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Y | Z
AO see Agreed Order
AGREED ORDER A legal document issued by
Ecology which formalizes an agreement between the department and potentially
liable persons (PLPs) for the actions needed at a site.
ARARs Applicable Relevant and Appropriate Requirements
AST Above ground Storage Tank
ASTSWMO Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (federal
government)
BC British Columbia (Canadian province)
BMP Best Management Practice
Brownfields Site Properties that are abandoned or underused because
of environmental contamination, or perceived contamination from past industrial
or commercial practices. Often the potential liability associated with
contamination complicates business development, property transactions or
expansion on the property. A cleanup site is labeled a brownfields site
when: 1) Designated brownfields funding sources are being used to fund cleanup
activities; 2) A state or local governmental entity has determined that it is a
brownfields cleanup site; and 3) The site has been flagged as a brownfields site
in the ISIS database.
BTEX Major components present in gasoline: Benzene,
Toluene,
Ethylbenzene, and Xylene.
CAP see Cleanup Action Plan
CD 1) Consent Decree (A formal legal agreement that is filed with a
court. It describes studies and/or cleanup work to be done at a site and
the terms under which that work is to be done.); 2) Compact Disk (alternatively, CD-ROM: Compact Disk / Read-Only Memory)
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(Federal
Superfund Law)
CERCLIS Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability
Information System
(information system, maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
CLARC Cleanup Levels and Risk Calculation tools
CLEANUP Actions taken to deal with a release, or
threatened release of hazardous substances that could affect public health
and/or the environment. The term "cleanup" is often used broadly to describe
various response actions or phases of remedial responses such as the remedial
investigation/feasibility study.
CLEANUP ACTION PLAN (CAP) (A document that
describes the selected cleanup method(s) and specifies cleanup standards and
other requirements. It is based on information and technical analyses generated
during the RI/FS and consideration of public comments and
community concerns. A draft of the CAP (DCAP) is made available for public
review and comment before finalizing.)
COMMENT PERIOD A time period during which the public can review
and comment on various documents and Ecology or EPA actions. For example, a
comment period is provided to allow community members to review and comment on
proposed cleanup action alternatives and proposed plans. Also, a comment period
is held to allow community members to review and comment on draft feasibility
studies.
CONSENT DECREE A formal legal document, approved and
issued by a court which formalizes an agreement reached between the state and
the potentially liable person(s) (PLPs) on what will take place during the
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study and/or cleanup action. A Consent Decree
is similar to an Agreed Order except that a Consent Decree goes through the
courts. Consent Decrees are subject to public comment. If a decree is
substantially changed, an additional comment period is provided.
Containment A container, vessel, barrier, or
structure, whether natural or constructed, which confines a hazardous substance
within a defined boundary and prevents or minimizes its release into the
environment
Contaminant Any hazardous substance that does
not occur naturally or occurs at greater than natural background levels.
CSCS Confirmed & Suspected Contaminated Sites list (a standard report / data set
produced by the Toxics Cleanup Program)
DBMS DataBase Management System (A collection of related bits of
digital information, organized to facilitate consistent entry and efficient storage
and
retrieval.)
DCAP Draft Cleanup Action Plan. A preliminary version
of the Cleanup Action Plan (CAP)
DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement. A preliminary version of
the Environmental Impact Statement
DIS Department of Information Services (state agency)
DMMP Dredged Material Management Program
DNR Department of Natural Resources (state agency)
DOL Department of Licensing (state agency)
DOT Department of Transportation (state agency)
DSG Data Submittal Guide (Tools, data templates, and documentation for loading
environmental data into the Agency EIM system.)
DSMOA [Department of] Defense - State Memorandum of Agreement
EAP Environmental Assessment Program
EIM Environmental Information Management system (agency-wide information system)
EIS Environmental Impact Statement. A document that includes
an analysis of probable adverse environmental impacts of a proposal, reasonable
alternatives, and possible mitigation measures.
EO Enforcement Order A legal document issued by the
department requiring remedial action. Failure to comply with an enforcement
order may result in substantial liability for costs and penalties.
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (federal government)
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions list
FACILITY/SITE SYSTEM (an Agency-wide "umbrella" system used to
store basic information about facilities / sites, such as site name(s) and
location information.)
FEASIBILITY STUDY A companion study for the remedial
investigation, where different cleanup technologies and their costs are
identified and evaluated based on criteria established during the remedial
investigation. These two steps are often combined and referred to as the RI/FS.
FEIS The last and definitive version of an Environmental Impact
Statement.
FS or F/S 1) see Feasibility Study or 2) Facility/Site System
FTE Full-Time Equivalent (staff person measurement)
FUDS Formerly Used Defense Sites
FY Fiscal Year
GIS Geographic Information System
GROUNDWATER Water found beneath the earth's surface that
fills pores between materials such as sand, soil, or gravel. In some aquifers,
ground water occurs in sufficient quantities that it can be used for drinking
water, irrigation and other purposes.
HSL Hazardous Sites List (A semi-annual list of ranked contaminated sites slated for cleanup under the Model Toxics Control Act.)
IC or IC/RC Institutional Controls or Institutional Controls / Restrictive
Covenants. (Institutional controls are measures taken to limit or prohibit activities
that may
interfere with the integrity of a cleanup action or that may result in exposure
to hazardous
substances at a cleanup site. Examples may be found in WAC 173-340-440(1).)
II see Initial Investigation
INDEPENDENT CLEANUP ACTION Any remedial action without department
oversight or approval and not under an order or decree
INFORMATION REPOSITORY A file containing current
information, technical reports, and reference documents available for public
review. The information repository is usually located in a public building that
is convenient for local residents such as a public school, city hall, or
library.
