Stormwater Definitions & Abbreviations

Definitions

Best Management Practices (BMP)
Schedules of activities, practices (and prohibitions of practices), structures, vegetation, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States. BMPs also include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw material storage.

Clean Water Act (Water Quality Act)
Formerly the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. Public law 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.; legislation which provides statutory authority for the NPDES program. Also known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

Control Measure
Refers to any BMP or other method (including effluent limitations) used to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States.

Conveyance
The process of water moving from one place to another.

Director
A Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or an authorized representative.

Discharge
When used without qualification, means the “discharge of a pollutant.”

Discharge of a Pollutant
Any addition of any “pollutant” or combination of pollutants to “waters of the United States” from any “point source,” or any addition of any pollutant or combination of pollutants to the waters of the “contiguous zone” or the ocean from any point source other than a vessel or other floating craft which is being used as a means of transportation. This includes additions of pollutants into waters of the United States from: surface runoff which is collected or channeled by man; discharges through pipes, sewers, or other conveyances, leading into privately owned treatment works.

Discharge-Related Activities
Activities which cause, contribute to, or result in stormwater and allowable non-stormwater point source discharges, and measures such as the siting, construction and operation of BMPs to control, reduce, or prevent pollution in the discharges.

Erosion
When land is diminished or worn away due to wind, water, or glacial ice. Often the eroded debris (silt or sediment) becomes a pollutant via stormwater runoff. Erosion occurs naturally but can be intensified by land clearing activities such as farming, development, road-building, and timber harvesting.

Existing Discharger
An operator applying for coverage under this permit for discharges covered previously under an NPDES general or individual permit.

Excavation
The process of removing earth, stone, or other materials from land.

Facility or Activity
Any NPDES “point source” or any other facility or activity (including land or appurtenances thereto) that is subject to regulation under the NPDES program.

Federal Facility
Any buildings, installations, structures, land, public works, equipment, aircraft, vessels, and other vehicles and property, owned by, or constructed or manufactured for the purpose of leasing to, the federal government.

General Permit
A permit issued under the NPDES program to cover a certain class or category of stormwater discharges. These permits reduce the administrative burden of permitting stormwater discharges.

Grading
The cutting and/or filling of the land surface to a desired slope or elevation.

Illicit Connection
Any discharge to a municipal separate storm sewer that is not composed entirely of stormwater and is not authorized by an NPDES permit, with some exceptions (e.g., discharges due to fire fighting activities).

Impaired Water
A water is impaired if it does not meet one or more of its designated use(s). For purposes of this permit, ‘impaired’ refers to categories 4 and 5 of the five part categorization approach used for classifying the water quality standards attainment status for water segments under the TMDL program. Impaired waters compilations are also sometimes referred to as “303(d) lists”. Category 5 waters are impaired because at least one designated use is not being supported or is threatened and a TMDL is needed. Category 4 waters indicate that at least one designated use is not being supported but a TMDL is not needed (4a indicates that a TMDL has been approved or established by EPA; 4b indicates other required control measures are expected in result in the attainment of water quality standards in a reasonable period of time; and 4c indicates that the non- attainment of the water quality standard is the result of pollution (e.g. habitat) and is not caused by a pollutant. See USEPA’s 2006 Integrated Report Guidance, July 29, 2005 for more detail on the five part categorization of waters [under EPA National TMDL Guidance http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/policy.html]).

Industrial Activity
The 10 categories of industrial activities included in the definition of “stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity”, as defined in CFR § 122.26(b)(14)(i)-(ix) and (xi).

Industrial Stormwater
Stormwater runoff associated with the definition of “stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity.”

Junction Manhole
For the purposes of this permit, a junction manhole is a manhole or structure with two or more inlets accepting flow from two or more MS4 alignments. Manholes with inlets solely from private storm drains, individual catch basins, or both are not considered junction manholes for these purposes.

Key Junction Manhole
For the purposes of this part, key junction manholes are those junction manholes that can represent one or more junction manholes without compromising adequate implementation of the illicit discharge program. Adequate implementation of the illicit discharge program would not be compromised if the exclusion of a particular junction manhole as a key junction manhole would not affect the permittee’s ability to determine the possible presence of an upstream illicit discharge. A permittee may exclude a junction manhole located upstream from another located in the immediate vicinity or that is serving a drainage alignment with no potential for illicit connections.

Large Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
An MS4 located in an incorporated place or county with a population of 250,000 or more, as determined by the latest U.S. Census. Also refered to as Phase I regulated entities.

Light Manufacturing Facilities
Described under Category (xi) of the definition of “stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity.” [40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(xi)] Under the Phase I NPDES Stormwater Program, these facilities were eligible for exemption from stormwater permitting requirements if certain areas and activities were not exposed to stormwater. As a result of the Phase II Final Rule, these facilities must now certify to a condition of no exposure.

Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP)
A standard for water quality that applies to all MS4 operators regulated under the NPDES Stormwater Program. Since no precise definition of MEP exists, it allows for maximum flexibility on the part of MS4 operators as they develop and implement their programs.

Medium Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
MS4 located in an incorporated place or county with a population of 100,000 or more but less than 250,000, as determined by the latest U.S. Census. Also refered to as Phase I regulated entities.

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
A publically-owned conveyance or system of conveyances that discharges to waters of the U.S. and is designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater, is not a combined sewer, and is not part of a publicly-owned treatment works (POTW).

Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)
An NPDES permit that regulates stormwater discharges from eleven categories of industrial activities. The permitting program has been administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) since 2000 under the TPDES.

