Glossary

Glossary

EASEMENT:

The portion of a property for which access or use is allowed by a person or agency other than the owner.

ECOSYSTEM:

A complex system composed of a community of fauna and flora taking into account the chemical and physical environment with which the system is interrelated. 

EFFLUENT:

The discharge of a pollutant in a liquid form, often from a pipe into a stream or river

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY:

The relative ability of water to conduct electrical current. It depends on the ion concentration and can be used to approximate the total filterable residue (total dissolved solids) in the water. 

ELECTROMAGNETIC (EM) GEOPHYSICS:

 Refers to technologies used to detect spatial (horizontal and vertical) differences in subsurface electromagnetic characteristics.  The data collected provide information about subsurface environments.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SCAN:

Device used to detect subsurface metallic objects such as tanks and product lines that operates from the surface.

EMERGENCY REMOVAL:

An action initiated in response to a release of a hazardous substance that requires on-site activity within hours of a determination that action is appropriate.

END PLUG:

Bottom of well casing or any other type of pipe.

ENFORCEMENT ACTION:

An action undertaken by EPA under authority granted to it under various federal environmental statutes, such as CERCLA, RCRA, CAA, CWA, TSCA, and others.  For example, under CERCLA, EPA may obtain voluntary settlement or compel potentially responsible parties (PRP) to implement removal or remedial actions when releases of hazardous substances have occurred.

ENGINEERED CONTROL:

A method of managing environmental and health risks.  Engineered controls, such as barriers placed between a contaminated area and the rest of a site, can be used to limit exposure pathways.

ENJOIN:

To prohibit or forbid, especially by legal action. 

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT:

Usually refers to a review or investigation that determines whether an operating facility is in compliance with relevant environmental regulations.  The audit may include checks for possession of required permits, operation within permit limits, proper reporting, and record keeping.  The typical result is a corrective action or compliance plan for the facility.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (EHS):

Usually a county organization charged with protecting the health of the people; may act as a regulatory agency.

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK:

The chance that human health or the environment will suffer harm as the result of the presence of environmental hazards.

ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT (ESA):

The process that determines whether contamination is present at a site.

ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT (ESA):

The process that determines whether contamination is present at a site.

ENZYME:

 Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as biochemical catalysts.

ENZYME:

Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as biochemical catalysts.

EQUITY:

The capital gain from investments in property. Equity financing is equally important as debt financing due to the existence of income taxes structures that affect the overall profitability of a development project.

EQUITY:

The capital gain from investments in property. Equity financing is equally important as debt financing due to the existence of income taxes structures that affect the overall profitability of a development project.

EROSION:

Wearing away of earth rock by running water, glaciers, winds and waves. 

EVAPORATION:

The conversion of a liquid (water) into a vapor (a gaseous state) usually through the application of heat energy during the hydrologic cycle; the opposite of condensation.

EX-SITU BIOREMEDIATION:

Uses microorganisms to degrade organic contaminants in excavated soil, sludge, and solids.  The microorganisms break down contaminants by using them as a food source.  The end products typically are carbon dioxide and water.

EX-SITU:

 Moved from its original place; excavated; removed or recovered from the subsurface.

EXPEDIATED REMEDIAL ACTION PROGRAM (ERAP):

A pilot voluntary cleanup program which provides numerous incentives to responsible parties to accelerate environmental cleanup work.  Program is limited to 30 sites that meet specified criteria.

EXPOSURE PATHWAYS:

Existing or hypothetical routes by which chemicals in soil, water or other media can come in contact with humans, animals or plants.

EXTRACTION WELLS:

Wells that are used primarily to remove contaminated groundwater from the ground. Water level measurements and water samples can also be collected from extraction wells.