RTCTox Research & Technology Center in Toxicology  

 

RTCTox Home


Toxicology
Consultant
Directories
:

Search the
RTCtox website
 

 

What is a
Toxicologist?
 
 

 
 
 
 
Pill Identification

Pill Identification

 

 

Environmental Remediation Glossary of
 Acronyms & Abbreviations

Dictionary Definition

  a to z button map
A  
ACGIH American Conference of Governmental & Industrial Hygienists
AFFF Aqueous Film Forming Foam
AG Attorney General of New York State
AGC Annual Guideline Concentration (for Air Toxics)
AGM Alternative Grading Material
AISI American Iron and Steel Institute
ALS Advanced Life Support
ANSI American National Standards Institute
AOC Area of Concern
API American Petroleum Institute
ARAR Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirement
ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASP Analytical Services Protocol
ASTs Aboveground Storage Tanks
ATG Automatic Tank Gauge
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - a federal branch of the Center for Disease Control
AWS American Welding Society
B Top of Page
BED Brownfield Eligibility Determination
BHC Benzene Hexachlorides - a group of pesticides that includes lindane
BLS Basic Life Support
BNA Base/Neutral/Acid extractable organics analyzed by GC/MS
BSPR Bureau of Spill Prevention and Response
BTEX Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl-benzene and Xylene - major components of gasoline
BTX Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene, common components of many petroleum based products
BUD Beneficial Use Determination - exempts a material from regulation, allowing it to be beneficially used.
C Top of Page
C&D Construction and Demolition debris
CAA The Federal Clean Air Act
CAS Chemical Abstract Service
CBS Chemical Bulk Storage
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (1980) - the Federal Superfund law
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CGI Combustible Gas Indicator
CLP Contract Laboratory Protocol
CMA Chemical Manufacturers Association
CMS Corrective Measures Study
CO Consent Order
CO Conservation Officer of the DEC - same as ECO
CO2 Carbon dioxide
COC Chemical of Concern
CP Citizen Participation
CP Cathodic Protection
CPP Citizen Participation Plan
CPS Citizen Participation Specialist
CPR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
CTC Canadian Transport Commission
CVOC Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compound
CWSRF Clean Water State Revolving Fund
   
D Top of Page
DDT Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (a pesticide)
DEC Department of Environmental Conservation (New York State) - used interchangeably with NYSDEC or ENCON
DEE Division of Environmental Enforcement - legal division within DEC responsible for regulatory enforcement
DEP Division of Environmental Permits - division within DEC
DER Division of Environmental Remediation (formerly DHWR and DSM) - division within DEC responsible for the Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Remedial Program, the Voluntary Cleanup Program, the Environmental Restoration (Brownfields) Program, the Spill Prevention and Response Program (including spill remediation, petroleum and chemical bulk storage and major oil storage facility programs), and the Construction Grants program
DFW Division of Fish and Wildlife - previous name for DFWMR
DFWMR Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources (formerly DFW) - division within DEC responsible for assessment and management of our natural resources, regulation of hunting and fishing, and fisheries management.
DHWR Division of Hazardous Waste Remediation - previous name for DER
DNAPL Dense (heavier than water) Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
DOD United States Department of Defense
DOH Department of Health (New York State) - interchangeable with NYSDOH
DOJ Department of Justice (United States)
DOL Department of Law (New York State) - interchangeable with NYSDOL or AGs office
DOT Department of Transportation (New York State) - interchangeable with NYSDOT
DOW Division of Water - division within DEC responsible for water pollution control and monitoring of watersheds and waterways
DRO Diesel Range Organics
DSHM Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials - division within DEC responsible for regulation of solid and hazardous wastes
DSM Division of Spills Management (former Division within DEC responsible for Spills Management, now the Bureau of Spill Prevention and Response within DER)
DUSR Data Usability Summary Report
   
E Top of Page
ECL Environmental Conservation Law
ECO Environmental Conservation Officer - same as CO
EFC New York State's Environmental Facilities Corporation
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
ELAP Environmental Laboratory Approval Program
EMC Environmental Management Council (County)
ENB Environmental Notice Bulletin (DEC weekly publication)
EP Toxicity Also known as EP Tox - An Extraction Procedure test to determine the leachability of selected hazardous chemicals. No longer widely used, it has been replaced by TCLP
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.) - interchangeable with USEPA
EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act
EQBA Environmental Quality Bond Act
ERP New York's Environmental Restoration Program - also known as the "Brownfields" program
ERP Emergency Response Plan
ESD Explanation of Significant Difference
eV Electron volts
   