New Source
Any building, structure, facility, or installation from which there is or may be a “discharge of pollutants,” the construction of which commenced:
• after promulgation of standards of performance under section 306 of the CWA which are applicable to such source, or
• after proposal of standards of performance in accordance with section 306 of the CWA which are applicable to such source, but only if the standards are promulgated in accordance with section 306 within 120 days of their proposal.

New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
Technology-based standards for facilities that qualify as new sources under 40 CFR 122.2 and 40 CFR 122.29.

No Exposure
All industrial materials or activities are protected by a storm resistant shelter to prevent exposure to rain, snow, snowmelt, and/or runoff. Industrial materials or activities include, but are not limited to, material handling equipment or activities, industrial machinery, raw materials, intermediate products, by-products, final products, or waste products. Material handling activities include the storage, loading and unloading, transportation, or conveyance of any raw material, intermediate product, final product or waste product.

Non-authorized States
Any State that does not have the authority to regulate the NPDES Stormwater Program.

Non-point Source (NPS) Pollutants
Pollutants from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water.

Notice of Intent (NOI)
An application to notify the permitting authority of a facility’s intention to be covered by a general permit; exempts a facility from having to submit an individual or group application.

NPDES
“National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System” the name of the surface water quality program authorized by Congress as part of the 1987 Clean Water Act. This is EPA’s program to control the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States (see 40 CFR 122.2).

O&M Expenditures
The operating and maintenance costs associated with the continual workings of a project.

Outfall
The point where wastewater or drainage discharges from a sewer pipe, ditch, or other conveyance to a receiving body of water.

Owner or Operator
The owner or operator of any “facility or activity” subject to regulation under the NPDES program.

Permitting Authority (PA)
The NPDES-authorized state agency or EPA regional office that administers the NPDES Stormwater Program. PAs issue permits, provide compliance assistance, and inspect and enforce the program.

Person
An individual, association, partnership, corporation, municipality, State or Federal agency, or an agent or employee thereof.

Physically interconnected MS4
This means that one MS4 is connected to a second MS4 in such a way that it allows for direct discharges into the second system.

Point Source
Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel, or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture or agricultural stormwater runoff.

Point Source Pollutant
Pollutants from a single, identifiable source such as a factory or refinery.

Pollutant
Dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, filter backwash, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and industrial, municipal and agricultural waste discharged into water.

Pollutant Loading
The total quantity of pollutants in stormwater runoff.

Pollutant of Concern
A pollutant which causes or contributes to a violation of a water quality standard, including a pollutant which is identified as causing an impairment in a State’s 303(d) list.

Qualifying local program
A local, State or Tribal municipal stormwater management program that imposes, at a minimum, the relevant requirements of one or more of the minimum control measures includes in 122.34(b).

Regulated MS4
Any MS4 covered by the NPDES Stormwater Program (regulated small, medium, or large MS4s).

Reportable Quantity Release
A release of a hazardous substance at or above the established legal threshold that requires emergency notification. Refer to 40 CFR Parts 110, 177, and 302 for complete definitions and reportable quantities for which notification is required.

Retrofit
The modification of stormwater management systems through the construction and/or enhancement of wet ponds, wetland plantings, or other BMPs designed to improve water quality.

Runoff
Drainage or flood discharge that leaves an area as surface flow or as pipeline flow. Has reached a channel or pipeline by either surface or sub-surface routes.

Runoff Coefficient
The fraction of total rainfall that will appear at the conveyance as runoff.

Sanitary Sewer
A system of underground pipes that carries sanitary waste or process wastewater to a treatment plant.

Sediment
Soil, sand, and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. Sediment can destroy fish-nesting areas, clog animal habitats, and cloud waters so that sunlight does not reach aquatic plants.

Sheet Flow
The portion of precipitation that moves initially as overland flow in very shallow depths before eventually reaching a stream channel.

Significant materials
Includes, but is not limited to: raw materials; fuels; materials such as solvents, detergents, and plastic pellets; finished materials such as metallic products; raw materials used in food processing or production; hazardous substances designated under section 101(14) of CERCLA; any chemical the facility is required to report pursuant to section 313 of Title III of SARA; fertilizers; pesticides; and waste products such as ashes, slag and sludge that have the potential to be released with stormwater discharges.

Site Plan
A graphical representation of a layout of buildings and facilities on a parcel of land.

Site Runoff
Any drainage or flood discharge that is released from a specified area.

Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
Means all separate storm sewer systems that are (i) owned or operated by the United States, a State, city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (created by or pursuant to State law) having jurisdiction over disposal of sewage, industrial wastes, storm water, or other wastes, including special districts under State law such as a sewer district, flood control district, or drainage district, or similar entity or an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization or a designated and approved management agency under section 208 of the CWA that discharges to waters of the United States. (ii) Not defined as “large” or “medium” municipal separate storm sewer system pursuant to paragraphs 40 CFR 122.26 (b)(4) and (b)(7), or designated under paragraph 40 126.26(a) (1)(v). (iii) This term includes systems similar to separate storm sewer systems in municipalities, such as systems at military bases, large hospital or prison complexes, and highways and other thoroughfares. This term does not include separate storm sewers in very discrete areas, such as individual buildings.

Small MS4
Means a small municipal separate storm sewer system.

Stakeholder
An entity that holds a special interest in an issue or program — such as the stormwater program — since it is or may be affected by it.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code
A four digit number which is used to identify various types of industries.

Storm Drain
A slotted opening leading to an underground pipe or an open ditch for carrying surface runoff.

