Envirocal












Acronyms


The acronyms and abbreviations on this page relate to the environmental and engineering industry.  Some governmental entities and local utilities are included.  Additional acronyms can be found on the U.S. EPA Environmental Terms Web Page


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A
 
  A ampere
  AA Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
  AAQS Ambient Air Quality Standards
  AB (State of California) Assembly Bill
  ABAG Association of Bay Area Governments
  ABIH American Board of Industrial Hygiene
  ac Acre(s)
  AC Alternating current
  ACBM Asbestos Containing Building Material (see ACM)
  ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
  ACM Asbestos Containing Material (see ACBM)
  ACTA Alameda County Transportation Authority
  ACWA American Clean Water Association
  ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
  ADEIR Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report (CEQA) (see EIR)
  ADT Average Daily Trips
  ADWF Average Dry Weather Flow
  AEP Association of Environmental Professionals
  AF Acre-feet
  AFY Acre-feet per year
  AHERA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (1986)
  AICE American Institute of Chemical Engineers
  AICP American Institute of Certified Planners
  AIHA American Industrial Hygiene Association
  AL Action Level
  ANSI American National Standards Institute
  AOU American Ornithologists Union
  APA American Planning Association
  APE Area of Potential Effect (National Historic Preservation Act)
  API American Petroleum Institute
  APN Assessors Parcel Number
  APSSZ Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone
  ARARs Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (CERCLA)
  ARB (California) Air Resources Board
  ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers
  ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
  ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  ASSE American Society of Safety Engineers
  ASR Aquifer Storage and Recovery
  AST Aboveground Storage Tank
  ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
  ATSF Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway
 
   
 
B
 
  BA Biological Assessment
  BAAQMD Bay Area Air Quality Management District
  BACT Best Available Control Technology
  BART Bay Area Rapid Transit District
  BCDC Bay Conservation and Development Commission
  BER Business Environmental Risk
  bgs Below ground surface
  BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs
  BLM Bureau of Land Management
  BMPs Best Management Practices
  BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
  BO Biological Opinion
  BOD Biological Oxygen Demand
  BRA Benefit/Risk Analysis
  BTEX Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes
  BTU British Thermal Unit
 
   
 
C
 
  C Celsius
  CA FID California Facility Inventory Database
  CA SLIC California Spills, Leaks Investigation, and Cleanup Program
  CA WDS California Waste Discharge System
  CAA Clean Air Act
  CADD Computer Assisted Drafting and Design
  Cal-EPA California Environmental Protection Agency
  Cal/OSHA California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (a.k.a. DOSH)
  CalSites Database of hazardous and potentially hazardous release sites in California
  Caltrans California Department of Transportation
  CAP Corrective Action Plan
  CBC California Building Code
  CC&Rs Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions / Covenants, Codes and Restrictions
  CCC California Coastal Commission
  CCC California Coastal Conservancy
  CCR California Code of Regulations
  CCTA Contra Costa Transportation Authority
  CCW California Coastal Waters
  CDF California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention
  CDFG California Department of Fish and Game (see DFG)
  CDHS California Department of Health Services (see DHS)
  CDMG California Division of Mines and Geology (now known as CGS)
  CEC California Energy Commission
  CEG Certified Engineering Geologist
  CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
  CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("Superfund") (1980)
  CERCLIS Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System
  CERES California Environmental Resources Evaluation System
  CESA California Endangered Species Act
  CESQG Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
  cf Cubic feet
  CFCs Chlorofluorocarbons
  cfm Cubic feet per minute
  CFR Code of Federal Regulations
  cfs Cubic feet per second
  cfs/hr Cubic feet per second per hour
  CGS California Geological Survey (formerly known as CDMG)
  CHg Certified Hydrogeologist
  CHMIRS California Hazardous Materials Incident Report System
  CHMM Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
  CIH Certified Industrial Hygienist
  CIWMB California Integrated Waste Management Board
  cm Centimeter(s)
  cm/s Centimeter(s) per second
  CMP Congestion Management Plan
  CNDDB California Natural Diversity Data Base
  CNEL Community Noise Equivalent Level
  CNPS California Native Plant Society
  CO Carbon monoxide
  CO2 Carbon dioxide
  COC Chemicals of Concern
  COG Council of Governments
  COPC Chemical of Potential Concern
  CORTESE Cortese Hazardous Waste and Substances Site List
  CPT Cone Penetrometer Test
  CPUC California Public Utilities Commission
  CRMP Cultural Resources Management Plan
  CSP Certified Safety Professional
  CUPA Certified Unified Program Agency
  CWA Clean Water Act (1977)
  cy Cubic yard(s)
 
   
 
