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

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration.

fabric filter

a cloth device that catches dust and particles from industrial emissions.

FACA

Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Facility

refers to any building, center, room(s), mobile unit(s), or vehicle(s) designed and equipped to support emergency operations.As defined by section 101(9) of CERCLA, means any building, structure, installation, equipment, pipe or pipeline (including any pipe into a sewer or publicly owned treatment works), well, pit, pond, lagoon, impoundment, ditch, landfill, storage container, motor vehicle, rolling stock, or aircraft, or any site or area, where a hazardous substance has been deposited, stored, disposed of, or placed, or otherwise come to be located; but does not include any consumer product in consumer use or any vessel.

FACM

Friable Asbestos-Containing Material.

facultative organisms

microbes capable of adapting to either aerobic or anaerobic environments.

f/cc

fibers per cubic centimeter of air.

FAM

Friable Asbestos Material.

FAR

Federal Acquisition Regulations.

farm tank

is a tank located on a tract of land devoted to the production of crops or raising animals, including fish, and associated residences and improvements. A farm tank must be located on the farm property.

Farm

includes fish hatcheries, rangeland and nurseries with growing operations.

FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board.

fasciculation

muscular twitching.

FATES

FIFRA and TSCA Enforcement System.

FCC

Federal Communications Commission.

FCC

Fluid Catalytic Converter.

FCCU

Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit.

FCO

Federal Coordinating Officer.

FDA

Food and Drug Administration; federal agency whose actions are directed toward protecting the public's health from impure and unsafe foods, drugs and cosmetics, and other potential hazards.

FDO

Fee Determination Official.

FEA

Federal Energy Administration.

feasibility study

1. analysis of the practicability of a proposal; e.g., a description and analysis of the potential clean-up alternatives for a site or alternatives for a site on the National Priorities List. The feasibility study usually recommends selection of a cost-effective alternative. It usually starts as soon as the remedial investigation is underway; together, they are commonly referred to as the "RI/FS". The term can apply to a variety of proposed corrective or regulatory actions. 2. In research, a small-scale investigation of a problem to ascertain whether or not a proposed research approach is likely to provide useful data.

fecal coliform bacteria

a group of organisms found in the intestinal tracts of people and animals. Their presence in water indicates pollution and possible dangerous bacterial contamination.

FECNOUT

Ferro-Cyanout - Iron Cyanide Treatment Precipitant - Chelate Breaker - Heavy Metal (ETUS).

Federal Register

daily publication of the U.S. government detailing proposed and final regulations issued under federal law. See FR.

FEDS

Federal Energy Data System.

FEED

Boiler Feed Water Treatment - General Purpose.

feedlot

a relatively small, confined area for raising cattle that results in lower costs but may concentrate large amounts of animal wastes. The soil cannot absorb such large amounts of excrement, and runoff from feedlots pollutes nearby waterways with nutrients.

feed water

any water fed to a reverse osmosis machine.

FEF

Forced Expiratory Flow.

FEIS

Final Environmental Impact Statement.

FEIS

Fugitive Emissions Information System.

FEL

Frank Effect Level.

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency

fen

a type of wetland that accumulates peat deposits. Fens are less acidic than bogs, deriving most of their water from groundwater rich in calcium and magnesium. (See: wetlands).

FEPCA

Federal Environmental Pesticides Control Act.

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

fermentation

chemical reactions accompanied by living microbes that are supplied with nutrients and other critical conditions such as heat, pressure, and light that are specific to the reaction at hand.

ferric chloride

anhydrous ferric chloride (FeCl3) is a chemical coagulant. Ferric ions are Fe3+ and ferrous ions are Fe2+. Both are used in phosphorus precipitation.

fertilizer

materials such as nitrogen and phosphorus that provide nutrients for plants. Commercially sold fertilizers may contain other chemicals or may be in the form of processed sewage sludge.

FF-100

Floating Flocculant - Clarification/Settling.

FFA

Flammable Fabrics Act.

FFAR

Fuel and Fuel Additive Registration.

FFC

Federal Facility Coordinator.

FFCA

Federal Facility Compliance Agreement.

FFDCA

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FFFSG

Fossil Fuel Fired Steam Generator.

FFIS

Federal Facility Information System.

FGD

Flue Gas Desulfurization.

FHA

Farmers Home Administration.

FHA

Federal Housing Authority.

FHSA

Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

FHWA

Federal Highway Administration.