Stormwater
Stormwater runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage.

Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activity
A discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff from areas where soil disturbing activities (e.g., clearing, grading, or excavating), construction materials, or equipment storage or maintenance (e.g., fill piles, borrow areas, concrete truck washout, fueling), or other industrial stormwater directly related to the construction process (e.g., concrete or asphalt batch plants) are located. (See 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)(x) and 40 CFR 122.26(b)(15).

Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity
The discharge from any conveyance that is used for collecting and conveying stormwater and that is directly related to manufacturing, processing or raw materials storage areas at an industrial plant. The term does not include discharges from facilities or activities excluded from the NPDES program under Part 122. For the categories of industries identified in this section, the term includes, but is not limited to, stormwater discharges from industrial plant yards; immediate access roads and rail lines used or traveled by carriers of raw materials, manufactured products, waste material, or by-products used or created by the facility; material handling sites; refuse sites; sites used for the application or disposal of process waste waters (as defined at part 401 of this chapter); sites used for the storage and maintenance of material handling equipment; sites used for residual treatment, storage, or disposal; shipping and receiving areas; manufacturing buildings; storage areas (including tank farms) for raw materials, and intermediate and final products; and areas where industrial activity has taken place in the past and significant materials remain and are exposed to stormwater. For the purposes of this paragraph, material handling activities include storage, loading and unloading, transportation, or conveyance of any raw material, intermediate product, final product, by-product or waste product. The term excludes areas located on plant lands separate from the plant’s industrial activities, such as office buildings and accompanying parking lots as long as the drainage from the excluded areas is not mixed with stormwater drained from the above described areas. Industrial facilities include those that are federally, State, or municipally owned or operated that meet the description of the facilities listed in Appendix D of this permit. The term also includes those facilities designated under the provisions of 40 CFR 122.26(a)(1)(v).

Stormwater Management
Functions associated with planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, financing, and regulating the facilities (both constructed and natural) that collect, store, control, and/or convey stormwater.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP or SWP3)
A plan to describe a process whereby a facility thoroughly evaluates potential pollutant sources at a site and selects and implements appropriate measures designed to prevent or control the discharge of pollutants in stormwater runoff.

Surface Water
Water that remains on the surface of the ground, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, streams, wetlands, impoundments, seas, estuaries, etc.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant’s sources. A TMDL includes wasteload allocations (WLAs) for point source discharges; load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources and/or natural background, and must include a margin of safety (MOS) and account for seasonal variations. (See section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and 40 CFR §130.2 and §130.7).

Tool Box
A term to describe the activities and materials that EPA plans to perform/produce to facilitate implementation of the stormwater program in an effective and cost-efficient manner. The eight components include: 1)fact sheets; 2) guidance documents; 3) menu of BMPs; 4) compliance assistance; 5) information clearing house; 6) training and outreach efforts; 7) technical research; and 8) support for demonstration projects.

Urbanized Area (UA)
A Bureau of the Census determination of a central place (or places) and the adjacent densely settled surrounding territory that together have a minimum residential population of 50,000 people and a minimum average density of 1,000 people/square mile. This is a simplified definition of a UA, the full definition is very complex.

Urban Runoff
Stormwater from urban areas, which tends to contain heavy concentrations of pollutants from urban activities.

Watershed
That geographical area which drains to a specified point on a water course, usually a confluence of streams or rivers (also known as drainage area, catchment, or river basin).

Wet Weather Flows
Water entering storm drains during rainstorms/wet weather events.

Water Quality Impaired
See ‘Impaired Water’.

Water Quality Standards
A water quality standard defines the water quality goals of a water body, or portion thereof, by designating the use or uses to be made of the water and by setting criteria necessary to protect the uses. States and EPA adopt WQS to protect public health or welfare, enhance the quality of water and serve the purposes of the Clean Water Act (See CWA sections 101(a)2 and 303(c)). 

 

Acronyms and Other Abbreviations

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I |J | K | L | MN | O | P | Q | R| S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


Numbers

305(b)
Section of the Clean Water Act that calls for a biennial assessment of surface water Quality in Texas

305(d)
Section of Clean Water Act that includes impaired water bodies in category 5

