRA adopted in 1984
ICS
Individual Control Strategy. Control measures required under section 304(l). THey are applied to certain point sources in order to assure that streams will meet water quality standards for toxic pollutants
I/M
Inspection and Maintenance
Requirements for inspection of air pollution control equipment on automobiles in areas that are non-attainment for ozone under the CAA.
LAER
Lowest Achievable Emission Rate. Emission limitation applicable to new or modified major sources in non-attainment areas under section 173(a)(2) of the CAA.
LDR
Land Disposal Restrictions. Restrictions established under RCRA to implement the “land ban”
LEV
Low Emission Vehicles. Types of low polluting vehicles that will be required in certain areas that areas that are non-attainment for ozone under the CAA.
LUST
Liquid Underground
Storage Tanks
MACT
Maximum Achievable Control Technology. Technology-based emission limit for major sources of hazardous air pollutants under section 112 of the CAA
MSDS
Material
Safety Data Sheet. Document containing information about certain toxic chemicals that employees must be provided under the OSH Act
MSWLF
Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Municipal landfills receiving solid waste (and hazardous wastes from small quantity generators and households) subject to special requirements under Subtitle D of RCRA
NAAQS
National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Ambient concentrations of certain designated criteria pollutants under section 109 of the CAA. Primary NAAQS are established to protect “public health” Secondary NAAQS are established to protect “public welfare”
NCP
National Contingency Plan. Federal regulations establishing requirement for, among other things, the cleanup of hazardous substances under CERCLA
NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act. Act, 42
U.S C §§ 4321 to 4370d Federal statute that,
among other things, requires federal agencies
to prepare EISs
NESHAP
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. General term for restrictions on the emission of hazardous air pollutants under section 112 of the CAA
NGO
Non-governmental Organization. Private organizations that are involved in the formation and implementation of international environmental policy
NOx
Nitrogen Oxides. A class of chemicals that are involved in production of smog. Nitrogen dioxide has been designated a criteria pollutant under section 108 of the CAA and has an NAAQS under section 109 of the CAA.
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Permit system under the CWA that is applicable to point sources of pollutants. Issuance of NPDES permits is government by section 402 of the CWA
NPL
National Priority List. List established under section 105 of CERCLA of the worst sites containing hazardous substances
NRDC
Natural Resources Defense Council. A private, public interest environmental organization
NSPS
New Source Performance Standards. Technology-based levels applicable to new sources under section 111 of the CAA and sectin 306 of the CWA. Also known as BADT or Best Available Demonstrated Technology
NWF
National Wildlife Federation. A private, public interest environmental organization
O3
Ozone. A highly reactive form of oxygen containing three oxygen atoms. Ozone at ground level has adverse effects on human health and the environment. Ozone in the stratosphere is important in blocking ultraviolet radiation. Ozone has been designated a criteria pollutant under section 108 of the CAA and has an NAAQS under section 109 of the CAA
OCS
Outer Continental Shelf. Offshore area around U.S. coasts that extends to the point where the ocean floor drops sharply.
OMB
Office of Management and Budget. Executive office with certain responsibilities to review activities of regulatory agencies that have major affects on the U.S. economy
OPA
Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 2701 to
2761. Act adopted in 1990 which, among other
things, establishes a CERCLA type liability
system for the cleanup of oil released into
navigable water.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Agency in the Department of Labor with responsibilities for protection of worker heath and safety under the OSH Act
OSH Act
Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U S.C. § 651 et seq. Federal statute
that, among other things, provides for the
establishment of occupational safety and
health standards for toxic pollutants in the
workplace
PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyls. Class of hazardous chemicals that are regulated under TSCA
pH
A measure of the acidity and alkalinity of a substance. pH is a conventional pollutant under CWA. pH is also used to measure the corrosivity characteristic under RCRA
PM-10
Particulate matter. PM-10 has been designated a criteria pollutant under section 109 of the CAA and has an NAAQS under section 109 of the CAA. It is called PM-10 because it only includes particulates that are less than 10 microns in diameter
POTW
Publicly Owned Treatment Works.