FIA

Federal Insurance Administration.

fiber

a basic form of matter, usually crystalline, with a high ratio of length to diameter. Examples: animal (wool); vegetable (cotton); mineral (asbestos, steel); and synthetic (rayon, carbon, high polymers).

fibrosis

the formation of fibrous tissue, in a response to inhaled material, in excess of amounts normally present in the lung-tissue walls. This reduces the oxygen and COà exchange efficiency and lung capacity.

FIC

Federal Information Center.

FID

Flame Ionization Detector.

field sampling plan

provides guidance for all fieldwork by defining in detail the sampling and data-gathering methods to be used on a project.

FIFRA

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (1972, 1988); mandates toxicity testing and registration of pesticides.

filler

clay, calcium carbonate, or other minerals added to cellulose fiber in the production of certain grades of paper or board.

filling

depositing dirt and mud, often raised by dredging, into marshy areas to create more land for real estate development.It can destroy the marsh ecology.

film badge

a piece of masked photographic film worn by nuclear workers to monitor their exposure to radiation. Nuclear radiation darkens the film.

filter

a device or system for the removal of solid particles (suspended solids); includes mechanical, absorptive, oxidizing and neutralizing filters.

FILTER

Filter Air Blend (ETUS).

filtrate

liquid after passing through a filter.

filtration

removal of solid particles from liquid or particles from air or gas stream by means of a permeable membrane.Types: gravity, pressure, microstraining, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis (hyperfiltration).

FIM

Friable Insulation Material.

finding of no significant impact (FNSI)

a document prepared by a federal agency that presents the reasons impact: why a proposed action would not have a significant impact on the environment and thus would not require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. An FNSI is based on the results of an environmental assessment.

FINDS

Facilities Index System.

fines

finely crushed or powdered material or fibers; especially those smaller than the average in a mix of various sizes.

FIP

Federal Implementation Plan.

FIP

Federal Information Plan.

FIP

Final Implementation Plan.

fire point

the lowest temperature at which a liquid produces sufficient vapor to flash near its surface and continues to burn.Usually 10 to 30 degrees C higher than the flash point.

First Aid

Immediate measures that can be taken by the victim or others persons in case of contact or exposure to a chemical, including ending the exposure and using materials generally available to reduce or eliminate adverse health effects.

first draw

the water that immediately comes out when a tap is first opened. This water is likely to have the highest level of lead contamination from plumbing materials.

first federal official

means the first federal representative of a participating agency of the National Response Team to arrive at the scene of a discharge or a release. This official coordinates activities under the NCP and may initiate, in consultation with the OSC, any necessary actions until the arrival of the predesignated OSC. A state with primary jurisdiction over a site covered by a cooperative agreement will act in the stead of the first federal official for any incident at the site.

FIT

Field Investigation Team.

five-day biochemical oxygen demand

See BOD(5).

FLAA

Flame Atomic Absorption.

flammable

describes any solid, liquid, vapor, or gas that ignites easily and burns rapidly. See Combustible.

flammable aerosol

a product is considered a flammable aerosol if it is packaged in an aerosol container and can release a flammable material.

flammable gas

a gas that at ambient temperature and pressure forms a flammable mixture with air at a concentration of 13% by volume or less; or a gas that at ambient temperature and pressure forms a range of flammable mixtures with air greater than 12% by volume, regardless of the lower limit.

flammable limits (flammability limits, explosive limits)

the minimum and maximum concentrations of a flammable gas or vapor between which ignition can occur. Concentrations below flammable limit (LFL) are too lean to burn, while concentrations above the upper flammable limit (UFL) are too rich. All concentrations between LFL and UFL are in the flammable range, and special precautions are needed to prevent ignition or explosion.

flammable liquid

-OSHA Liquid, flammable means any liquid having a flashpoint below 100¿F (37.8¿C) except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 100¿F (37.8¿C) or higher, the total of which make up 99 percent or more of the total volume of the mixture.-DOT A flammable liquid means any liquid having a flash point below 140¿F (60¿C), with the following exceptions: a) Any liquid meeting the definition of a compressed gas; b) Any mixture having one component or more with a flash point of 140¿F, (60¿C) or higher, that makes up at least 99 percent of the total volume of the mixture; A distilled spirit of 140 proof or lower is considered to have a flash point no lower than 73¿F.

flammable range

The term flammable range designates the difference between the minimum and maximum volume percentages of the material in air that forms a flammable compressed gas.

flammable solid

a solid that ignites readily and continues to burn or is liable to cause fires under ordinary conditions or during transportation through friction or retained heat from manufacturing or processing and that burns so vigorously and persistently as to create a serious transportation hazard. See Combustible.

flash

the portion of a superheated fluid converted to vapor when its pressure is reduced.

flash back

occurs when a distant spark or ignition source ignites a trail of flammable material. The flame then travels along the trail of the material back to its source.

flash point, FP

the lowest temperature at which a flammable liquid gives off sufficient vapor to from an ignitable mixture with air near its surface or within a vessel. Combustion does not continue.FP is determined by tests in cups. See Fire Point.