40 CFR 60
Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 60

Symbols

°C
temperature degrees Celsius

°F
temperature degrees Fahrenheit

°K
temperature degrees Kelvin


A

AA
atomic absorption

AAS
atomic absorption spectrometry

AASHTO
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

AC
Agency Communications or alternating current

ACC
annual compliance certification

ACFM
actual cubic feet per minute

ACGIH
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

ACI
air–curtain incinerator or animal–carcass incinerator

ACIN
abatement control identification number

ACPS
application compliance plan and schedule

ACT
alternative control technique

ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act

ADMT
Air Dispersion Modeling Team

ADR
Alternative Dispute Resolution or alternate designated representative

ADSO
additional-duty safety officer

ADT
average daily traffic

AER
allowable emission rate

AERCO
Area Emission Reduction Credit Organization

AEMR
applicant emission unit monitoring requirements

AFJ
agreed final judgment

AFR
air-fuel ratio or annual financial report

AIRPR
Air Policy and Regulations

AIRS
Aerometric Information Retrieval System

ALAPCO
Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials

ALPM
actual liters per minute

AMOC
alternate methods of control

AOI
area of impact

AOL
alternate opacity limit

AOR
alternate opacity request

AOS
alternative operating scenario

AP-42
compilation of air pollutant emission factors

APA
Administrative Procedures Act

APD
Air Permits Division

API
American Petroleum Institute

APIRT
Air Permits Initial Review Team

APTRA
Administrative Procedures and Texas Register Act

APWL
Air Pollutant Watch List

AQ
Air Quality

AQAC
Air Quality Advisory Committee

AQCR
air quality control region

AQMP
Air Quality Modeling Procedures

AQP
Air Quality Planning

AQP&A
Air Quality Planning and Assessment

ARACT
alternate RACT

ARD
acid rain data

AREACIRC
co-located circular area source

ARP
Acid Rain Program

ARPA
Agricultural Resources Protection Authority

As
arsenic

ASA
air stagnation advisory

ASAE
American Society of Agricultural Engineers

ASC
Administrative Services Coordinator

ASDWA
Association of State Drinking Water Administrators

ASR
aquifer storage and retrieval

AST
aboveground storage tank

ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTSWMO
Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials

ATRV
air toxics response vehicle

ATSDR
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Auto-GC
Automated Gas Chromatograph

AVO
average vehicle occupancy

AWMA
Air and Waste Management Association

Top of ListTop of Page


B

BACM
best available control measures

BACT
best available control technology

BAE
baseline actual emissions

BAQC
Bureau of Air Quality Control (City of Houston)

BAR
Bureau of Automotive Repair

BART
Bay Area Rapid Transit (in San Francisco)

BART
Best Available Retrofit Technology

bbl
barrel

bbl/day
barrel(s) per day

BCs
boundary conditions

BECC
Border Environment Cooperation Commission

BEG
Bureau of Economic Geology (UT Austin)

BHP
brake horsepower

BIBI
benthic index of biotic integrity

BIF
boilers and industrial furnaces

BMPs
best management practices

BPA
Beaumont/Port Arthur

BTEX
benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene

Btu
British thermal units

Btu/scf
British thermal units per standard cubic foot/feet

Top of ListTop of Page


C

C
centigrade

C/C
Combustion (and) Coatings (Section)

C2H4O
ethylene oxide

C2H6
ethane

C3H8
propane

CAA
Clean Air Act

CAAA
Clean Air Act Amendments

CAFO
concentrated animal-feeding operation

CAIR
Clean Air Interstate Rule

CAIR2
Clean Air Interstate Rule; Phase 2

CAM
compliance-assurance monitoring

CAMR
Clean Air Mercury Rule

CAMS
continuous-air monitoring station

CAMx
Comprehensive Air Model with Extensions

CAP
Capacity Assurance Plan or Compliance Advisory Panel (Small Business and Local Government Assistance)

CAPCO
Capital Area Council of Governments

CARB
California Air Resources Board

CARE
clean air responsibility enterprise committee

CAS
carbon adsorption system

CATOX
catalytic oxidation unit

CAUSE
Citizens Allied and United for a Safe Environment

CBBEP
Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program

CB05
Carbon Bond Mechanism Version 05

CBIV
Carbon Bond Mechanism Version IV

cc
cubic centimeter

CC
Corpus Christi

CCEDS
Consolidated Compliance and Enforcement Data System

CCH
contested case hearing

CCIP
Comprehensive Compliance Inspection Protocol

CCMP
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan

CCN
certificate of convenience and necessity

CCO
Chief Clerk’s Office

CDBGP
Community Development Block Grant Program

CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDS
Compliance Data System

CEIS
Computerized Emissions Inventory System

CEMS
Continuous Emission Monitoring System

CENRAP/RPO
Central Region Air Program/Regional Planning Organization

CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Responsibility, Compensation and Liability Act

cf/day
cubic foot or feet per day

CFC
chlorofluorocarbon

cfm
cubic foot or feet per minute

CFR
Code of Federal Regulations

CGA
cylinder gas audit

CH4
methane

CIN
control equipment identification number

CISWI
commercial and industrial solid-waste incineration

Cl2
chlorine

CMA
Chemical Manufacturers Association

CMP
(Texas) Coastal Management Plan

CMSA
consolidated metropolitan statistical area

CN
customer identification number

CNG
compressed natural gas

CO
carbon monoxide

CO2
carbon dioxide

COG
Council of Governments

COH
coefficient of haze

COMM
Commissioners

COMS
continuous opacity-monitoring system

CONTOP
continuous smelting-top blowing

CORE
control-operations review and evaluation

COS
carbonyl sulfide

CPI
consumer price index

CPMS
continuous parametric monitoring system

CPP
continuing planning process

CR
Central Registry

CRO
certification by responsible official

CRP
Clean Rivers Program

CS2
carbon disulfide

CRWR
Center for Research and Water Resources (UT Austin)

CSGWPP
Comprehensive State Groundwater Protection Program

CSI
Common Sense Initiative

CSR
Center for Space Research (UT Austin)

CT
cooling towers

CTG
Control Techniques Guidelines

CWA
Clean Water Act

CWS
commissioners’ work session

Top of ListTop of Page


D

DAC
debutanized aromatic concentrate

DAR
duly authorized representative

DART
Dallas Area Rapid Transit

DE
destruction efficiency

DEA
diethanolamine

DERC
discrete emission-reduction credit

DFW
Dallas/Fort Worth (Metroplex)

