- A –

 

The following are commonly used abbreviations, acronyms, and a glossary of specialized terms

— A —

 

above-ground storage tank (acronym: AST).

absence & vacation resquest (acronym: A&VR).

abundant (abbreviation: abnt).

Acasta gneiss  – geologic stratigraphic description –.

accident & injury prevention plan (acronym: A&IPP).

accounting department (acronym: AD).

Accounts Manager (acronym: AM) – organizational function –individual responsible for overseeing organization’s accounts payables, recievables, and overall accounting responsibiliteis (may also be APM &/or ARM).

Accounts Payable Manger (acronym: APM) – organizational function –individual responsible for managing organization’s accounts payables (debts due by the organization).

Accounts Recievable Manager (acronym: ARM) – organizational function –individual responsible for managing organization’s accounts receivables (debts due to organization).

acetaldehyde – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH – 2,000 ppm).

acetelene tetrabromide– chemical compound – see NIOSH  (IDLH =8  ppm).

acetic acid – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH – 50 ppm).

acetic anhydride – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH =  200 ppm).

acetone – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = 2,500 PPM [LEL]).

acetonitrile – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = 500 ppm).

acid digestion

acidity

acircular (abbreviation: acic).

acralamide (synonyms: 2-propenamide, acrylic amide, ethylenecarboxamide, amresco acryl-40, acrylangl, optimum) – organic chemical – (TT = 0.05% dosed at 1 mg/L or equivalent).

acre — unit of measure, area — 4840 yd² = 0.4047 hectare.

Acridine orange direct count

Acrolein – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = ppm).

acrylamide – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = 60 mg/m³).

Acrylonitrile – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = 85 ppm).

actinium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Ac).

actinolite — Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅(OH)₂(Si₈O₂₂) — (silicate mineral).

activity and use limitations — legal or physical restrictions or limitations on the use of, or access to, a site or facility: (1) to reduce or eliminate potential exposure to hazardous substances in the soil or ground water on the property, or (2) to prevent activities that could interfere with the effectiveness of a response action, in order to ensure maintenance of a condition of no significant risk to public health or the environment.  These legal or physical restrictions, which may include institutional and/or engineering controls, are intended to prevent adverse impacts to individuals or populations that may be exposed to hazardous substances in the soil or ground water on the property.  Source (ASTM, 2004).

actual knowledge — the knowledge actually possessed by an individual who is a real person, rather than an entity.  Actual knowledge is to be distinguished from constructive knowledge that is knowledge imputed to an individual or entity.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

amomonium sulfanate – chemical compound – (CAS number 7773-06-0. ACGIH TLV = 25 PPM (17 mg/m³),  IDLH = 1,500 ppm, NIOSH REL 25 PPM (18mg/m³) TWA 35 PPM (27 mg/m³) STEL, OSHA PEL 35 PPM (27 mg/m³).

amorphous (abbreviation: amor).

adjoining properties — any real property or properties the border of which is contiguous or partially contiguous with that of the property, or that would be contiguous or partially contiguous with that of the property but for a street, road, or other public thoroughfare separating them.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

aerial photographs — photographs taken from an airplane or helicopter (from a low enough altitude to allow identification of development and activities) of areas encompassing the property. Aerial photographs are often available from government agencies or private collections unique to a local area.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

aggregate (abbreviation: aggr).

agricultural site evaluation (acronym: ASE).

AIB College of Business — 2 year (Des Moines , IA) (acronym: AIBCB).

alachlor (synonyms: alochlor, lasagrin, sassagrin, lassso, azzo, metachlor, pillarzo, alanox, alanex, chimichlor)– organic chemical – (MCL = 0.002 mg/L).

albite — Na(Al,Si)(AlSi₂O₈) — (silicate mineral).

Aldrin – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = 25 mg/m³).

Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Center– medical institution; Omaha, Nebraska – (acronym: BMC).

Alegent Health Immanual Medical Center – medical institution; Omaha, Nebraska – (acronym: IMC).

alkali basalt — rock classification, igneous — volcanic rock 

alkali feldspar syenite — rock classification, igneous — plutonic rock 

alkali granites  — rock classification, igneous — plutonic granitoid rock.

alkali syanite   — rock classification, igneous — plutionic syenitoid rock.

alkalinity

allemonite — AsSb — (native element mineral — semi-metal).