FLCSTOPA

Floc-Stop-A (ETUS).

FLM

Federal Land Manager.

floc

a clump of solids formed in sewage by biological or chemical action.

flocculation

process of separating suspended solids from waste- water by chemical creation of clumps or flocs.

flocculants

materials which can form gelatinous clouds of precipitate to enclose fine particles of suspended dirt to settle them from the water.

flocculents

Those water soluble organic polymers that are used alone or in conjunction with inorganic coagulants to agglomerate solids. The large dense flocs resulting from this process permit rapid and more efficient solids-liquid separations.

floor sweep

a vapor collection designed to capture vapors which are heavier than air and which collect along the floor.

flotation

a process for separating solids from water by developing a froth in a vessel in such fashion that the solids attach to air particles and float to the surface for collection.

flowmeter

a gauge that shows the speed of waste water moving through a treatment plant.

flow-through process tank

is a tank that forms an integral part of a production process through which there is a steady, variable, recurring, or intermittent flow of materials during the operation of the process.Flow-through process tanks do not include tanks used for the storage of materials prior to their introduction into the production process or for the storage of finished products or by-products from the production process.

FLP

Flash Point.

FLPMA

Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

flue gas

the air coming out of a chimney after combustion. It can include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxide, particles, and many chemical pollutants.

flume

a raceway or channel constructed to carry water or to permit flow measurements.

fluorides

gaseous, solid, or dissolved compounds containing fluorine that result from industrial processes.

fluorocarbons

any of a number of organic compounds analogous to hydrocarbons in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine. Once used in the United States as a propellant in aerosols, they are now primarily used in coolants and some industrial processes.FCs containing chlorine are called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The are believed to be modifying the ozone layer in the stratosphere thereby allowing more harmful solar radiation to reach the Earth's surface.

Fluorosis

an abnormal condition caused by excessive intake of fluorine, characterized chiefly by mottling of the teeth.

flush

1 To open a cold-water tap to clear out all the water which may have been sitting for a long time in the pipes. In new homes, to flush a system means to send large volumes of water gushing through the unused pipes to remove loose particles of solder and flux. 2. To force large amounts of water through liquid to clear out piping or tubing, storage or process tanks.

fly ash

noncombustible particles carried by flue gas.

FM

Friable Material.

FMA

(abbr.) free mineral acidity, or sum of the mineral acids.See also TMA.

F/M ratio

food-to-mass or food-to-microorganism ratio used to predict the phase of growth being experienced by the major microbial populations in a biological digestion process.

FMC

Federal Maritime Commission.

FMFIA

Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act.

FML

Flexible Membrane Liner.

FMO

Financial Management Officer.

FMP

Facility Management Plan.

foam

fire-fighting material consisting of small bubbles of air, water, and concentrating agents. Chemically, the air in the bubbles is suspended in the fluid. The foam clings to vertical and horizontal surfaces and flows freely over burning materials. Foam puts out a fire by blanketing it, excluding air, and blocking the escape of volatile vapor. Its flowing properties resist mechanical interruption and reseal the burning material.

FOE

Friends of the Earth.

fog

suspended liquid particles formed by condensation of vapor.

fogging

applying a pesticide by rapidly heating the liquid chemical so that it forms very fine droplets that resemble smoke. It is used to destroy mosquitoes and blackflies.

FOI

Freedom of Information.

FOIA

Freedom of Information Act.

FOISD

Fiber Optic Isolated Spherical Dipole Antenna.

FONSI

Finding of No Significant Impact.

food chain

a sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source.

food waste

discarded animal and vegetable matter, also called garbage.

FORAST

Forest Response to Anthropogenic Stress.

forced-draft degasifier

a tower in which water droplets descent through a flow of air blown upwards to remove gases such as carbon dioxide.

foreseeable emergency

-OSHA Any potential occurrence such as, but no limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment which could result in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous chemical into the workplace.

formaldehyde

a colorless, pungent, irritating gas, CHà0, used chiefly as a disinfectant and preservative and in synthesizing other compounds and resins.

formula weight

see Molecular Weight.

formulation

the substance or mixture of substances which is comprised of all active and inert ingredients in a pesticide.