Initial Investigation An investigation to
determine that a release or threatened release may have occurred that warrants
further action. (The acronym is there, but can we add the definition)?
INTERIM ACTION A cleanup action that only partially
addresses the cleanup of a site. An interim
action is typically either:
LIMS Laboratory Information Management System (Agency-wide system)
LTCA Local Toxics Control Account
LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MLS Master License System (Department of Licensing information system with
ties
to
UST/LUST data)
MODEL TOXICS CONTROL ACT (MTCA) Legislation
passed by the State of Washington in 1988. Its purpose is to identify,
investigate, and clean up facilities where hazardous substances have been
released. It defines the role of Ecology and encourages public involvement in
the decision making process. MTCA regulations became effective March 1, 1989 and
are administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Monitoring Wells Special wells drilled at
specific locations on or off a hazardous waste site where groundwater can be
sampled at selected depths and studied to determine the direction of groundwater
flow and the types and amounts of contaminants present.
MTBE Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether
MTCA Model Toxics Control Act
MUDS Multi-User Disposal Site
NAD27 North American Datum, 1927 version (geographic data,
horizontal accuracy measurement)
NAD83 North American Datum, 1983 version (geographic data,
horizontal accuracy measurement)
NAICS North American Industry Classification System (replaced
former "SIC" code system)
NFA No Further Action
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (federal
agency)
NPL National Priorities List (of contaminated sites, produced and maintained by the
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency)
NRDA Natural Resource Damage Assessment
O&M Operation and Maintenance (Activities conducted at a
site after cleanup construction is completed to ensure that the cleanup or
containment system is functioning properly. Examples include: monitoring of
ground water or surface water, maintaining pumps and other on-site equipment,
repairing erosion damage to a soil cover, etc.)
OFM Office of Financial Management (state agency)
OU Operable Unit
PAH Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PBT Persistent, Bio-accumulative Toxic substances
PBDEs PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers (widely-used flame retardants)
PCBs PolyChlorinated Biphenyls
PCE PerChloroEthylene
PDF Portable Document File (or .pdf file, may be read using the Adobe Acrobat reader
free software)
PLIA Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (state agency)
PLP see Potentially Liable Person, or Potentially Liable Party
Potentially Liable Person Any person whom Ecology
finds, based on credible evidence, to be liable under authority of RCW
70.105D.040.
PPP Public Participation Plan: A plan prepared to encourage
coordinated and effective public involvement designed to the public’s needs at a
particular site. This plan is required during the investigation and cleanup of
hazardous waste sites.
PQL Practical Quantitation Limit
PSAMP Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program
PSDDA Puget Sound Dredge Disposal Analysis
PSI Puget Sound Initiative
QA/QC Quality Assurance / Quality Control
R&D Research and Development
RA see Remedial Action
RCW Revised Code of Washington
RD Remedial Design (A cleanup step that includes detailed
engineering analyses, and development of plans and specifications to carry out
the selected method of cleanup.)
RD/RA Remedial Design / Remedial Action (Combined cleanup steps)
REMEDIAL ACTION 1) Remedial Action (or Cleanup Action:
Construction work done to cleanup a contaminated site. Examples include:
removal of contaminated soils or sediment for treatment or disposal at an
off-site location; pumping and treating of contaminated ground water; sealing
off contaminated soils or sediment beneath a cap or barrier; the addition of
chemicals or enhancement of the growth of microorganisms that break down
contamination in place; etc.); 2) Risk Assessment.
REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBLITY STUDY Two distinct but
related studies. They are usually
performed at the same time, and together referred to as the "RI/FS." They are
intended to:
RESPONSIVENSS SUMMARY: A summary of oral and/or written
public comments received by Ecology during a comment period on key documents,
and Ecology's responses to those comments. The responsiveness summary is
especially valuable during the Cleanup Action Plan phase at a site when it
highlights community concerns.
RI Remedial Investigation A companion study for the
feasibility study. This investigation collects data to determine the extent and
magnitude of contamination and evaluation criteria for the cleanup is
established. These two steps are often combined and referred to as the RI/FS.
RI/FS see Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study
ROD Record of Decision
RP Responsible Party
SAB Science Advisory Board
SAPA Sediment Sampling and Analysis Plan
SEDQUAL SEDiment QUALity environmental information system (state-wide
system managed
by the Toxics Cleanup Program)
SEPA State Environmental Policy Act
SHA Site Hazard Assessment (An assessment to gather information about a site
to
confirm whether a release of hazardous substances has occurred and to enable
Ecology to
evaluate the relative potential hazard posed by the release.)
SIC Standard Industrial Classification (coding system, replaced by
newer "NAICS" system)
SIZ Sediment Impact Zone
SMARM Sediment Management Annual Review Meeting
SMU Sediment Management Unit
STCA State Toxics Control Account
TCP Toxics Cleanup Program
TEE Terrestrial Ecological Evaluation
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
TPH Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon
TSP Tacoma Smelter Plume (area-wide contamination project)
USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers (federal agency)
UST Underground Storage Tank
UXO Unexploded Ordnance
VCP Voluntary Cleanup Program (Voluntary cleanups are initiated by persons responsible for the contamination at a site, without prompting by Ecology. Voluntary cleanups may be conducted completely independently of Ecology; mostly independently but with some Ecology assistance or review; or with detailed Ecology oversight under a signed legal agreement such as an agreed order or a consent decree.)
WAC Washington Administrative Code
WARM Washington Ranking Method (the method used to rank sites placed on the
Hazardous Sites List)
WASP Water quality Analysis and Simulation Program (computer modeling program)
This page last updated: April 22, 2008
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