- P -

The following are commonly used abbreviations, acronyms, and a glossary of specialized terms starting with the letter:  

— P —

page (abbreviation: p.).

pages (abbreviation: pp).

paleocene– geologic time, epoch – (symbol: Tp, color yellow and ocher) approximately 65- 54.8 MYA; approximate duration: 11-12 MY.

paleoproterozoic – geologic time, period – (approximately 2,500 – 1,600 MYA).

paleozoic – geologic time, era – (approximately 570 – 225 MYA).

palladium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Pd).

p-anisidine – chemical compound – CAS number 104-94-9. ACGIH TLV = 0.1 PPM (0.5 mg/m³),  IDLH = 50  ppm, NIOSH REL 0.5 mg/m³,  TWA, OSHA PEL 0.5 mg/m³.

paragraph (symbol: ¶).

paraquat – chemical compound – see NIOSH

parathion – chemical compound – see NIOSH

parts per trillion (accronym, PPT).

Pawnee clay loam, 2-7 % slopes, eroded – USDA, SCS soil classification – (symbol: PaC2).

Pawnee clay loam, 2-7 % slopes, severely eroded – USDA, SCS soil classification – (symbol: PaC3).

Pawnee clay loam, 7-11 % slopes, eroded – USDA, SCS soil classification – (symbol: PaD2).

Pawnee County Memorial Hospital – medical facility; Gothenburg, NE – (acronym, GMH).

p-dichlorobenzen – chemical compound – see NIOSH

p-dichlorobenzene (acronym: 1,2,DCE; synonyms: paradichlorobenzene, paradichlorobenzol, paramoth, di-chronicide, paradi, paradow, persia-perazol, evola, parazine) – organic chemical, insecticidal fumagant – (MCL = 0.075 mg/L).

pebble (abbreviation: pbl) .

peck_dry — unit of measure, volume — (symbol: pk) = 8 qt = 537.6 in³ = 8.81 l.

pegmatite — rock classification, texture —

Pendr Community Hospital – medical facility; Pender, NE – (acronym, PCH).

pennsylvanian – geologic time, period – (symbol: Cp, color: blue) approximately 323-390 MYA; approximate duration: 45 MY).

Pennsylvanian bluestone – geologic stratigraphic description –.

pennyweight — unit of measure, weight —   (abbrv: dwt) 24 grain = 1.555 g.

pentaborane – chemical compound – see NIOSH

pentachloronapthalene – chemical compound – see NIOSH

pentachlorophenol – chemical compound – see NIOSH

pentachlorophenol (acronym: PCP; synonyms: penchlorol, dowicide 7, pemasan, funigfen, grundier arbezol, lauxtol, lioprem, shlon, dura treet II, santophen 20, woodtreat, penta ready, penta WR, forpen-50, ontrack WE herbicide, ortho triox, osmose wpc, watershed wp, weed and brush killerH) – organic chemical, wood preservative (fungicide) – (MCL = 0.001 mg/L).

pentlandite — (Fe, Ni)₉S₈ — (sulfide mineral).

perch — unit of measure, area — =30.25 yd² = 25.29 m².

perch of masonry — unit of measure, volume — 24.75 ft³.

perchlormethyl mercaptan – chemical compound – see NIOSH

perchloryl fluoride – chemical compound – see NIOSH

peridotite (abbreviation: perid).

Perkins County Health Services – medical facility; Grant, NE – (acronym, PCHS).

perlite — rock classification, texture —

permeability (abbreviation: perm).

permian – geologic time, period – (symbol: P, color: blue) approximately 290-248 MYA; approximate duration: 55 MY.

permissable exposure limit (acronym: PEL) established by OSHA.

permit compliance system (acronym: PCS).

personal protective equipment (acronym: PPE).

Perth basin – geologic stratigraphic description –.

Peru State College; Peru, Nebraska (acronym: PSC).

pesticides

petroleum distallates (synonym: naptha) – chemical compound – see NIOSH

petroleum exclusion—The exclusion from CERCLA liability provided in 42 USC § 9601(14), as interpreted by the courts and EPA: “The term (hazardous substance) does not include petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under subparagraphs (A) through (F) of this paragraph, and the term does not include natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas)”.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

petroleum products — those substances included within the meaning of the petroleum exclusion to CERCLA, 42 USC § 9601(14), as interpreted by the courts and EPA, that is: petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under Subparagraphs (A) through (F) of 42 USC § 9601(14), natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, and synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). (The word fraction refers to certain distillates of crude oil, including gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, jet fuels, and fuel oil, pursuant to Standard Definitions of Petroleum Statistics (Standard Definitions of Petroleum Statistics, American Petroleum Institute, Fourth Edition, 1988).   Source (ASTM, 2004).