Allen College (Waterloo, IA) (acronym: AC).

Alltlchloride (IDLH = 250).

Allyl alcohol  – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = 20 ppm).

Allyl chloride  – chemical compound – see NIOSH (IDLH = 250 ppm).

allyl glycidyl ether – chemical compound – CAS number 106-92-3. ACGIH TLV = 5 PPM (22 mg/m³),  IDLH = 50 ppm, NIOSH REL 5 PPM (22mg/m³) TWA 10 PPM (44 mg/m³) STEL, OSHA PEL 10 PPM (45 mg/m³) .

almandite — Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ — (silicate mineral).

alpha particles  – radionuclides – (MCL = 15 Pci/L)

alpha-chloroacetophenone – chemical compound – CAS number 532274. ACGIH TLV = 0.05 ppm (0.32 mg/m³) TWA; NIOSH REL 0.05 ppm (0.3 mg/m³) ceiling; NIOSH IDLH 15 mg/m³, OSHA PEL 0.05 ppm (0.3 mg/m³) TWA; LEL unknown.

aluminum — chemical element — (abbreviation: Al).

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (acronym: AAPG).

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (acronym: ACGIH).

American Geological Institute (acronym: AGI).

American Geophysical Union (acronym: AGU).

American Institute of Professional Geologist (acronym: AIPG).

American National Standards Institute (acronym: ANSI).

American Society of Testing & Materials (acronym: ASTM).

americium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Am).

Amestry limestone – geologic stratigraphic description –.

ammonia – chemical compound – CAS number 7664-41-7. ACGIH TLV = 10 mg/m³,  IDLH = 300  ppm, NIOSH REL 10 mg/m³ TWA  5 mg/m³  (respirable dust) TWA, OSHA PEL 15 mg/m³ TWA, 5 mg/m³  (respirable dust) TWA

ammonia nitrogen

amount (abbreviation: amt ).

amphibolite (abbreviation: Amp)  — rock classification, metamorphic  —

Anacleto formation – geologic stratigraphic description –.

andalusite — Al₂O(SiO₄) — (silicate mineral).

andesite (abbreviation: and) — rock classification, igneous — volcanic rock 

andesite bassalt — rock classification, igneous — volcanic rock 

angle (symbol: Ð) .

anglesite — PbSO₄ — (sulfate mineral).

angstrom – unit of measure, length – (symbol: Å) = 10^-8 cm.

Angstrom unit — unit of measure, linear distance / length —  (abbreviation: A) = 10^-10 m  = 10-4 m.

angular (abbreviation: ang).

anhedral (abbreviation: anhed).

anhydrite —(sulfate mineral —CaSO₄ (abbreviation: anhy).

aniline CAS number 62-53-3. ACGIH TLV = 2 PPM (8 mg/m³),  IDLH = 100  ppm, NIOSH REL none – potential carcinogen, OSHA PEL 2 PPM (19 mg/m³).

anionic surfactants

ankerite — Ca(Fe,Mg)(CO₃)₂ — (carbonate mineral).

Annie Jeffery Memorial County Health Center – Osceola, NE – (acronym: AJMCHC).

anorhosites — rock classification, igneous – plutonic rock  composed almost wholly of plagioclase.

anorthite — Ca(Al,Si)(AlSi₂O₈) — (silicate mineral).

Antelope Memorial Hospital – medical facility; Neligh, NE – (acronym, AMH).

antimony — native element mineral — semi-metal – inorganic chemical element — (abbreviation: Sb) (CAS number 7440-36-0. ACGIH TLV = 0.5 mg/m³ TWA,  IDLH = 80  mg/m³, NIOSH REL 0.5 mg/m³,  TWA, OSHA PEL 0.5 mg/m³ (MCL = 0.006 mg/L).