FORTRAN

Formula Translation.

forty (40) CFR Part 311

refers to a regulation issued by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on emergency response training for employees involved in operations with hazardous materials and hazardous wastes.

fossil fuels

combustibles derived from the remains of ancient plants and animals, like coal, oil, and natural gas.

fouddrinier

a design of paper machine using a continuous wire for forming the sheet.

foulants

substances which coat or adsorb onto and absorb into ion exchange resin to reduce available capacity.

FP

Fine Particulate.

FP

see Flash Point.

FPA

Federal Pesticide Act.

FPC

Federal Power Commission.

FPD

Flame Photometric Detector.

FPEIS

Fine Particulate Emissions Information System.

FPLH

Free-Phase Liquid Hydrocarbon.

FPR

Federal Procurement Regulation.

FR

the Federal Register. A daily publication that lists and discusses Federal regulations. Available from the Government Printing Office.

FR

Final Rulemaking.

FRA

Federal Register Act.

FRB

Federal Reserve Board.

FRC

Federal Records Center.

FRC

Functional Residual Capacity.

FRDS

Federal Reporting Data System.

FREDS

Flexible Regional Emissions Data System.

free base

the regenerated form of a weak base anion resin.

freeboard

the space above the resin bed to accommodate resin expansion in backwash.

free COà

dissolved carbon dioxide gas in water.

free product

refers to a regulated substance that is present as a nonaqueous phase liquid (e.g., liquid not dissolved in water.)

freezing point

the temperature at which a material changes its physical state from liquid to solid. This information is important because a frozen material may burst its container or the hazards could change.

FRES

Forest Range Environmental Study.

fresh water

water that generally contains less than 1,000 milligrams-per-liter of dissolved solids.

Freundlich isotherm

the plot of test data related to the removal of colloidal matter from water showing the process to be adsorption.

FRM

Federal Reference Methods.

FRN

Final Rulemaking Notice.

FRS

Formal Reporting System.

FS

Feasibility Study.

FSA

Food Security Act.

FSP

Field Sampling Plan.

FTC

Federal Trade Commission.

FTP

Federal Test Procedure.

FTS

Federal Telecommunications System.

FUA

Fuel Use Act.

FUBAR

F(ouled) Up Beyond Recognition.

FUD

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.

FUEL

Boiler Fuel Treatment (ETUS).

fuel economy standard

the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard (CAFE) which went into effect in 1978. It was meant to enhance the national fuel conservation effort by slowing fuel consumption through a miles-per-gallon requirement for motor vehicles.

fugitive emissions

emissions not caught by a capture system.

full emergency condition

refers to "an incident involving a severe hazard or a large area which poses an extreme threat to life and property and will probably require a large-scale evacuation; or an incident requiring the expertise or resources of county, State, Federal, or private agencies/organizations."

full protective clothing

fully protective gear that prevents skin contact with, inhalation of, or ingestion of gases, vapor, liquids, and solids (dusts, etc.). Includes SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus).

fume

an airborne dispersion consisting of minute solid particles arising from the heating of a solid (such as molten metal, welding).This heating is often accompanied by a chemical reaction where the particles react with oxygen to form an oxide.

fumes

an aerosol with solids as the dispersed colloids.

fumigant

a pesticide that is vaporized to kill pests; often used in buildings or greenhouses.

fund or trust fund

means the Hazardous Substance Superfund established by section 9507 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

fungi

as applied to water, simple, one-celled organisms without chlorophyll, often filamentous. Molds and yeasts are included in this category.

functional equivalent

term used to describe EPA's decision- making process and its relationship to the environmental review conducted under the National Environmental Policy act (NEPA). A review is considered functionally equivalent when it addresses the substantive components of a NEPA review.

functional groups

see Exchange Sites.

fungi

(singular, Fungus) molds, mildews, yeasts, mushrooms, and puffballs, a group of organisms that lack chlorophyll (i.e., are not photosynthetic) and which are usually non-mobile, filamentous, and multicellular. Some grow in the ground, others attach themselves to decaying trees and other plants, getting their nutrition from decomposing organic matter.Some cause disease, others stabilize sewage and break down solid wastes in composting.

fungicide

pesticides which are used to control, prevent, or destroy fungi.

FURS

Federal Underground Injection Control Reporting System.

FUSRAP

Formerly Used Sites Remedial Action Plan.

FVC

Forced Vital Capacity.

FVMP

Federal Visibility Monitoring Program.

FWCA

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.

FWIW

For What It's Worth.

FWPCA

Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

FWPCA

Federal Water Pollution Control Administration.

FWS

Fish and Wildlife Service.

FY

Fiscal Year.

FYI

 

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