petrology —

phanerozoic – Geologic Time, Eon –  (approximately 543 MYA to present).

phase I environmental site assessment — the process described in ASTM E-1527.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

Phelps Memorial Health Center – medical facility; Holdredge, NE – (acronym, PMHC).

phenocryst (abbreviation: phen).

phenol – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phenols

phenyl ether (vapor) – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phenyl etherbiphenyl mixture (vapor) – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phenyl glycidyl ether – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phenylhydrazine – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phonlithic tephrite (basenite) — rock classification, igneous — volcanic rock 

phonolite — rock classification, igneous — volcanic rock 

phonolitic foidite — rock classification, igneous — volcanic rock 

phosdrin – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phosgene – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phosphates

phosphatic (abbreviation: phos).

phosphoric acid – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phosphorites (abbreviation: Ph) — rock classification, sedimentary —  carbonate rock.

phosphorous

phosphorus — chemical element — (abbreviation: P).

phosphorus (yellow) – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phosphorus pentachloride – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phosphorus pentasulfide – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phosphourus trichloride – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phospine – chemical compound – see NIOSH

photo-ionization device (acronym: PID).

phthalic anhydrided – chemical compound – see NIOSH

phyllonite (abbreviation: Phy) — rock classification, metamorphic —

physical setting sources — sources that provide information about the geologic, hydrogeologic, hydrologic, or topographic characteristics of a property.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

pi (symbol: p) = 3.1415926535897932384625433832795.

picloram (synonym: agent white, tordon) – organic chemical – (MCL = 0.5 mg/L).

picocuries per liter (abbreviation: pCi/L)

picric acid – chemical compound – see NIOSH

Pikes Peak granite – geologic stratigraphic description –.

pindone – chemical compound – see NIOSH

pint_dry  — unit of measure, volume — (symbol: pt) = 33.6 in³ = 0.5506 l.

pint_liquid — unit of measure, volume — (Pt_lq)  = 4 gill = 7.219 in³ = 0.1183 l.

pits, ponds, or lagoons — man-made or natural depressions in a ground surface that are likely to hold liquids or sludge containing hazardous substances or petroleum products.  The likelihood of such liquids or sludge being present is determined by evidence of factors associated with the pit, pond, or lagoon, including, but not limited to, discolored water, distressed vegetation, or the presence of an obvious wastewater discharge.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

Pits, quarries –  USDA, SCS soil classification – (symbol: Pt).

plagioclase (abbreviation: plag) — rock classification, igneous — plutonic rock .

platinum — chemical element — (abbreviation: Pt).

platinum — Pt — (native element mineral — metal).

platinum (soluable salts, as Pt) – chemical compound – see NIOSH

Platte Valley Bible College (Scottsbluff, NE) (acronym: PVBC_U).

pleistocene – geologic time, epoch – (symbol: Tpl, color yellow and ocher) approximately 1.8 MYA to 10,000 YA; approximate duration: 1.5-2 MY).

pliocene – geologic time, epoch – (symbol: Q, color yellow and gray) approximately 5.2 – 1.8 MYA; approximate duration: 5-5.5 MY.

Plottier formation – geologic stratigraphic description –.

plus or minus (symbol: ±).

plutonium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Pu).

p-nitroaniline – chemical compound – see NIOSH

p-nitrochlorobenzene – chemical compound – see NIOSH

point (abbreviation: pt).

Poison Center— (800.955.9119) (acronym: PCC).

polonium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Po).

polyaromatic hydrocarbon (acronym: PAH).

polychlorinated biphenyl (acronym: PCB)  – organic chemical – (MCL = 0.000,5 mg/L).

polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (acronym: PAH).

poorly graded gravels and gravel sand mixtures, little or no fines – USCS soil classification – (symbol: GP).

poorly graded sands and gravely sands, little or no fines – USCS soil classification – (symbol: SP).

porphyritic (abbreviation: porph) .

Portexuelo formation – geologic stratigraphic description –.