F Top of Page
FID Flame Ionization Detector
FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
FOIA Freedom of Information Act - Federal
FOIL Freedom of Information Law - NY State
FRP Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic
FS Feasibility Study
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency (U.S.)
FSF Federal SuperFund
   
G Top of Page
GC Gas Chromatograph
GPM Gallons per Minute
GRO Gasoline Range Organics
GW Groundwater
   
H Top of Page
HASP Health and Safety Plan
Haz Mat Hazardous Materials
HDPE High-Density Polyethylene (a widely used chemical resistant plastic)
HMIS Hazardous Materials Information System
HMTA Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
HNu a type of hand held field instrument used to measure Volatile Organic Compounds
HRS Hazard Ranking System
   
I Top of Page
IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer
ICC Interstate Commerce Commission
ICM Interim Corrective Measures
IDL Instrument Detection Limit
IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health - a critical concentration of air contamination
IIWA Immediate Investigation Work Assignment
IP Ionization Potential
IRM Interim Remedial Measures
ISR Investigative Summary Report
   
K Top of Page
kg Kilogram - a unit of mass
   
L Top of Page
LC Lethal Concentration
LD Lethal Dose
LEL Lower Explosive Limit (see UEL)
LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee
LNAPL Light (lighter than water) Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
LNG Liquified Natural Gas
LPG Liquified Petroleum Gas - consists primarily of propane
LTTD Low Temperature Thermal Desorption - treatment technology for contaminated soils
LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank
   
M Top of Page
MBE Minority Business Enterprise
MC Manufacturer's Certificate
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MDL Method Detection Limit
MEK Methyl Ethyl Ketone
mg/kg milligram/kilogram - a unit of concentration in solids (equivalent to ppm)
mg/L milligram/Liter - a unit of concentration in liquids (equivalent to ppm)
MGP Manufactured Gas Plant
MIBK Methyl Isobutyl Ketone
MIR Merchandise Inventory Receipt
MOA Memorandum of Agreement
MOSF Major Oil Storage Facility
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MS Mass Spectrometer
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
MSHA Mine Safety and Health Administration
MTBE Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (gasoline constituent)
MW Monitoring Well
   
N Top of Page
N2 Nitrogen - typically shipped and used in liquid form
NAPL Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
NCP National Contingency Plan
ND Not Detected
NEC National Electrical Code
NFPA National Fire Protection Agency
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NL Navigation Law
NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
NPL National Priorities List
NRC National Response Center
NYCRR Official Compilation of NY State Codes, Rules and Regulations
NYSDEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
NYSDOH New York State Department of Health
NYSDOL New York State Department of Law
   
O Top of Page
O2 Oxygen
OGS Office of General Services (New York State)
OPA 90 Oil Pollution Act of 1990
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Act (U.S.) or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S.)
O&M Operation and Maintenance
OSC Office of the State Comptroller
OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (EPA)
OU Operable Unit
OVA Organic Vapor Analyzer
   
P Top of Page
PA USEPA Preliminary Assessment
PAH Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons - a class of chemicals commonly found in tar, asphalt and combustion residues - the same as PNA.
PAPR Powered Air Purifying Respirator
Pb Lead
PBS Petroleum Bulk Storage
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyls - a class of chemicals known for persistence in the environment
PCE Perchloroethylene - one of the most common chemical contaminants, often coming from dry cleaning operations
PCS Petroleum Contaminated Soil
PEL Permissible Exposure Limit - an air contaminant level applicable to the work place
Perc Perchloroethylene - same as PCE
Phase I A preliminary investigation of site location and history by DEC
Phase II A preliminary investigation of site conditions, possibly including groundwater, surface water and soils sampling
PID Photo Ionization Detector
PNA Polynuclear Aromatic hydrocarbons - the same as PAH
POTW Publicly Owned Treatment Works - a wastewater treatment plant
ppb parts per billion
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
ppm parts per million
ppt parts per trillion
PQL Practical Quantitation Level
PRAP Proposed Remedial Action Plan
PRP Potentially Responsible Party (Also RP)
PRS Priority Ranking System
PSA Preliminary Site Assessment
PVC Poly Vinyl Chloride
   