ANTU – chemical compound – CAS number 86-88-4. ACGIH TLV = 0.3 mg/m³,  IDLH = 100  ppm, NIOSH REL 0.3 mg/ m³,  TWA, OSHA PEL 0.3 mg/m³.

aohrium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Bh).

apatite — Ca₅(F,Cl,OH)(PO₄)₃ —  (phosphate mineral).

applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements (acronym: ARARs),  a term used in CERCLA and interpreted by EPA regulations. Applicable requirements means “those cleanup standards, standards of control, and other substantive requirements, criteria, or limitations promulgated under federal environmental or state environmental or facility siting laws that specifically address a hazardous substance, pollutant, contaminant, remedial action, location, or other circumstance found at a CERCLA site”, 40 C.F.R. § 300.5.  Relevant and appropriate requirements means “those cleanup standards, standards of control, and other substantive requirements, criteria, or limitations promulgated under federal environmental or state environmental or facility siting laws that, while not 8applicable’ to a hazardous substance, pollutant, contaminant, remedial action, location, or other circumstance at a CERCLA site, address problems or situations sufficiently similar to those encountered at the CERCLA site that their use is well suited to the particular site” 40 C.F.R. § 300.5. Source: (ASTM, 2004).

appropriate inquiry — that inquiry constituting “all appropriate inquiry into the previous ownership and uses of the property consistent with good commercial or customary practice” as defined in CERCLA, 42 USC § 9601(35)(B), that will give a party to a commercial real estate transaction the innocent landowner defense to CERCLA liability (42 USC§ 9601(A) and (B) and § 9607(b)(3)), assuming compliance with other elements of the defense.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

approximate (abbreviation: approx, symbol: »).

approximate minimum search distance — the area for which records must be obtained and reviewed (e.g., pursuant to Section 7 of ASTM 1257 subject to the limitations provided in that section).  This may include areas outside the property and shall be measured from the nearest property boundary. This term is used in lieu of radius to include irregularly shaped properties.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

aragonite —(mineral), carbonate — CaCO₃.

archaean – geologic time, era – (approximately 3800-2500 MYA).

area of a circle = pi times radius squared (mathematical equation: A= pr²).

area of a triangle = 0.5 times base times height (mathematical equation: A= ½ bh).

area of concern (acronym: AOC).

area of rectangle = length times width (mathematical equation: A= lw).

area of square = s², where s is the length of each side (mathematical equation: A= s²).

arenaceous (abbreviation: aren).

argentite — Ag₂S — (sulfide mineral).

argillaceous (abbreviation: arg).

argon — chemical element — (abbreviation: Ar).

Arizona – (abbreviation: AZ).

arkosic (abbreviation: ark).

arsenic — As — native element mineral — semi-metal – inorganic chemical – CAS number 7440-38-2. ACGIH TLV = 0.1 mg/m³,  IDLH = 5  mg/m³, NIOSH REL 0.002 mg/ m³ 15 minute ceiling, OSHA PEL 0.010 mg/m³ TWA  (MCL = 0.010 mg/L).

arsenopyrite — FeAsS — (sulfide mineral).

arsine – chemical compound – CAS number 7784-42-1. ACGIH TLV = 0.05 PPM (0.16 mg/m³ TWA,  IDLH = 3  ppm, NIOSH REL 0.002 mg/ m³ 15 minute ceiling – potential occupational carcinogen, OSHA PEL 0.05 PPM (0.16 mg/m³) TWA.

asbestos containing materials (acronym: ACM) – inorganic chemical (MCL = 7 MFL).

Ashford University (Clinton, IA) (acronym: AU_Ca).

asphaltic (abbreviation: asph).

Associate  – organizational function – term used for all organizational associates.

Association of Applied Geochemists (acronym: AAG).

Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (acronym: AEG).

astatine — chemical element — (abbreviation: At).

atrazine (synonyms: aatrex, actinite PK, akiton, argenzin, atazinax, atranex, atrataf, atred, candex, cekuzina-T, chromozin, ristina, ciazin, femanin, fenatrol, gesaprim, griffex, hungazin, inakor, pitezin, primatol, radazin, strazine, vectal, weedex A, wonuk, zeopos, zeazine)  – organic chemical – (MCL = 0.003 mg/L).

atterburg limits

augite — Ca(Mg,Fe,Al)[(Al,Si)₂O₆] — (silicate mineral).

Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD) (acronym: AU_L(ELCU)).

Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital_C – medical facility; O’Neill, NE – (acronym, ASAH).

average (abbreviation: ave).

azinphosmethyl – chemical compound – CAS number 86-50-0. ACGIH TLV = 0.2 mg/m³ TWA,  IDLH = 10  mg/m³, NIOSH REL 0.2 mg/ m³ TWA, OSHA PEL 0.2 mg/m³ TWA.

azurite — Cu₃(OH)₂(CO₃)₂ — (carbonate mineral).