Municipal sewage treatment plants under CWA
PRP
Potentially Responsible Parties.
Class of persons who are responsible for the cleanup of hazardous substances under section 107(a) of CERCLA
PSD
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
Program,
established in Part C of the CAA,
regulating air pollution in areas with air
quality than is better than that required by
NAAQS.
PSES
Pretreatment Standards for Existing Sources
Technology-based standards
applicable to existing sources that discharge
pollutants to POTWs under section 307(b) of
the CWA
PSNS
Pretreatment Standards for New Sources. Technology-based standards applicable to new sources that discharge pollutants to POTWs under section 307(b) of the CWA
RACM
Reasonably Available Control Measures.
Control requirements applicable to
existing sources in non-attainment areas under
the CAA.
RACT
Reasonably Available Control Technology.
Technology-based control
requirements applicable to existing sources in
non-attainment areas under the CAA
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, 42 U.S C. §§ 6901 to 6992k. The primary
federal statute dealing with the management
and disposal of hazardous waste
RFP
Reasonable Further Progress.
Requirement under the CAA that states make
incremental progress toward meeting NAAQS
in non-attainment areas prior to the final
compliance date
RI/FS
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study.
A preliminary assessment performed
under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act to
determine the proper level and means of
cleanup of a site contanrinated with hazardous
substances
ROD
Record of Decision.
A final document prepared under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act that documents EPA’s decision on
the proper level and means of cleanup of a site
contaminated with hazardous substances
SARA
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act.
Major amendments to
CERCLA that were adopted in 1986
SDWA
Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 US C
§§ 300f to 300j-26. Federal statute regulating
chemicals in public drinking water supplies. It
also contains the separate UIC program
SEPA
State Environmental Policy Acts.
Term for state laws that are modeled after NEPA
SIP
State Implementation Plan. State plan
required by section 110 of the CAA that
specifies state requirements for achieving
NAAQS
SOx
Sulfur oxides Class of chemicals that,
among other things, are involved in production
of acid rain. Sulfur oxides have been
designated a criteria pollutant under section
108 of the CAA and has an NAAQS under
section 109 of the CAA.
SWMU
Solid Waste Management Unit. An
area where solid or hazardous wastes were
disposed of that may be subject to cleanup
obligations under the corrective action
provisions of RCRA
TC
Toxicity Characteristic. One of the four characteristics for classifying hazardous wastes under RCRA
TCLP
Toxicity Characteristic Leachate
Procedure. Procedure for extracting leachate
from a solid waste to determine whether it
exhibits the toxicity characteristic under
RCRA
TMDL
Total Maximum Daily Loads TMDLs
identify the total amount of a pollutant that
can be discharged into a stream segment
without causing a violation of WQS under the
CWA States are required to develop TMDLs
under section 303(d) of the CWA
TRI
Toxic Release Inventory.
Database containing information on releases of
hazardous substances that has been submitted
under section 313 of EPCRA
TSCA
Toxic Substances Control Act, 15
US.C §§ 2601 to 2692. Federal statute
regulating the production and use of toxic
substances.
TSDF
Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility.
Facilities handling hazardous waste
that are required to have a Subtitle C permit
under RCRA
TSS
Total Suspended Solids.
A measure of the amount of particulates in water. TSS is a conventional pollutant under the CWA
UIC
Underground Injection Control.
The UIC program, contained in the SDWA, regulates
the disposal of materials into wells.
UST
Underground Storage Tanks
VOC
Volatile Organic Compounds. Class of
air pollutants that are involved in the
generation of ozone in the atmosphere
WLA
Waste Load Allocation.
Amount allocated to a point source that is its portion of
the total amount of waste that may be
discharged into a water body without violating
WQS. May be used in establishing water quality
standards based eflluent limits in an
NPDES permit
WQA
Water Quality Act. Amendments to the CWA that were adopted in 1987
WQS
Water Quality Standards. Standards specifying the use and quality of water in a state required under section 303 of the CWA
WTO
World Trade Organization. International Organization established in 1995 that is involved in the implementation of certain agreements regarding international trade.