DGA
diglycolamine

DIPA
disopropylamine

DIR
Department of Information Resources

DMRG
Data Management Reference Guide

DO
dissolved oxygen

DOC
Department of Commerce

DOD
Department of Defense

DOE
Department of Energy

DOJ
Department of Justice

DOPA
Dairy Outreach Program Area

DOT
Department of Transportation

DPM
digital panel meter

DR
designated representative

DPS
Department of Public Safety

DRE
destruction and removal efficiency

dscf
dry standard cubic foot or feet

dscfm
dry standard cubic foot or feet per minute

dscm
dry standard cubic meters

DSHS
Department of State Health Services

DSS
decision support system

DV
design value or designated value

DVM
digital voltmeter

Top of ListTop of Page


E

EA
environmental assessment

EC
electron capture

ECO
engineering-change order

ECOS
Environmental Council of the States

ED
(TCEQ) Executive Director

EDF
Environmental Defense Fund

EDRC
Episode Data Reporting Center

EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

EERs
excess emission reports

EERS
Earth Electrical Resistivity Survey

EF
emissions factor

EFR
external floating roof tank

EG
emissions guidelines

EGAS
Economic Growth Analysis System

EGF
electric generating facility

EGR
exhaust-gas recirculation

EGU
electric generating unit

EI
emissions inventory

EIQ
Emissions Inventory Questionnaire

EIS
environmental impact statement

EKMA
empirical kinetic modeling approach

ELD
Environmental Law Division

ELP
El Paso

Emax
maximum (acceptable) emission (rate)

EPA
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPCCHD
El Paso City-County Health District

EPN
emission point number

EPS3
Emissions Processing System Version 3

E&QA
Engineering and Quality Assurance

ERC
emission reduction credit

ERG
Eastern Research Group

ERGO
extended reports and graphic output

EROS
Earth Resources Observation System

ESAD
emission specifications for attainment demonstration

ESL
effects screening level

ESP
electrostatic precipitator

ESR
Enforcement System Review

ETA-PBL
ETA Weather Model Planetary Boundary Layer Numerical Algorithm

ETBE
ethyl tertiary-butyl ether

ETI
elapsed time indicator

ETR
employee trip reduction

EU
emission unit

EXEC
executive

Top of ListTop of Page


F

FA
Financial Administration

FAA
Federal Aviation Administration

FAP
flexible air permit

FC
fluorocarbon

FCAA
Federal Clean Air Act

FCAAA
Federal Clean Air Act Amendments

FCCU
fluid catalytic cracking unit

FDDA
Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation

FEC
formal enforcement conference

FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency

FGR
flue-gas recirculation

FHWA
Federal Highway Administration

FID
flame ionization detector

FIFRA
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

FIN
facility identification number

FIP
Federal Implementation Plan

FIPS
Federal Information Processing Standards

FIT
field-inspector training

FLM
Federal Land Manager

FLSA
Fair Labor Standards Act

FMLER
Flexible Membrane Liner Evaluation Report

FMVCP
Federal Motor Vehicle Control Program

FOD
Field Operations Division

FONSI
finding of no significant impact

FOP
federal operating permit

FR
Federal Register

FSR
financial status report or full-scale range

ft
foot or feet

ft/sec
foot or feet per second

FTE
full-time equivalent

Top of ListTop of Page


G

g
gram(s)

GACT
generally achievable control technology

gal
gallon(s)

gal/wk
gallon(s) per week

gal/yr
gallon(s) per year

GAQM
guideline on air quality models

GasFindIR
GasFind infrared (camera)

GBEP
Galveston Bay Estuary Program

GBF
Galveston Bay Foundation

GC
gas chromatograph or gas chromatography

GCCES
Gulf Coast Community Exposure Study

GCCS
(municipal solid waste) gas collection and control system

GC/ITD
gas chromatography/ion trap detector

GC/MS
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

GCPCD
Galveston County Pollution Control District

GEOS-CHEM
Goddard Earth Observing Systems Chemistry Model

GFI
ground-fault interrupter

GHP
Greater Houston Partnership

GIS
geographic information system

GLC
ground-level concentration

GLCmax
maximum (predicted) ground-level concentration

GLO
General Land Office

GloBEIS
Global Biosphere Emissions and Interactions System

GLS
ground-level sampling

GOP
General Operating Permit

gpm
gallon(s) per minute

GPS
Global Positioning System

GPSA
Gas Processors Supplier Association

GPT
gas-phase titration

gr/100scf
grain(s) per 1000 standard cubic feet

gr/dscf
grain(s) per dry standard cubic foot

GRTS
Grant Reporting and Tracking System

GWPC
Groundwater Protection Committee, Texas

Top of ListTop of Page


H

H2CO
formaldehyde

H2S
hydrogen sulfide

H2SO4
sulfuric acid

HAN
heavy aromatic naphtha

HAP
hazardous air pollutant

HARC
Houston Advanced Research Center

HB
house bill

HBI
Hilsenhoff biotic index

HC
hydrocarbon

HCFC
hydrochlorofluorocarbon

HCl
hydrochloric acid

HCPCD
Harris County Pollution Control Department

HECT
HRVOC Emissions Cap and Trade

HEE
health effects evaluation

Hg
mercury

H-GAC
Houston-Galveston Area Council

HGACOG
Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments

HGB
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria

HHV
higher heating value

Hi-Vol
high-volume air sampler

HMIW
hospital, medical, and infectious waste

HON
Hazardous Organics NESHAPS

HOV
high-occupancy vehicle

hp
horsepower

HQI
habitat quality index

hr
hour

HR
Human Resources

HRGC
high resolution gas chromatography

HRM
Houston Regional Monitoring Network

HRMS
high resolution mass spectrometry

HRVOC
highly reactive volatile organic compounds

HSC
Houston Ship Channel or Health and Safety Code

HSWA
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (to RCRA)