Q Top of Page
QA Quality Assurance
QAPP Quality Assurance Program Plan
QAPjP Quality Assurance Project Plan
QC Quality Control
QRCL Qualified Remediation Consultants List
   
R Top of Page
RA Remedial Action
RAMP Remedial Action Management Plan
RAR Remedial Alternatives Report - in NY's Brownfields Program
RBCA Risk-Based Corrective Action
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - federal law that regulates the transfer, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste
RD Remedial Design
RD/RA Remedial Design / Remedial Action
REL Recommended Exposure Limit
RHWRE Regional Hazardous Waste Remediation Engineer - head of the hazardous waste remediation unit in each of the DEC's Regional offices
RI Remedial Investigation
RI/FS Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study
ROD Record of Decision
RP Responsible Party
RQ Reportable Quantity
RSE Regional Spills Engineer - head of petroleum spill response and prevention unit in each of the DEC's Regional offices
RTK Community Right To Know - Executive Order No. 33 (NYS)
   
S Top of Page
SAC State Assistance Contract
SARA Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act of 1986 (Federal)
SCBA Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
SCGs Standards, Criteria and Guidance - the State version of ARARs
SEMO State Emergency Management Office
SEQRA State Environmental Quality Review Act
SERC State Emergency Response Commission
SFY State Fiscal Year
SGC Short-term Guideline Concentration (Air Toxics)
SI Site Investigation - in NY's Brownfield Program (Also USEPA Site Investigation)
SI/RAR Site Investigation/Remedial Alternatives Report
SIR Statistical Inventory Reconciliation
SISD Spill Information System Database
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
SPDES State Pollution Discharge and Elimination System - the State regulatory system for controlling pollution discharges to waterways and groundwater
SPOTS Spill Prevention Operations Technology Series (DEC guidance documents)
SPR Spill Prevention Report
SRF Spill Response Form
SRF State Revolving Fund
SSF State SuperFund
STARS Spills Technology And Remediation Series - guidance from DEC for petroleum and chemical spill remediation
STIP Stipulation Agreement
STP Sewage Treatment Plant
SVE Soil Vapor Extraction or Soil Vacuum Extraction
SVOC Semi-Volatile Organic Compound
SW Surface Water
SWMU Solid Waste Management Unit
   
T Top of Page
TAB Technical Assistance Bulletin
TAG Technical Assistance Grant
TAGM Technical and Administrative Guidance Memorandum - guidance issued by DER for implementation of the hazardous waste site remedial program
TAL Target Analyte List
TCA Trichloroethane
TCDD Tetrachlorodibenzo para-dioxin - one of many chlorinated dioxin compounds
TCDF Tetrachlorodibenzofuran - one of many chlorinated furan compounds
TCE Trichloroethylene
TCL Target Compound List
TCLP Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure - a leaching test used to identify hazardous waste and evaluate petroleum contaminated soils.
THO Total Halogenated Organic compounds
Title 3 Article 52, Title 3 of the ECL authorizes EQBA grants to municipalities for hazardous waste site cleanup
TLV Threshold Limit Value - an air contaminant level
TOCs Total Organic Compounds
TOGS Technical Operating Guidance Series - from DEC's Division of Water
TPH Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons
TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act (U.S.)
TSDF Treatment, Storage or Disposal Facility
TWA Time Weighted Average - an air contaminant level
   
U Top of Page
UEL Upper Explosive Limit (see LEL)
ug/kg microgram/kilogram - a unit of concentration in solids (equivalent to ppb)
ug/L microgram/Liter - a unit of concentration in liquids (equivalent to ppb)
UL Underwriters Laboratories
USCG United States Coast Guard
USGS United States Geological Survey
USM Universal Sorbent Materials
UST Underground Storage Tank
UV Ultraviolet
   
V  
VCP New York State's Voluntary Cleanup Program
VOA Volatile Organic Analysis or Volatile Organic Analyte
VOC Volatile Organic Compound
   
W  
WBE Woman's Business Enterprise
WWTP Waste Water Treatment Plant
   
X  
XRF X-Ray Fluorescence - an analytical technique for inorganic compounds
Z  
ZHE Zero Headspace Extractor