D
 
  dB decibel
  dBA A-weighted decibel(s)
  DC Direct Current
  DEIR Draft Environmental Impact Report (CEQA) (see EIR)
  DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement (NEPA) (see EIS)
  DFG Department of Fish and Game (State of California) (see CDFG)
  DNAPLs Dense non-aqueous phase liquids
  DO Dissolved oxygen
  DOC (California) Department of Conservation
  DOD (U.S.) Department of Defense
  DOE (U.S.) Department of Energy
  DOI U.S. Department of the Interior
  DOJ U.S. Department of Justice
  DOSH (California) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (a.k.a. Cal/OSHA)
  DOT U.S. Department of Transportation (see USDOT)
  DTSC Department of Toxic Substance Control (Cal-EPA)
  du Dwelling unit(s)
  DWR (California) Department of Water Resources
  DWS Drinking Water Standard
 
   
 
E
 
  E&SCP Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan
  EA Environmental Assessment (NEPA)
  EAP Environmental Action Plan
  EBMUD East Bay Municipal Utility District
  EBRPD East Bay Regional Park District
  EDR Environmental Data Resources
  EH&S Environmental Health & Safety
  EHS Environmental Health & Safety
  EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
  EIR Environmental Impact Report (CEQA)
  EIS Environmental Impact Statement (NEPA)
  EMF Electromagnetic Field
  EMT Emergency Medical Technician
  EPA (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (see USEPA)
  EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
  ERA Environmental Risk Assessment
  ERBP Emergency Response Business Plan
  ERNS Emergency Response Notification System
  ESA Endangered Species Act (1973)
  ESA Environmental Site Assessment
  ESU Environmentally Significant Unit
 
   
 
F
 
  F Fahrenheit
  FAA Federal Aviation Administration
  FAR Floor Area Ratio
  FCC Federal Communication Commission
  FDA (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration
  FEIR Final Environmental Impact Report (see EIR)
  FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement (see EIS)
  FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
  FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  FESA Federal Endangered Species Act (1973) (see ESA)
  FHWA Federal Highway Administration
  FID Flame Ionization Detector
  FINDS Facility Index System
  FIP Final Implementation Plan
  FOIA Freedom of Information Act (1966)
  FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact (NEPA)
  FPPA Farmland Protection and Policy Act
  fps Feet per second
  FR Federal Register
  FS Feasibility Study (CERCLA)
  ft Feet
  ft/hr Feet per hour
  ft3 Cubic feet
  FTA Federal Transit Administration
 
   
 
G
 
  GAO General Accounting Office
  GGNRA Golden Gate National Recreation Area
  gHz Gigahertz
  GIS Geographical Information System
  GLC Ground Level Concentration
  gpd Gallon(s) per day
  gpm Gallon(s) per minute
  GW Groundwater
  gW Gigawatt(s)
  gWh Gigawatt hour(s)
 
   
 
H
 
  H2S Hydrogen sulfide
  HAP Hazardous Air Pollutant
  HASP Health and Safety Plan
  HAZMAT Hazardous Materials
  HAZNET Hazardous Waste Information System
  HAZWOPER Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (OSHA)
  HCM Highway Capacity Manual
  HCP Hearing Conservation Program
  HDPE High-density polyethylene
  HIST UST Historical Underground Storage Tank Listing
  Hg Mercury
  HMBP Hazardous Materials Business Plan
  HMIRS Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting System
  HMMP Hazardous Materials Management Permit
  HOA Homeowners Association
  HOC Halogenated organic compound
  HOV High Occupancy Vehicle
  HPA Habitat Protection Area
  HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (to RCRA) (1984)
  HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
  HVOC High volatility organic compound
  HWMU Hazardous Waste Management Unit
  HWIS Hazardous Waste Information System
  Hz Hertz
 
   
 
I
 
  I- Interstate (highway)
  IA Impact Assessment
  IAQ Indoor air quality
  ID inside diameter
  IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (NIOSH)
  IH Industrial hygiene
  IIPP Illness & Injury Prevention Program
  IPM Integrated Pest Management
  IS Impact Statement
  IS Initial Study
  ISA Initial Site Assessment
  ISO (California) Independent System Operator
  ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers
  ITS Intelligent Transportation System
 
   
 
J
 
  JHA Job Hazard Analysis
 
   
 
K
 
  kg Kilogram(s)
  km Kilometer(s)
  km/h Kilometer(s) per hour
  kW Kilowatt(s)
  kWh Kilowatt hour(s)
 
   
 
L
 
  l liter(s)
  L Liter(s)
  lbs Pounds
  LCP Local Coastal Plan
  LD50 Lethal Dose Level 50%
  Ldn Day-night average sound level
  LEL Lower Explosive Limit
  Leq Equivalent (steady state) sound level
  LEV Local Exhaust Ventilation
  lf Linear feet
  Lmax Maximum Instantaneous Noise Level
  LOS Level of Service
  lpm Liter(s) per minute
  LRT Light Rail Transit
  LTS Less than Significant (Impact) (CEQA)
  LUFT Leaking Underground Fuel Tank
  LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank
  LWD Large woody debris
 