HUB
Historically Underutilized Business

HVLP
high-volume, low-pressure

HW
hazardous waste

HWIR
Hazardous Waste Identification Rules

Top of ListTop of Page


I

I&HW
industrial and hazardous waste

IBEP
Integrated Border Environmental Plan

IBI
index of biotic integrity

IBWC
International Boundary and Water Commission

IC
Interstate Compacts or ion chromatograph(y)

ICE
internal combustion engine

ICP
inductively coupled plasma

IDAC
initial demonstration of analytical capabilities

IDLH
immediate danger to life and health

IF
intergovernmental funding

IFR
internal floating roof tank

IHW
industrial and hazardous waste

ILEV
inherently low-emission vehicle

I/M
inspection/maintenance

IMS
Information Management System

in H2O
inches of water

in Hg
inches of mercury

INE
Insituto Nacional de Ecologiá

Intx
intersection

IP
inhalable particulate

IPM
Integrated Planning Model

IR
information resources or infrared

IS
information systems

ISC
industrial source complex

ISCLT
industrial source complex, long-term

<

ISCST
industrial source complex, short-term

ISCST3
industrial source complex, short-term (model)

ISO
International Standards Organization

ITD
ion-trap detector

Top of ListTop of Page


K

kg
kilogram(s)

km
kilometer(s)

KVs
Vertical Exchange Coefficient


L

l
liter(s)

LACT
lease automatic custody transfer

LAER
lowest achievable emission rate

LAR
Legislative Appropriation Request

lb
pound(s)

lb/day
pound(s) per day

lb/hr
pound(s) per hour

lb/MMBtu
pound(s) per million British thermal units

LBB
Legislative Budget Board

LC
liquid chromatograph(y)

LCRA
Lower Colorado River Authority

LCTS
Legislative Contact Tracking System

LDAR
leak detection and repairs (Requirements)

LEV
low-emission vehicle

LHV
low heating value

LL
load losses

LNB
low-nitrogen oxides (NOx) burner

LNG
liquefied natural gas

LOE
level of effort

LOR
liquid organic reactor

LOV
letter of violation

LPG
liquefied petroleum gas

LPST
leaking petroleum storage tank

LT/D
long ton per day

LTO
landing and takeoff

LU/LC
land-use/land-cover

LUST
leaking underground storage tank

Top of ListTop of Page


M

m
meter(s)

M
one thousand (Roman numeral) or one million

m/sec
meter(s) per second

m3
cubic meter

MACT
maximum achievable control technology

MAERT
Maximum Allowable Emission Rate Table

MBE
minority business enterprise

MCM
million cubic meters

MDEA
methyl-diethanolamine

MDERC
mobile discrete emission-reduction credit

MEA
monoethanol amine

MECA
Mercury Emissions Control Act

MECT
Mass Emissions Cap and Trade

MERA
modeling and effects review applicability

MERC
mobile emission reduction credit

MFM
mass flowmeter

mg
milligram

mg/g
millgram(s) per gram

Mg/yr
megagram(s) per year

mL
millilambert(s) or milliliter(s)

MM
million (Roman numerals)

MM5
Fifth Generation Meteorological Model

MMBtu
million British thermal units

MMBtu/hr
million British thermal units per hour

MMCFD
million cubic feet per day

MMg
million megagrams

MNSR
minor new source review

MO
Monitoring Operations

MOA
memorandum of agreement

MOSES
Mothers Organized to Stop Environmental Sins

MOU
memorandum of understanding

MPO
metropolitan planning organization

MPTER
multiple-point Gaussian dispersion algorithm with terrain adjustment

MRAP
Medical Resources Advisory Panel

MS
Mobile Source

MSA
Metropolitan Statistical Area

MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet

MSS
maintenance, startup, and shutdown

MSW
municipal solid waste

MSWDF
municipal solid-waste-disposal facility

MSWLF
municipal solid-waste landfill

MSWRAC
Municipal Solid Waste Reduction Advisory Committee

MS/Z
multispan/zero box

MTBE
methyl tertiary-butyl ether

MUD
municipal utility district

MVVD
manual vent valve discharge

MW
megawatt

Top of ListTop of Page


N

N2
nitrogen

NA
nonattainment

NAA
nonattainment area

NAAQS
National Ambient Air Quality Standards

NAAS
National Air Audit System

NAD Bank
North American Development Bank

NADB
National Allowance Database

NADP
National Atmospheric Deposition Program

NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement

NAMS
national air monitoring station

NaOH
sodium hydroxide

NAPAP
National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program

NAQTS
national air quality trend station

NAR
nonattainment review

NARMP
National Acid Rain Monitoring Program

NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASN
National Air Surveillance Network

NCAMS
noncontinuous air-monitoring station

NCEP
National Centers for Environmental Prediction

NCP
National Contingency Plan or non-criteria pollutant

NCTCOG
North Central Texas Council of Governments

NDIR
nondispersive infrared analyzer

NEDS
National Emissions Data System

NEI
National Emissions Inventory

NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act

NEPPS
National Environmental Performance Partnership System

NESCAUM
Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management

NESHAP
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

NGA
National Governors Association

NGL
natural gas liquids

NH3
ammonia

NIST
National Institute of Standards and Technology

NMIM
National Mobile Inventory Model

NMOC
nonmethane organic compound

NMVOC
nonmethane VOC

NNSR
nonattainment new source review

NO2
nitrogen dioxide

NOD
notice of deficiency

NOE
notice of enforcement

NOI
notice of intent

NOx
Nitrogen Oxides

NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NORM
naturally occurring radioactive material