Portland cement – chemical compound – see NIOSH

potassium — chemical element — (abbreviation: K).

potential of hydrogen (abbreviation: pH).

potentially responsible party, pursuant to CERCLA 42 USC § 9607(a); (acronym: PRP).

pound — unit of measure, weight —  (abbrv.: lb) = 16 oz. = 700 gr = 4.536 kg.

pound avdp — unit of measure, weight —  (lb avdp) = 1.215 lb troy.

p-phenylene diamine – chemical compound – see NIOSH

practically reviewable — information that is practically reviewable means that the information is provided by the source in a manner and in a form that, upon examination, yields information relevant to the property without the need for extraordinary analysis of irrelevant data. The form of the information shall be such that the user can review the records for a limited geographic area. Records that cannot be feasibly retrieved by reference to the location of the property or a geographic area in which the property is located are not generally practically reviewable. Most databases of public records are practically reviewable if they can be obtained from the source agency by the county, city, zip code, or other geographic area of the facilities listed in the record system.  Records that are sorted, filed, organized, or maintained by the source agency only chronologically are not generally practically reviewable. Listings in publicly available records which do not have adequate address information to be located geographically are not generally considered practically reviewable.  For large databases with numerous facility records (such as RCRA hazardous waste generators and registered underground storage tanks), the records are not practically reviewable unless they can be obtained from the source agency in the smaller geographic area of zip codes. Even when information is provided by zip code for some large databases, it is common for an unmanageable number of sites to be identified within a given zip code. In these cases, it is not necessary to review the impact of all of the sites that are likely to be listed in any given zip code because that information would not be practically reviewable. In other words, when so much data is generated that it cannot be feasibly reviewed for its impact on the property, it is not practically reviewable.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

praseodymium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Pr).

precambrian – Geologic Time – (symbol: P_C, color: terra cotta and gray-brown) approximately 4,500-543 MYA.

preparer — the person preparing the transaction screen questionnaire pursuant to Practice E 1528, who may be either the user or the person to whom the user has delegated the preparation of the transaction screen questionnaire.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

Presbyterian (religious affiliations of institutions subscript: _P ).

Presentation College; Aberdeen, SD (acronym: PC_Ca).

priority pollutant metals (EPA) – antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmiu-m (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), thallium (Tl), zinc (Zn);  hazardous waste.

probable (abbreviation: prob) .

proctor

professional corporation – (acronym: PC).

professional engineer – (acronym: PE).

professional geologist – (acronym: PG).

promethium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Pm).

propane – chemical compound – see NIOSH

property — the real property that is the subject of the service (e.g., environmental site assessment). Real property includes buildings and other fixtures and improvements located on the property and affixed to the land. (synonym: site).   Source (ASTM, 2004).

property tax files — the files kept for property tax purposes by the local jurisdiction where the property is located and includes records of past ownership, appraisals, maps, sketches, photos, or other information that is reasonably ascertainable and pertaining to the property.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

propylene dichloride – chemical compound – see NIOSH

propylene imine – chemical compound – see NIOSH

propylene oxide – chemical compound – see NIOSH

protactinium — chemical element — (abbreviation: Pa).

proterozoic – Geologic Time, Era – (approximately 2500-543 MYA).

proustite — Ag₃AsS₃ —  (sulfosalt mineral).

Providence Medical Center – medical facility; Wayne, NE – (acronym, PMC).

pseudomoanas aeruginosa

p-tert-butyltoluene – chemical compound – CAS number 98511. ACGIH TLV = 1 PPM (6.1  mg/m³) TWA; NIOSH REL 10 PPM (60  mg/m³), 20 ppm (120 mg/m³) STEL; NIOSH IDLH 100 ppm, OSHA PEL 10 PPM (60  mg/m³) TWA, 20 ppm (120 mg/m³) STEL; LEL unknown.

public water system (acronym: PWS).

publicly available — information that is publicly available means that the source of the information allows access to the information by anyone upon request.   Source (ASTM, 2004).

Puddingstone (rock) – geologic stratigraphic description –.

purged ground water — water that is removed from a monitoring well prior to collecting a representative sample of the aquifer, including water generated during well installation and well development.  Source: (ASTM, 2004).

pyargyrite — Ag₃SbS₃ — (sulfosalt mineral).

pyllite (abbreviation: Pyl) — rock classification, metamorphic —

pyrethrum – chemical compound – see NIOSH

pyridine – chemical compound – see NIOSH

pyrite —  FeS₂ — (sulfide mineral).

pyritized (abbreviation: py).

pyrolusite — MnO₂ — (oxide mineral).

pyromorphite — PbCl(PO₄,AsO₄)₃ — (phosphate mineral).

pyrope — Mg3Al₂(SiO₄)₃ — (silicate mineral).

pyrrhotite — FeS — (sulfide mineral).