   
 
M
 
  M Meter(s)
  m/s Meter(s) per second
  m3/s Cubic meter(s) per second
  MCL Maximum Concentration Limit
  MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
  MEK Methyl ethyl ketone
  mG Milligauss
  mg Milligram(s)
  mg/kg Milligram(s) per kilogram
  mg/l Milligram(s) per liter
  mg/m3 Milligram(s) per cubic meter
  mgd Million gallon(s) per day
  mHz Megahertz
  ml Milliliter(s)
  mm Millimeter(s)
  MNA Monitored Natural Attenuation
  MOA Memorandum of Agreement
  MOU Memorandum of Understanding
  mph Mile(s) per hour
  MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
  MSHA Mine Safety and Health Administration
  msl Mean sea level
  MTA Metropolitan Transportation Authority
  MTBE Methyl tertiary-butyl ether
  MTC Metropolitan Transportation Commission
  mtDNA Mitochondrial DNA
  MUNI San Francisco Municipal Railway
  mW Megawatt(s)
  mWh Megawatt hour(s)
 
   
 
N
 
  NAA non-attainment area
  NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards
  NAICS North American Industry Classification System
  NAPLs non-aqueous phase liquids
  NCPA Northern California Power Authority
  NDDB National Diversity Database
  NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
  NFIP National Flood Insurance Program
  NFPA National Fire Protection Administration
  NGVD National Geodetic Vertical Datum
  NH3 ammonia
  NHPA National Historic Preservation Act
  NIH National Institutes of Health
  NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health
  NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  NOAA Fisheries National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries
  NOI Notice of Intent
  NOP Notice of Preparation
  NO2 nitrogen dioxide
  NOx nitrogen oxides
  NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
  NPL National Priority List (CERCLA)
  NPS National Park Service
  NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  NRCS National Resources Conservation Service (USDA)
  NRHP National Register of Historic Places
  NTU nephelometric turbidity unit
  NWI National Wetlands Inventory
 
   
 
O
 
  O&M operations and maintenance
  OD outside diameter
  OES (California) Office of Emergency Services
  OSHA (U.S.) Occupational Safety and Health Administration
 
   
 
P
 
  PADS PCB Activity Database System
  PAHs polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  PAHs polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
  PCBs polychlorinated biphenyls
  PCE tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
  pCi/L picoCuries per liter
  P.E. Professional Engineer
  PEL Permissible Exposure Limit (OSHA)
  P.G. Professional Geologist
  PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  PIC Principal-in-Charge
  PID photoionization detector
  PM preventive maintenance
  PM Project Manager
  PM10 particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter
  PM2.5 particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter
  PNAs polynuclear aromatics
  POTW publicly-owned treatment works
  ppb parts per billion
  PPE personal protective equipment
  ppm parts per million
  ppmv parts per million by volume
  ppmvd parts per million by volume, dry
  ppt parts per thousand
  PRG Preliminary Remediation Goal
  PSI Preliminary Site Investigation
  PSU Potentially Significant Unavoidable (Impact) (CEQA)
  PTOE Professional Traffic Operations Engineer
  PUC (California) Public Utilities Commission
  PVC polyvinyl chloride
 
   
 
Q
 
  QA quality assurance
  QC quality control
 
   
 
R
 
  R&D research and development
  RA Remedial Action
  RA risk assessment
  RAATS RCRA Administrative Action Tracking System
  RAO Remedial Action Objective
  RAP Remedial Action Plan
  RAW Removal Action Workplan
  RBCA Risk-Based Corrective Action
  RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
  RD Remedial Design
  R.E.A. Registered Environmental Assessor
  REC Recognized Environmental Condition
  Regional Water Boards (California) Regional Water Quality Control Boards
  RFP Request for Proposal
  RFQ Request for Qualifications
  R.G. Registered Geologist (now known as P.G.)
  RI Remedial Investigation
  RM river mile
  RMP Risk Management Program
  RO reverse osmosis
  ROC reactive Organic Compound
  ROD Record of Decision
  ROG reactive organic gas
  ROI region of influence
  ROICC Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (U.S. Navy)
  ROW right-of-way
  RPD relative percent difference
  RPM Remedial Project Manager
  rpm revolutions per minute
  RSI repetitive strain injury
  RTE rare, threatened, or endangered
 
   
 