NOV
Notice of Violation

NOY
Nitrogen Species

NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

NPL
National Priorities List

NPS
nonpoint source

NRCS
Natural Resource Conservation Service

NRDA
natural resource damage assessment

NSPS
New Source Performance Standards

NSF
National Science Foundation

NSR
new source review

NSRP
new source review permits

Top of ListTop of Page


O

O2
oxygen

O3
Ozone

OA
Office of Air

OAS
Office of Administrative Services

OBD
on-board diagnostic

OCE
Office of Compliance and Enforcement

OD
outside diameter

OGS
oil and gas site

OLS
Office of Legal Services

ONRW
Outstanding National Resource Waters

OOW
Office of Waste

ORIS
Office of Regulatory Information System

OSFR
Office of State and Federal Relations

OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSSF
on-site sewage facility or facilities

OTA
Office of Technology Assessment

OW
Office of Water

Top of ListTop of Page


P

P2
Pollution Prevention

PACE
People Against a Contaminated Environment

PAE
projected actual emissions

PAL
plant-wide applicability limit

PAMS
photochemical air monitoring stations

PAR
photosynthetically active solar radiation

Pb
lead

PBR
permit by rule

PCB
polychlorinated biphenyl

PCP
pollution-control project

PCS
permit-compliance system

PCV
positive crankcase ventilation

PDS
preliminary determination summary

PE
professional engineer

PEL
priority enforcement level or Priority Enforcement List (tires)

PEMS
predictive emission monitoring system

PFD
proposal for decision

PGMA
priority groundwater-management area

PHHVAS
pesticide-head high-volume air sampler

PIC
Public Interest Counsel

PID
photoionization detector

PM
particulate matter or periodic monitoring

PM10
particulate matter 10 microns or less in diameter

PM2.5
particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter

PMI
preventive-maintenance instructions

PMR
pollutant mass rate

PMSA
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area

PN
public notice

PNAP
public-notice-authorization package

POC
products of combustion

POHC
principal organic hazardous constituent

POTW
publicly owned treatment works

PPA
Pollution Prevention Act

ppb
parts per billion

ppbc
parts per billion by carbon

ppbv
parts per billion by volume

pphm
parts per hundred million

ppm
parts per million

ppmdv
parts per million by dry volume

ppmv
parts per million by volume

ppmvd
parts per million by volume, dry

PROFEPA
Procuradaria Federal para la Proteción al Ambiente

PRS
Permitting and Registration Support

PS
primary standard

PSCFv2
Potential Source Contribution Factor, version 2

PSD
prevention of significant deterioration

PSDB
point source database

PSI
pollutant standard index or pounds per square inch

psia
pounds per square inch, absolute

psig
pounds per square inch, gauge

PST
petroleum storage tank

PSTR
petroleum storage tank remediation

PTE
potential to emit

PTS
permeation-tube system

PVC
polyvinyl chloride

Top of ListTop of Page


Q

QA
quality assurance

QC
quality control or Quality Council


R

R
Region

RA
risk assessment or relative accuracy

RAC
Research Advisory Council

RACM
reasonably available control measure

RACT
reasonably available control technology

RAM
Gaussian-plume multiple-source air quality algorithm

RATA
relative accuracy test audits

RBLC
RACT/BACT/LAER clearinghouse

RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RCRIS
Resource Conservation Recovery Act Information System

REMI
Regional Economic Models, Inc.

RENEW
Resource Exchange Network for Eliminating Waste

RFC
request for comments

RFP
reasonable further progress or request for proposal

RHC
reactive hydrocarbons

RI/FS
remedial investigation/feasibility study

RICE
reciprocating internal combustion engine

RIM
rule-interpretation memo

RM
reference method

RN
(regulated entity) reference number

RO
responsible official

ROG
reactive organic gas

ROM
regional oxidant model

RP
responsible party

RPR
Responsible Party Remediation

RPRC
Rule and Policy Review Committee

RR
Rule Registrations (Section)

RRC
Railroad Commission of Texas

RRF
Relative Response Factor

RRT
requirements reference table

RS
registered sanitarian

RSD
resultant standard deviation

RTC
response to comments

RTP
Regional Transportation Plan or Research Triangle Park

RVCM
residual vinyl chloride monomer

RVD
relief-valve discharge

RVP
Reid vapor pressure

RWA
receiving-water assessment

RWCD
residential wood-combustion devices

Top of ListTop of Page


S

SABCUTS
San Antonio Bexar County Urban Transportation System

SAMWG
Standing Air Monitoring Work Group

SAPEL
Special Authorization Priority Enforcement List (tires)

SARA
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act or San Antonio River Authority

SAROAD
storage and retrieval of aerometric data

SAV
site-assessment visit

SBEA
Small Business and Environmental Assistance

SBAdv
Small Business Advocate

SCAQMD
South Coast Air Quality Management District (in California)

SCC
source category code or source classification code

sccm
standard cubic centimeters per minute

scfm
standard cubic feet per minute

SCERP
Southwest Consortium on Environmental Research and Planning

scf
standard cubic foot or feet

scfh
standard cubic foot or feet per hour

scmd
standard cubic meter per day

SCR
selective catalytic reduction

SD
standard deviation

SDWA
Safe Drinking Water Act

SE
standard exemption

SEM
scanning electron microscope

SEMARNAT
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (in Mexico)

SFA
Stephen F. Austin State Office Building

SFIREG
State-FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group

SIC
source identification code or Standard Industrial Classification

SIL
significant impact levels

SIP
State Implementation Plan

SIS
Source Investigation System

SLAMS
state and local air-monitoring station

SLER
soil-liner-evaluation report

SLPM
standard liters per minute

SLQCP
Soil Liner Quality Control Plan

SMC
significant monitoring concentration

SMP
State Management Plan

SMSA
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area

SMSS
scheduled maintenance, startup, or shutdown (activities)

SNCR
selective noncatalytic reduction

SO2
sulfur dioxide

SO4
sulfate

SOB
statement of basis

SOCMI
synthetic organic chemical manufacturing industry

SOP
site operating permit

SOx
oxides of sulfur

SP
standard permit

SPCC
spill-prevention control and countermeasures

SPM
special-purpose monitoring

SPNSS
standards of performance for new stationary sources

SRM
standard reference material

SRU
sulfur recovery unit

SS
Support Services

SSBO
state small business ombudsman

SSI
size-selective inlet

SST
Sea Surface Temperature

STAAPA
State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators

STARS
State of Texas Air Reporting System

Std
standard

STEERS
State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System

SWDA
Solid Waste Disposal Act

SWP
Source Water Protection Program

SWQM
Surface Water Quality Monitoring

SWQMIS
Surface Water Quality Monitoring Information System

Top of ListTop of Page


T

T&S
transfer and storage

TAB
Texas Association of Business

TAC
Texas Administrative Code

TAMU
Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University

TASN
Texas Air Sampling Network

TBA
tertiary-butyl alcohol

TBPC
Texas Building and Procurement Commission

TBT
tributyltin

TC
total carbon

TCAA
Texas Clean Air Act

TCC
Texas Chemical Council

TCLP
toxicity characteristic leaching procedure

TCM
Texas Climatological Model or transportation control measures

TCEQ
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

TDoC
Texas Department of Commerce

TDF
tire-derived fuel

TEA
triethanolamine

TEM
Texas Episodic Model

TERP
Texas Emissions Reduction Program

texAER
Texas Air Emissions Repository

TexAQS II
Second Texas Air Quality Study (2006)

TEXARC
Texas Experiment in Augmenting Rainfall through Cloudseeding

TexReg
Texas Register

TGWPC
Texas Groundwater Protection Committee

THC
total hydrocarbons

THM
trihalomethane

THROX
thermal heat-recovery oxidation unit

THSC
Texas Health and Safety Code

TIP
Transportation Improvement Program

Title III
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986

TLAP
Texas Lab Accreditation Program or Texas Land Application Permit

TLC
Texas Legislative Council

TLV
(health) threshold limit value

TMDL
total maximum daily load

TMOGA
Texas Midcontinent Oil and Gas Association

TNMHC
Total Non-Methane Hydrocarbon

TNRCC
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (name changed to TCEQ in 2002)

TNRIS
Texas Natural Resources Information System

TOC
total organic carbon or total organic compounds

TOP
Texas Orthoimagery Program (DIR)

tpd
tons per day

tph
tons per hour

TPHA
Texas Public Health Association

TPS
Techncal Program Support (Section)

tpy
tons per year

TPWD
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

TQM
total quality management

TRACS
Texas Regulatory Auditing and Compliance System

TRB
Transportation Research Board

TRI
Toxics Release Inventory

TRIS
Toxics Release Information System

TRRP
Texas Risk Reduction Program

TRS
total reduced sulfur

TRV
technical review

TS
transfer standard or (municipal solid waste) transfer station

TSCA
Toxic Substances Control Act

TSL
Texas State Library and Archives

TSP
total suspended particulate

TSS
total suspended solids

TSSWCB
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

TTC
Texas Transportation Commission

TTI
Texas Transportation Institute

tvp
true vapor pressure

TWC
Texas Water Code

TWDB
Texas Water Development Board

TxDOT
Texas Department of Transportation

TxLED
Texas Low-Emission Diesel

TxREG
Texas Register

Top of ListTop of Page


U

U/M
upset and maintenance

UA
unit attribute(s)

UAM
urban airshed model

UCR
Utility Certification and Rate Design Program

UIC
Underground Injection Control

ULEV
ultra-low-emission vehicle

UMTA
Urban Mass Transit Administration

USAS
Uniform Statewide Accounting System

USC
United States Code

USDoT
United States Department of Transportation

USEPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency

USGS
United States Geological Survey

USOMB
United States Office of Management and Budget

USSCS
United States Soil Conservation Service

UST
underground storage tank

UT-CSR
University of Texas Center for Space Research

UTM
universal transverse Mercator

Top of ListTop of Page


V

V-B
Vasquez-Beggs correlation equation

VAC
volts, alternating current

VCU
venturi calibration unit

VDC
volts, direct current

VIN
vehicle identification number or vendor identification number

VMT
vehicle miles traveled

VOC
volatile organic compound

VR
vapor recovery

VRO
variable-resistance orifice

VRU
vapor recovery unit or system

VTCS
Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes

Top of ListTop of Page


W

WBE
woman-owned business enterprise

WCID
Water Control and Improvement District

WD
wind direction

WDP
working draft permit

WER
water-effects ratio

WGA
Western Governors’ Association

WHP
Wellhead Protection Program

WLE
waste-load evaluation

WMP
Waste Management Plan

WQMP
Water Quality Management Plan

WRAC
Waste Reduction Advisory Committee

WRPA
Waste Reduction Policy Act

WS
wind speed

WU
water utility or utilities

Top of ListTop of Page