S
 
  S Significant (Impact) (under CEQA)
  SAHI Shoreline Aquatic Habitat Index
  SAR smolt-to-adult ratio
  SAR smolt-to-adult return rate
  SAP Sampling and Analysis Plan
  SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
  SB Senate Bill
  SCBA self-contained breathing apparatus
  SCS Soil Conservation Service
  SCVWD Santa Clara Valley Water District
  SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act
  SEL sound exposure level
  sf square feet
  SI site inspection
  SIP State Implementation Plan
  SLM sound level meter
  SMBRPD Site Mitigation and Brownfields Reuse Program Database (formerly CalSites)
  SMCL Secondary Maximum Containment Level
  SMP Site Management Plan
  SO2 sulfur dioxide
  SOI sphere of influence
  SOP standard operating procedure
  SOQ Statement of Qualifications
  SOW Statement of Work
  SOx sulfur oxide(s)
  SPCC Spill Response, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan (EPA)
  SQG small quantity generator (of hazardous waste)
  SR (California) State Route
  SSHO Site Safety and Health Officer
  SSO Site Safety Officer
  STEL Short-term Exposure Limit (ACGIH)
  State Water Board (California) State Water Resources Control Board
  STLC Soluble Threshold Limit Concentration
  SU Significant Unavoidable (Impact) (under CEQA)
  SVE soil vapor extraction
  SVOC semi-volatile organic compound
  SW sparge well
  SWAT Solid Waste Assessment Test
  SWBZ second water-bearing zone
  SWF/LF Solid Waste Facilities/Landfill Sites (database)
  SWMP Stormwater Management Plan
  SWMU solid waste management unit
  SWPPP Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
 
   
 
T
 
  TAC Technical Advisory Committee
  TAC toxic air contaminant
  TAME tertiary-amyl methyl ether
  TB trip blank
  TBA tertiary-butyl ether
  TCE trichloroethylene
  TCLP Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure
  TCP Traffic Control Plan
  TCRA time-critical removal action
  TDM Transportation Demand Management
  TDS total dissolved solids
  TDW total depth of well
  TEH total extractable hydrocarbons
  TEPH total extractable petroleum hydrocarbons
  THA task hazard analysis
  TKN total Kjeldahl nitrogen
  TLV Threshold Limit Value (ACGIH)
  TMDL total maximum daily load
  TOC top of casing
  TOC total organic carbon
  TPH total petroleum hydrocarbons
  TPHd total petroleum hydrocarbons, diesel range
  TPHg total petroleum hydrocarbons, gasoline range
  TPHhf total petroleum hydrocarbons, hydraulic fluid range
  TPHjf total petroleum hydrocarbons, jet fuel range
  TPHmo total petroleum hydrocarbons, motor oil range
  TPHss total petroleum hydrocarbons, Stoddard Solvent range
  TPL Trust for Public Land
  TRPH total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons
  TSA technical system audit
  TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act
  TSDF treatment, storage, or disposal facility
  TSM Transportation Systems Management
  TSS total suspended solids
  TTLC Total Threshold Limit Concentration
  TVH total volatile hydrocarbons
  TWA time-weighted average
  TWBZ third water-bearing zone
 
   
 
U
 
  UBC Uniform Building Code
  UEL upper explosive limit
  UCL upper confidence limit
  UFST underground fuel storage tank
  UL Underwriters Laboratories
  UPRR Union Pacific Railroad
  USA Underground Service Alert
  USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  USCG U.S. Coast Guard
  USCS United Soils Classification System
  USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture
  USFS U.S. Forest Service
  USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  USGS U.S. Geological Survey
  USP U.S. Pharmacopoeia
  UST underground storage tank
  UV ultraviolet
  UXO unexploded ordnance
 
   
 
V
 
  V volt(s)
  V/C volume-to-capacity ratio
  VOC volatile organic compound
 
   
 
W
 
  WBGT wet bulb globe temperature
  WDR Waste Discharge Requirements
  WDS waste discharge system
  WET waste extraction test
  WMA Wildlife Management Area
  WMUDS/SWAT Waste Management Unit Database System
  WP Work Plan
  WQ water quality
  WSE water surface elevation
  WWTP wastewater treatment plant
 
   
 
X
 
  XRD x-ray diffraction
  XRF x-ray fluorescence
 
   
 
Y
 
  YBM Young Bay Mud
  YOY young of the year
 
   
 
Z
 
  Z List 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z. "Worker Right-to-Know" (OSHA list of hazardous chemicals)
  ZID Zone of Initial Dilution
  ZOI Zone of Influence
 
   
 
symbols
 
  µg microgram(s)
  µg/dL microgram(s) per deciliter
  µg/kg microgram(s) per kilogram
  µg/L microgram(s) per liter
  °C degrees Celsius
  °F degrees Fahrenheit
  % percent
  < less than
  > greater than
  ~ approximately
  § Section
     
 
   


   




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